WASHINGTON D.C. — John Stilley, president of Butler-based Amerikohl Mining, was among several witnesses who testified Thursday at a hearing titled “EPA’s Appalachian Energy Permitorium: Job Killer or Job Creator?”

The hearing was on the issue of energy production and job creation in Appalachian states that are being affected by regulations at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies.

The hearing was put on by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a U.S. House of Representatives Committee which oversees government operations, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd.

Stilley told the committee that the coal industry is a major job creator and economic contributor to Pennsylvania, contributing $7 billion in total economic benefit and employing 41,500 workers.

“Frankly, EPA’s heightened scrutiny and overzealous regulation of coal mining in the past two years threaten the future economic viability of our industry,” Stilley told the subcommittee, according to the statement.

Kelly, who participated in the committee, praised Stilley’s testimony.

“John is not only a great businessman and community leader; he’s also a true patriot,” Kelly said in the statement.