[Old School]

They are, in WV. Yea, WC23, think with your own head, you might see that layoffs are because of other reasons. Like natural gas being dirt cheap right now, and a lower demand for coal. I have no doubt that permits are harder for some companies to get coal, but some of my coal buddies say their companies have no problem getting permits. Maybe it might be because they protect the environment more?

What companies are getting permits? All companies are getting state approved permits, but in order to start a permit that is in jurisdictional waters you must have a 404 and NPDES/NWP which are approved by the EPA. Hal Rogers ask Lisa Jackson at a hearing recently how many permit they have approved during her tenure and her staff said later that 6 the EPA had approved 6 permits in the last three years.