Ohio environmental groups seek federal coal review

COLUMBUS (AP) — Two Ohio environmental groups asked federal regulators today to investigate circumstances surrounding expired pollution-discharge permits at an agency where allegations of coal-industry influence arose during a personnel flap last year.

In a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Sierra Club and Ohio Environmental Council expressed concern that the Ohio EPA may be reluctant due to political pressure to impose pollution limits adequate to protect Ohio streams.

The agency has said the permits remain legal, protective and enforceable, but environmentalists say expired permits don’t incorporate updated clean-water standards.

“In theory, these expired permits could go on forever, but in reality, this is greatly endangering Ohio’s rivers receiving the pollutants coal mine operators can discharge under outdated permits,” said Nathan Johnson of the Ohio Environmental Council.

An Associated Press investigation published last week found that at least 18 coal facilities’ permits had expired, 13 since Republican Gov. John Kasich took office in 2011. The letter says a general surface-mining permit also has expired.