Associated Press: The Environmental Protection Agency has dropped its objections to a permit that would allow a large West Virginia surface mining complex to continue operating, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall said Monday. The Democratic congressman said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told him on New Years Eve that the agency will send Patriot Coal Corp.’s application for the Hobet 45 mine to the Army Corps of Engineers this week. The EPA reviews applications; it’s up to the corps to issue Clean Water Act …