"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The new head of the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement promised Wednesday to find a way to reduce the impacts of mountaintop removal mining on Appalachian streams, forests and communities.

But OSM Director Joe Pizarchik said he would not seek what most coalfield and national environmental groups are advocating: a ban on the practice.

He said the 1977 federal strip-mining law specifically authorizes mountaintop removal, and that any action to outlaw it would have to be made by Congress."

Ken Ward Jr. reports for the Charleston Gazette December 9, 2009. [2]