Jason Allen calls for reduced regulation of mining, forestry

While many are calling for increased federal oversight of mines in the wake of the Massey mine disaster, and of industrial processes generally as BP’s oil rig continues to leak into the Gulf, Jason Allen — a major Republican contender for the congressional seat long held by Bart Stupak — is saying that he would use his seat to roll back federal environmental regulation.

Campaigning at a luncheon hosted by the Antrim County Republican Women in Elk Rapids on Monday Allen blamed both state and federal environmental regulation for Michigan’s high jobless rate.

He said that he would fight the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as state regulators to ensure that the nickel sulfide mine planned by Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company gets built on the Yellow Dog Plains west of Marquette.

This spring Kennecott declared that it did not need a federal water permit for the project and began construction of the mine without approval from the EPA.

The mine has Upper Peninsula groups including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community are suing state agencies over the approval of permits for the project, arguing that it will harm the watershed with acid mine run off and damage cultural resources.

“Places like Baraga are running at 23-24 percent unemployment,” Allen said, “and we have to get those people back to work in the mines.”

“We will continue to fight the EPA and continue to fight what is going on with the [Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment] to get that mine licensed because that provides good solid jobs to get our people back to work and that is how we feed America.”

Allen also said that as a U.S. congressman he would fight to expand timber harvest on federal land.

“They are only harvesting about 18 or 15 percent of the entire available forest on federal lands,” he said. “We also will try to use federal lands for anything we can do as far as mining, timber harvesting, reducing regulation.”

Allen also vowed to reduce air quality regulation and support the development of new power plants.

“We are going to do everything in our power to get things like the Rogers city power plant built and stop the massive amount of regulation laid out by this current president and his current administration and we will continue to fight for those types of projects.” (It should be noted that no new environmental regulations have been passed since President Obama took office)

The Michigan Public Service Commission and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment recently rejected plans by Wolverine Power Cooperative to build a petroleum coke and coal fired power plant in Rogers City. The regulators said that the plant is not needed and that building it would increase the cost of electricity.

Allen is competing against five other Republicans for the party’s nomination in the August 3 primary.

The other candidates are: Dr. Dan Benishek of Crystal Falls, Linda Goldthorpe of Curtis, Don Hooper of Iron River, Tom Stillings of Torch Lake, and Patrick Donlon of St. Ignace.

Allen is seen as the front runner, and if he managed to beat Democrat State Rep. Gary McDowell and take the seat in the general election, there could be some significant changes in the way the first district is represented.

While Allen says he will fight EPA and state regulators to allow the Kennecott mine, Stupak has warned that the state did not thoroughly review the mine before issuing permits and that the state might not have sufficient resources to provide oversight for the mine.

“I am not opposed to mining. I remain very supportive of mining in the U.P. However, these permits represent the first time the state is allowing sulfide mining. State officials must take their time and make sure sulfide mining is safe. It is critical that comprehensive independent studies be completed before additional permits are issued. Once permitted, I am fearful as many as six additional sulfide mines will be allowed to operate on the shores of the Great Lakes, jeopardizing the world’s largest body of fresh water.”

“The Kennecott Company has yet to prove the sulfide mine will not degrade the community, watershed, air quality or ecology of the area,“ Stupak said. “I will continue to urge EPA and DNR to thoroughly review this proposed sulfide mine.”

Allen’s discussion of environmental issues contrasts with the approach taken by Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder, who also spoke at the Antrim County Republican event.

A former trustee of the Nature Conservancy, Synder has said that as governor he will increase the resources available to state environmental regulators.

Synder said that Michigan must preserve its environment so that people will want to live here.

“I tell people I am a good green Republican. We need to work on getting people to look at environmental issues in a different context than they traditionally have,“ he said. “Too often people say there are environmental things and then there are economic things. I disagree with anyone who takes that position. In my view they are absolutely intertwined.”

“Quality of place” is essential to retaining and attracting young people, he said, “and a key part of quality of place is a thriving sustainable environment.”

“We as a party need to get our act together .”