West Virginia Attorney General issued the following announcement on Nov. 4.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey expressed his support for two Trump Administration proposals aimed at strengthening coal mining in West Virginia.
The two proposals, set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, modify rules that regulate coal ash and wastewater. One would set solid waste requirements for the management of coal combustion residuals, while the other allows the use of more effective and cost-efficient technologies used to treat wastewater.
“We applaud the Trump EPA’s latest efforts to protect coal mining and the livelihoods of those who depend on its success in West Virginia,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “The proposed regulations will improve the regulatory burden on the coal industry and lower the cost of electricity for West Virginians.”
The Stream Electric Effluent Guidelines would help the nation see a reduction in water pollutants of approximately 100 million pounds per year. Federal regulators predict this modification will also reduce compliance costs, saving approximately $175 million annually.
The Coal Combustion Residual Rule provides guidelines for coal-fired utilities to safely manage waste, such as ash, in landfills and impoundments. The proposed regulations will provide a useful framework for facilities to follow while giving states the authority to develop their own permit programs.
The Attorney General has been a leader in national energy matters, challenging the Obama-era Power Plan on the day it was published.
The Attorney General has long argued the Obama EPA overstepped its authority in successfully challenging its so-called Clean Power Plan and its Waters of the United States rule. Victories against both of those unlawful regulations provided time for a new administration with greater respect for West Virginia’s interests.
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