The Land of the Free: American Political Roleplay (OOC III)

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

The bill limits to which states this affects per the definitions sections.

I had missed that

Those are the states where local communities themselves have protested or petitioned against mountaintop mining in their towns.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

Dayton wages war on coal. Hmmmmm.

[Bruke]

Another Dayton bill looking for cosponsors!

(Image)

An Act to Prevent Negative Health Effects of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Until the Effects on Appalachian Communities are Studied

Nickname: Protecting Appalachian Communities Act of 2019 or simply, PACA

Sponsors: Jillian Dayton (D-VA)
House Co-Sponsors: None
Senate Co-Sponsors: None

Overview: Across the Appalachian mountains, many communities have called for action to investigate the potentially harmful effects of mountaintop removal coal mining. Investigations by local media sources and organizations have revealed credible consequences brought on by this mining technique to these typically low-income communities. State and local governments have been unable to respond to these community concerns despite local petitions and calls for changes. Thus, there is a need to conduct studies of the health impacts of mountaintop-removal coal mining on individuals in the surrounding communities. Until such a determination can be made as to these effects and the potential recommendations to protect people, the health and lives of Americans must come first hence the moratorium of permits on these specific mining systems.

Section I - Definitions:

a) Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining — The referenced action and system shall mean surface coal mining that uses blasting with explosives in the steep slope regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia.

b) Steep Slope — The referenced term shall mean the same as defined under Section 515(d)(4) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

Section II - Provisions:

a) The United States Congress finds that communities surrounding mountaintop removal coal mining projects, which involve surface coal mining including blasting with explosives in the steep slope regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia, have raised concerns that pollution of the water, air, and soil that results from mountaintop removal coal mining may be causing health crises in their communities. Congress has also found that peer-reviewed scientific research and reports have raised serious concerns about mountaintop removal mining with respect to elevated risks in categories of birth defects studied: circulatory/respiratory, central nervous system, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal; and that mountaintop removal coal mining has also been associated with elevated levels of adult hospitalizations for chronic pulmonary disorders and hypertension that are elevated as a function of county-level coal production, as are rates of mortality; lung cancer; and chronic heart, lung, and kidney disease. These health problems strike both women and men in mountaintop removal coal mining communities. These elevated levels of disease, defects, and mortality persist even after controlling for other variables. Congress has also found that initial scientific evidence, and the level of public concern, warrant immediate action to stop new mountaintop removal coal mining permits and increase environmental and human health monitoring at existing mountaintop removal coal mining projects while the reported links between health effects and mountaintop removal coal mining are investigated by Federal health agencies. Congress has also determined that the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is uniquely qualified to manage a working group of Federal health agencies with expertise that is relevant to study of the reported links.

b) The Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as the Director deems appropriate, shall conduct or support comprehensive studies on the health impacts, if any, of mountaintop removal coal mining on individuals in the surrounding communities; and submit to the Secretary, and make publicly available, a report on the results of such studies. Upon receipt of the report under this paragraph, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish a determination on whether mountaintop removal coal mining presents any health risks to individuals in the surrounding communities.

c) Until and unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services publishes a determination under paragraph (b) concluding that mountaintop removal coal mining does not present any health risk to individuals in the surrounding communities, a permit or other authorization may not be issued for any mountaintop removal coal mining project, or for any expansion of such a project, by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, or a State, under Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, or a State, under Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; or the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, or a State, under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

d) Until the Secretary of Health and Human Services publishes a determination under paragraph (b) any person conducting a mountaintop removal coal mining project shall conduct continuous monitoring for any pollution of water and air (including noise) and frequent monitoring of soil as a result of such project for the purposes of comprehensively characterizing any pollution emitted from the project; and identifying ways in which members of affected communities might be exposed to these emissions; and submit the results of such monitoring to the Secretary on a monthly basis; and the Secretary shall make such results available to the public through the World Wide Web in a searchable database format not later than 7 days after the date on which the Secretary receives such results.

e) If a person conducting a mountaintop removal coal mining project fails to conduct monitoring and submit results in connection with such project as required by this Act, a permit or other authorization may not be issued for the mountaintop removal coal mining project, or for an expansion of such project, by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, or a State, under Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, or a State, under Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; or the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, or a State, under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

f) The President, acting through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement of the Department of the Interior, shall assess and collect from each person that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is conducting a mountaintop removal coal mining project in the United States a one-time fee in an amount sufficient to recover the Federal cost of implementing this Act. Amounts received by the United States as a fee under this section may be used, to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts, only to pay the Federal cost of carrying out this Act. This paragraph shall enter into effect on the date this Act is enacted.

This bill is then honorably presented to the United States Senate for consideration in order to protect Appalachian communities from the effects of mountaintop removal mining; to improve the United States Law; and is backed by Senator Jillian Dayton on September 9th, 2019.
Do Not Remove: 1337

For those who don't know the states of Appalachia are... Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

New York? I still have trouble envisioning that...

[New Cobastheia]

For those who don't know the states of Appalachia are... Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

New York? I still have trouble envisioning that...

It's the part of New York people think less about than the part were people fly Confederate Flags

[Agarntrop]

XATH THESE BILLS ARE TOO GODDAMN LONG

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

XATH THESE BILLS ARE TOO GODDAMN LONG

heheheh

better read them all or else I’ll sneakily pass Medicare for All

[Main Nation Ministry]

I finally found a quote of the week, and I want Karg to tag along as well.

[Bruke]

New York? I still have trouble envisioning that...

It's the part of New York people think less about than the part were people fly Confederate Flags

So, bordering Pennsylvania

[Bruke]

Dang it, GAS, you already went there.....

Between Volker and Prendy, Volek’s going to have a hell of a welcoming committee

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Dang it, GAS, you already went there.....

Between Volker and Prendy, Volek’s going to have a hell of a welcoming committee

I'm sure he'll make up for it by whipping the Senate Democrats into shape.

[Bruke]

Dang it, GAS, you already went there.....

Between Volker and Prendy, Volek’s going to have a hell of a welcoming committee

I'm sure he'll make up for it by whipping the Senate Democrats into shape.

Well, they’re going to dredge up Tammany Hall... the Old Grey Lady will get to squawking

[Gordano and Lysandus]

I'm sure he'll make up for it by whipping the Senate Democrats into shape.

Well, they’re going to dredge up Tammany Hall... the Old Grey Lady will get to squawking

It'll be fiiiiiiiine.

[Bruke]

Well, they’re going to dredge up Tammany Hall... the Old Grey Lady will get to squawking

It'll be fiiiiiiiine.

SQUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK

[Gordano and Lysandus]

It'll be fiiiiiiiine.

SQUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK

All Volek has to do is downplay it and say that's just how New York politics were way back in the day, and he was glad to leave it behind when the system was broken.

[Main Nation Ministry]

It'll be fiiiiiiiine.

SQUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[Kargintina the Third]

I finally found a quote of the week, and I want Karg to tag along as well.

TG

[Bruke]

SQUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK

All Volek has to do is downplay it and say that's just how New York politics were way back in the day, and he was glad to leave it behind when the system was broken.

We’ll see... check TGs

[Jovuistan]

Kanye is running

[Bruke]

Kanye is running

What?

This is the strangest timeline... you have a link?

[Kargintina the Third]

KANYE 2020

[The Orion Islands]

Is Sharansky still in office, and who controls Winthrop?

[Lavan Tiri]

Another Dayton bill looking for cosponsors!

(Image)

An Act to Prevent Negative Health Effects of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Until the Effects on Appalachian Communities are Studied

Nickname: Protecting Appalachian Communities Act of 2019 or simply, PACA

Sponsors: Jillian Dayton (D-VA)
House Co-Sponsors: None
Senate Co-Sponsors: None

Overview: Across the Appalachian mountains, many communities have called for action to investigate the potentially harmful effects of mountaintop removal coal mining. Investigations by local media sources and organizations have revealed credible consequences brought on by this mining technique to these typically low-income communities. State and local governments have been unable to respond to these community concerns despite local petitions and calls for changes. Thus, there is a need to conduct studies of the health impacts of mountaintop-removal coal mining on individuals in the surrounding communities. Until such a determination can be made as to these effects and the potential recommendations to protect people, the health and lives of Americans must come first hence the moratorium of permits on these specific mining systems.

Section I - Definitions:

a) Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining — The referenced action and system shall mean surface coal mining that uses blasting with explosives in the steep slope regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia.

b) Steep Slope — The referenced term shall mean the same as defined under Section 515(d)(4) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

Section II - Provisions:

a) The United States Congress finds that communities surrounding mountaintop removal coal mining projects, which involve surface coal mining including blasting with explosives in the steep slope regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia, have raised concerns that pollution of the water, air, and soil that results from mountaintop removal coal mining may be causing health crises in their communities. Congress has also found that peer-reviewed scientific research and reports have raised serious concerns about mountaintop removal mining with respect to elevated risks in categories of birth defects studied: circulatory/respiratory, central nervous system, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal; and that mountaintop removal coal mining has also been associated with elevated levels of adult hospitalizations for chronic pulmonary disorders and hypertension that are elevated as a function of county-level coal production, as are rates of mortality; lung cancer; and chronic heart, lung, and kidney disease. These health problems strike both women and men in mountaintop removal coal mining communities. These elevated levels of disease, defects, and mortality persist even after controlling for other variables. Congress has also found that initial scientific evidence, and the level of public concern, warrant immediate action to stop new mountaintop removal coal mining permits and increase environmental and human health monitoring at existing mountaintop removal coal mining projects while the reported links between health effects and mountaintop removal coal mining are investigated by Federal health agencies. Congress has also determined that the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is uniquely qualified to manage a working group of Federal health agencies with expertise that is relevant to study of the reported links.

b) The Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as the Director deems appropriate, shall conduct or support comprehensive studies on the health impacts, if any, of mountaintop removal coal mining on individuals in the surrounding communities; and submit to the Secretary, and make publicly available, a report on the results of such studies. Upon receipt of the report under this paragraph, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish a determination on whether mountaintop removal coal mining presents any health risks to individuals in the surrounding communities.

c) Until and unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services publishes a determination under paragraph (b) concluding that mountaintop removal coal mining does not present any health risk to individuals in the surrounding communities, a permit or other authorization may not be issued for any mountaintop removal coal mining project, or for any expansion of such a project, by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, or a State, under Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, or a State, under Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; or the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, or a State, under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

d) Until the Secretary of Health and Human Services publishes a determination under paragraph (b) any person conducting a mountaintop removal coal mining project shall conduct continuous monitoring for any pollution of water and air (including noise) and frequent monitoring of soil as a result of such project for the purposes of comprehensively characterizing any pollution emitted from the project; and identifying ways in which members of affected communities might be exposed to these emissions; and submit the results of such monitoring to the Secretary on a monthly basis; and the Secretary shall make such results available to the public through the World Wide Web in a searchable database format not later than 7 days after the date on which the Secretary receives such results.

e) If a person conducting a mountaintop removal coal mining project fails to conduct monitoring and submit results in connection with such project as required by this Act, a permit or other authorization may not be issued for the mountaintop removal coal mining project, or for an expansion of such project, by the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, or a State, under Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, or a State, under Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; or the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, or a State, under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

f) The President, acting through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement of the Department of the Interior, shall assess and collect from each person that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is conducting a mountaintop removal coal mining project in the United States a one-time fee in an amount sufficient to recover the Federal cost of implementing this Act. Amounts received by the United States as a fee under this section may be used, to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts, only to pay the Federal cost of carrying out this Act. This paragraph shall enter into effect on the date this Act is enacted.

This bill is then honorably presented to the United States Senate for consideration in order to protect Appalachian communities from the effects of mountaintop removal mining; to improve the United States Law; and is backed by Senator Jillian Dayton on September 9th, 2019.
Do Not Remove: 1337

Evander will co-sponsor.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Is Sharansky still in office, and who controls Winthrop?

No, and Winthrop was one of the Azek alts, and so is no longer played and will be phased out by the next election.

[Meelducan]

Is Sharansky still in office, and who controls Winthrop?

Sharansky resigned due to an investigation by the DOJ.

Winthrop is losing her Senate primary and will be gone by January 3rd 2021.

Both were controlled by Azek, along with a plethora of other characters he did not declare, so they’re gone for good.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

Kanye is running

I quit this turbulent existence