The skulk* gets larger as the number of hen house inhabitants is about to get smaller
”How can someone with his focus on defending the industry at all costs be the right choice for the federal agency in charge of overseeing that industry?”
The above quote is from Davie Ransdell who was a former supervisor at the Kentucky Division of Mine Permits. Ransdell is talking about J. Steven Gardner who the Trump administration just named to head the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. From Ken Ward, Jr. in this morning’s Charleston Gazette-Mail:
President . . .
Posted in: mountaintop removaltrump administration
More foxes added to hen house guard duty
From the Think Progress:
The White House announced Thursday that President Donald Trump has officially nominated Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, to be deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Until recently, Wheeler was a registered lobbyist for Murray Energy; he de-registered as a . . .
Posted in: epamurray energytrump administration
Trump makes more appointments
Three more foxes for the hen house
Earlier this month I highlighted Trump's appointment of a former coal company president whose company had a history of mine safety violations to head the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Rather than an isolated incident -- this decision appears to be a part of a deliberate policy. Here are some additional appointments I . . .
I’m sure it’s just a coincidence
Mining execs to meet at Trump hotel where rooms will be $800+ a night
The headline from yesterday’s Intercept:
After Massive Giveaways To Industry, Mining Executives Will Spend Big at Trump's D.C. Hotel
The article explains:
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES of some of the largest coal and mining companies in the country have chosen the Trump International Hotel in Washington, . . .
Posted in: coaldavid mckinleytrump administration
Mountaintop removal update
It may not get many headlines but it still continues to do damage
Background for a study
As explained by the New York Times:
Last year, West Virginia officials asked the Obama administration to look into the health effects of mountaintop mining, a technique used to extract underlying coal. . . .
The National Academies assembled a 12-member expert committee to assess “new . . .
Posted in: mountaintop removaltrump administration
Trump puts former coal CEO with "pattern" of safety violations in charge of mine safety
Next up for Trump -- fox to be put in charge of henhouse
The announcement
From the Huffington Post:
The White House announced Saturday that Trump would be nominating David Zatezalo to run the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Zatezalo was previously the CEO of Rhino Resources, a Kentucky-based coal company.
Local coverage
Zatezalo grew up in . . .
Cheerleading for Trump
So much for Murray Energy
Last week I wrote about Robert Murray and Murray Energy's attempt to get relief for coal fired power plants from the Trump administration. If you follow the coal industry, this was an important story. As the Associated Press reported:
The Trump administration has rejected a coal industry . . .
