The EPA has been rewriting the rules for far too long and it’s time to return primary responsibility over Appalachian land and water resources – to Appalachia!
The Obama administration’s anti-coal EPA has made it quite clear that it does not consider the importance of coal jobs, coal communities or even states’ rights in their decision making process.
Over the past two years the EPA has issued onerous and unreachable guidance, held dozens of permits in regulatory limbo and revoked a permit that was already-approved on the state andfederal level.
It’s time to reign in the EPA – and we need your help!
Last week, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) and the Committee’s Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-WV), along with cosponsors Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced H.R. 2018, the “Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011,” to rein in the EPA by amending the Clean Water Act (CWA) with a host of needed provisions designed to return a balance to the relationship between the federal government and the states.
- The bill includes common sense protections for states’ already EPA-approved water quality standards and permitting authority under the CWA.
The EPA would be unable to withdraw an existing permit like the unprecedented revocation of the Spruce No. 1 mine permit.
- The bill includes reasonable time limits for agency comments and helps reduce pointless bureaucratic delays in the section 404 permitting process.
Putting an end to the nearly two-year hold of dozens of mining permits.
- The bill places limits on EPA’s ability to veto dredge and fill permits issued by the Army Corps of Engineers and gives states more flexibility to administer these permitting programs.
Reducing uncertainty over arbitrary vetoes.
Please help ensure that the decisions made by Appalachian residents, in Appalachia aren’t overruled by the whims of Washington bureaucrats – please TAKE ACTION now by sending a letter to your lawmakers in support of H.R. 2018, the “Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011."
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
http://www.votervoice.net/link/target/faces/KP9Rq2R6.aspx