Capito Disappointed In Region III EPA Administrator's Recommendation To Veto Spruce Mine Permit

Statement

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R.W.Va., today issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III Administrator's recommendation to veto a permit for the Spruce Mine in Logan County:

"Today's announcement is hard evidence of the EPA's anti-coal agenda and it represents a gross overreach of federal power. Continuing to keep the permit approval process in limbo has caused a slow bleed of jobs throughout Appalachia and has already had serious consequences on the economic livelihood of the mining industry in West Virginia.

"The EPA has continuously overstepped its authority while disregarding the state and federal agencies involved, the expertise of both the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as well as the Army Corps of Engineers.

"The EPA and the Administration should not be picking winners and losers in the energy industry. I strongly urge Administrator Lisa Jackson to reject this recommendation and give our miners the clarity and certainty they deserve."

Source