The following statement was released by National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Hal Quinn following introduction of H.R. 1948, the “Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2013,” co-sponsored by Reps. John Mica (R-Fla.), Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) that restores states’ authority over their water quality programs and prohibits arbitrary federal interference with state-approved permits and water quality standards that has jeopardized more than $220 billion of annual economic activity:
“The legislation is consistent with Congress’ intent that states should have the primary responsibility and rights over land and water resources within the states. It will deliver important benefits to major sectors of the economy that depend on federal permits to conduct operations, including home building, ranching, farming, mining, construction and other industries. It upholds the validity of state-approved permits in the face of EPA’s arbitrary decisions to void them and protects the right of states to manage their own water quality programs as Congress clearly intended.
“This bill will provide the clarity and certainty around permitting necessary to the companies who make huge investments in good faith following issuance of a permit by a state. It would prevent the EPA from overstepping its bounds and superseding a state’s permitting decision. Similar legislation was approved by the House last year on a bi-partisan basis. We urge Congress to move forward swiftly to pass this timely bill. It is a bi-partisan solution that will strengthen business confidence and put Americans back to work. NMA thanks Reps. Mica, Rahall, and Gibbs for introducing this important legislation and urges the Senate to take it up quickly and put Americans back to work.”