EPA vetoes Spruce Mine permit

Wail from our Congressional delegation (4.00 / 1)

...in 5, 4, 3, 2...

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

---

by: Carnacki @ Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 15:45:30 PM UTC

You took my comment (4.00 / 1)

Though I was going to say "Let the 'war on coal' editorials from the conservative WV newspapers start in 3...2...1...

---

by: foxfoot @ Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 17:43:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

foxfoot (0.00 / 0)

Great minds think alike -- and so do ours.

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

---

by: Carnacki @ Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 18:06:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

great news (4.00 / 2)

This is great news for protecting West Virginia communities and our water quality. A common sense victory for all west virginians, not just vested coal interests.

---

by: Clem Guttata @ Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 15:51:26 PM UTC

Let the fearmongering begin (4.00 / 1)

Manchin called EPA's retroactive action "an unprecedented power grab, period."

"This is not just an assault on the coal industry. It's an assault on every job market in the U.S. economy," Manchin said. "It might be West Virginia and the coal industry today. It will be your industry tomorrow."

---

by: DB @ Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 17:34:02 PM UTC

Do we not deserve clean water? (4.00 / 3)

Why is it that I never hear a WV politician defending the right of West Virginians to, you know, drink water.

---

by: foxfoot @ Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 17:42:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Rockefeller and Tomblin already blasting it too (4.00 / 1)

http://www.chron.com/disp/stor...

---

by: foxfoot @ Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 17:48:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Manchin has a new piece of paper to shoot (4.00 / 1)

How long until we see him "taking aim" at the EPA and denying that it might be irresponsible?

---

by: foxfoot @ Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 17:44:00 PM UTC

GEE SUS (4.00 / 1)

I heard Manchin whining about this on the radio this morning.

It's not like we don't have lot of of other MTR jobs going.

I understand the politicians and how they have to be for "jobs jobs jobs" , but is the EPA really doing anything to protect us if they just approve everything even if it hurts the environment??

If the litumus test as to whether a regulation is fair or unfair is solely based on the jobs it creates then by all means lets give every resident the legal right to grow weed, run meth labs and stills, open cockfighting rings and houses of prostitutaion!

---

by: Hollowdweller @ Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 17:04:13 PM UTC

other job creators (4.00 / 1)

There are some morally right things to do that would create jobs, too.

Approve gay marriage in WV and there would be more jobs here. More jobs for caterers, wedding planners, hotels, etc. It would be a big boost for the economy.

Heck, closer to the issue of coal mining... getting at that same coal via underground mining would require more jobs.

It's time to put people over profits.

---

by: Clem Guttata @ Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 22:32:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Economic diversification (0.00 / 0)

None of these whining politicians (Manchin, Rockefeller, Capito, Rahall) have made a serious effort toward economic diversification in WV. If there are no other jobs but coal, coal, coal then it must be attributed to their lack of vision for WV's economic future.

---

by: DB @ Sat Jan 15, 2011 at 03:10:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

working against themselves (4.00 / 1)

I think that until our Sens. and Reps. acknowledge the limitations of coal it is that much harder to build up the non-coal part of the economy.

From what I can see, Rockefeller, Manchin, and Rahall have all made some pretty serious efforts to create non-coal jobs. The love of coal is making that harder, but from what I can see they are trying to do both.

For example, from everything I've heard about it, the Toyota plant in WV happened in large part because of Rockefeller. He's also championed Hino Trucks and tried hard to get an aircraft builder going in WV.

Also, while I think that Manchin and Rockefeller have put way too much effort into coal-related development, they've also supported other employment efforts, too. The recently announced Macy's fulfillment center in Berkeley County is a good example. (One caveat: I don't know which, if any, of the politicians deserve credit for helping that happen.)

Any time a company announces a major layoff--no matter what industry--the Gov. and Sens. visit them and try to figure out what can be done to keep it from happening. Sometimes there are success stories in saving jobs, often times not.

Likewise, Rahall has long-standing support for technology-related education and other investments to help move his district beyond just coal jobs. Here's just one of the most recent examples: Rahall Emphasizes Technology Investments as House Passes "America COMPETES" Act (12/21/10).

So, I think they have made efforts--some quite substantial--but part of the reason those efforts haven't been as successful as we'd like is because they're still pushing for coal-related development so vigorously.

---

by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Jan 15, 2011 at 11:40:05 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

It doesn't seem like much (4.00 / 1)

in careers spanning decades. While Rockefeller has done some good things, he has become such a mouthpiece for the coal industry that it is hard to remember what Jay used to be like.

A good example of economic diversification can be found in the 1st Congressional District. Of course Mollohan was unfairly attacked for his work as "enriching his friends."  

---

by: DB @ Sat Jan 15, 2011 at 16:59:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]