Statement: Rogers on Last Minute Coal Regulations from Obama Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05) issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s release today of its final Stream Protection Rule. The rule will impact both surface and underground mining, resulting in the recovery of less coal reserves in all coal-producing states and a decrease in tax revenue.
“The Obama Administration continues to wage its relentless war on coal in an effort to further destabilize the industry and keep coal in the ground in the years ahead. They refused to work in cooperation with the most impacted States, overextending their power to develop another job-killing regulation. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, I have pushed back against the Stream Protection Rule every year, including language in Appropriations bills to prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to implement it, and the devastating impact it will have in the coalfields. I look forward to working with President-elect Trump and the new Republican-led Congress to block implementation of this rule and pass commonsense legislation that will support our coal miners and the industry they love.”
In the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, Chairman Rogers included language directing the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE) to work closely with the states before finalizing any Stream Protection Rule. Specifically, OSMRE was required to provide each state with technical reports, data, analyses, public comments, and drafts relating to environmental reviews. However, OSMRE did not comply with the Congressional directive before releasing the rule.
Danielle Smoot
December 19, 2016 (606) 679-8346
