
Shelley Capito
41:36 - 42:13
"Do I have your commitment to work with with the Office of Surface Mining, state regulators including the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the mining industry on a path forward that allows ESA consultations to take place in an efficient manner and avoid unnecessary delays in the permitting process in the wake of this court decision? Yes, ma'am."
“Do I have your commitment to work with with the Office of Surface Mining, state regulators including the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the mining industry on a path forward that allows ESA consultations to take place in an efficient manner and avoid unnecessary delays in the permitting process in the wake of this court decision? Yes, ma'am.”
This leaves states like my state of West Virginia in tremendous limbo with respect to how the ESA reviews will be carried out. We did have Director Nesvik in front of the committee, as Senator Whitehouse mentioned, and I asked him to make the same commitment that I'm asking of you right now. Do I have your commitment to work with with the Office of Surface Mining, state regulators including the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and the mining industry on a path forward that allows ESA consultations to take place in an efficient manner and avoid unnecessary delays in the permitting process in the wake of this court decision? Yes, ma'am. Thank you very much.
Kevin Lilly, nominated to lead Fish and Wildlife, told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that Endangered Species Act consultations have been weaponized by litigation rather than focused on recovery — a stance with direct consequences for Alaska mining and infrastructure permits.
