House approves transparency amendments to coal bill

By Pete Kasperowicz - 09/20/12 07:38 PM ET

The House accepted three amendments to the Stop the War on Coal Act late Thursday, but stopped debate at about 7:30 p.m. and will consider remaining amendments on Friday.

The bill, H.R. 3409, is aimed at deregulating the coal industry, and would limit the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent rules on the storage and disposal of coal ash.

One amendment that was accepted was from Rep. Larry Buschon (R-Ind.). His language would require officials proposing regulations to publish the scientific study they relied on to write the rule. Another, from Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), would similarly require EPA to publish the data it uses for rulemaking.

A third, from Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Mich.), would require the government to assess health effects as it considers regulatory costs. All three of these were approved by voice vote.

There are still several other amendments to be debated, although some were debated Thursday night and will be voted on Friday. Amendments in the latter grouping were from:

• Ed Markey (D-Mass.), to allow the Secretary of Interior to promulgate rules under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, if the "rule would reduce the prevalence of pulmonary diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease or reduce the prevalence of birth defects or reproductive problems in pregnant women or children."

• Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), to strike the language that would repeal EPA's scientific finding that carbon pollution endangers the public health and welfare.

• Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), to require the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report to Congress estimating the number of jobs, the fatalities and injuries, and the cost to the economy caused by the new emission standards for vehicles manufactured after 2017 The amendment would also require that the Secretary be prohibited from consulting with the EPA or the California Air Resources Board to complete the report.

• Markey, to allow the EPA to issue regulations under the Clean Air Act if it is determined that such regulations would reduce U.S. demand for oil.