|
|
 
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Call On Overweight Coal Trucks
Mountaintop Removal in Doonesbury Comic Strip
COAL BILL WOULD PREVENT STATE HAVING STRICTER ENVIRONMENTAL RULES THAN FEDERAL LAWS
A coal industry bill is to be introduced today by several House Finance Committee members that would prevent the state's mining regulations from being more stringent than federal requirements unless some aspect of the environment was in danger.
Chris Hamilton, vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, said Monday a lot of committee members voiced concerns when the Department of Environmental Protection presented its budget request last week.
"They wanted to stimulate more mining activity," Hamilton said, adding that led to a lot of discussions about the permitting process, and why it takes more time in West Virginia than in other states. (SNIP) ----- See also WVEC legislative Update Article
Folks, this bill may well be greased to slide on through both Houses. Please call your legislators. Find their contact info here - click on House and Senate. Or call 1-877-565-3447. PLEASE! Be very respectful when you call. Legislators are under intense pressure because of budgetary concerns-the state needs revenue. They see increased coal production as one answer. Carefully think about what you are going to say. Legislators aren't focused on long-term costs to society. If you are from the coalfields, you can talk about what this will mean for you and your family. Please remain calm and polite.
See update below.
Update on Coal Bills from WV Environmental Council
Please be sure to see "What You Can Do" below:
SB 480 and HB 2956 Roll Back Coal Environmental Regulations
In a really unprecedented (and brazen) move, the WV Coal Association has proposed that the legislature totally revamp the state's environmental regulatory program for mining coal (SB 480 and HB 2956). They are asking the legislature to require that DEP potentially throw out all current state mining regulations and adopt in their place WEAKER regulations established as minimum program standards by the federal Office of Surface Mining.
This is sheer madness. First of all, the current WV regulatory program for coal IS - I repeat - IS an OSM approved program! Secondly, WV regulations and permitting are NOT responsible for a slow-down in coal production and a loss of jobs in the coal fields! It's the market, stupid!! The industry has accumulated large stock piles of coal and glutted their own market!
Lastly, the Coal Association wants DEP to go beyond just the OSM provisions and review ALL "existing procedural rules, interpretive rules, permits, policies, guidance, directives and programs" to insure they are "no more stringent than federal regulations." They want it all - out with the state's antidegradation policy for streams, out with the Tier 2.5 category for protecting trout streams, out with the Category A policy for protecting our drinking water.
Of course, the coal industry is not asking the state to adopt ALL the OSM regulations - it is exempting the OSM bonding requirements because they are STRONGER than the alternative bonding scheme adopted by our own state legislature!
SB 480 (senate bill) and HB 2956 (house bill) are identical. HB 2956 will be taken up by the House Judiciary Committee. SB 480 will be taken up by the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee and is double referenced to Senate Finance Committee.
First of all, the Senate EIM Committee will take up SB 480 Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Senate Judiciary Committee room, Rm. 208-W. We urge everyone in the Charleston area who is able to attend the meeting.
Secondly, please call YOUR delegate and YOUR senator and let them know you strongly oppose these two bills. Keep the message as simple as that - you strongly oppose these bills. You can find their contact info at www.legis.state.wv.us/legishp.html, click on House and Senate. Or call 1-877-565-3447.
Thanks for your help on this serious issue.
Donald S. Garvin, Jr. WVEC Legislative Coordinator
TELL LEGISLATORS PLEASE DON'T INCREASE THE WEIGHT LIMITS ON COAL TRUCKS
A message from the West Virginia Citizen Action Group: Under the gold dome, there is no indication that the legislature has plans to take up Delegate Caputo's bill or any other legislation that would better regulate trucks hauling coal. However, rumors are circling that the industry still has plans to try to increase legal weight limits for coal trucks to 120,000 pounds. This could be "sneaked" into any number of bills. Please contact you legislators this week and tell them to vote against any legislation that would increase weight limits above the current maximum limit of 80,000 pounds. You can call your legislators toll free at 1-877-565-3447. You can e-mail all your legislators in one click by using the form in the sidebar or going to OVEC's legislature contact list.
FEB. 15 PEACE GATHERING IN SPENCER
War is the worst possible energy policy for our nation to pursue. War is the ultimate social and environmental nightmare! Feb. 15 is an International Day of Action Against War On Iraq, including a massive March in New York City. See www.unitedforpeace.org.
If you can't make it to NYC, come on out to a Peace Gathering at 11. a.m. in front of the Roane County Courthouse in downtown Spencer. Music and artistic statements by the Calhoun County Kitchen Band and Jude Binder. Speakers include Rev. Jim Lewis. Rev. Lewis, Sister Jane Francis, former Calhoun County Commissioner Larry Cottrell, and an OVEC representative.
Son of the Patriot
Act
New Anti-Terror Bill: Critics
Cry Foul
Justice Dept. Drafts Sweeping
Expansion of Anti-Terrorism Act
If war starts, what do you bet Ashcroft and friends trot this baby out ASAP. Why, to not pass it would be unpatriotic! Any questioning of King George is unpatriotic! You've got to wonder about Ashcroft's moral compass: Cover a bronze breast, slaughter the Bill of Rights. Check out what could happen to donors to non-profit groups that Bush & Co. decide to label as terrorist-supporting groups. Could any group that criticizes Bush be called a terrorist group?
|
OVEC Home Issues Contact Join Site Map |
|