In July of this year the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed the elimination of a streamlined permitting process — known as Nationwide Permit 21, or NWP 21– which allows coal companies to seek quick approval for their mountaintop removal coal mining projects. 
Please take a moment to tell the Corps that you support ending this streamlined permitting process for mountaintop removal coal mining projects.
Ending the use of NWP 21 permits for surface mining is a step in the right direction, but Congress must pass the Clean Water Protection Act in the House and the Appalachia Restoration Act in the Senate to permanently protect the Appalachian people and the Appalachian Mountains.
We applaud the Obama Administration for taking action. Roughly one-third of mountaintop removal coal mining projects are approved under nationwide permits, which means that eliminating the streamlined rule will help slow the pace of destruction in Appalachia, not stop it.
The Army Corps of Engineers opened a public comment period and extended it until Monday October 26th, and they need to hear from you. After you fill this out you can find out what happened at the Arm Corps hearing in Virginia on Oct. 15th.
COPY THESE BASIC COMMENTS INTO THE FORM BELOW, THEN ADD YOUR
PERSONAL TOUCH FOR THE GREATEST EFFECT.
I appreciate the Army Corps of Engineers following through on their agreement to end the use of “nationwide 21” permits which allow for streamlined approval of mountaintop removal operations in Appalachia. For decades, mountaintop removal and valleyfills have had a devastating impact on local communities, the economy, and our environment. Using the more stringent “individual” permitting process and allowing increased public comment and community input on mountaintop removal operations is a step in the right direction.
However, we believe the Obama Administration can, and must, do better to protect American citizens in Appalachia. The Administration needs to end mountaintop removal today. No amount of regulation will make it safe, economically beneficial, or environmentally sustainable to blast apart our mountains and dump the toxic waste into our streams.
In their own public notice, the Army Corps of Engineers acknowledges the significant detrimental impacts that mountaintop removal mining and valleyfills are having on Appalachian communities and landscapes. It is inappropriate for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue issuing nationwide 21 permits until this decision is finalized. In order to protect Appalachia and give community members a say in the process, the Army Corps of Engineers should halt the issuance of nationwide 21 permits immediately.
I appreciate the Obama Administration’s attention to the American tragedy that is mountaintop removal coal mining. However, the Administration must take action to end mountaintop removal immediately and move Appalachia towards sustainable, long-term, economic development through clean energy and energy efficiency. To continue practicing and permitting mountaintop removal coal mining is a dangerous and economically disastrous proposal for our nation.
FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE ARMY CORPS. You will receive confirmation in the web form below that your comments have been received after making your submission.
