Congressman's testimony slams proposed stream-protection rule

U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-WV) offered testimony late last week at an Office of Surface Mining hearing in Charleston, West Virginia, on the proposed stream-protection rule.

The testimony was presented by Field Representative Chad Story on behalf of the congressman, who was unable to attend in person.

“This is a rule in search of a problem,” the testimony said. “This rule is unnecessary and counterproductive. West Virginia has already lost more than 7,000 good-paying coal jobs since 2011. This is not an effort to protect streams – it’s an effort to regulate coal mines out of business.”

Jenkins raised the issues of further lost jobs and the impact that a collapsing coal-mining industry could have on other aspects of his state’s economy, which relies on coal taxes and other companies that supply coal mines. Jenkins also touched on increased energy prices and decreased energy reliability.

"America’s coal provides the lowest cost and most reliable source of electricity,” the testimony said. “We have a vast, domestic supply that can power our nation for generations to come. Under this rule, households and businesses will pay more for less-reliable and more-volatile energy. West Virginians are proud people. West Virginians want to put in a hard day’s work for a good day’s pay. We need more good-paying coal-mining jobs, not regulations that destroy them.”