Murray Energy to sue EPA over coal regulations

Murray Energy Corp. is planning to sue the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its regulations of the coal industry.

In a notice of intent to sue the EPA, Murray Energy said that the agency did not adequately consider job losses when it issued various air pollution regulations affecting coal consumption.

Stringent emissions standards
The company said in its notice letter that the EPA's air pollution rules for industrial boilers, power plants and ambient air pollution unduly burden sources that burn coal either by setting more stringent emissions standards than other fuel types or by providing incentives to switch to other fuels such as natural gas.

The EPA’s rules violate Section 321 of the Clean Air Act, which directs the agency to consider the job impacts of its regulations, Murray Energy explained. The lawsuit seeks to force the EPA to evaluate potential job losses in the coal industry as part of its various air pollution regulations.

The notice letter was sent to the EPA on 21^st January, and the company announced it on 27^th January.

Potential job loss
“The pressure the current administration is placing on the power sector to switch from coal to other fuels and to avoid the construction of new coal-burning facilities has threatened one of the nation's largest markets for coal and, in turn, the jobs and livelihoods of all those who work in and support our nation's coal industry, including Murray Energy's 7100 employees,” the company's letter said. “This is precisely the type of significant potential job loss that Congress mandated EPA to evaluate, continuously, in administering and enforcing the Clean Air Act.”

The company is required by the Clean Air Act to notify the EPA of its intent to sue 60 days prior to filing the citizen lawsuit.

The full notice of intent can be reached here.

Edited from various sources by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/29012014/murray_energy_to_sue_epa_463/