Enviromental Groups Sue Interior Secretary, N.D. PSC Over Coal Rules

Environmental groups are suing U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the North Dakota Public Service Commission over coal regulations.

 

 

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Environmental groups are suing U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the North Dakota Public Service Commission over coal regulations.

The lawsuits say Commissioners Tony Clark, Kevin Cramer and Brian Kalk violated federal coal mining laws by taking campaign contributions from coal companies.

They say the North Dakota agency has changed its coal mining rules without approval from the federal Office of Surface Mining.

One lawsuit says the North Dakota PSC should stop enforcing the questionable guidelines. The other says the federal government should take over coal mining regulation in North Dakota.

The lawsuits were filed Wednesday in federal court in Bismarck.

Cramer says parts of the lawsuits are incorrect and others are frivolous. He says they are aimed at "embarrassing public officials guilty of nothing."

(KFGO file photo)

 

AP

   

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