Oppose Obama's $1.8 Billion Tax on American Mining

A very interesting post from http://actformining.org// about restrictive mining operations. This follows this post about the EPA's regulations against American industry.  This follows this previous article about it to encourage American energy independence. This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran  and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and you can read a very interesting book  HERE!

You can also write your two Senators about anti-industrial environmental regulations HERE!

Oppose Obama's $1.8 Billion Tax on American Mining

At a time when America is recovering from one of the worst economic downturns in recent history, President Obama has proposed a $1.8 Billion new tax on American mining.






Video: How Well Do You

Know U.S. Minerals Mining?





Visit our action center today and tell Congress to oppose a new tax on American mining that could destroy American jobs and harm our nation's economic growth.




The new tax would threaten thousands of high-paying American mining jobs and has the potential to seriously harm the economic competitiveness of American mining by driving investments - and much needed to jobs - to other mineral producing countries.



Tell Congress to Protect Our Economy and Oppose a 1.8 billion Tax Increase on American Mining

Take Action:Tell Congress to Support America's Domestic Mining Industry

An interesting post from http://actformining.org/ about an attempt to revitalize America's mining industry. This follows this post about Obama's attempt to attack oil companies. This follows this post  about a creative solution to Gulf drilling and this previous article about the recent news about the ban on offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here!


Take Action:Tell Congress to Support America's Domestic Mining Industry








SUPPORT U.S. MINERAL INDEPENDENCE

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has authored legislation aimed at revitalizing our nations' domestic production of critical minerals:



"Minerals are the building blocks of our economy. From rare earth elements to molybdenum, we rely on minerals for everything from the smallest computer chips to the tallest skyscrapers. This draft bill provides clear, programmatic direction to keep us competitive with foreign nations and promote a stable supply of critical minerals." - Sen. Murkowski



Click here to ask your Senators to co-sponsor Sen. Murkowski's "Critical Minerals Policy Act"





The U.S. is home to an abundance of untapped rare-earths and other critical minerals capable of meeting our nation's vast manufacturing and national security needs, so why are we so dependent on foreign resources from countries like China & Russia for these minerals?



We think it's time for America to start creating mining jobs instead of destroying them and produce these minerals right here at home!



"With so much attention paid to our reliance on foreign oil, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that other minerals are also critical to our economy. This legislation would modernize our mineral policies to bolster domestic production, protect the environment, expand manufacturing and promote recycling. Every one of these areas offers significant opportunities for job creation." - Sen. Murkowski



Now is the time for the U.S. to reduce our dependence on other countries and start investing in our own resources.



Click Here - Support U.S. Mineral Production Today!

Encourage Natural Gas Development and Economic Growth

An interesting post from http://consumerenergyalliance.org/ about regulation of the Delaware River Basin. This follows this post about EPA regulations. This follows this post about domestic energy resources and jobs. This follows this previous post about the drilliling moratorium. This follows this post  about a creative solution to Gulf drilling and this previous article about the recent news about the ban on offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here!

.Encourage Natural Gas Development and Economic Growth


In response to legal action, the Delaware River Basin Commission – a regional authority that oversees the water resources of the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and New Jersey – has proposed a series of stringent regulations that will effectively ban natural gas production in its jurisdiction.



Parts of the Marcellus Shale, which could be the second largest natural gas field in the world, may be kept off limits if the Commission proceeds with some of these regulations. Every day, millions of American consumers rely on stable, affordable supplies of natural gas for electricity, heating and end-uses such as fertilizer, chemicals and medicines. Given the abundant supplies the United States has, we must support homegrown energy and the economic and energy security benefits it produces.



Even more, the Marcellus Shale has demonstrated the economic power it harnesses: In Pennsylvania, tens of thousands of jobs have been created in a just a few years thanks to the natural gas boom. Areas in the Commission’s jurisdiction, however, may not be able to benefit from their resources if this series of stringent regulations – that broadly affects nearly every stage of production from exploration to processing – is enacted. For more information, please click here.



Take Action:



The Delaware River Basin Commission is now accepting comments on its proposed regulations overseeing natural gas development projects. Please tell the Commission that you support natural gas development and the benefits it brings to consumers. Feel free to use the sample text below; the comment period closes March 16, 2011.



Take Action and submit the following letter

Your Information

We need a little bit of information from you to properly address and send with the letter.

EPA'S REGULATORY TRAIN WRECK

An interesting post from www.nma.org about EPA regulations. This follows this post about domestic energy resources and jobs. This follows this previous post about the drilliling moratorium This follows this post  about a creative solution to Gulf drilling and this previous article about the recent news about the ban on offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here!

EPA'S REGULATORY TRAIN WRECK


What It Is, When It's Coming and What You Can Do To Stop It




With 14 million Americans out of work, our nation's extraordinary, domestic reserves of coal are more critical than ever before - especially as a source of abundant, low-cost electricity capable of powering and sustaining a robust, long-term recovery. Even at a time of great economic stress, EPA is poised to enact a series of back-door mandates that threaten millions of American jobs and increases the cost of every households electricity-rates. Collectively, it's called the EPA "Train Wreck" - and it's right around the bend. Together, we need to oppose these regulations and urge our representatives to do the same.



We encourage you to use our form below to send a message to your representatives and urge them to oppose regulations that would further hurt America's economy and eliminate high-paying mining jobs across the nation.

As part of this regulatory power grab by the EPA, the agency is proposing a combination of major regulations and policy rules hat will affect multiple business sectors across the country. Of particular concern to mining, the EPA is proposing:



Greenhouse Gas Rule (GHG) - Increase U.S. Energy Costs/Reduce Household income - average income dropping by more than $1,200 annually by 2030*



EPA has moved forward with greenhouse gas regulations under the Clean Air Act. On Jan. 2, the EPA implemented its GHG permitting program for certain sources that emit GHG's above a certain threshold. In 2011, EPA will roll out GHG performance standards for power plants and refineries, including coal-fired power plants. This power grab will give the EPA unprecedented ability to regulate America's economy. American mineral and metal producers, small and large manufacturers and businesses of every variety that rely on affordable electricity will suffer the consequences. *Dr. Roger Bezdek, "Potential Harm of Greenhouse Gas Control Regulations to Minorities, Low-income Persons, the Elderly, and Those Living on Fixed Incomes," September 2010



Transport Rule - Estimated Cost: $130 Billion by 2015*



In 2005, EPA finalized the Clean Air Interstate Rule aimed at reducing nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions by 70 percent by 2025. Only six years later, EPA is poised to impose a new nationwide mandate that, according to an analysis by Bernstein Research, has the potential to severely impact nearly 20 percent of the nation's coal-based generation. *Metin Celebi, Frank Graves, "Potential Coal Plant Retirements under Emerging Environmental Regulations", The Brattle Group, December 8, 2010



Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Rule - Projected coal-plant closures as a result of rule: 30-70 GW*



EPA is slated to propose new standards requiring costly emissions controls, forcing coal units to install equipment that in some cases is prohibitively expensive, and other cases simply do not yet commercially exist. According to FBR Capital, the combination of the Transport and MACT rules could force the retirement of 30-70 GW of the lowest cost electricity generating capacity.



*Scott Disavino, "EPA regs may shut down 70,000MW of U.S. Coal Plants: FBR," Reuters, December 13, 2010



Ozone Rule - Estimated number of U.S. jobs lost: 7.3 million*

After imposing new rules lowering standards for ozone to 85 parts per billion (ppb) in 1997 and reducing that number again to 75 ppb in 2008, EPA has proposed new reductions to as low as 60 ppb. According to an analysis by the Congressional Research Service, moving the goalposts yet again would push 565 new U.S. counties into non-attainment status under the Clean Air Act.



*Unions for Jobs and the Environment, Comments on Proposed National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone, March 22, 2010, (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0173;FRL-3102-1).



Coal Combustion Rule - As many of 350 coal-based facilities shuttered*



Cement, drywall, kitchen counters, even bowling balls - just some of the products that rely on recycled coal residuals as an essential component in their makeup. Such recycling activities could come under new threat if EPA re-categorizes these materials as "hazardous," costing as much as $75 billion over the next two decades according to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).



*Neil King Jr., and Rebecca Smith, "White House, EPA at Odds Over Coal-Waste Rules," Wall Street Journal, January 9, 2010



And Workers Agree: New Rules Result in Lost Middle-Class Jobs

According to a report from the United Mine Workers of America, job losses associated with the closure of EPA-targeted coal units could be significant, amounting to more than 50,000 direct jobs in the coal, utility and rail industries, and an indirect job loss figure exceeding 250,000. These are the regions expected to be hit the hardest.



Without your action, these back-door mandates could threaten the jobs of millions of Americans, impede America's economic growth and increase the cost of electricity for families and businesses across the nation.



Contact your Representive and make your voice heard!

Tell the Obama Administration that We Need Jobs and Thoughtful Access To Our Domestic Resources:

An interesting post from http://consumerenergyalliance.org/ about domestic energy resources and jobs. This follows this post about mining in the United States. This follows this previous post about the drilliling moratorium This follows this post  about a creative solution to Gulf drilling and this previous article about the recent news about the ban on offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.


Tell the Obama Administration that We Need Jobs!


Tell the Obama Administration that We Need Jobs and Thoughtful Access To Our Domestic Resources:



Following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy in April 2010, the Obama Administration instituted a temporary moratorium on all deepwater drilling for oil and natural gas and continues to delay permitting for many offshore operations. Thanks in part to these delays, domestic production of oil will decline by 20,000 barrels a day in 2011 and by 130,000 barrels a day in 2012.



Currently, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Enforcement and Regulation (BOEMRE) is beginning to look at areas to be included for in the 2012-2017 offshore oil and gas leasing program. Previously, the Obama Administration intended to include areas in the Mid- and South-Atlantic as well as parts of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. However, just last month, the Administration decided not to include these areas. Now, we must make sure other areas are not excluded from potential leases.



While we strive to develop and utilize alternative and renewable sources of energy, we will still rely on oil and natural gas for transportation, electricity, manufacturing, consumer goods and several other uses that are part of our everyday lives. Even more, our economy depends on the millions of jobs and billions in revenues offshore production generates. As the economy recovers, let’s make sure we have policies in place that support long-term economic growth. For more information, please click here.



Take Action:



Join us in our effort as we build public support for offshore oil & gas exploration and development, as well as alternative energy development. To get involved and ensure our voices are heard, tell Washington today that you support expanded future offshore leasing. Feel free to use our sample text (see below); the comment period closes March 31, 2011

Tell the Obama Administration We Need Jobs

An interesting post from www.consumerenergyalliance.org about the EPA's jobs restrictions. This follows this post about mining in the United States.  This follows this previous post about the drilliling moratorium This follows this post  about a creative solution to Gulf drilling and this previous article about the recent news about the ban on offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.

Tell the Obama Administration We Need Jobs

Tell the Obama Administration That We Need Jobs and Thoughtful Access to Our Domestic Resources!



Following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy in April 2010, the Obama Administration instituted a temporary moratorium on all deepwater drilling for oil and natural gas and continues to delay permitting for many offshore operations. Thanks in part to these delays, domestic production of oil will decline by 20,000 barrels a day in 2011 and by 130,000 barrels a day in 2012.

While we strive to develop and utilize alternative and renewable sources of energy, we will still rely on oil and natural gas for transportation, electricity, manufacturing, consumer goods and several other uses that are part of our everyday lives. Even more, our economy depends on the millions of jobs and billions in revenues offshore production generates. As the economy recovers, let's make sure we have policies in place that support long-term economic growth.

This is the time to act...

To get involved and ensure our voices are heard, tell Washington today that you support expanded future offshore leasing by going here.

EPA Permit Veto is an Assault on Appalachian Jobs

An interesting post from www.facesofcoal.org about mining in the United States. This follows this post about Alaska and Offshore Drilling.  This follows this previous post about the drilliling moratorium This follows this post  about a creative solution to Gulf drilling and this previous article about the recent news about the ban on offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.

EPA Permit Veto is an Assault on Appalachian Jobs

This week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a drastic step against Appalachian coal jobs – the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. revoked the Spruce No. 1 Mine permit – a permit that was lawfully approved by the EPA in 2007.




In the short term, hundreds of people will lose their jobs in southern West Virginia.



In the long term, thousands of miners across Appalachia could be at risk of being laid-off.



The revocation of the Spruce No 1. Mine permit is the act of a runaway regulatory agency that has no understanding of the economic, community and energy impacts of their decision and sets a dangerous precedent.



The permit vetoed by the EPA was a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit was issued in 2007 after a 10-year review in which EPA fully agreed and approved all provisions of the permit. The mine had been operating for three years before the EPA took its initial steps to revoke the permit.



The EPA’s veto will certainly have consequences for coal jobs, but the decision will also impact any group seeking a Section 404 permit.



“If EPA is allowed to revoke this permit, every similarly valid … permit held by any entity — businesses, public works agencies and individual citizens — will be frozen by increased regulatory limbo and potentially subject to the same unilateral, after-the-fact revocation,” says the Waters Advocacy Coalition, a group that includes the National Realtors Association, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the United Egg Producers. See the letter in The Wall Street Journal.



This move by the EPA is a job-killer. It’s an assault on Appalachia.



We need your help to stop it.



Please urge your lawmakers that this action will not stand – that EPA needs to reconsider its actions and come up with a common-sense energy policy that does not single out coal and destroy jobs.



TAKE ACTION now!



Thank you,



FACES of Coal



(Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security)

Stop the EPA from Setting a Precedent that Threatens Mines Across Appalachia

A very interesting post from www.facesofcoal.org about the attack on domestic fuel development. This follows this post about foreign condemnation of the United States from WITHIN the UNITED STATES and this previous article about the recent news about offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has steadily increased its attacks on Appalachian coal mining throughout the year – and has severely overstepped its authority with the revocation on the Spruce No. 1 mining permit.
Why is Spruce No. 1 so important? It’s the first and only time that the EPA has pulled an existing permit and only the 12th time since 1972 that a permit has been vetoed.
The arbitrary actions of the EPA are completely unlawful since the Spruce No 1. mine received all of the necessary approvals after a decade-long process that required authorization from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and yes, the EPA.
With those approvals, the mine was in operation for three years before the EPA revoked the permit utilizing a provision of the Clean Water Act that only applies before a permit has been issued and against the opinion of the USACE – and the EPA fully acknowledges that they have never used this authority in the 38 years since the Clean Water Act was enacted.
The public comment period on the Spruce No. 1 Mine announcements is open until June 1, 2010 and we need our FACES members to write the EPA and tell them that this unprecedented action should be reversed. We cannot allow the EPA to turn this action into a disastrous precedent that endangers the future of mining in Appalachia.

To submit your comment, you must use the online form at: www.regulations.gov / docket number EPA-R03-OW-2009-0985-0001

When writing, introduce yourself and describe your opposition to the EPA’s action against the Spruce No. 1 mine. Feel free to copy and paste the text below into your message. Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security(FACES of Coal)Suggested text:

I am writing to oppose the revocation of the Spruce No. 1 Mine permit. After three years of operation and after over a decade of permit review by state and federal regulators the EPA revoked the Spruce No. 1 without proper authority or precedent.
To shut down the mine, the EPA is claiming authority under a provision of the Clean Water Act – § 404(c) – that only applies before a permit has been issued, an authority the EPA did not use when the permit was under review in 2007 and goes against U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) opinion, which contends that the EPA has no grounds for revoking the permit.
The EPA is using a Clean Water Act provision and yet, an environmental impact statement compiled by the USACE and reviewed by the EPA concluded that the Spruce No. 1 mining site would “contribute minimally to cumulative impacts on surface water quality” and would add waterways and wetlands after reclamation of the mined lands.
The action against the Spruce No.1 mine is unfair, outrageous and wholly exceeds the authority of the EPA. It threatens of hundreds of jobs at the mining site and could have serious repercussions for all mining jobs in West Virginia and throughout Appalachia.
Coal mining operations already comply with strict environmental standards set by the local, state and federal governments. In addition to complying with all environmental laws and regulations, the coal industry creates new economic opportunities, while meeting the nation’s energy requirements. I strongly urge you to reinstate the Spruce No. 1 permits and provide a fair and realistic approach to evaluating environmental and economic priorities in Appalachia.

Don't Let Federal Regulators Choose Appalachia's Economic Future

A very interesting post from www.FACESofCoal.org about mining. This follows this post about safe offshore drilling and this previous article about the recent news about offshore drilling to encourage American energy independence This is a key issue to prevent money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more posts like this click here.

Don't Let Federal Regulators Choose Appalachia's Economic Future
A group of federal agencies have teamed up to make decisions on the future of Appalachia – decisions that could impact our jobs, our communities, our towns and even our own backyards.
The Appalachian Regional Development Initiative, which consists of representatives from the Appalachian Regional Commission, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Labor, Small Business Administration and Environmental Protection Agency are developing strategies for pushing economic development and allocating federal resources in Appalachia.
Do you want these agencies making decisions without letting them know what you think?
The bureaucrats in Washington have already shown that they do not understand the importance of coal to Appalachia. The ongoing attack on coal by the EPA demonstrates an unwillingness to recognize that the region and nation depend on coal. They fail to see that without the economic base of coal, Appalachia would lose its main economic driver and effectively turn the region into a “no jobs zone.”
The Appalachian Regional Development Initiative has held listening sessions over the past few months and the sessions and comments have been taken over by anti-coal activists pushing their activist agenda. We need you to act now to set the record straight and demonstrate that Appalachian residents support coal!
Time is tight – the online comment period for the Appalachian Regional Development Initiative ends today, April 30th. To submit your comment, you must use the online form:
http://survey.sc.egov.usda.gov/survey.aspx?surveykey=89
The comment section is a little challenging to navigate but this is very important. The online comment section lists five categories. Please add your comments to every section, but pay special attention to the Economic Base Strength category. Coal is Appalachia’s base strength, supplying the region with thousands of jobs and billions to the regional economy while also helping to fund our communities. Make sure the Appalachian Regional Development Initiative hears the voices of the Appalachian residents that are going to be impacted by the decisions they make.
The online comment section limits entries to 150 words and under. If the comments are longer than 150 the survey will not accept the comment. Please tailor your comments to the 150 word limit and ensure that your voice is heard or feel free to copy and paste the text below into your message. Thank you for exercising your voice and your patience in this process.
Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security (FACES of Coal)
Suggested text:
Coal is the BASE STRENGH of Appalachia. Coal can support long-term economic development and will create jobs in the Appalachian region for years to come – as long as the government doesn’t regulate coal mining out of existence! Everything the Appalachian Regional Development Initiative is looking at, from self-sustaining communities with strong leadership, to a skilled work force or the physical infrastructure of the Appalachian region is related to coal mining in some degree. The funding needed for schools, public works and communities are provided by the revenue and taxes generated by coal. Coal is the nation’s most abundant resource and with a two hundred year reserve it’s by far the best long-term guarantee for jobs and economic security in Appalachia – no other industry even comes close to providing the level of support, good-paying jobs, economic growth and stability that coal mining can guarantee.