This story has me so angry I can barely write about it. Here's the gist:
In a speech to the Eastern Coal Council Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher vowed to fight for industry on two controversial environmental measures.
Boucher, D-9th, said he will work to reinstate issuance of Nationwide 21 permits, which allowed a more streamlined permitting process for surface mining, and will continue to work toward a greenhouse gas bill more favorable to the coal industry and coal-fired utilities.
He said it would be “a horror to our Appalachian regional economy” if the Nationwide 21 permits – which allow for the dumping of mine waste into streams – are not restored.
“This campaign against surface mining is new, it is led by the more extreme environmental organizations, they clearly have targeted the Appalachian states, and unfortunately, the administration has responded to that to some extent, I think, inappropriately and … wrongly, and we’re going to do something about it,” Boucher said during the quarterly meeting of the coal council at the Holiday Inn at Exit 7.
“I am determined to pursue this and make sure that our surface-mining operations can continue in a way that is profitable for the companies and beneficial for our regional economy.”
I could respond here with a stream of profanity, but I'll restrain myself. However, if you look at the thought bubble over my head right now (through the steam), you can see what I'm thinking. Instead, I'll just conclude this diary with a comment by Dominion "Global Warming Starts Here" Power Executive Bob Blue, who says that "Boucher has done 'a masterful job' of improving the bill." What more do I need to say? Case closed, Rick Boucher is a total corporate tool who puts corporate profits over the planet (and the people of Appalachia).
