"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Patriot Coal will cut in half the length of streams buried by its Hobet 45 mountaintop-removal mine, but still produce nearly the same amount of coal as the company originally hoped, under a deal announced Tuesday by the Obama administration.
Company officials modified their mining plan under pressure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which could have blocked Patriot from receiving a Clean Water Act permit for the operation.
The deal protects the jobs of more than 350 employees and avoids what could have been a huge battle with the United Mine Workers union and West Virginia's congressional delegation."
Ken Ward Jr. reports for the Charleston Gazette January 5, 2010.
See Also:
"Hobet 45 Deal: Mountaintop Removal Questions for All" (Coal Tatoo)
"EPA Softens Stance on Mountaintop Coal Mining" (Wall Street Journal)
"EPA, Arch Coal Seek to End Permit Dispute" (ABC News)
Mountaintop Removal: "Hobet Deal Cuts Stream Impacts, Preserves Jobs"
Source: Charleston Gazette, 01/06/2010
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