CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia is standing by its permit for the state's largest mountaintop removal mine in Logan County.

The state said Thursday it has submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this week regarding the agency's proposed veto of Arch Coal's Spruce No. 1 mine.

In its ten-page comment letter, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection addresses a number of EPA's concerns including water chemistry and wildlife considerations. The state is urging the EPA to allow the permitted activity to continue.

EPA received more than 50,000 comments on its plan to veto a crucial Clean Water Act permit. EPA contends the nearly 2,300-acre mine would cause irreversible damage to the environment.

The mine was permitted in 2007 but has been delayed by lawsuits.

The state said Thursday it has submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this week regarding the agency's proposed veto of Arch Coal's Spruce No. 1 mine.

In its ten-page comment letter, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection addresses a number of EPA's concerns including water chemistry and wildlife considerations. The state is urging the EPA to allow the permitted activity to continue.

EPA received more than 50,000 comments on its plan to veto a crucial Clean Water Act permit. EPA contends the nearly 2,300-acre mine would cause irreversible damage to the environment.

The mine was permitted in 2007 but has been delayed by lawsuits.