Despite promises of transparency, the US Environmental Protection Agency has refused to release a contractor study that apparently outlines less harmful alternatives to the Arch Coal's Spruce Mine mountaintop-removal project EPA is currently considering for a permit in West Virginia.

EPA denied a Freedom-of-Information request for the document by Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward Jr. (also chairman of SEJ's Freedom of Information Task Force). Ward wrote about it on his Coal Tattoo blog.

• "EPA Won’t Release Spruce Mine Alternatives Study," [2] Coal Tattoo blog, Charleston Gazette, November 30, 2010, by Ken Ward Jr.