[Old School]

I really don't consider this a new law, since it is only clarifying the existing 100 foot buffer zone rule which was adopted in 1983.

The 100 foot buffer zone was never intended to apply to (as anti-coal people) call them "epemeral" streams. Epemeral streams are no more than dry ditches that only carry water when it either rains or snows.

Anti-coal people say the new rule will allow the current practice to expand, but I don't see how that can happen when coal companies have to minimize the amount of material being placed in the valley fill.