House approves bill to block stream-protection rule for coal

By MATTHEW DALY
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled House has approved a bill blocking new Obama administration regulations designed to reduce the environmental impact of coal mining on the nation's streams.

The White House has vowed to veto the bill, saying the proposed rules would protect about 6,500 miles of streams nationwide while ensuring that mountains damaged by coal mining are restored once mining is completed.

The administration says the rules would result in modest job losses, but Republicans said tens of thousands of jobs in the coal industry would be lost. Coal already is struggling under steep competition from cheap and abundant natural gas. Republicans also said the rules could raise electricity prices.

Republican Rep. Alex Mooney of West Virginia said President Barack Obama “is intent on destroying coal as a domestic energy source."