Mining Agency Buries Streams and Science

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) attempted to replace the 1983 stream buffer zone (SBZ) rule, which protects Appalachian streams from mountaintop removal mining, with weaker regulations. The report alleges that OSM's 2004 and 2007 environmental impact statements (EIS) were compromised by political interference and the systematic misrepresentation of scientific data regarding biodiversity, water toxins, and flood risks. Specifically, it claims OSM ignored findings on the ecological importance of temporary streams, the reduction of fish genetic diversity in West Virginia and Kentucky, and the presence of human toxins like manganese and selenium in mining-affected waters. The document concludes that the OSM prioritized the interests of the coal industry over scientific integrity and environmental protection.

• The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) sought to replace the 1983 stream buffer zone (SBZ) rule, which prohibits mining within 100 feet of streams, with a regulation that would allow mining waste to be dumped directly into streams provided there is a "vague requirement to minimize the adverse environmental impacts."
• The 2004 environmental impact statement (EIS) was allegedly compromised by J. Stephen Griles, a former National Mining Association lobbyist, who directed agencies to ignore alternatives that would restrict valley fills and instead focus on "centralizing and streamlining coal-mining permitting."
• The 2007 EIS is criticized by 36 professional aquatic scientists for being "severely and fundamentally flawed" and not based on sound science, specifically for discounting the effectiveness of stream buffer zones.
• OSM allegedly misrepresented or hid scientific research in the 2007 EIS regarding the ecological value of temporary streams, relegating findings by Dr. Bruce Wallace and Dr. Benjamin Stout on unique ecosystems to the appendices.
• Research by Dr. Jay Stauffer and Dr. Paola Ferreri indicating that mountaintop removal mining reduces fish genetic diversity in West Virginia and Kentucky was reportedly misrepresented in the 2007 EIS.
• The 2007 EIS downplayed the risks of waterborne pollutants, omitting that manganese and selenium are "known human toxins" despite selenium levels regularly exceeding EPA water quality standards.
• The document asserts that OSM's claim that rescinding the SBZ rule would have "very little effect on flooding" is unsupported by credible science and relies on models that ignore real data on storm runoff and erosion.
• Since 1985, more than 1,200 miles of streams have been buried under valley fills resulting from mountaintop removal mining.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2008). Mining Agency Buries Streams and Science. https://www.ucs.org/resources/attacks-on-science/mining-agency-buries-streams-and-science

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Mining Agency Buries Streams and Science. 2008. https://www.ucs.org/resources/attacks-on-science/mining-agency-buries-streams-and-science.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Mining Agency Buries Streams and Science |date=11 January 2008 |url=https://www.ucs.org/resources/attacks-on-science/mining-agency-buries-streams-and-science |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2008mining, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Mining Agency Buries Streams and Science}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2008}, month = jan, url = {https://www.ucs.org/resources/attacks-on-science/mining-agency-buries-streams-and-science}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }