Coal States Argue Mine Inspection Rule Exceeds Agency Authority

A coalition of 14 coal states are challenging the Biden administration’s recent final rule giving citizens more power to force government action on environmental problems spotted at mines.

The rule exceeds the federal government’s statutory authority and is arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion, according to the petition for review filed June 7 with the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

All the states involved in the petition have primacy under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, meaning they’re in charge of permitting, bonding, inspections, and enforcement. Their core argument is that the new rule from ...