Balance Needed between Environmental Protection and Economic Development
Jan 5 – “We must have cooperation between state and federal officials to protect West Virginia jobs and strike an appropriate balance between environmental protection and economic development,” said Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) after EPA’s announcement today that the federal agency had dropped its objections to the Hobet 45 mine in Lincoln County, which employs about 500 workers. “This issue is…about laying a clear foundation on which all miners and mine operators can build upon,” she said.
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin reiterated his call for clarity in the permitting process, noting that “Energy independence remains a top issue for our nation. West Virginia has produced the energy needed to get this country through two world wars and a great depression.” In his statement, Manchin re-affirmed his administration’s commitment to coal miners and their families. “Our state’s future depends on theirs,” he said.
EPA has arbitrarily stalled 79 mining permits in the Appalachian states; a timeline and criteria for resolution of the other permits remains unclear.
