Do Regulations Cost Jobs in West Virginia?

CAN YOU HAVE IT BOTH WAYS #1?

The State of West Virginia, under the aegis of Sen Joe Manchin and Gov Earl Ray Tomblin, is suing U S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for daring to pass regulations to require coal mining industry to clean up air and water for residents of West Virginia.  The argument is that these regulations will cost jobs in West Virginia, and President Obama is accused of wanting to destroy the coal mining industry and not caring about jobs in West Virginia.  And we do know that more jobs are more important than clean air and water.

But Coal Association President Bill Raney admitted last week that coal mining jobs in WV have increased under President Obama, to the highest level in 20 years.  Later, Coal Association Vice President Chris Hamilton claimed that the reason employment is up is because MSHA regulations are forcing the industry to hire more people, that it now costs more to mine a ton of coal and more people are required to do it than just a couple of years ago.  Oh, so you mean increased regulations don’t cause job loss?

(As reported by Tom Miller in his column, "Under the Dome," Hampshire Review, May 30, p. 4A)

CAN YOU HAVE IT BOTH WAYS #2?

Some time ago I read that Morgantown had passed an ordinance banning fracking within the city limits.  But a WV court ruled that a ruling by WV Department of Environment Protection (DEP) that allows fracking within city limits took precedence over the city ruling.  So Morgantown could not ban fracking to protect air and water within their city.

On the other hand, the state DEP is suing US EPA for daring to pass regulations to protect air and water for the citizens of West Virginia, because it will harm the coal industry and cause job loss.

Go Figure.