WASHINGTON, D.C. — The resolution disapproving the controversial Stream Protection Rule is on its way to President Donald Trump’s desk after gaining approval in the U.S. Senate Thursday evening.
The rule from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement was finalized in December and officially took effect before President Obama left office.
It requires additional mine reclamation, data gathering and monitoring of waterways at and near mine sites during all phases of mining. Fewer exceptions for a 100-foot required buffer between mining sites and streams were also part of it.
During a Thursday floor speech, Manchin said the rule was another example of over-regulation.
“Why would you want to duplicate? If you have an agency that’s not doing its job either change the personnel or get rid of the agency,” Manchin said.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, also spoke on the floor Thursday, said the rule was bad from the start.
“The misguided Stream Protection Rule could have put one-third of the remaining coal jobs at risk nationally, a threat coal-producing states simply cannot afford,” Capito said.
The disapproval resolution passed the U.S. House Wednesday. President Trump is expected to sign the measure.