04/26/12
Washington, D.C.—Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) issued the following statement Thursday in response to Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s (D-W.Va.) comments concerning the Senator’s flip flop on coal ash.
“I was frankly shocked at his public statement saying the coal ash language is ‘going down’ and how he will work to remove it from the transportation bill, “said Rep. McKinley. “Currently, coal fired power plants in 48 states around the country create coal ash everyday but there are no federal standards for safe disposal of the product. This is the first time in 30 years that Congress is offering environmentally safe standards for the disposal of coal ash.”
McKinley was quick to point out that the EPA has previously conducted two studies on coal ash and determined it was not a hazardous material.
“This amendment to the transportation bill is a real bi-partisan solution, addressing the coal ash issue; but suddenly Sen. Rockefeller has a change of philosophy,” McKinley added. “I don’t understand that from a man who once was quoted as saying, ‘coal defines us.’”
Rep. McKinley’s strong remarks come on the heels of an interview Rockefeller conducted with a reporter from Politico. Rockefeller was asked about the coal ash provision, he had previously supported as a cosponsor, making it through the House-Senate talks on the transportation bill. Rockefeller was quoted as saying, “it’s going down.”
“If this goes down, it puts this issue and others like it in the hands of unelected bureaucrats to make decisions that will ultimately affect all of us. This bill protects jobs and public health by ensuring that needed provisions are put in place so that the 48 states around the country can continue recycling coal ash,” said McKinley.
“This is just another example of how the fossil fuel industry is under attack,” said McKinley. “This legislation will protect upwards of 316,000 jobs and prevent a 110 billion increase on road construction costs. We can prevent a cost increase in cement by including the coal ash language in the transportation bill.”
