Congressman Rahall On Talkline
West Virginia’s Third District Congressman says he’s hoping the federal Environmental Protection Agency takes a different approach under a new Administrator.
Democrat Congressman Nick Rahall was a guest on Friday’s MetroNews Talkline, a day after current EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson notified EPA staff members of her plans to leave that role in the New Year.
“It is an opportunity for the White House to set a more reasonable and balanced course with respect to the energy policies and coal jobs in a second administration,” Congressman Rahall said of Jackson’s planned departure.
“I hope more reasoned heads will prevail now and that we will find a replacement who better understands what the costs of the EPA’s regulations mean to our communities across rural and Appalachian America and what it means in regard to jobs for our people.”
President Barack Obama praised Jackson in a statement on Thursday.
“Over the last four years, Lisa Jackson has shown an unwavering commitment to the health of our families and our children,” President Obama said.
Critics of Jackson, though, say she’s presided over some of the most expensive and controversial rules in the agency’s history.
Congressman Rahall says the past four years, with Jackson in charge of the EPA, have been frustrating.
But, he admits, the issues facing the coal industry are not just about one person or one agency. “Coal’s problems are not totally, not totally, 100%, to be blamed on the EPA,” he said.
Even without Jackson in charge, Rahall says the industry will still be dealing with increased competition from low priced natural gas, the depletion of high quality, easily accessible coal seams and a decline in coal demand.
In a statement, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said the following about Jackson’s departure:
“There is no question that Lisa Jackson and I definitely have our differences, but we were always able to have a respectful dialogue. I wish her well in her next endeavor,” the Senator said.
“I will continue to fight for a balanced energy policy for the United States, which is exactly what we have in West Virginia, and I look forward to working with anyone willing to help bring this common sense West Virginia approach to the 113th Congress.”
At this point, no successor has been named for Jackson. Reports indicate EPA Deputy Administrator Robert Perciasepe will likely take over temporarily.
9
Comments
Tim C
The Obama Administration will just replace her with another kook who will continue down the same path. Mr. Rahall, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Rockefeller will keep pretending to fight for our coal industry while agreeing with everything the Obama Administration does behind closed doors. They all make me nauseous.
December 28, 2012 at 1:36 pm | Report comment
Alum
Too bad some West Virginians decided against a different approach this past November.
December 28, 2012 at 2:01 pm | Report comment
jethro
clean up our coal and there would be no problem
December 28, 2012 at 4:05 pm | Report comment
DonaldH
What do you mean Clean up our coal? you mean what goes in the air from power plants? DONE!! what else do you want?
December 29, 2012 at 7:52 am | Report comment
Ross Ballard
That's right , destroy it all, leave no tree standing nor stream running clear and fishable. Declare West Virginia no longer a state and forever after a national strip mine to be used for whatever big money and small minds decide, no longer to be under the jurisdiction of tree hugging hippies in Washington. Teach our children Mandarin Chinese and the virtues of unemployment insurance. Show the grandchildren pictures of picnics in the forest meadows and the way it used to be. Just be aware that one day they're going to ask you, 'Papaw, what did you do to save West Virginia when the bulldozers came?' Nick, sometimes you really disappoint me. Ross Ballard a real Democrat.
December 28, 2012 at 10:29 pm | Report comment
DonaldH
Give it a break Ross!! I suppose you are against strip malls and shopping centers as well.. Southridge-- MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL--- I-64 I-77 I79 alot of mountain top removal there as well--- Ross Ballard-- certainly you're not REALLY bragging about being a Democrat, are you?
December 29, 2012 at 7:57 am | Report comment
Jeff
Joe Manchin for EPA director. He has been trying to be seen in a high profile light lately. Lets give him one.
December 29, 2012 at 12:08 am | Report comment
Tim C
I would love for these environmentalists to go look at a reclaimed mountaintop site. It is a wildlife "Mecca". All the left wings kooks know is how it looks during the mining operation. We are destroying ourselves from within and the democrats are expediting our demise.
December 29, 2012 at 10:17 am | Report comment
Roger Henry
Rahall is obviously living in La La land. He can't be that dense. He had to know the source of the problem is his savior, Obama.
December 29, 2012 at 6:54 pm | Report comment