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Homepage News Feed / Gibbs Objects to US EPA; Defends Ohio Coal JobsCOLUMBUS, OH – State Senator Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville), a candidate for Congress in Ohioʼs 18th district, testified yesterday during a public hearing by the U.S. Army Corps regarding a proposed suspension of the “Nationwide 21” permit in the Appalachian region of the United States, including Ohio.
The Nationwide 21 permit is a permit issued and renewed as recently as 2007 by the Army Corps to allow for surface coal mine operations in the Appalachian
region, including areas in Ohio. The Army Corps and the US EPA are now proposing the suspension or modification of these permits for operations only in theAppalachian region, while allowing surface mining in other parts of the country to remain the same.
“The Nationwide 21 permit has been in use in Ohioʼs coal mine for decades, and was recently re-approved by the Army Corps,” said Gibbs. “Now the US EPA has
decided to come in and change course, putting thousands of coal jobs in Ohio in jeopardy; we cannot stand for that type of irresponsible regulation.”
Gibbs questioned Washington politiciansʼ campaign for “energy independence” while trying to bankrupt and eliminate the domestic coal industry. “Coal is the
most abundant and affordable domestic energy source that we have,” said Gibbs. “The question is why are our federal regulators trying to eliminate that
option along with the thousands of coal jobs that go along with it?”
Senator Gibbs also questioned the lack of participation by Zack Space at the public hearing. “First Zack votes with Pelosi to kill coal jobs and raise energy
prices with Cap-and-Trade, and then he doesnʼt think it is important enough to even send a member of his staff to help save these coal jobs,” commented Gibbs
on the absence. “If we are going to be successful in fighting the EPA and the Obama administrationʼs attack on our coal industry, we need every elected
official to participate. It is discouraging to see Zackʼs lack of concern for our area.”
Senator Gibbs also encourages other concerned Ohio residents to voice their objections to the Army Corps by logging onto www.Regulations.gov under docket #COE-2009-0032.
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