EPA Inspector General Documents Hold-Up on Permit Approvals

“Whether or not this report shows a deliberate intent to stifle mining operations in Appalachia, it does confirm that the permit review process is unnecessarily burdensome and suggests how it is harming prospects for regional employment and economic recovery,” said NMA Staff Attorney Karen Bennett. “And it obviously proves the EPA-Corps review process has failed miserably to fulfill its own stated goal, which was to produce a more efficient, coordinated review process.” The NMA also noted the agency has said it will apply the same or similar criteria in all pending and future permit reviews.