Before the blasting begins, and long after the blasting stops, mountaintop removal poisons water in Appalachian communities. We need EPA to act on its own science and issue a legally binding water quality standard on conductivity to protect streams and communities in Appalachia from mountaintop removal mining pollution.

Call the EPA today and tell them that Appalachia is locked to dirty water and they hold the key to a healthy and brighter future for our region.

Region 3: WV and VA

(215) 814-5000 or (800) 438-2474

Region 4: KY and TN

(404) 562-9900 or  (800) 241-1754

Call-in Script:

I urge the EPA to issue a new regulation setting federal numeric water quality standards on conductivity to protect streams and communities in Appalachia from mountaintop removal mining pollution. Authorized under the Clean Water Act, these standards will bring relief to Appalachians before the end of the Obama administration’s second term. The EPA must start work now to ensure the regulation is implemented before the end of this administration.

EPA and independent scientists have documented that waters downstream of mountaintop removal are harmed by extremely high levels of conductivity pollution from these mining operations, with many important species entirely missing from streams. Mining pollution deprives Appalachian communities of the clean water that most Americans take for granted.

I appreciate that the EPA took action during the Obama administration’s first term that slowed mountaintop removal. But these measures were non-binding and do not have the force of law. Now is the time to make these protections legally binding and permanent, so that the EPA can fulfill its mission to protect streams and communities.