DOE COAL PANEL REJECTS SEN. LIEBERMAN'S CHARGE OF BIASED MEMBERSHIP

The National Coal Council, a federal committee that advises the energy secretary, is defending the balance of its membership in response to a request by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) for the Department of Energy (DOE) inspector general to investigate the body. Lieberman's June 1 letter asks for an investigation into "whether the composition, funding, and recent conduct of the National Coal Council (NCC) comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and all U.S. Department of Energy regulations, orders and...