"Mine Safety treads on dangerous ground in the House" A new supplemental bill to the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006, introduced by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.), seeks to place undo regulations and unnecessary requirements on the industry even before the original safety bill has a chance to take effect. The original MINER ACT of 2006 was a bipartisan bill that was also strongly endorsed by industry and labor. Since its passage, more than $250 million has been invested by National Mining Association (NMA) underground coal mine operators, alone, on safety improvements in their operations. The new supplemental bill will create confusion and threaten continued progress on implementing the safety required by the MINER Act. It will also circumvent current rule making practices that could prevent the development of sound safety and health standards and uses a one-size fits all approach that fails to recognize the uniqueness of each mine. This could lead to incorrect safety measures and procedures being taken. NMA is currently working with our member companie to educate and inform members of Congress on the possible negative effects of this untimely legislation. Hearings are being scheduled in the House Education and Workforce Committee to take place within the next two weeks, while a vote in the full House could possibly be scheduled for September. To see the mining industry’s progress on fulfilling safety requirements please visit http://www.nma.org/p.... "Rahall to host coal-to-liquid conference with the CTLC" House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and the Coal-to-Liquids Coalition (CTLC) [allies include the UMWA] will host a coal-to-liquids conference to highlight the potential role of CTL fuels in America’s energy future if Congress acts on proposals to jump-start a domestic CTL industry. The conference will be held Aug. 14-15 at the Glade Springs Resort in Beckley, W.Va. Speakers include Chairman Rahall, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), Air Force Undersecretary Dr. Ronald M. Sega and Peabody Energy Vice President of Government Affairs Fred Palmer. In addition to the speakers, Air Force Assistant Secretary Bill Anderson, Michael Hayes of Sasol and financial analyst James Lucier will headline a panel discussion on CTL. Registration is easy! Go to www.ctlconference2007.org and sign-up for this important event today! Registration for the conference is $50, which covers meals and transportation to and from the airport. Hotel accommodations are $149 a night and must be made by directly calling the resort at (800) 634-5233. Please contact Corey Henry with any questions on registration, sponsorship pledges, information or comments regarding the conference at (202) 463-2621 or chenry@futurecoalfuels.org. "Hearings scheduled for the clean water protection act" The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is planning to hold two days of hearings this week on wetlands protection under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The hearings will be held Tuesday, July 17, at 2 p.m., and Thursday, July 19, at 2 p.m., and will feature six different panels consisting of governors, state environmental protection officials, legal scholars, former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrators, “stakeholders”, and scientists. The bill would allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assert federal jurisdiction over waters that have never before been subject to CWA authority and increase the permitting burdens and potential for litigation for a wide array of mining, construction, agricultural and other developments. NMA and its WAC partners are with every member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in advance of this week’s hearings to ensure they are aware of the consequences this legislation could have, as well as to furnish them with as much information as possible in preparation for the hearings. "Buzz and Ballots" |
