BLUEFIELD — U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., believes it is time for the Environmental Protection Agency to “get its act together” when it comes to coal.

“Congress does have control over the EPA in that we fund them,” Rahall told members of the Daily Telegraph’s editorial board last week. “But as far as the administrator, it’s a presidential appointment.”

Rahall recently joined U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., in introducing legislation in both houses of congress aimed at delaying the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing additional regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources including coal-fired power plants.

Rahall said the decision by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to overrule the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ recent approval of a Clean Water Act permit for the Spruce Mine in Logan County was “unprecedented, unjustified and undeserved.”

“The Spruce permit being revoked is unjustified,” Rahall said. “Here is a company that has negotiated with the EPA in good faith for over 10 years. Now, they come in and the EPA revokes it. That’s unfair and unjustified. I’ve told Lisa Jackson that personally.”

Rahall said it is important to note that a few other permits have been approved, including one in southern West Virginia that will create 500 jobs. However, he said another 20 mining permits remain under scrutiny by the EPA.

“I’ve told her (Jackson) time and time again — you need to speed up this process,” Rahall said. “We can’t afford to wait.”

Rahall said he believes most residents of West Virginia support a clean environment, including water that is safe to drink. He believes most of the environmentalists who have descended upon West Virginia in recent months aren’t against mining altogether, but are mostly opposed to surface mining. However, he also admits that some environmentalists are opposed to mining altogether.

“I’ve spent 34 years working for coal and our coal miners,” Rahall said. “I know what the coal industry means to West Virginia and what our coal miners mean to West Virginia.”

Rahall touched on a number of other topics relative to the state’s Third Congressional District during his meeting with the editorial board last week,  including federal funding prospects for the King Coal Highway, the Coalfields Expressway, the Colonial Intermodal Center and drainage improvements to prevent future flooding along Stafford Drive in Princeton.

Rahall, who helped to secure the first $100,000 in federal funds for the King Coal Highway more than two decades ago, said he is specifically seeking funding for the Mercer County segment of the future Interstate 73/74 corridor in the next highway reauthorization bill. While Congress has been operating under a temporary extension of the old highway bill, Rahall said he expects a new highway reauthorization bill by the year’s end.

“I will be going after additional money for this year right here in Mercer County,” Rahall said.

While he doesn’t know if the entire $60 million needed to construct a useable segment of the King Coal Highway in Mercer County can be found, Rahall said he remains hopeful. He also is requesting $20 million for an interchange of the Coalfields Expressway and the King Coal Highway in McDowell County near the near federal prison project in Welch.

Rahall said the Coalfields Expressway also was in the running for a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, but ultimately only two projects were funded through the TIGER grant system. He is hopeful that additional federal stimulus dollars can be found for the Coalfields Expressway project.

Rahall said he is aware of the ongoing efforts by the city of Princeton to secure state and federal funding to correct drainage and subsequent repeat flooding on Stafford Drive

“The city has been very dogged in their determination, and they are to be highly complimented for their enthusiasm,” Rahall said. “They need to keep it up. We need to come up with a solution with all of the stakeholders.”

Rahall said he is exploring other possible funding sources for the Princeton project.

“We just need to start thinking outside of the box and pursuing every avenue we can,” Rahall said.

Rahall said the $600,000 in seed funds he recently secured for the Colonial Intermodal Center in Bluefield is helping to move the project forward. Rahall said he continues to look for additional federal dollars to help construct the project.

“Yes, I’m pretty confident,” Rahall said when asked about the chances of the project securing additional federal funds. “But again it is tough these days to get money. But the project is just a great chance for Bluefield. It will revitalize the downtown.”

— Charles Owens is a member of The Bluefield Daily Telegraph editorial staff. E-mail: cowens@bdtonline.com