Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, with respect, I quote Mr. McKinley: ``We have to do this for the people of West Virginia and around the country.'' And I agree, and this is why we need the stream protection rule. It is a commonsense approach to minimizing the impacts to surface water and groundwater from coal mining. In Appalachia alone, mountaintop removal has been responsible for the destruction of 2,000 miles of streams. Peer reviewed studies have linked mountaintop removal mining to cancer, birth defects, and serious health problems for residents living near these mining sites. Just look at my Virginia map. The highest death rates in the State and the most chronic diseases are in the coal fields. {time} 1430 I saw this firsthand while I was Lieutenant Governor of Virginia for 8 years, when mountaintop removal mining became the most prevalent coal mining technique in central Appalachia. That is why this is so important. Communities near coal mining sites have a right to know what is in their water because it impacts their livelihood and their lifespan. This rule includes commonsense monitoring of streams--many of which are important drinking water sources--for pollutants such as lead, selenium, and manganese. Basic monitoring for these toxins is essential, given their potential impacts on human health and the environment. The rule also requires that streams and lands disturbed by surface coal mining be restored.…”