We suppose it’s better late than never: The Quinn administration Department of Natural Resources has agreed to stop being so cozy with Big Coal. As you’ll read in Bruce Rushton’s story on p. 10 (“Reform wave hits DNR”), the department has agreed to comply with regulations requiring public notice of mine permit applications, and to require mine applicants to appear in public hearings and answer questions from the public. Also, DNR seems ready to start inspecting coal ash ponds and to stop the practice of mine owners making political contributions to mine regulators. An election year has a way of reminding politicians to get their houses in order. But really, Gov. Quinn, you’ve been in office five years and you’re just now getting DNR to come clean? –Fletcher Farrar, editor and publisher
This article appears in Apr 10-16, 2014.
