McConnell Presses EPA Administrator on Recent Regulations and the War on Coal

Press Release

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell met personally with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy today during a meeting with Republican members of the Senate Agriculture Committee. During the meeting, Senator McConnell pressed her regarding the EPA's latest round of regulations and its impact on Kentucky farmers, small businesses, coal miners and families. The Republican members on the committee called the meeting to discuss EPA's proposed Water of the United States (WOTUS) regulations, which would expand federal authority over waterways across the country.

"This proposed rule by the Obama Administration would have a devastating impact on Kentucky's farmers, coal industry, landowners, and other small businesses; it would have a harmful effect on jobs," Senator McConnell said. "I have heard from Kentuckians across the state on this issue. All are concerned this is another power-grab by the EPA to essentially regulate every ditch and pothole in our state."

Senator McConnell also used the meeting to press Administrator McCarthy on the War on Kentucky Coal Jobs and how the EPA refuses to hold a hearing near coal country. Last month, the Senator invited McCarthy to hold a hearing in eastern Kentucky. The EPA is holding four public hearings on the proposed regulations and, once again, eastern Kentucky was left off the list.

Senator McConnell stated, "You know what you are doing to my home state with your carbon emissions regulations. There are no nearby hearings and Kentuckians feel as though you have no intentions of hearing from them. They tell me how angry they are, angry that you have made up your mind without listening to their concerns."

McCarthy made clear that she still intends to proceed with the regulations despite her failure to hear from Kentuckians in the state.

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