Whitehorn Run in Greene County, PA (Photo Credit: DEP)
By Laura Legere by Post-Gazette
HARRISBURG — A bill that will make it harder to challenge underground coal mining permits because of their potential to damage streams advanced out of a Senate committee on Monday.
The bill by Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, would amend the state’s mining law to clarify that planned mining subsidence does not constitute potential pollution under the state Clean Streams Law if it is not predicted to result in permanent damage to waterways.
The Environmental Resources and Energy committee voted 8-4 to advance the measure to the full Senate.
Mr. Scarnati said the bill…