I am starting to get the impression that when industry says they want West Virginia to be competitive with surrounding states, it means they want to have a competitive advantage over surrounding states. A protectionist law that would make it hard for new competition to get estab- lished would suit them fine. Our position has been that areas not yet disturbed should comply with the new law. The bill allows operators to decide when they will comply. Bonding was discussed also.
Industry wants a bonding pool instead of bonding per se.
I am not at all sure the bonding pool will generate enough money, but there are inconsistencies in the language that need fixing before we even get to that discussion. Reclamation of abandoned quarries in the proposed bill is funded by interest from the bonding pool instead of a per ton severance tax. We need to remind the legislature that the reason for new legislation is that the current law is woefully inadequate, and we are trying to catch up. Revenues need to be thirty times higher for the program to be solvent, yet industry objects to the fees in the bill. Concerning the buffer zone, Senator Snyder suggested 300 feet from the blast site to residences and churches, and the current 100 feet from roads, parks, public buildings, etc.