Coal Miners from six states, including West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky are planning to make a visit to Capitol Hill to educate Congress on their economic challenges.

Charleston, WV – Coal Miners from six states, including West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky are planning to make a visit to Capitol Hill to educate Congress on their economic challenges.

According to a news release, the West Virginia Coal Association, Citizens for Coal, the Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security (FACES of Coal), as well as several allied citizen and coal advocacy groups, will gather for a news conference on September 15 on the grounds of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The gathering will celebrate the American Coal Miner and the contribution coal and coal mining makes to our nation's energy security and economic stability, according to the release.

“We plan to highlight the critically important role of the American coal miner and to call on lawmakers and administration officials to discontinue efforts to regulate the coal industry – and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it provides – out of business,” said Chris Hamilton, senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association and co-chair of the Mountaintop Mine Coalition. “West Virginia’s congressional delegation understands the importance of coal to our local economies and national energy plan, but many federal legislators and bureaucrats do not.”

Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency tightened the guidelines for companies to get mining permits. The EPA is concerned about the environment and water quality, but the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection says the standards are impossible to achieve in any form of mining.

A new study conducted by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's Minority Staff found nearly 18,000 new and existing jobs and more than 80 small businesses are being jeopardized by the unlawful policy the EPA and the Corps have applied to the 190 permits still awaiting action in mid-May, according to the release.

Several buses are expected to leave Logan County on September 14 to head up to Washington, D.C.

“We need Congress to understand the vital role coal plays in America and its economic impact in West Virginia, Bryan Brown, West Virginia coordinator for the FACES of Coal campaign said. “Selective regulation that only impacts coal mining in Appalachia, like unattainable water quality standards and biased legislation like the Cardin-Alexander Bill, will cripple our regional economy and increase the use of foreign energy sources. We need the public to join us in Washington, DC to send this message loud and clear.”