SENATE BILL: The Atlasian Mountaintop Removal Ban Act (Law'd)

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Is a final vote desired here or are there amendments desired first?

[Governor Scott]

I am ready to vote.

[Senator Ben]

I am ready to vote.

As am I.  I think people have pretty hardened views on this issue - goodness knows I do

[ilikeverin]

Again, I think this idea is great, but I'm looking for at least more of a clarification of the way we will differentiate "regular" mining from "mountaintop removal" mining.

[Governor Scott]

Again, I think this idea is great, but I'm looking for at least more of a clarification of the way we will differentiate "regular" mining from "mountaintop removal" mining.

Regular/underground mining does not involve the stripping of mountaintops from their surfaces and the dumping of toxins into local water as well as radical topographical alterations that make land areas more susceptible to floodings and mudslides.  I thought this was made very clear various times.

Here is a guide on how mountaintop removal is done, for those who still don't understand.

[ModerateCoward]

We should also consider legislation that would make it easier for WV to turn into a tourist destination.

[Senator Napoleon]

We should also consider legislation that would make it easier for WV to turn into a tourist destination.

Or let the Mideast government try that.

[ilikeverin]

Again, I think this idea is great, but I'm looking for at least more of a clarification of the way we will differentiate "regular" mining from "mountaintop removal" mining.

Regular/underground mining does not involve the stripping of mountaintops from their surfaces and the dumping of toxins into local water as well as radical topographical alterations that make land areas more susceptible to floodings and mudslides.  I thought this was made very clear various times.

Here is a guide on how mountaintop removal is done, for those who still don't understand.

So you're saying there's absolutely no way whatsoever in which the two processes can overlap?  Looking at the original formulation of the bill, for example, "topographical alteration" could be construed very broadly.  Pretty much any mining could be considered an example of topographical alteration.

[Governor Scott]

Very well, then.  I will amend this bill.

The Atlasian Mountaintop Removal Ban Act

Section 1.)
The Senate of Atlasia hereby acknowledges:

• That mountaintop removal is considered an 'extreme form' of mining that should be replaced by alternative means of energy production
• That mountaintop removal hurts biodiversity
• That mountaintop removal reduces workers
• That mountaintop removal is a threat to the public health
• That mountaintop removal is detrimental to the citizens of mountains which are affected

Section 2.)
The Atlasian government shall not distribute any permits to coal-mining industries whose practices would result in the topographical alteration and/or removal of a summit, summit ridge, or significant portion of a mountain, hill, or ridge.

Section 3.)
Mining industries that partake in this practice will be fined at a maximum of $2,000,000.  The final amount shall be determined in a court of law.

Section 4.)
The appropriate funds shall be allocated for enforcement of this bill.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senators have 24 hours to object.


Shame I forgot to do this after entering it into the tracker on Monday. It would be done by now.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has passed.


Are we done here?

[Governor Scott]

Yes.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This bill is now at final vote, Senators please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Governor Scott]

Aye.

[Senator Ben]

AYE.

[ilikeverin]

Yup

[ModerateCoward]

Aye

[Senator Clarence]

Aye

[Senator Sbane]

Aye

[crypto-fascist superhero]

Nay.  The assault on poor people continues.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Nay


This has enough votes to pass, Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[TJ in Wisco]

Nay FTR

[Big DaddyTX]

Nay, FTR.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I didn't get a chance to explain my Nay vote on Sunday, but here are a few of the reasons.

I deplore the conditions created by this procedure, but I had concerns about the economic impact of an immediate halt to such permitting. Such would best be done at a date certain down the road, like July 1st, January 1st, etc etc. There is no mention of previously issued permits and whether or not those would be upheld or tossed out later. That creates an amount of uncertainty for the companies, that could have been avoided, had it been considered. Lastly, I think a cost estimate should have be acquired from Game Modertor Shua and/or SoIA 20RP12 regarding the exact cost of implementation and whether or not enough revenue would be collected by the fines to pay for this bill.

There was more than enough time to fix of all these and I can't play Ombudsman on every single bill. This isn't Aladdin's lamp here, I have limits.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Vote on final passage of The Atlasian Mountaintop Removal Ban Act:

Aye (6): Ben, Clarence, ILV, Sbane, Seatown and Scott
Nay (4): AndrewPA*, NC Yankee, TJ in Cleve and Wormyguy
Abstain (0):

Didn't Vote (0):

* AndrewPA technically voted 49 minutes too late but since I wouldn't change the results I am going to include it in the totals.

With six votes in the affirmative, The Atlasian Mountaintop Removal Ban Act has passed the Senate and is presented to the President for executive action.