Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) introduced legislation to put a moratorium on permitting mountaintop removal coal mining until questions about health effects are resolved.  This move would block permits for new or expanded surface mine sites in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia until the EPA and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences issue peer-reviewed research concluding that communities surrounding the mines do not face significant health risks.  The bill would also require OSM to assess and collect a one-time fee from each person that is conducting a mountaintop removal coal mining project.

The bill is not expected to move in this Congress and will be watched for further action.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection will propose revisions to the Coal Mining NPDES Rule (47 CSR 30) for consideration during the 2013 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature.  The revisions are intended to implement Senate Bill 615 which passed during the 2012 Regular Session of the Legislature.  Click below for a copy of the legislation. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2012_SESSIONS/RS/pdf_bills/SB615%20SUB1%20enr%20PRINTED.pdf

Prior to the passage of SB 615 the coal mining NPDES rules contained a provision that requires a permit holder to be in compliance with ALL state water quality standards regardless of the effluent parameters contained in an NPDES permit.  Referred to as the “permit shield piercing” provision, it does not exist in any other State NPDES rule and is contrary to the federal permitting standards and interpretations of the federal EPA.  Senate Bill 615 effectively invalidated the applicability of the offending rule language and the attached rule revisions will appropriately clarify the applicability of the “permit shield” to coal mining NPDES permits.

The proposed rule revisions have been provided to the WV DEP Advisory Council for review in advance of their publication for public comment.  Once the revisions are published in the State Register there will be 30-day public comment period and the changes will be submitted to the Legislature’s Rulemaking Review Committee early in the fall.  The full Legislature will consider the changes during the 2013 Regular Session.

In December, 2009, U.S. Senator Robert Byrd delivered one of the most critical speeches of the latter part of his storied career.  Byrd called for an “open and honest dialog about coal’s future.”

Byrd questioned the future of mountaintop removal mining, acknowledged the “mounting science of climate change,” called out the coal industry for “fear mongering” and “grandstanding” and called for the industry to “embrace the future” by working with Congress and regulatory agencies.

It was a politically explosive speech; one that ran counter to the traditional tack taken by coalfield politicians from West Virginia.  But he was Robert Byrd, the iconic West Virginia figure whose considerable political capital made him unbeatable on Election Day.

The Boy Scout Summit in Fayette County has a need for their shower houses.  They need something for participants to put their clothing in while they shower and to keep it off the ground.  Benches are expensive.  If you company has or knows of any kind of cache of old bath house baskets on chains that could retrofit to the stalls, adding to the entire theme, please contact the Association.

The 2012 Friends of Coal Auto Fair is set for July 20 – 22 at the Beckley YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Sports Center.  Saturday Night’s Concert line-up is Ronnie Dunn with special guest James Wesley and is being sponsored by Alpha Natural Resources.  For Concert tickets, pre-registration for the car show and vendors, please go to:  http://www.friendsofcoalautofair.com/