“On January 13, the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew the previously issued clean water permit for the Mingo Logan Spruce No. 1 mine,” Tomblin’s office said.

“[He] believes coal can be mined in an environmentally safe way and calls upon the EPA to reinstate the permit which received approval after passing a rigorous 10-year review.

“Governor Tomblin encourages the public to join him and other state leaders to show the EPA how coal impacts our lives, and the lives of our fellow countrymen, by standing shoulder to shoulder at this rally.”

The event has been scheduled for January 20 beginning at 2pm local time. Attendees will meet on the fountain side of the State Capitol building in Charleston.

“Our coal industry provides jobs for our men and women, money for our children’s education, and energy for our country’s growing appetite for electricity,” Tomblin said.

“We must stand up and show federal regulators that we will not retreat from their unfair actions.”