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Activities & Events

 

U.S. Senate Committee says Obama anti-coal policies costing jobs

 

May 23, 2010 by prdoc

The following statement was released today by National Mining Association (NMA) President & CEO Hal Quinn in response to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s analysis of employment impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s virtual moratorium on coal mining permits throughout Appalachia:

“The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee minority staff analysis released today by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the committee, documents that hold-ups in coal mining permits by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) threaten tens of thousands of jobs throughout Appalachia and scores of local businesses that provide services to coal operations or depend upon coal for their power needs.

“EPA, according to the report, has allowed only 45 of the 235 Clean Water Act (CWA) permits to be issued that were pending on Jan. 1, 2009, and had been reviewed by state regulatory bodies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As a result, coal mining communities throughout Appalachia remain concerned about their economic futures, and this report carefully documents the human toll extracted by EPA’s ongoing review and new guidance on coal mining permits.

“The report confirms that EPA is threatening the highest paying jobs in the region at a time when federal, state and local governments are all attempting to pull this country out of the worst economic recession in decades. EPA’s policies undermine those efforts. Coal mining jobs are vital to the economic and social fabric of communities throughout Appalachia, and the lawful permits EPA continues to review are necessary for continued employment at nearly 200 operations throughout the region.”

 

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Horton and Hamilton debate OVEC over war on Mountaintop Mining

 

By T.L. HEADLEY

Citizens for Coal President Roger Horton and West Virginia Coal Association Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton, who co-chair the Coalition for Mountaintop Mining, took the debate about surface mining to Cabell County Saturday. The two took part in a forum on mountaintop mining sponsored by the Cabell County Democratic Women’s Forum at the Guyan Country Club in Barboursville.

Horton and Hamilton were joined in the debate by Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition Organizer Maria Gunnoe.

Approximately 50 people attended the event.

Hamilton led off the event with a 20 minute powerpoint presentation on mountaintop mining. He explained the process including extraction, restoration and post-mine land use. Gunnoe then followed with a 20 minute powerpoint, of course portraying the industry as pillagers of the land and destroyers of communities. Horton was last, telling the audience about his work, the impact any effort to stop surface mining would have on the people and communities of the coalfields region and the great care he and his co-workers take in rebuilding the mountains when mining is complete.

The trio then took questions from the audience. Most of those present commented on the need for mining and questioned what would happen if mining stopped. Some expressed concerns about the practice of surface mining. Horton and Hamilton addressed the concerns and the meeting adjourned.