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Committee Action

Energy and Minerals Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Obama Administration’s Proposed Rule to Block Coal Mining, Destroy Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 26, 2011 | Jill Strait, Spencer Pederson or Crystal Feldman (202-225-2761)
On Friday, November 4th, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a hearing on “Jobs at Risk: Waste and Mismanagement by the Obama Administration in Rewriting the Stream Buffer Zone Rule.” The Subcommittee previously held an oversight hearing on the issue in Charleston, WV, where Committee members heard from locals whose jobs and livelihoods are being threatened due to the Obama Administration’s onerous coal mining regulations.

In April, 2011, Chairmen Hastings and Lamborn sent Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar a letter questioning the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement’s (OSM) dismissal of Polu Kai Services, an independent contractor hired by OSM to perform an Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed Buffer Zone Rule. Polu Kai was later relieved of their services but not before producing a draft analysis that revealed the Administration’s proposed rule could cost over 7,000 coal mining jobs.

“The Obama Administration’s continued attacks on the hardworking coal mining community will do nothing but increase the cost of energy to American families and put thousands out of work. The Subcommittee has already heard from those directly affected by the proposed regulations. Now it is time to hear from the Administration,” said Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Doug Lamborn (CO-05). “While the coal mining industry was one of the only industries to actually add jobs last year, for some reason this Administration seems intent on rolling back that positive economic progress.”

WHAT: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Oversight Hearing on:
“Jobs at Risk: Waste and Mismanagement by the Obama Administration in Rewriting the Stream Buffer Zone Rule.”

Witnesses:
Joseph G. Pizarchik, Director, Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement
WHERE: 1324 Hearing Room, Longworth House Office Building
WHEN: Friday, November 4th, 2011
9:30 A.M.

Visit the Committee Calendar for testimony and additional information, once it is made available. The hearing is open to the public and a live video stream will be broadcast at /live.

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