What help if any does the state
Department of Environmental Protection need in responding to the federal EPA’s
Clean Power plan? A bill being considered by the House of Delegates would get
the state legislature involved.
The bill, HB 2004, was up for public
hearing Monday evening at the state capitol after passing the House Judiciary
Committee back on Friday. Rob Goodwin with the West Virginia Environmental
Council urged lawmakers to abandon the idea.
“This puts a lot of burden on DEP.
They’ve testified already to the House Judiciary Committee that they need as
much flexibility as they can possibly have in order to comply with the
deadlines of the Clean Power plan,” Goodwin said.
The EPA’s proposed rule could be final
by June and then states would likely have a year to submit their plans of
compliance when it comes to cleaner air.
“Everything in this bill just puts more
burden on them (EPA), makes their job harder,” Goodwin said at the public
hearing.
But West Virginia Coal Association Vice
President Chris Hamilton said the legislature routinely approves rules for
state agencies. He said getting a look at the state’s response to the Clean
Power rule would be similar work.
“Even with the complexities and level
of importance contained in this action–the act of sitting in oversight is
relatively the same,” Hamilton
The bill is now up for consideration by
the full House of Delegates.
