The Effects of Mountaintop Mines and Valley Fills on Aquatic Ecosystems of the Central Appalachian Coalfields and a Field-Based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams

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EPA is announcing a 60-day public comment period for two related draft documents: (1) "The Effects of Mountaintop Mines and Valley Fills on Aquatic Ecosystems of the Central Appalachian Coalfields" (EPA/600/R-09/138A) and (2) "A Field-based Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams" (EPA/600/R- 10/023A). These reports were developed by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's Office of Research and Development as part of a set of actions taken by EPA to further clarify and strengthen environmental permitting requirements for Appalachian mountaintop removal and other surface coal mining projects, in coordination with Federal and State regulatory agencies (http:// www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/mining.html). Both documents will be reviewed by an independent review panel convened by EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB's peer review meeting, which the public will be able to attend as observers, will be scheduled at a later date, and announced in the Federal Register. The public comment period and the SAB meeting are separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the document. EP