Well, Friday’s self-imposed deadline for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to finalize its water pollution guidance for Appalachian coal-mining operations came and went … and EPA made no public announcements of its plans.

Not until Saturday did EPA sent me their statement explaining the move:

Last year, EPA issued interim mountaintop mining guidance to clarify existing requirements under the law and relying on the best available science to protect clean waters in Appalachia. As we announced at the time, we are improving the guidance based on its implementation over the past year, our review of thousands of public comments and scientific reviews conducted by EPA’s Office of Research and Development and independent scientists. The Office of Management and Budget will conduct an interagency review process before final guidance is issued later this Spring.

Stay tuned …