W.Va. freshman’s compromise legislation passes with bipartisan support

Washington, D.C. – A jobs bill (H.R. 2273) authored by Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-WV), which for the first time sets minimum federal guidelines regulating coal ash while empowering the states to enforce them, passed the House Friday with overwhelming bipartisan support. McKinley’s legislation, which a Veritasstudy found could protect up to 316,000 jobs from being eliminated, was approved 267-144, with 37 Democrats voting yes. The Charleston Gazette’s Ken Ward Jr. today noted that the question of how to regulate coal ash has been “a long simmering issue ignored by many policymakers” – until now.

Rep. McKinley made the following statement about H.R. 2273 on the House floor today:

“Every day coal ash is produced in nearly 700 coal-fired generating plants in 48 of the 50 states in America. Approximately 140 tons are produced annually with 40% of that coal ash being beneficially recycled. Over the years, scientists and entrepreneurs have found uses for coal ash through a variety of recycling options. Businesses were emboldened to recycle the material after two studies by the EPA in 1993 and in 2000 found that coal ash is not a hazardous material and could be used by the public. The findings of these two studies specifically state that there have been no documented cases of coal ash damaging human health or the environment. As a result industries have sprung up all across America and thousands of jobs have been created by recycling coal ash.

Alpha Natural Resources Southern WV Team Captain Tommy Dove competes in the National Mine Rescue Competition that was held in October in Columbus, Ohio.

More than 100 teams from 13 states competed in the 2011 National Mine Rescue, First-Aid, Bench and Preshift Competition at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio which was held in early October.

Teams from West Virginia fared very well in the event including taking third, eighth and eleventh in the overall competition results. First and Fourth in the Combination Competition results and six teams in the top ten of the First Aid competition. 

By PAMELA BRUST (pbrust@newsandsentinel.com)

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

PARKERSBURG - Action on a resolution opposing mountaintop coal removal died Monday for lack of second during the Wood County Commission meeting.

In August, the commission sponsored two separate public informational sessions on mountaintop coal removal, including opponents of the coal mining practice, and a second with coal industry representatives.

 

By PAMELA BRUST (pbrust@newsandsentinel.com) , Parkersburg News and Sentinel

PARKERSBURG - Action on a resolution opposing mountaintop coal removal died Monday for lack of second during the Wood County Commission meeting.

In August, the commission sponsored two separate public informational sessions on mountaintop coal removal, including opponents of the coal mining practice, and a second with coal industry representatives.

The proposed resolution, presented by Walt Auvil and several other mountaintop coal removal opponents, noted other types of coal mining provide more employment, mountaintop mining methods are "environmentally and economically destructive" and mountains are the heritage of all West Virginians. The opponents asked the commission to sign off on the resolution, similar to ones passed in other parts of the state, opposing the process.

H.R. 2273, “Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act” was passed earlier today by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 267 to 14 with all three House Members from West Virginia voting in favor of the legislation.

H.R. 2273, introduced by Congressman McKinley, R-WV, relates to the classification of “fly ash” from coal–fired electric generators and preserves its beneficial uses.

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