Rep. Jenkins: House Halts New Coal-killing Regulation

Statement

U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) helped to pass legislation today to halt a major, new job-killing regulation, the stream buffer zone rule. H.R. 1644, the STREAM Act, passed 235-188.

"Each and every day, President Obama's EPA and the Office of Surface Mining are regulating coal mines out of business and putting miners on the unemployment line. Coal miners are the heart and soul of our communities in southern West Virginia, and the significant layoffs we are experiencing are heartbreaking.

"These agencies are out of control and must be reined in. Enough is enough. There's no question about it -- this is about jobs. It's about good-paying jobs in West Virginia and across Appalachia," Rep. Jenkins said.

The STREAM Act, also known as the Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining Act, would prevent the Office of Surface Mining from implementing the stream buffer zone rule until additional scientific review is conducted. It would also require the agency to release additional information and data used to write the new regulation.

Rep. Jenkins is a cosponsor of the bill, which was introduced by Reps. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) and Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.).

Source