Alert: Tell Your Rep. to Sign Pallone ‘Dear Colleague’ to Reduce Mountaintop Removal
We need your help to stop the destruction of mountains and streams in Appalachia from irresponsible coal mining.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has taken some positive initial steps to rein in destructive mountaintop removal mining, but even these insufficient actions have drawn fire from mining companies, coal-state governors and members of Congress beholden to industry lobbyists. Please call your member of Congress today and urge him/her to sign on to Congressman Pallone’s ‘Dear Colleague’ letter in support of EPA’s efforts to reduce mountaintop removal. Without political support, EPA may lack the will to put tougher measures in place to stop mountaintop removal.
EPA has a long way to go before it stops mountaintop removal mining, which has destroyed more than 500 mountains and buried 2,000 miles of streams in coal mining waste. Even so, EPA has taken some important steps. It has required tougher environmental reviews of almost 80 mountaintop removal permits. It proposed a rare veto of a new permit for an operating mine, one of the largest surface mines in Appalachia. In April, it issued new policy that, if properly carried out, should put teeth in states’ clean water standards that should stop the most destructive mining.
But the mining industry has organized fierce opposition. States are resisting EPA’s new policies. Coal-state members of Congress are aggressively questioning the legality of EPA’s actions and pressuring the agency to back down. And most recently, the National Mining Association – the lobbying group representing the coal industry – filed a lawsuit arguing that the EPA policies.
We need to show EPA that it has political support for the positive steps it has taken on mountaintop removal – otherwise, EPA is unlikely to go further. Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ) has asked other members of Congress to join him in sending a letter of support to EPA’s efforts. He plans to send the letter in just a few days. Please call your member of Congress and ask him/her to sign on to Congressman Pallone’s Dear Colleague letter to EPA on mountaintop removal. Call today – before it’s too late.
Thank you for your help to stop mountaintop removal.
Here’s how to help:
It’s not necessary, but before calling you might want to see if your member of Congress is a co-sponsor of the Clean Water Protection Act, H.R. 1310, the bill to stop mountaintop removal mining. Co-sponsors are likely to want to help EPA curtail mountaintop removal. (See the list below)
Call the Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask for your member of Congress.
When connected, tell the receptionist that you are a constituent and give your name and address.
Tell the receptionist that you are opposed to mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia and that want Representative [name] to sign Congressman Frank Pallone’s Dear Colleague letter on mountaintop removal.
That’s all you have to do. The receptionist will forward this information to the appropriate staff person. Most members of Congress are interested in hearing from their constituents. A call like this can have a big impact, so thanks for calling.
Clean Water Protection Act, H.R. 1310 Cosponsors:
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] – 3/4/2009
Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] – 4/13/2010
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] – 3/12/2009
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] – 3/30/2009
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] – 3/4/2009
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] – 3/4/2009
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] – 3/4/2009
Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] – 3/4/2009
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] – 3/24/2009
Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] – 3/4/2009
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] – 3/4/2009
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] – 3/4/2009
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] – 3/4/2009
Rep Castor, Kathy [FL-11] – 3/24/2009
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] – 3/4/2009
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] – 3/4/2009
Rep Chu, Judy [CA-32] – 1/26/2010
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] – 3/24/2009
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] – 3/4/2009
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] – 3/4/2009
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. “Gerry” [VA-11] – 3/4/2009
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] – 3/4/2009
Rep Cooper, Jim [TN-5] – 3/4/2009
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] – 3/12/2009
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] – 4/21/2009
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] – 3/4/2009
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] – 3/4/2009
Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] – 3/4/2009
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] – 3/4/2009
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] – 3/4/2009
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] – 3/4/2009
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] – 7/8/2009
Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] – 10/1/2009
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] – 3/4/2009
Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3] – 4/21/2009
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] – 3/4/2009
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] – 3/4/2009
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] – 3/4/2009
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] – 3/4/2009
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] – 5/13/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] – 3/4/2009
Rep Foster, Bill [IL-14] – 3/15/2010
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] – 3/4/2009
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] – 7/8/2009
Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] – 11/19/2009
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] – 3/30/2009
Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8] – 4/21/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 3/4/2009
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] – 3/4/2009
Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] – 3/4/2009
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] – 6/9/2009
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] – 3/4/2009
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] – 3/4/2009
Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] – 4/14/2010
Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] – 3/4/2009
Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4] – 3/4/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] – 3/4/2009
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] – 3/4/2009
Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] – 3/4/2009
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] – 3/4/2009
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] – 3/4/2009
Rep Inglis, Bob [SC-4] – 3/18/2010
Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] – 4/21/2009
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] – 3/24/2009
Rep Johnson, Henry C. “Hank,” Jr. [GA-4] – 3/24/2009
Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] – 9/30/2009
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] – 3/4/2009
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] – 3/4/2009
Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] – 6/23/2009
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] – 3/4/2009
Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] – 3/12/2009
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] – 3/4/2009
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] – 2/2/2010
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] – 3/4/2009
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] – 3/12/2009
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] – 3/4/2009
Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] – 3/4/2009
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] – 3/4/2009
Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] – 4/2/2009
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] – 3/4/2009
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] – 4/2/2009
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] – 4/13/2010
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] – 3/4/2009
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] – 3/4/2009
Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] – 5/4/2009
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] – 4/2/2009
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] – 10/14/2009
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] – 3/4/2009
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] – 3/4/2009
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] – 3/4/2009
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] – 3/4/2009
Rep McMahon, Michael E. [NY-13] – 3/24/2009
Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] – 3/4/2009
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] – 3/4/2009
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] – 2/25/2010
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] – 3/4/2009
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] – 3/4/2009
Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] – 3/24/2009
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] – 3/26/2009
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] – 3/4/2009
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] – 3/4/2009
Rep Murphy, Patrick J. [PA-8] – 3/4/2009
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] – 3/4/2009
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] – 10/13/2009
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] – 3/4/2009
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] – 3/4/2009
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Owens, William L. [NY-23] – 5/11/2010
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] – 3/4/2009
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] – 3/4/2009
Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] – 4/21/2009
Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] – 3/4/2009
Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] – 3/4/2009
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] – 3/4/2009
Rep Quigley, Mike [IL-5] – 3/12/2010
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] – 3/4/2009
Rep Reichert, David G. [WA-8] – 3/4/2009
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] – 6/2/2009
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] – 3/4/2009
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] – 5/4/2009
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] – 3/4/2009
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] – 3/24/2009
Rep Sanchez, Loretta [CA-47] – 3/4/2009
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] – 3/4/2009
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] – 3/4/2009
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] – 3/4/2009
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] – 3/4/2009
Rep Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [VA-3] – 3/12/2009
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] – 3/4/2009
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] – 3/4/2009
Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] – 3/4/2009
Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] – 3/4/2009
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] – 3/4/2009
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] – 3/4/2009
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] – 3/4/2009
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] – 3/4/2009
Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] – 6/2/2009
Rep Spratt, John M., Jr. [SC-5] – 3/24/2009
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] – 3/4/2009
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] – 3/4/2009
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] – 3/4/2009
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] – 3/4/2009
Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21] – 3/24/2009
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] – 3/6/2009
Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] – 3/4/2009
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] – 3/4/2009
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] – 3/4/2009
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [FL-20] – 3/4/2009
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] – 3/24/2009
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] – 3/4/2009
Rep Watt, Melvin L. [NC-12] – 9/10/2009
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] – 3/4/2009
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] – 3/4/2009
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] – 3/26/2009
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] – 3/4/2009
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] – 3/4/2009
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] – 3/4/2009
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] – 3/4/2009
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] – 3/4/2009