McKinley Applauds Fly Ash Addition to Transportation Bill
The State Journal
18 April 2012
Rep. David B. McKinley, R-W.Va. added an amendment supporting the
use of coal ash byproducts to the Surface Transportation Extension
Act on April 18.
Coal ash, the byproduct of combustion of coal, can be used as a
building material for highways, bridges, concrete and other uses.
His amendment to the House transportation bill would block the EPA
from regulating the material.
"This is about protecting jobs and maximizing government
construction dollars," said McKinley. "More than 316,000 jobs will
be saved if this provision is adopted. We have done our part in
fighting for these jobs and ensuring we keep costs down on road
construction projects. Now, we're looking to the Senate and its
leadership to do the same."
John Ward, Chairman of Citizens for Recycling First, applauded
McKinley's amendment.
"Coal ash recyclers nationwide are grateful to Rep. McKinley for
his relentless pursuit of a solution that removes the regulatory
uncertainty that is already harming recycling in the United
States," Ward said. "This legislation would get real and effective
coal ash disposal regulations in place immediately while allowing
recyclers to get back to work doing what's really best for the
environment — keeping coal ash out of landfills in the first
place."
McKinley's office cited a Veritas Economic Report that said the
EPA's regulation of coal ash would cost the economy 316,000 jobs.
His office also cited the American Road and Transportation
Builders' Association which said not using coal ash would increase
the cost of road and bridge building by $110 billion dollars
during the next 20 years.
"After fighting hard on this issue for over a year, I'm grateful
for my colleagues' support. The chance to save thousands of jobs
and billions of dollars in costs now rests in the Senate's hands,"
said McKinley.