This federal bureaucracy is misleading, and is adding excessive red tape that is affecting people’s livelihoods. Government should be a facilitator and partner, not a hindrance to Americans working to obtain the American Dream – and that is to have a good job, make a decent wage and provide for their family.” - Gov. Joe Manchin, West Virginia.
“[A]t some point, a project must be deemed to have been studied enough to meet NEPA’s requirements. This is the most heavily studied and scrutinized surface mining coal operation in the history of a state which has a long history with the coal mining industry.” - West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
“The WVDEP is committed to the application of the existing laws, rules and policies to protect the environment. … It does not support retroactive, ad hoc departures from existing laws rules and guidelines.” - West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
“There are 250 jobs at risk in that mine. The Spruce #1 permit has been in operation over two years and Arch has worked hard to comply with every request from the EPA. If this veto is allowed to stand then any mine permit is at risk. There is a possible $150 million in taxes, miners wages and payments to suppliers and area businesses at stake if this permit is allowed to be stopped permanently,” - Sen. Ron D. Stollings, (D-Boone, Logan, Lincoln)
“This decision by EPA is reckless and arbitrary. It establishes a dangerous precedent in that it reneges on an already approved permit --- something that has never been done previously. In doing so, it brings into question the reliability of the entire permitting process and shows an arrogant disregard for the impacts this will have on the state’s economy and its people.” - Bill Raney, president, West Virginia Coal Association