"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Despite strong pressure from the coal industry and its political allies, the Obama administration on Thursday finalized new guidance aimed at reducing the environmental and public health impacts of mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson has said that "no or very few valley fills" would be approved under new guidance that EPA regional offices will now impose on state regulators for permits under the federal Clean Water Act.

EPA officials said the guidelines -- being challenged in court and under fire from Congress -- are needed because of a growing body of science that details devastating water quality impacts downstream of large-scale surface mines."

Ken Ward Jr. reports for the Charleston Gazette July 21, 2011. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"EPA Finalizes Controversial Surface-Mining Guidelines" (Lexington Herald Leader) [3]