West Virginia regulators will now take the lead in overseeing permitting and inspecting coal mining on both state and federal lands.
Burgum inked an agreement at a ceremony in Washington with West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, giving West Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection expanded authority to regulate coal mining and reclamation within its borders, including on federal land, the agency said Wednesday.
“This agreement delivers on President Trump’s commitment to American Energy Dominance and cutting unnecessary red tape,” Burgum said. “By empowering West Virginia to take the lead, we’re streamlining regulations, boosting certainty for coal producers and supporting jobs and investment that strengthen our economy and energy security.”
Previously, West Virginia only regulated mining involving privately-owned coal tied to federal lands. Under the amendment that Burgum signed to West Virginia’s cooperative agreement, the state can now oversee federally-owned coal leased by the Bureau of Land Management.
