Winning...

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Posted on March 16th, 2011 5:11 pm

Okay, so there are many differences between Charlie Sheen “winning” and the coal industry “winning”. We can understand your pain if it seems difficult to find victories to cling to in this political climate. We continue to have excessive regulations that are driven by fear and emotion imposed on the industry we all love.

Environmental groups continue to take us to court, challenge our permits, and push for legislation that would end coal usage tomorrow (like that could actually happen). The model is –if you can’t get it done through regulation – sue. But the team here at CSM refuses to give up, so here is something we can rally around.

On Tuesday, March 8th, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett introduced his 2011-2012 budget. The budget is well over 2,000 pages, but in one paragraph, the governor is seeking to keep good on his campaign promise.

According to the proposed budget “The Cabinet official, currently C. Alan Walker (Secretary of Department of Community and Economic Development), who is awaiting Senate confirmation, "is empowered to expedite any permit or action pending in any agency where the creation of jobs may be impacted.”

Let’s be clear, industry, whether coal, oil or gas, is not getting a free ride. We will still have to comply with hundred of regulations from multiple departments. Extreme groups want you to believe the whole system is turned upside down – that is simply not true. Fortunately, the PA DCED agrees with us – “The secretary will not be authorized to override an agency's permit decision”, said PA DCED Spokesman Steve Kratz. “All applications still will be required to go through the agency approval process required in statute.”

Additionally, in a very timely press release from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we now know the economic impact of over-burdensome, delayed regulations. The price tag is a whopping $1.1 trillion to the economy. Looks like the new governor of Pennsylvania is on to something. The press release and full report is available here.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate this tiny victory for common sense.

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