Interior apologizes after incorrectly saying Obama blocked coal mines

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill

BY TIMOTHY CAMA - 02/02/18 02:27 PM EST

The Interior Department has apologized after an official incorrectly blamed the Obama administration for blocking approval of two coal mines.

Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt wrote a Jan. 28 opinion piece in the Grand Junction, Colo., Daily Sentinel, his hometown paper, lauding the Trump administration’s pro-coal agenda.

One accomplishment Bernhardt boasted about was approving expansion applications for the West Elk and King II mines in Colorado. “These moves were only possible with the lifting of the coal moratorium,” he wrote. “Members of the previous administration may scoff at 222 jobs as a drop in the bucket, but we understand that this number means a lot in rural communities.”

The Obama administration did indeed put a moratorium on new leases for coal mines on federal land in 2016, as part of an effort to review the environmental and climate impact of coal mining and whether to increase costs.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/372048-interior-apologizes-after-incorrectly-saying-obama-blocked-coal

[BumRushDaShow]

1. And the rest of the story

One of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s first actions in office was to roll back the coal moratorium.

But the West Elk and King II expansions were far enough along in the process that they were excluded from the moratorium from the beginning. They did not get approved until Trump took office — and Trump expedited the King II process — but their applications did move forward under Obama.

[modrepub]

2. Correct me if Im wrong

but opening new mines increases the coal supply and theoretically pushes down the price of coal, which puts more marginal mines out of business since the number of industries using coal is on the decline. The largest use of coal is in electric production and coal produced electricity is generally more expensive than combined cycle gas plant (and possibly wind and solar at this point).

[UpInArms]

3. There is not one person

Who continues to work for tRUmp who retains any moral integrity. They are so facile with their lies and non-apologies ...