From PennFuture (http://www.pennfuture.org):
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law—but its protections and the Commonwealth’s waterways are still at risk.
Just days after Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court issued a ruling that said, “the Commonwealth must act affirmatively via legislative action to protect the environment,” the legislature has sent Governor Wolf SB 624, which would further weaken our environmental protections by making permitting for longwall mining even easier.
In longwall mining, the mine itself is allowed to collapse once all of the coal is removed. Known as “planned subsidence” this collapse can cause considerable damage to streams and lakes on the surface. The 62-acre Duke lake in Ryerson Station State Park is just one example. It was once home to numerous fish and wildlife and supported outdoor recreation like fishing and boating. Unfortunately, the lake no longer exists because of damage from longwall mining.
SB 624 is a shocking bill. It says that if anything less than permanent damage to the surface waters are predicted, that is not considered pollution under the Clean Streams Law. Even temporary damage to surface waters can significantly impact wildlife, farmers, communities, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors.
PennFuture is calling on Governor Wolf to veto SB 624. Please join us in doing the same today at https://pennfuture.salsalabs.org/tellgovwolfstopbillthatweakensenvironmentalprotection/index.html.
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