Source: Wheeling Intelligencer
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/537503.html?nav=515\
WHEELING - If you ask Chris Hamilton, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is unfairly targeting West Virginia's coal industry by holding up several state mining permits. As Hamilton, vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, believes coal mining is under attack, Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton also wants to make sure EPA officials are held accountable for their actions.
Hamilton and Wharton joined Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie, Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce President Terry Sterling, Marshall County Chamber of Commerce President Dave Knuth and others for a news conference expressing support for the coal industry in Wheeling this morning.
Hamilton said the Obama Administration's EPA, led by administrator Lisa Jackson, seems to have a bias against Mountain State coal. This year, Hamilton said, West Virginia will produce the second highest amount of coal for any state, with about 160 million tons. This amount pales in comparison to the 400 million tons set for production in Wyoming.
Hamilton said because of increased regulation and permits being held up, Mountain State coal production could soon fall to a yearly average of 130 million tons. He also said federal officials seem eager to move away from the use of all domestic coal, which accounts for roughly 50 percent of electricity production.
"We import coal into this country from places like Columbia and Venezuela," he said.
Though not wanting to endorse or attack any particular political candidate in the face of the Tuesday primary election, Hamilton said West Virginia needs better leadership on the federal level.
"We need greater and stronger political leadership to represent our interests in Washington, D.C.," he said following the news conference.
Wharton - noting Ohio County leaders have experienced difficulty with EPA permits for earthwork for the proposed Wild Escape theme park at The Highlands over the past few years - stressed that these problems occurred during the Bush administration, so as not to exclusively indicate the Obama administration.
"This country, and our way of life, is threatened every single day by forces outside this country," he said. "As we are threatened by forces outside our country, we do not expect to be threatened by forces within our country."
"We expect them (EPA) to regulate, but we do not expect them to persecute," Wharton added.
The conference was led by the Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security, or Faces of Coal. Bryan Brown, state coordinator for Faces, said about 70 mining permits throughout Appalachia have been held up for "enhanced review" by the Obama administration, including about 20 in West Virginia. He said the Spruce Mine in southern West Virginia may have its permit revoked as part of this review.
McKenzie, who served as a state senator for 12 years, said, "Coal is good for West Virginia. It provides jobs and opportunities."
Sterling noted that the Wheeling, Marshall and Weirton chambers of commerce wished to join with Faces to express strong support for coal mining.
"Coal is not merely vital for national energy, security, or as a major engine of economic stimulus. It also provides tax revenue for business taxes, coal severance taxes and local taxes."
In the face of the recent tragedy that killed 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, W.Va., Wharton stressed that coal must be mined safely.