Archive for the ‘Coal Mining’ Category

Obama Pressure on Coal Jobs

Friday, November 18th, 2011

The Obama administration pressured analysts to change an environmental review to reflect fewer job losses from a proposed regulation, the contractors who worked on the review testified Friday. 

The dispute revolves around proposed changes to a rule regulating coal mining near streams and other waterways. The experts contracted to analyze the impact of the rule initially found that it would cost 7,000 coal jobs. 

But the contractors claim they were subsequently pressured to not only keep the findings under wraps but “revisit” the study in order to show less of an impact on jobs.  Read the rest of the story here.

Legislation To Block EPA

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Legislation to block EPA regulations makes significant gains in Congress

By Amanda Carey (The Daily Caller)

Republicans in the House and Senate made major gains Tuesday in efforts to block Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.  Read the full story here.

WV Cap And Trade Is Not Dead

Friday, January 28th, 2011

West Virginia read Kimberley Strassel @ WSJ Cap and Trade Returns From The Grave.

Strategy To Fight EPA’s Expanding Regulatory Reach

Friday, January 28th, 2011

President Obama and his administration on the very day he took office – January 20, 2009 – started its attack on West Virginia.  Every West Virginian knows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been trying to shut down our state. 

 Senator Rockefeller and Congresswoman Capito have been determined leaders in the effort to halt EPA’s campaign against our coal industry.  They are now joined by Senator Manchin and newly elected Congressman David McKinley.  Congressman Rahall has an important role to play.

Help may be on the way as reported in The DailyCaller.  Top Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce and the Senate Environment and Public Works committees are meeting to craft a strategy to fight EPA.

The article in The DailyCaller provides a good look at various approaches.

Capito Leads the Way

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

West Virginia’s lone Republican in Congress, Shelley Moore Capito, held a sit down meeting with Lisa Jackson Administrator of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). 

Sometime ago Capito requested the “face to face” meeting to express concern about the impact delayed coal mining permits are having on West Virginia jobs, local economies and the future.

In a Washington controlled by Democrats such a meeting exhibits the influence Capito has developed.  It’s hard to believe the Democrats in the West Virginia delegation were not in Jackson’s office months ago.

Let me be clear the other Members of Congress from our State are working on this issue but in varying degrees.  Maybe the delegation should look for a legislative solution. 

Coal miners and coal dependent communities may want Capito as their representative in Congress when redistricting starts after the 2010 census.  One thing for certain our State needs to keep her in Washington.

While writing about our delegation in Congress I was pleased to see in Saturday’s Gazette-Mail Steve Roberts who leads the WV Chamber of Commerce reads phillipsbillboard.   He is promoting an idea I urged in September, that our delegation should play hardball by telling the Obama folks they have no plans to further support healthcare reform – until EPA stops the war on West Virginia.

Manchin Declares War on EPA

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Governor Manchin is preparing to lead a battle against the Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after its decision to review 23 pending coal-mine permits.  He spoke with MetroNews Talkline from Berlin, Germany.

Joining in the war Obama has declared on the economy of West Virginia is Congresswoman Capito.  She expressed her concerns about the economic impact the EPA decision will have on the Appalachian region.

In a related attack on West Virginia is a new Senate climate bill (Cap and Trade) being pushed by President Obama in Congress.  Senators Byrd & Rockefeller are concerned about this legislation today in The Charleston Gazette.

Other soldiers in the WV congressional delegation joining Representative Capito in voting against the American Clean Energy & Security Act (Cap and Trade) in June were Representatives Mollohan & Rahall.

On the front lines already has been the Friends of Coal and a new organization FACES of Coal fighting to protect the economy of West Virginia communities.

Let’s hope Representatives Mollohan & Rahall soon take up arms against the Obama administration as it attempts to shut down the mining industry. 

The votes of our West Virginia delegation are important to the success of the Obama plan to restructure healthcare.  President Obama should think about that when he decides to attack our coal miners, their communities and our economy.