CHARLESTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall said Friday a federal agency has assured him that it’s not trying to shut down mountaintop mining.

Under President Barack Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency has begun subjecting surface coal mining permits to tougher scrutiny than the Bush administration did. Administrator Lisa Jackson in March directed EPA staff to review up to 200 pending applications for new or expanded surface coal mines.

Rahall, D-W.Va., said the EPA has reviewed 48 coal mining permits that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was close to giving final approval. He said the EPA has concerns about six of them, including three in West Virginia.

Joan Mulhern, a senior legislative counsel at environmental group Earthjustice, said the EPA’s lack of objections to the 42 other permits is troubling.

‘‘Through this action, the EPA seems to flying in the face of the sound science President Obama vowed to restore to government,’’ Mulhern said. ‘‘This looks more like politics as usual on mountaintop removal, primarily designed to appease Big Coal.’’

EPA has objected to permits to would allow fills that would bury streams.