Sam Gibbons: “industries around this Nation continually are burdened by unfair and unnecessary regulations. However, last year the…”

“industries around this Nation continually are burdened by unfair and unnecessary regulations. However, last year the mining industry faced an additional and unnecessary burden, an unlawful regulation. Previously, Congress called for the National Academy of Sciences to study and assess the effectiveness of the existing 3809 regulations that affect the mining industry. That study, authorized by Congress, concluded that the existing laws were effective in protecting the environment. Yet the Clinton administration last year promulgated new 3809 regulations in spite of the National Academy's findings and in direct violation of Federal law. In fiscal year 2000, the Interior appropriations bill clearly prohibited the promulgation of any new 3809 rules except those 'which are not inconsistent with the National Academy of Science studies.' Thankfully, President Bush realized the error of President Clinton's ways, and now we have only to roll back the unnecessary and unlawful 3809 regulations proposed by the previous administration, which do not protect the environment or the American people.”