Obama Strip-Mining Pick Bad News for Coal Country
Industry-Friendly State Regulator Signals There Will Be No Crackdown on Abuses
Washington, DC — President Obama’s choice to run the Office of Surface Mining signifies that campaign promises to end environmentally destructive coal mining practices, such as mountain-top removal, will be abandoned, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Placating the coal industry is evolving into the central plank of the administration’s environmental agenda.
In July, after months of internal wrangling, President Obama passed over some prominent mining reform candidates to select Joseph G. Pizarchik, a long-time Pennsylvania mining regulator to head the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation, and Enforcement (OSM). Pizarchik is well liked by industry and loathed by coal community groups and environmentalists, many of which are opposing his confirmation.
During his tenure at Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, Pizarchik has hewn a solidly pro-industry line on topics such as acid mine drainage, subsidence from longwall mining and using mining slag as valley fill. In particular, Pizarchik has become a leading advocate for disposal of toxic industrial coal ash in coal mine sites, contending that it is a “beneficial use” of the same coal combustion waste involved in the disastrous TVA spill this past December.
Perhaps most disturbingly, during his August 6th confirmation hearing Pizarchik claimed ignorance on the issue of mountain-top removal or what changes the Obama administration might propose, since that mining technique is not widely used in his state. Given his industry orientation and the administration’s aversion to reformers, it would be more than mildly surprising for Pizarchik to ultimately take a strong environmental stand once confirmed. The Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources has yet to vote on his nomination.
“It is appointments like this that are causing many to become disillusioned with the Obama presidency,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting an Obama campaign promise to curb mountain-top removals from which his administration has backed away, approving scores of permits for mountain-top mining. “Putting forward a nominee who claims ignorance on a central issue so that his true position cannot be discerned is the sort of cynical politics I thought President Obama vowed to change.”
Born from a history of coalfield tragedies, OSM was created in 1977 to protect the communities and land from irreversible harm and assure prompt, thorough reclamation once mining was completed. The law that President Carter signed has never lived up to its promise, however. The Pizarchik nomination denotes that reform of OSM will not be a priority in this administration either.
Apparently staying in place as Deputy OSM Director is Glenda Owens who was named to that post in 2001 by President Bush. Owens has a long record of defending mountain-top removal and was the Bush administration’s lead spokesperson on the issue.
“OSM is a demoralized, hollowed-out agency and the prospects are it will stay that way,” Ruch added.
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See coal country citizen opposition letter opposing Pizarchik
Read a letter from Pizarchik illustrating why environmental groups disrespect him
Look at the White House announcement of the Pizarchik nomination
View Obama administration retreat on curbing mountain-top removal
