West Virginia Introduces Mine Safety, EPA Bills

A West Virginia delegation has introduced two separate bills in the US Congress on mine safety and limiting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority.

The delegation, led by Democrats Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, have reintroduced the Robert C Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act in the Senate.

The initial legislation, worked out by Rockefeller and the late Senator Robert Byrd, was introduced in the summer of 2010 prior to Byrd's death.

The bill seeks the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prevent the EPA from revoking a permit.

Once issued, the bill would remove the EPA's authority to retroactively veto existing Clean Water Act permits.