Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb recently wrote a public letter to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement urging it to reject the Stream Protection Rule. That proposal would strengthen existing regulations that protect waterways around surface mines.
Holcomb is also the GOP candidate for governor. His letter opposing the Stream Protection Rule said, "I am greatly concerned that this proposed rule will adversely impact our import coal industry and subsequently hamper [the state's] continued economic growth."
Director of the Mike Downs Center for Politics and Political Analyst Andrew Downs says, historically, economic development falls within the lieutenant governor's duties.
That gives Holcomb some legitimacy to address the issue.
"But, the other reason he's doing it is because he has a political opportunity here," Downs says. "There are a fair number of people in Indiana employed by the coal industry."
Holcomb recently unveiled campaign policy proposals that include pursuing an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy that relies heavily on coal.
The U.S. Interior Department is currently reviewing public comments submitted about the rule.