I applaud Governor Steve Beshear for stepping in and working with AK Steel and the Environmental Protection Agency in trying to resolve environmental violations at the Ashland coke plant.

According to a 12-09-10 article in the (Ashland, Ky.) Independent, company representatives acknowledge problems at the plant and project $50 million to resolve these problems to the satisfaction of the EPA.

I wish the governor and AK well, and hope that they will come to the reasonable solution they seek If they are successful, many good-paying jobs will be saved.

This case closely parallels the mining industry. At a time when many good-paying jobs are at stake, the EPA stands ready to stall us to oblivion, despite the consequences.

In a highly regulated industry, it seems that new requirements are being added daily, to the point that mine planning and mine projections are difficult even in a best-case scenario.

I would therefore hope that Governor Beshear, in an attitude of saving existing jobs, would stand with the coal industry as well.

I would also hope The Tribune readers would stand with us and join the FACES of Coal (facesofcoal.org) in an effort to continue mining coal-the power behind our states’ electricity.

John F. Enyart

Ashland, Ky.