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CloseSeptember 30, 2009
EPA’s Moratorium on Coal Permits Threatens Region’s Economy, Lacks Transparency
The National Mining Association (NMA), the Ohio Coal Association, the Kentucky Coal Association and the West Virginia Coal Association issued the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that all 79 pending permits for coal mining operations in Appalachia would be subjected to an "enhanced review" process:
"Today’s decision by EPA underscores the grave concerns we have expressed since EPA’s March announcement of a moratorium on coal mining permits," said NMA President and CEO Hal Quinn. "Coal mining throughout Appalachia cannot reassure thousands of anxious workers and their families, and we cannot plan for the economic future of our operations absent a workable, transparent process that provides certainty. Despite EPA’s rhetoric, its actions thus far have failed these important tests. EPA’s answer of more delay and study is at cross-purposes with our nation’s need for affordable energy, investments and secure jobs."
"EPA is playing with fire," said Mike Carey, president of the Ohio Coal Association. "More importantly, the agency is playing with people’s livelihoods. The implications of their delaying tactics will be felt throughout this state’s economy," he added.
"EPA’s hit list was compiled by people in Washington who are entirely insulated from the consequences of their actions and far removed from the families and communities affected by them," said Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association.
"People all over West Virginia can’t believe this is happening," said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. "They don’t understand why Washington is willing to kill-off good paying jobs when our economy is still on the ropes and the unemployment rate is still unacceptably high."
This announcement by EPA condemns scores of mining operations and thousands of high-wage mining jobs to further uncertainty for several more months, said coal officials. Today’s list of permits withheld for additional review continues a moratorium on coal mining permits that began with EPA’s March 24 decision to stop the Army Corps of Engineers from processing 150 pending permits while it subjected a handful to a new, but unspecified, review criteria that still has not been made explicit, even to the Corps. As a result, a growing backlog of about 250 permit applications throughout the eastern United States continues to await action by the federal government.
