tightening regulations and coal royaltys.Fernanda Sandoval

Coal is one of the Wests main exports and areas of revenue but lately the government has been finding some rather unsavory things about the companies producing and selling coal. These companies have found loopholes in the system that allows them to make more  money off the coal while paying less royalties to taxpayers. The problem is that, taxpayers are so scared of a collapse in the economy that they aren't fighting for their rights, instead they are supporting the companies depriving them of their royalties. In response to this the government is trying to tighten regulations on coal mining companies, and since these companies are on leased federal land they have more of a reason to comply but the taxpayers are making it look like the government is the bad guy because they don't want to risk a downfall in the coal economy. They are saying things like, the government is trying to shut down the coal mining business as a way to save the earth and there is actually nothing wrong with what the companies are doing. This makes it hard for the government to regulate what the companies are and are not doing which will not help the economy in the long run.
http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/how-coal-companies-exploit-federal-land/