2/19/2003

Wise Opposes Coal Truck Bill

A proposal to raise weight limits in 12 West Virginia counties may have hit a big roadblock on Wednesday.

By: David Snyder, WSAZ Charleston

CHARLESTON, WV, Feb. 19 - Governor Bob Wise announced his opposition to the latest coal truck bill to move through the state legislature

Its the controversy that won't go away. Coal truck drivers want to haul more coal. Others, like Nanette Nelson of Racine say coal trucks are already too dangerous.

"I was really disgusted with what I heard here today."

Nelson lives in the coalfields. She learned details of the latest proposal to raise weight limits on coal trucks during a Senate Energy Committee meeting Wednesday morning.

"I have seen brakes on fire, I've seen pieces of trucks fall off on the highway, and they want to put more weight on these trucks," said Nelson.

People who support the coal industry say they still need to raise the weight limit to make ends meet.

Bill Raney of the West Virginia Coal Association said, "It hasn't lost its urgency and I think there's still a great deal of need for this to occur so that we can restructure southern West Virginia and get them back in the coal market in a predictable fashion."

Heavier coal trucks could drive on special roads in 11 counties and a part of Kanawha County. The maximum weight limit on all other roads would be 80-thousand pounds. Governor Wise came out in opposition to the bill Wednesday afternoon.

"This may increase weights but it does not increase safety," said Wise.

The Governor proposed a coal truck compromise that was shot down last summer.

"The bill that I introduced had massive improvements in safety and enforcement, coordinating our agencies, creating greater, stiffer penalties, greater enforcement abilities. This bill doesn't have it. So people need to go back and look at it if they want it to come through my desk."

So it may be back to the drawing board for yet another coal truck bill.

The coal truck bill will be debated in the next Senate Energy Committee meeting on Friday.

This news story originally provided by WV Metro News

02/19/2003

Wise Won't Support New Coal Truck Bill

Staff
State Capitol

Governor Bob Wise says the coal industry needs to significantly toughen up a truck weight bill if he's going to support it.

The Senate is considering an industry-backed bill that raises the coal truck weight limits to 120,000 pounds on designated roads in 12 counties.

Governor Wise criticized the bill Wednesday, saying it does not significantly increase safety and enforcement. Wise says the Senate should, "go back and pick up our bill, which added about 40 more pages on safety and enforcement."

Wise's bill died during a special session of the legislature last year.

Wise says, "You can't have an increase in weight limits on a limited basis without a significant increase in safety and enforcement."

Wise says that's not in the this industry-backed bill.

Wise says, "People need to go back and look at it if they want it to come to my desk."