This was sent out late last week.

For Immediate Release:
May 3, 2002

Contact:
David Willett, 202-675-6698

Bush Administration Allows Waste Dumping in America's Rivers and Streams
Redefinition of "fill" opens the door for dumping mining and other wastes
                               in waterways

Washington, DC:  The Sierra Club today condemned the Bush Administration
for allowing polluting mining companies to dump their waste into America's
rivers and streams. The millions of tons of mining waste that will now be
allowed in America's waterways will bury streams, kill all types of stream
life, and pollute drinking water. The rule announced by the EPA today could
have far-reaching impacts on the safety of rivers, streams and wetlands
across the entire country.

"Today's decision is as irresponsible as it gets," said Carl Pope,
Executive Director of the Sierra Club. "Not only are polluting mining
companies allowed to blow the tops off mountains, but they can then bury
America's rivers and streams with their waste. The Bush Administration is
choosing the mining industry over water for drinking, recreation, and
wildlife.  These streams, and the communities they flow through, will never
recover from the Bush Administration's decision."

Blasting off the tops of mountains to reach coal seams is widespread in
West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia.  In West Virginia alone, this mining
is burying more than 1,000 miles of streams.




The Bush Administration's rule announced today could legitimize mountaintop
removal and not only further degrade the environment and public health in
mining regions, but also lead to the degradation of rivers, streams and
wetlands across the nation from other sources of pollution like hardrock
mining waste and construction debris.


Courts have ruled in the past that the Army Corps of Engineers cannot issue
permits to authorize mountaintop removal because of the mining waste that
ends up in streams, rivers and wetlands. Since 1977, the Clean Water Act
has prohibited using waste materials as "fill."  The Administration's new
rule allows industries to fill wetlands, rivers and streams with mining and
other wastes with a permit from the Corps.  Millions of tons of coal waste,
hardrock mining waste and other types of harmful wastes could be dumped
legally into our streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.


"Americans won't be fooled into believing their rivers aren't being
polluted simply by calling it 'fill' instead of 'waste," continued Pope.
"This is pollution that will have devastating impacts on drinking water and
wildlife across the country."


                  ###



Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]