On the recordJanuary 12, 2016
Although this is a very well-intended amendment, the purpose of the section of the bill affected by this amendment is already to ensure that good science is used in the development of the rules by making the scientific products on which the rule is based publicly available for review and already provides for an emergency exemption if the delay in the publication of a rule during this public review will pose ``an imminent and severe threat to human life.'' An imminent and severe threat to human life, that is already addressed in the text of the bill. Mr. Chairman, I believe that this is unnecessary. We also have protection under the existing Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, SMCRA. It is to ``establish a nationwide program to protect society and the environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations.'' The law and the proposed bill that is before us today already are designed to help protect human health and the environment. So although this is a well-intended amendment, it is unnecessary, given this background. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.
