West Virginia Third District Congressman Nick Rahall says the federal EPA is not trying to stop coal mining. Rahall spoke with reporters by conference call Friday afternoon to "set the record straight."

Rahall says when the EPA recently began closely reviewing mining permits "alarmists" were saying it meant the death of the coal industry. Rahall says, during a number of recent meetings, he's found that not to be the case.

Congressman Rahall quoted from a letter from Michael Shapiro, EPA's Acting Assistant Administrator, "I understand the importance of coal mining in Appalachia for jobs, the economy and meeting the nation's energy needs," Rahall read.

Rahall says EPA has thus far reviewed 48 coal mining permits that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was close to giving final approval. He says the EPA has concerns about six of those permits, only three in West Virginia.

The Corps continues to have a backlog of permits, according to Rahall, due to a number of issues including manpower shortages.

Rahall says he'll keep an open dialogue with all of the involved parties. He says he understands that each federal agency has its own legal responsibilities in the permitting process, "There is a pressing need to have everyone on the same page as to what the rules are."

The congressman says the coal industry must have regulatory stability. "The coal industry cannot comply with a moving target," Rahall said.

There was no information released during the conference call explaining the specific problems EPA has with the six permits that it's taking a closer look at.

Rahall added the EPA under the Bush administration had the power to review coal mining permits, but chose not to. He says the new review would have taken place under either candidate in last November's general election.