REPEAL OF PROHIBITION OF RAILROAD HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES NINETY-SEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. 1542 A BILL TO AMEND THE MINERAL LANDS LEASING ACT OF 1920 JAMES A. MCCLURE and HENRY M. JACKSON are Ex Officio Members of the Subcommittee ROGER SINDELAR, Counsel (II) Alberswerth, David, Washington representative, the Western Organization of Baxter, William F., Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Depart- Ennis, Bruce, president, coal and minerals, Burlington Northern Given, Thomas A., director of project developments, Consolidated Coal Co., on Jackson, Hon. Henry M., a U.S. Senator from the State of Washington. McClure, Hon. James A., a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho. McCormick, John L., Washington representative, Environmental Policy Melcher, Hon. John, a U.S. Senator from the State of Montana. Russell, David C., Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Water Resources, Teissere, Ronald F., vice president, Thermal Energy, Washington Energy Co... Walsh, David J., senior vice president, Santa Fe Mining, Inc.; accompanied by Jerome Muys, and Jeffrey Williams...... Warner, Hon. John W., a U.S. Senator from the State of Virginia Wilson, James C., president, Rocky Mountain Energy Co.; accompanied by Abbott, George W., on behalf of the Half Circle Cattle Co. 163 399 REPEAL OF PROHIBITION OF RAILROAD OWNERSHIP OF COAL LEASES FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1981 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:15 a.m., in room 3110, Dirksen Office Building, Hon. John W. Warner presiding. Present: Senators Warner, Bumpers, and Melcher. Also present: Roger Sindelar, counsel; D. Michael Harvey, chief counsel for the minority; and Ron Andes, congressional fellow. OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN W. WARNER, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF VIRGINIA Senator WARNER. Today the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will receive testimony on S. 1542, a bill introduced by my colleagues, Senators McClure and Jackson. The bill would repeal section 2(c) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920. Section 2(c) currently prohibits a company or corporation operating a common carrier railroad from holding Federal coal leases unless the coal produced from such leases is used for railroad purposes. There was concern expressed by Congress at the time 2(c) was enacted-I believe it was in 1920-that certain western railroads might attempt to dominate the production of coal if they were permitted to hold Federal coal leases. There are those, both within Congress and outside, that believe that while this concern may have been valid in 1920 it has outlived its usefulness. The Chair has no opinion on this. Today we will receive testimony from the administration and from railroad companies in support of S. 1542. We will also hear testimony in opposition, each for their own reasons. The committee will hold a second day of hearings on October 1, at 10 a.m. This Chair is due to be at a meeting at the White House shortly after 11 o'clock, and I am going to ask those who are appearing today to submit their statements in their entirety for the record and summarize the major points you want me to focus on. I have read every statement which was in my possession last night, which were six statements. Therefore, it is unnecessary to have the statements reread to me this morning. [The text of S. 1542 follows:] (1) |