Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in response to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s (“OSM”) proposed Stream Protection Rule (SPR) released today by the U.S. Department of the Interior.  

“The Obama Administration has proven to be the bully regulation machine once again. Despite NEPA requirements that affected states be involved as cooperating agencies, the Administration has shamelessly sidelined the states in their secret development of the rule. Nine out of ten states have rejected the dog and pony show of inclusion OSM has put forward. I am afraid that their concerns with the impacts of the rule on Americans will be cast aside. Clearly, the Obama Administration will stop at nothing to stomp out American livelihoods dependent on coal.” 

Click below to view states that have withdrawn as cooperating agencies.

• Alabama Withdrawal Letter - February 15, 2015
• New Mexico Withdrawal Letter - February 20, 2015
• Utah Withdrawal Letter - February 23, 2015
• Texas Withdrawal Letter - March 12, 2015
• Kentucky Withdrawal Letter - May 13, 2015
• West Virginia Withdrawal Letter - May 19, 2015
• Wyoming Letter - May 27, 2015
• Indiana Withdrawal Letter - July 7, 2015
• Montana Withdrawal Letter - July 9, 2015

Click here to view the letter Chairman Bishop sent yesterday to the Government Accountability Office requesting information on the SPR’s development.