TMRA against the Stream Protection Rule

The US Office of Surface Mining’s proposed Stream Protection Rule faces further opposition with the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association (TMRA) indicating it would be detrimental on Texas’ coal mining industry.

Testifying before an OSM-led public hearing in St Louis, Ches Blevins, TMRA Executive Director and General Counsel, highlighted damaging effects of the proposed SPR on the state of Texas: “The responsible development and use of our natural resources will be substantially harmed, very likely sterilising millions of tons of coal reserves while, at the same time, keeping millions of dollars in royalty payments from private landowners and the many cities and school districts that rely on the taxes from the responsible recovery of our Texas lignite and coal.”

Blevins continued: “OSM’s own annual reviews and comments fully support the fact that, under the state programme administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas, the coal mining industry is meeting or exceeding the environmental, health and safety goals and requisites of all state and federal mining acts and regulations.”

The public comment period for the proposed regulations was set at 60 days. Following OSM’s review of the comments provided by the TMRA, other members of industry and the public, the rules are projected to be effective from 1 January 2017.

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/11092015/texas-mining-and-reclamation-association-against-stream-protection-rule-2842/