Rep. David McKinley introduces legislation to revoke the EPA’s p - WTRF 7 News Sports Weather - Wheeling Steubenville

McKinley introduces legislation to revoke the EPA’s permit authority

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By Ann Ali, Senior Political Reporter - bio | email

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Rep. David B. McKinley, R-W.Va., recently introduced legislation to take away the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to revoke permits after the Secretary of the Army has issued the permits.

Last March, a federal court ruled the EPA overreached its powers by revoking a permit at the Spruce No. 1 mine in Logan County. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said in her decision the EPA's action was "a stunning power for an agency to arrogate itself" and said the EPA used "magical thinking" to justify its decision. The EPA appealed that decision last May.

"If EPA can retroactively pull a permit at a coal mine, what's to stop them from doing so at any construction site or manufacturing plant?" McKinley said in a news release. "The ability to change the rules once a project is started creates a level of uncertainty that hurts not just the coal industry but all industries."

McKinley said the if the EPA is successful, it would cost jobs and investment throughout the country.