In recent months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acted with unprecedented encroachment, circumventing the law with more stringent regulations for the coal industry. In early October, the EPA blocked 11 water permits in the Appalachian region.
Yesterday, Kentucky responded. Gov. Beshear and the Kentucky Coal Association filed suit in a federal court in Pikeville.
"Once again the EPA is overstepping its bounds and harming the coal industry in Kentucky," Kentucky Coal Association President Bill Bissert said.
Beshear defended the commonwealth's action by stating that Kentucky had tried to work with the EPA but failed to find common ground. He called the EPA's actions "arbitrary and unreasonable" and said they could have a "devastating impact" on Kentucky's economy.
The administration is to be commended for taking seriously its obligation to protect the sovereignty, constitution and citizens of this commonwealth.
What's next? A lawsuit filed by the Beshear administration pushing back against Washington's unrestricted and unwarranted involvement in Kentucky's health care policies?
1 comment:
This is a start, but Beshear has a lot of work to do if he is going to truly assert Kentucky's sovereignty. Let's hope this is the sign of things to come.
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