Army Corps Reinstates Permit For Eastern Ky. Mine

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The federal government has reinstated the permit for a coal mining facility in eastern Kentucky.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had asked for more information from International Coal Group LLC about the Thunder Ridge facility in Leslie County and suspended the permit in December 2007.

The Corps of Engineers wanted to know more about the effect the operation would have on the environment over time and the filling of streams.

ICG made adjustments and provided the information in December 2008.

The Corps of Engineers said in a statement Wednesday that it is confident discharges from the facility won't cause significant impacts.

ICG is based in Scott Depot, W.Va., and operates mines in West Virginia, Kentucky and Illinois.