“The legislation’s primary target is the Office of Surface Mining’s forthcoming stream protection rule, which the industry worries will kill thousands of coal mining jobs.”
Environment & Energy Daily reports:
The House Natural Resources Committee tomorrow will vote on legislation to implement a regulatory timeout on Obama administration oversight of the coal industry.
The bill (H.R. 3409) by Ohio Republican Rep. Bill Johnson would temporarily block any new rule under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act that would have a negative job impact. It also prohibits rules that would reduce the amount of coal available for domestic use or export.
The legislation’s primary target is the Office of Surface Mining’s forthcoming stream protection rule, which the industry worries will kill thousands of coal mining jobs. Johnson has been on the warpath against the proposal, saying OSM pressured former contractors to manipulate damaging job numbers.
OSM Director Joseph Pizarchik has denied the charges of impropriety and job impacts. He has said the rule is still in the works and is meant to better protect the environment from surface mining operations while protecting coal jobs (E&ENews PM, Nov. 18, 2011)…