WASHINGTON (June 11, 2009)—

“Mountaintop removal can be a destructive process that damages our communities, our land, and our water. Today’s agreement between the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers to further regulate the practice is a step in the right direction.  Starting today, federal agencies will review each individual mountaintop removal permit request, further investigate the practice, and expand community involvement. These actions will help eliminate shortcuts, provide greater transparency, and ensure proper regulatory scrutiny.

“I am pleased the Obama administration continues to deal with the complexities of this issue and continues to review the process and effects of mountaintop removal. I look forward to future progress. Kentucky can still maintain our low-cost energy advantage while keeping our people safe and our environment clean.”

###