Corps OKs permit for southern W.Va. surface mine

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.

An Arch Coal Inc. subsidiary has received a permit from the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers for a surface mine in Logan County.

The corps said Tuesday that Coal Mac Inc.'s Pine Creek No. 1 Surface Mine will affect a total 14,530 feet of stream.

To mitigate the mine's effects, Coal Mac will restore and enhance 3,800 feet of stream near the operation and re-establish 2,923 feet of stream on the mine site. Another 37,720 feet of stream will be created on the mine site and near the operation.

The corps also says more than 4,900 feet of stream and 74.1 acres of forest will be preserved.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the permit complies with its new effort to reduce environmental harm caused by mountaintop removal mines in Appalachia.