In what is becoming a sadly precedented move, the Obama administration completely failed to truly make an impact on mountaintop removal mining last week. 

Basically officials from EPA, Department of the Interior, and the Army Corps of Engineers signed an agreement on MTR. Unfortunately, their big 'agreement' amounts to, 'mountaintop removal mining should keep happening. 

In essence, they're going to change the speed at which new permits are signed off on, and making sure a full environmental assessment is undertaken. 

Ever at his oratorical best, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar had this to say: 'By toughening enforcement standards, by looking for common-sense improvements to our rules and regulations, and by coordinating our efforts with other agencies, we will immediately make progress toward reducing the environmental impacts of mountaintop coal mining'. 

But to the residents of Appalachia who experience massive flooding, water and air pollution (not to mention the destruction of hundreds of mountains) this is like suggesting 'not-too-invasive-open-heart-surgery'. 

The idea that any solution that includes continuing to blow up mountains and poison waterways is based on common sense is beyond ridiculous. Sadly, it's also the Obama administration's policy.