UPDATE: Rockefeller 'supportive' of Manchin's mining permit effort

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) is backing Senate colleague Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) effort to curb EPA's power to block coal-mining projects. Manchin is planning legislation following EPA's recent veto of Arch Coal’s Spruce No. 1 mine after it had won approval from the Army Corps of Engineers.

"Senator Rockefeller has long supported permits for Spruce Mine and is equally supportive of what Senator Manchin is attempting to do with his legislation," Rockefeller spokeswoman Linsey Godbey said.