Senate Proceeding on Apr 30th, 2009 :: 5:53:05 to 6:03:20
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5:53:05 to 5:53:26( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: there were a few residents who expressed opposition, but they were in a very small minority. the majority of the people living near anwr, more than 75%, support drilling there. i know that mr. strickland,

5:53:05 to 6:03:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jim Bunning

5:53:27 to 5:53:47( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: along wit some of my colleagues in the senate, are desperate to stop us from opening up the facts about anwr, however, are not on their side. some of these facts, i think, need to be repeated especially for those who are new to this

5:53:48 to 5:54:09( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: debate. anwr, itself, is size of south carolina. it's absolutely enormous. it's 19.6 million acres, or 30,000 square miles.

5:54:10 to 5:54:32( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: when we talk drilling in an area that's less than 2,000 acres. that's 100 of 1% of the total acreage in anwr.

5:54:33 to 5:54:55( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: it's actually smaller than most airports. limited portion of anwr threatens the -- the entire environmental -- environment of this refuge is far-fetched and just plain wrong. during my trip i visited the

5:55:00 to 5:55:22( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: sites at alpine and doubt in my mind that we can develop anwr in a safe and effective manner. drilling will only be a small footprint in anwr that can be carried out in an environmentally sound manner. state of the lessen the environmental impact.

5:55:23 to 5:55:44( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: the old stereotypes of dirty oil drilling just doesn't app anymore. we all want to do what we can to protect the environment. but it is just not credibl to say that looking for oil in small, limited part of anwr is a dangerous threat to the entire

5:55:45 to 5:56:05( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: region. as our demand for energy is growing, we must increase our energy supply to keep up. anwr is the most promising domestic source of oil that we have. to automatically take it off the

5:56:06 to 5:56:29( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: negotiating table as this nominee has is shortsighted. finally, i have concerns with mr. strickland's stance on regulation for coal ming operation. the commonwealth of kentucky is home to some of our nation's largest coal reserves.

5:56:30 to 5:56:51( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: in fact, we have of coal reserves or about the same amount of coal reserve that saudi arabia has for oil. i am proud to come from a state that has coal reserves and firmly believe that we have the

5:56:52 to 5:57:12( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: ab natural resource in an environmentally sound manner. this is why i december when the department of the interior issued a rule to clarify the disposal of excess spoil created by coal ming

5:57:13 to 5:57:37( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: operations. the rule also requires ming operators avoid disturbing streams to the greatest extent possible and clarify when mine operators must maintain an undisturbed buffer between the

5:57:38 to 5:57:59( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: mine and the adjacent streams. aside from striking a balance between environmental protections and responsible mining operations, this new rule clarified a longstanding dispute over how the surface mine law should be applied.

5:58:00 to 5:58:20( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: pass confusion over how it should be applied has led to undue litigation, suspension of mining operations, and ultimately job loss for many mining communities across country and in kentucky.

5:58:21 to 5:58:42( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: i -- the discussion i had with both secretary of the interior and mr. strickland earlier this year, i expressed my support for new rule and respectfully ask that they take thisupport into account. both nominees stated that they would not overturn the rule,

5:58:43 to 5:59:04( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: yet, this past week the department of the interior reversed its position and asked for the rule to be overturned. issuance of the rule represents the culmination of a s process that was complete and

5:59:05 to 5:59:25( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: well thought out. while developing the rule, the office of surface ming, solicited public input received over 43,000 comments on the proposal. they held four public hearings that

5:59:26 to 5:59:47( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: people. when considering alternatives to the proposed rule, the environmental impact statement, o.s.m., selected the most environmentally protective option. it helps ensure that coal ming activity are conducted in a

5:59:48 to 6:00:08( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: manner that protects both ming communities and the environment. over turning this rule risks returning to a state of confusion about how to apply the surface ming law. risking the future of ming

6:00:09 to 6:00:32( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: operations, local communities and ultimate access to our most reliable domestic source of energy. in my home state of kentucky over 24,000 jobs are at risk should surface ming operations be disturbed.

6:00:33 to 6:00:54( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: i repeat that. over 24,000 jobs are at risk should surface ming operations be disrupted. this is about half the jobs at risk for the region of kentucky, tennessee, west virginia, and virginia.

6:00:55 to 6:01:15( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: i am very disappointed that the department under the interior, under the leadership of both secretary salazar and mr. strickland, chose to overturn this rule. not only will it delay coal mining operations, but it will

6:01:16 to 6:01:38( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: production. th is why i find myself on the floor today unable to support this nominee today. and i ask unanimous consent that this hole statement of mine be put into the record and i yield the floor. the presiding officer:ithout

6:02:04 to 6:02:27( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Bunning: objection, so ordered. the presiding officer absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.