Domenici Opening Statement on Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
November 13, 2007
05:53 PM
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today issued the following statement at today’s committee hearing on the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, Policy Issues Thirty Years Later:
“Three months ago, we marked the 30th anniversary of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Originally signed by President Jimmy Carter on August 3rd, 1977, this law established a top-to-bottom approach for regulation of domestic coal production. Between then and now, it has required an impressive balancing act.
“Although efforts to implement this law have been contentious throughout its history, the difficulties encountered are ultimately outweighed by the successes achieved. This fact is clearly evidenced by the essential role that the energy feedstock governed by this statute – coal – continues to play in our energy supply.
“Coal provides more than half of our electric power. At a time when demand for electricity is growing twice as fast as supply, coal provides an important safeguard against tenuous power reliability. At a time when energy prices are volatile and increasing, coal has remained a stable and affordable commodity. At a time when our reliance on foreign sources of energy has increased, coal has provided an important countermeasure to that trend.
“These roles will only grow more important in the future. Coal is an abundant resource that we can produce domestically, and rely upon, for centuries to come. We need coal to keep the lights on, to keep energy affordable, and to support our economic prosperity in the coming years.
“Because we need coal, it is therefore essential that we continue to drive our policies toward developing and deploying clean coal technologies. Instead of policies that act as a tax on America’s domestic coal industry, we should provide incentives for investment in technologies that will allow us to use our most abundant resource in a cleaner, more efficient way.
“The Surface Mining Control and Act Reclamation of 1977, and its implementation over the years, has recognized America’s need for coal. Twenty-nine billion tons of coal have been mined in the United States since this law was enacted. This has occurred in conjunction with reclamation of several hundred thousand acres of mine sites abandoned in the past, while ensuring that we not create additional problems for the future.
“By striking a balance between domestic resource production and the protection of our environment, this Act has shown that it is possible to meet our energy needs with our own energy resources.
“I look forward to hearing from the witnesses.”
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