Governor Patrick Morrisey joined Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in Washington to formalize an amendment expanding West Virginia's authority over coal regulation on federal lands within the state.
The revised agreement makes clear that West Virginia can regulate federal lands that contain coal leased by the Bureau of Land Management. Under the new structure, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection will take primary responsibility for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, while federal oversight remains in place.
Morrisey said the agreement strengthens cooperative federalism, cuts duplication, and helps ensure decisions affecting West Virginia communities are made closer to the ground by people who understand local conditions.
The announcement was also a major signal to coal producers and workers that the state is serious about reducing unnecessary red tape while preserving accountability. Greater clarity and a simpler regulatory structure can make it easier for projects to move with more certainty.
Secretary Burgum tied the move to a larger push for American energy dominance, arguing that empowering West Virginia would support jobs, investment, and national energy security.
For Morrisey, the agreement represented both a policy win and a philosophical one: more state leadership, less federal overlap, and a stronger footing for one of West Virginia's signature industries.
Originally published by Lootpress
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