The Republican., 1947-11-13
|DELECATESFAY0R
REGULATION OF
ALL STRIP MINES
Place Blame for Lack of Legis-
latiOn at Annapolis on Senator
Lawrence NJ. Fraley

What happened to efforts at regu-
lating strip mining were revealed
this week in a letter to the editor
from the three Garrett county men,
bers Of the House of Delegates, R. E.
McIntire, Jasper C. Myers and George
T. Coddington.
The three members declare they
are 100 percent in favor of requiring
strip mine operators to backfill and
level the earth in a reasonable man.
ner, and all three, who sign the letter,
declare the responsibility for not hav-
ing this industry regulated is Senator
Lawrence NJ. Fraleys.
The entire letter follows:
Oakland, Maryland
November IL, 1947
This is what happened to Strip
Mining.
In 1916, 279,641 tons of coal and
27,977 tons of clay were strip mined
in Garrett County. These figures will
be greatly increased in 1947 as these
operations are just beginning in our
County. We think the above figures
are enough to prove that the industry
is on a firm footing and that it is not
a temporary operation.
During the regular session of the
General Assembly House bill No. 267
was passed in the House and it ap-
piled to Garrett County. This bill re-
quired the operators to backfill and
level the earth in a reasonable man
ner. Of course, the operator was re-
quired to post bond that would
guarantee that this would be done 1t
was our understanding that Senator
Fraley was in favor of this bill and
would pass it in the Senate We found
out later that he had exempted Gar
rett County from the provisions of
this Act and later we have on good
authority that Senator Fraley wrote
the Governor asking him to veto the
bill killing it for Allegany as we'll as
for Garrett County.
! During the Special Session just con-
cluded Senate Bill No. 20 was passed
without a dissenting vote in both the
House and Senate. This bill applied
to Allegany County and had the same
+ requirements as the House bill No.
267. Garrett County could have been
included in Senate Bill No. 20 as we
discussed it with the entire Allegany
County delegation including their
Senator. We then talked the matter
over with Senator Fraley and he told
us there would be no strip mining
regulation for Garrett County.
Tho,
very hard on our county and other
roads, and when they are through
stripping the land will be worthless.
1t will then revert to the County and
will be taken off the tax books.
The fact that Pennsylvania, Ohio,
West Virginia, and Allegany County
now have strip mining regulations
should indicate that Garrett County
should have something done for its
future.
The full responsibility for NOT hav-
, ing the strip mining operations back
filled and leveled is Senator Fraley's.
We in the House are for this regu-
. lation 100 percent.
We feel that the great majority of
the citizens of Garrett County want
strip mining operations regulated for
the good and welfare of our County
and its people.
r. Z. MCINTYRE
GEORGE E. CODDINGTON
JASPER C. MYERS
The Republican last week stated
that our legislators would not be do
ing their duty unless Garrett County
was included in the Allegany County
bill. The bill was passed but Garrett
County was excluded.