It would also have no effect on global greenhouse gas emissions, UMWA international president Cecil Roberts said.

“This rule will cost thousands of jobs of those who mine, transport and burn coal to generate electricity,” he said.

“Even the EPA doesn’t dispute that. The agency says that other jobs will be created by this rule, but they won’t be in the coalfields and they won’t have the levels of pay and benefits that our members earn. Our members want to know what lies in the future for their families and their communities, but so far the EPA has no answers.”

The EPA is holding a series of public hearings regarding this proposed rule, one of which will be in Pittsburgh on July 31 at the William S Moorhead Federal Building.

“We estimate that this rule could take as much as $208 billion out of our communities over the next 20 years,” Roberts said.

“No matter how you look at it, there is no way the coalfield economy can take that kind of hit and survive. That is why active and retired UMWA miners and their families will come to Pittsburgh, to exercise our right to petition our government and make our voices heard.

“The EPA is proposing a rule that is largely symbolic with respect to cutting global greenhouse gas emissions. The truth is that it will perhaps cut about 1% worldwide by 2030.

“Meanwhile, we will be bleeding even more of the best American jobs to economic competitors like China and India who will continue to power their growing economies by expanding their use of coal-fired electricity, not shrinking it.”