Environmental Regulation Impact Assessment Task Force formed through legislation passed in 2015 Regular Session
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Rep. Tim Couch, R-Hyden, has been appointed to serve on the newly created Environmental Regulation Impact Assessment Task Force. House Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover appointed Rep. Couch to the committee this past week, which was created by the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 168 during the 2015 Regular Session.
“Rep. Couch has been a consistent voice in the House of Representatives on the negative impact that tightening federal regulations on the coal industry have had in his district and Eastern Kentucky,” said Leader Hoover. “He has proven himself to be an advocate for coal miners and their families, which is why I have appointed him to serve on this task force.”
“I am thankful to Leader Hoover for picking me to serve as we dig deeper into the EPA’s war on coal, and what it has meant to the hard working men and women who make their living in Kentucky coal,” said Rep. Couch. “It is my hope we can gain a better understanding of how faceless bureaucrats have hurt the coalfields, and what we can do in coordination with our federal delegation to combat it.”
HCR 168, which was signed into law on March 30th, created the task force to specifically study the potential effect of federal environmental regulations on the affordability and reliability of electricity generation in the Commonwealth, and requires the task force to meet at least three times before the submission of its findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research Commission by December 4, 2015.
HCR 168 also contained language originally proposed by Rep. Couch in House Concurrent Resolution 171, which encourages Kentucky’s federal delegation to require representatives of the EPA to appear before a congressional panel on every rule and regulation they attempt to implement.
Rep. Couch serves the people of Clay, Leslie, and part of Laurel County in the 90th House District since 2004. He is currently vice-chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment, and is also a member of the House Committees on Tourism Development and Energy, Transportation, and Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection. Rep. Couch also serves on the Special Subcommittee on Energy and Program Review and Investigations Committee.
