IL HR0270

Expresses concern about the Department of Interior's Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement (OSMRE) proposed stream protection rule, which could reduce surface mining production by 21-30%, eliminate underground coal mining jobs by up to 50%, and eliminate over 66,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.

States that OSMRE admitted it had already decided to change the stream buffer zone rule following the administration change on January 20, 2009, before receiving any public comments, and calls the proposed rule broader in scope than the 2008 rule.

Calls on OSMRE to suspend work on the environmental impact statement and stream protection rule until it justifies why the 2008 regulation is insufficient and provides scientific data supporting each provision of the new proposal.

Urges Congress to withhold further OSMRE funding for the stream protection rule and environmental impact statement until the Office justifies the need for new rules.

Notes that coal mining in Illinois accounts for over 3,500 direct workers and 24,500 indirect jobs with over $1 billion impact on the state's economy.