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A New Federal Stream-Protection Proposal May Be Both Counterproductive and Unnecessary
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(64 seconds)
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(OPEN):
THE FEDERAL "OFFICE OF SURFACE-MINING RECLAMATION AND
ENFORCEMENT" HAS BEEN HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS, THIS MONTH [SEPTEMBER], CONCERNING ITS PROPOSED
"STREAM-PROTECTION RULE". HOWEVER, LUKE POPOVICH
[AS IN "POP"], OF THE "NATIONAL MINING
ASSOCIATION", BELIEVES THAT THE RULE IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE
REGULATORS--NOT THE STREAMS...
(POPOVICH):
"THIS RULE SERVES NO ENVIRONMENTAL PURPOSE:
THE OFFICE'S OWN REVIEWS DISPUTE ITS CLAIMS ABOUT THE NEED TO BETTER PROTECT STREAMS; THEY SHOW THAT MINING-COMPANIES ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT STANDARDS.
STILL, THE RULE WOULD BE VERY COSTLY--ADDING TO THE 40-THOUSAND HIGH-WAGE JOBS LOST IN OUR INDUSTRY SINCE 2011.
THERE'D BE LESS MONEY FOR COMMUNITIES, WHEN MINERS CAN'T MINE; AT LEAST UP TO
FIVE-BILLION DOLLARS, IN FEDERAL- AND STATE-REVENUES, WOULD BE LOST.
AND, THE PROPOSAL WOULD ESSENTIALLY DUPLICATE CURRENT PROTECTIONS, FROM BOTH THE
'E-P-A' AND THE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL-AGENCIES. INSTEAD OF PRODUCING ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, THIS RULE WOULD FORCE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR BOTH A BIGGER ROLE AND MORE
BUREAUCRATS--FOR AN AGENCY THAT DOESN'T NEED EITHER ONE."
(CLOSE):
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT "N-M-A"-DOT-ORG.
