Friday, February 19, 2010
Committee Warned To Heed EPA Action
WEST VIRGINIA....
Speaking before a special House committee this week, the lobbyists group West Virginia’s Coal Association warned lawmakers not to read too much into the recent easing of federal scrutiny into some mining permits. The group told the committee the ongoing review of 20 other permits threatens the ability to mine 132 million tons of reserves...affecting 1,300 jobs and putting state tax revenues at stake. The group accused the EPA of being at odds both with its West Virginia counterpart and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and objecting because mining might displace a species of mayfly. Environmental lobbyists say concerns run deeper than that, and they welcomed the committee’s plans to hear from other sides in the dispute.
Speaking before a special House committee this week, the lobbyists group West Virginia’s Coal Association warned lawmakers not to read too much into the recent easing of federal scrutiny into some mining permits. The group told the committee the ongoing review of 20 other permits threatens the ability to mine 132 million tons of reserves...affecting 1,300 jobs and putting state tax revenues at stake. The group accused the EPA of being at odds both with its West Virginia counterpart and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and objecting because mining might displace a species of mayfly. Environmental lobbyists say concerns run deeper than that, and they welcomed the committee’s plans to hear from other sides in the dispute.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 5:20 AM 
