(Courtesy of the National Mining Association)

The Supreme Court this week agreed to hear a case that will decide whether citizens have the right to sue power plants for emitting greenhouse gases under a nuisance claim. The case in question, American Electric Power Co., Inc. v. Connecticut, will be the first before the court that directly decides “global warming” issues. NMA filed an amicus brief this summer urging the court to hear the case and reject the notion that the court system is the appropriate venue for determining the benefits and detriments of fossil fuel use to society.

The case will be the most significant environmental decision since the court decided in 2007 that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Legal observers noted two likely outcomes: either the court denies states and individuals seeking emissions cuts have a public nuisance standing, or denies their motion because EPA is already regulating emissions. In agreeing to hear the case, the court ignored pleas from the Obama administration to remand the case to the lower court in consideration of pending EPA climate change rules.

The House Republican Conference of the United States House of Representatives has chosen its new slate of committee chairman, who will take office when the new Congress is seated in January.

The new chairmen include:

West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito (R—2ndDistrict) will serve as chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit. Meanwhile, incoming freshman Congressman David McKinley (R-1st District) has been named to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) becomes chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, replacing Nick Rahall (D-WV).

Hal Rogers (R-KY) was picked to be the new chairman of the Appropriations Committee over ranking member Jerry Lewis (R-CA).

Fred Upton (R-Mich.) won the contest to chair the Energy and Commerce Committee. He will decide next week on who will chair subcommittees, with Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) reported to be a likely choice to head the Energy and Environment panel.

Ralph Hall (R-TX) will chair the Science and Technology Committee, putting Hall in the forefront of efforts to question the administration’s climate policies. NMA looks forward to working with the new committee leadership to strengthen the nation’s energy independence and its economy.

A recently released report by Deloitte Consulting, Tracking the Trends 2011: The Top Ten Issues Mining Companies Will Face, provides an overview of the primary issues facing the mining industry as we move into the new year.

The concerns include:

Financing constraints that have followed the recent global financial crisis.

Rapid global industrialization is driving a mismatch between supply and demand for commodities;

Increasing need to do more to engage key community stakeholders at every stage of the mine’s lifecycle; New mining taxes; New regulations;

Greater policy influences being exerted by various governments in the wake of the global financial crisis; The need for more strategic long-range planning;

Skilled labor retention and recruitment challenges, particularly in middle-management ranks;

Ramifications and new strategic requirements presented by expansion into marginal projects and more remote geographies;

Escalating stakeholder demands for greater mining company disclosure of environmental standards and impacts;

Inadequate infrastructure to support mining activities and transport of commodities; and, Balancing risk with new opportunities.

A full copy of the report is available at: Deloitte’s website.