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DEP says no mismanagement

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A spokesperson for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection maintains the agency is more than meeting state and federal standards when it comes to regulating mountaintop removal mining.

On Monday, a group of environmentalists marched from the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement on Virginia Street in Charleston to the governor’s office at the state capitol. They launched their CARE campaign or Citizen Action for Real Enforcement.

Members of the group want the federal Office of Surface Mining to step in and take control of the DEP. They claim the state agency cannot be counted on to do what’s in the best interest of West Virginia. They’ve submitted a petition to the OSMRE.

But Kathy Cosco, with the DEP, said the petition has no foundation.

“We disagree that the agency hasn’t been managing the program appropriately,” said Cosco.

In fact, she said West Virginia is ahead of most of the rest of the United States when it comes to surface mine reclamation.

“West Virginia is actually a leader in regulating the surface mining activity,” according to Cosco.

She said many of the policies now in place at the OSMRE originated with the West Virginia DEP such as approximate original contour, flood prevention activity, protection of the hydraulic balance and reforestation

Cosco said when the OSMRE looks into the petition they will not find any valid mismanagement.

“We are managing the program efficiently and appropriately,” said Cosco who added the two agencies work closely together.

“There is a close knit relationship between us and the federal agency already. We have a long history of working with them and they look at our program. They evaluate our program and give us recommendations.”





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