02.03.11

HOEVEN COSPONSORS LEGISLATION TO PREVENT UNFAIR REGULATORY TREATMENT IN EPA PERMITTING

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today said he will cosponsor a bill with West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin (D-W. Va) to prevent unfair regulatory treatment by the Environmental Protection Agency. Specifically, the EPA Fair Play Act will ensure that the EPA cannot revoke previously awarded Clean Water Act 404 permits. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates mining projects, and other industrial surface activities.

The bill was prompted by an unprecedented revocation of a 404 permit for a mining project in West Virginia, but Hoeven said the principle at stake is of importance to all energy states.

“This is a prime example of what we mean when we talk about the need for regulatory certainty to grow the economy and create jobs,” Hoeven said. “Companies won’t make investments to hire people and deploy new technologies if they can’t depend on the stability of a regulatory permit. This affects not only West Virginia, but any state that is working to develop its energy resources, and is especially damaging in the depths of a recession.”