U.S. EPA and Army Corps address coal mining operations and Clean Water Act requirements

EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers have issued a memorandum in the coal producing states of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio to address coal mining operations and the Clean Water Act.

May 19, 2003

May 19, 2003 -- On May 5, 2003, the U.S. EPA's Office of Water and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly issued a memorandum to their field offices in the coal producing states of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio in order to help ensure coal mining operations are meeting their obligations under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

The memorandum included a fact sheet for further distribution to coal operators in Appalachia explaining how the CWA applies to coal mining activities that occur in the nation's streams and wetlands and discussing when a CWA permit is required.

The intent is to ensure coal mine operators are aware of their responsibilities under the
CWA and that mining related activities proposed in waters of the U.S. are
appropriately reviewed and permitted.

Copies of the joint EPA/Corps memorandum and fact sheet are available on the EPA Office of Water home page at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands or on the Corps Regulatory Branch home page at
http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwo/reg/citizen.htm.