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This Week In Energy: Coal Ash Disposal, Severance Tax Exemption, And Self-Bonding Rules

Combination of several notices, regulations, and proposed policies
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Sierra Club’s Wyoming Chapter
Combination of several notices, regulations, and proposed policies

This week, both the state and federal government took steps that will change how coal companies deal with pollution and reclamation. A bill died in the state legislature that would have cutseverance taxes in half for oil and gas companies in the third and fourth year of production. And a piece of legislation continues to progress that would create a new criminal classification for the act of blocking or damaging infrastructure considered essential like pipelines oil and gas facilities. In short, a lot happened. To explain, energy reporter Cooper McKim sat down with Connie Wilbert, director of the Sierra Club’s Wyoming Chapter, to look at different sides of each issue and what they mean. 

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality is holding a public meeting March 28th in several locations to discuss the financial assurance regulations. Kyle Wendtland, the DEQ’s Land Quality Administrator, said changes in rule-making have more to do with a 2013 energy strategy analysis than the recent bankruptcies of coal companies. 

Before Wyoming, Cooper McKim has reported for NPR stations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. He's reported breaking news segments and features for several national NPR news programs. Cooper is the host of the limited podcast series Carbon Valley. Cooper studied Environmental Policy and Music. He's an avid jazz piano player, backpacker, and podcast listener.
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