Byrd met with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on December 22, 2009 to continue their candid and cordial dialogue on issues of importance to coal mining in West Virginia.
“I commend Patriot Coal and the Environmental Protection Agency for their determination to come to the table and work together to resolve this issue,” Byrd said. “By choosing cooperation over confrontation, Patriot and the EPA are creating a template for how coal operators and regulators can work together to protect mining jobs while also abiding by federal laws that protect the land, water, and people from negative environmental impacts.”
“In addition, I am also heartened by the announcement that the EPA and Arch Coal will continue their discussions on the future of the Spruce Mine permit. This is a very positive development.”
“Coal is critical to helping America meet its energy needs. I continue to believe that civil and candid discussions about the future of coal, as evidenced by the progress with these mining permits, can serve the long-term interests of coal miners and our state.”
“There is an achievable balance between environmental concerns and the necessary mining of coal as part of our energy portfolio. Striving for that balance, without rancor, must be our goal,” Byrd added.
Byrd also announced that next week the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection will begin hosting regular meetings with any interested coal companies in order to clarify the technical details and requirements associated with the processing of permit applications. These meetings will help companies to conform their proposed mining plans to federal and state laws. The first is slated for Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at the Civic Center in Charleston.