Public Hearing on Proposed Department of Interior Rule

On Thursday, September 17, 2015, the Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement will hold a public hearing on its proposed Stream Protection Rule in Charleston, West Virginia. The public hearing will take place at the Charleston Civic Center from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

While I applaud the Department of Interior for holding a hearing in West Virginia, unlike other agencies that have chosen to avoid our state during the rulemaking process, the proposed Stream Protection Rule needlessly increases regulatory burdens and will eliminate more mining jobs in West Virginia. No one cares more about West Virginia’s streams and water quality than those living in the Mountain State, but this proposed rule goes too far. I urge West Virginians to attend the public hearing and voice their opinion on the proposed rule.

Interested parties will have the opportunity to deliver or write comments at the public hearing. Details are as follows:

Public hearing on the proposed Stream Protection Rule hosted by the Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Charleston Civic Center
200 Civic Center Dr., Charleston, WV 25301
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

For West Virginians who are unable to attend the public hearing, the proposed rule will be open for public comment until September 25, 2015. Written comments will be accepted through the U.S. Mail, and hand-delivered and couriered comments will be accepted at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Comments can also be submitted electronically via www.regulations.gov.

More information about the proposed Stream Protection Rule is available here.