May Mining Alliance Meeting Honored Mary Poulton, PhD
Published May 25, 2017
Women’s Mining Coalition 25th Annual Fly-In to Washington DC
Published May 25, 2017
43 participants
3 ½ days of meetings
58 Senate meetings (63% of total Senate offices targeted)
151 House meetings (74% of total House offices targeted)
209 face-to-face meetings
88 emails to non-visited offices, including digital issue papers
Grand Total: 297 Congressional and Senate Contacts
21 meetings with actual Senators and Congressmen
23 meetings with Legislative Directors
5 meetings with Chiefs of Staff or Deputy Chiefs of Staff
17 meetings with Senior Policy Advisors
9 meetings with Legislative Counsels
1 meetings with regulatory agency (DOI – BLM)
WMC 2017 Fly-In issues focused on both hardrock and coal. Fly-In participants advocated that EPA’s Final CERCLA § 108(b) Rule should establish there is no justification for a CERCLA § 108(b) financial assurance program because state and federal bonding programs eliminate the need for EPA’s involvement.
Participants also communicated to Hill staffers that BLM’s and US Forest Service’s 2015 sage grouse land use plan amendments create unworkable and burdensome land use restrictions and prohibitions; that the amended LUPAs must comply with Secretarial Order 3349 and new Executive Orders; and that Congress should provide funds for the agencies to prepare the supplemental EIS per the court’s remand order and create a strong record that the LUPA land use restrictions and mineral withdrawals are not necessary to protect the greater sage grouse.
During meetings on the Hill, participants endorsed the Administration’s “All of the Above” energy policy and the continued use of coal. They also urged Congressional support for coal technology advancement, including robust DOE Fossil Energy R&D funding, and expanding 45Q tax credits for Carbon Capture and Storage.
Participants called for continued efforts by the Interior Department and Congress to facilitate coal and minerals development, including streamlining the permitting and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes. They communicated that WMC also supports appropriate streamlining of federal agencies, including the Mine Safety and Health Administration and OSM which continue to garner a disproportionately high level of funding despite coal mines and coal employment decreasing by more than 40% over the past 5 years.
WMC would like to thank the sponsors, the participants, and the companies that sent their employees to the 2017 Fly-In. Without continued support from such WMC friends and partners, the annual Fly-In would not be possible.
Published May 25, 2017
43 participants
3 ½ days of meetings
58 Senate meetings (63% of total Senate offices targeted)
151 House meetings (74% of total House offices targeted)
209 face-to-face meetings
88 emails to non-visited offices, including digital issue papers
Grand Total: 297 Congressional and Senate Contacts
21 meetings with actual Senators and Congressmen
23 meetings with Legislative Directors
5 meetings with Chiefs of Staff or Deputy Chiefs of Staff
17 meetings with Senior Policy Advisors
9 meetings with Legislative Counsels
1 meetings with regulatory agency (DOI – BLM)
WMC 2017 Fly-In issues focused on both hardrock and coal. Fly-In participants advocated that EPA’s Final CERCLA § 108(b) Rule should establish there is no justification for a CERCLA § 108(b) financial assurance program because state and federal bonding programs eliminate the need for EPA’s involvement.
Participants also communicated to Hill staffers that BLM’s and US Forest Service’s 2015 sage grouse land use plan amendments create unworkable and burdensome land use restrictions and prohibitions; that the amended LUPAs must comply with Secretarial Order 3349 and new Executive Orders; and that Congress should provide funds for the agencies to prepare the supplemental EIS per the court’s remand order and create a strong record that the LUPA land use restrictions and mineral withdrawals are not necessary to protect the greater sage grouse.
During meetings on the Hill, participants endorsed the Administration’s “All of the Above” energy policy and the continued use of coal. They also urged Congressional support for coal technology advancement, including robust DOE Fossil Energy R&D funding, and expanding 45Q tax credits for Carbon Capture and Storage.
Participants called for continued efforts by the Interior Department and Congress to facilitate coal and minerals development, including streamlining the permitting and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes. They communicated that WMC also supports appropriate streamlining of federal agencies, including the Mine Safety and Health Administration and OSM which continue to garner a disproportionately high level of funding despite coal mines and coal employment decreasing by more than 40% over the past 5 years.
WMC would like to thank the sponsors, the participants, and the companies that sent their employees to the 2017 Fly-In. Without continued support from such WMC friends and partners, the annual Fly-In would not be possible.