©2025 League of Conservation Voters
1977 Scorecard Vote
38
49
9
Issues
(S. 7). The vote is on the Johnston amendment to permit states to retain exclusive jurisdiction over strip mining regulations, if the Secretary of Interior determined that the state’s environmental standards were at least as strict as the federal standards. Environmentalists saw this amendment as a way for the states to avoid federal oversight. Past history suggests that once states were granted exclusive jurisdiction, they might be very lax in enforcing their own regulations. Strip mine enforcement in most states has been very weak. Environmentalists opposed this amendment and supported the attempt in S. 7 as written to establish uniform strip mine reclamation standards nationwide. The Administration also opposed the amendment. Rejected 39-51; May 19, 1977. No is the correct vote.
©2025 League of Conservation Voters