HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it's approved a water quality permit for an Ohio surface mine.

The corps says the permit for the Peabody III surface mine allows Oxford Mining to fill more than 1,000 feet of streams. The company is supposed to re-establish the same amount of stream on the property and protect another 532 feet of stream.

The mine is located in parts of Coshocton, Muskingum and Guernsey counties.

The permit is one of a handful authorized for surface mines in Appalachia under the Obama administration. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun scrutinizing surface mining permits to curb mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia.

Coal companies argue the administration is threatening thousands of high-paying mining jobs.