What is the impact of surface mining on streams and the water supply?
About 95 percent of “streams” that are covered with “fill” material are actually gullies that only carry water when it rains. There are more water resources during and after mining in the form of ponds and wetlands, in addition to restored and re-created streams. That is because segments of streams affected by mining must be replaced or new streams are created. All mining operations, including surface mines, must secure permits and comply with regulations under the Clean Water Act. While the states have an oversight role in this process to ensure compliance with state water quality standards, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues permits for the discharge of fill material into jurisdictional waters under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides comment during this process and can veto a permit where it determines the impacts will have an unacceptable effect on municipal water supplies, fish and wildlife or recreational areas.
