SYCAMORE, Pennsylvania The head of the Environmental Protection Agency chose a Pennsylvania coal mine with a history of violating environmental laws as his venue for unveiling a new plan to refocus his agency in a way that he says will both protect the planet and promote economic growth.

Ignoring the fact that the U.S. coal industrys troubles are primarily the result of market forces , Scott Pruitt offered roughly 75 miners at the Harvey Mine this hopeful message: The regulatory assault on coal is over.

It was here in Appalachian coal country, at North Americas largest producing underground coal complex , that Pruitt formally launched the EPAs Back-To-Basics agenda . But instead of sharing details about that plan, he commiserated with those in the room. What happened to coal under former President Barack Obama , Pruitt said in a four-minute address, is really sad.

Pruitt, a climate change denier and longtime ally of the fossil fuel industry, claimed that coal, oil and gas companies are both pro-environment and pro-growth. Now that Obama is out of office, he said, America doesnt have to chose between the two.

Its been said I think youve heard it said you cant have your cake and eat it too, Pruitt said. Ill tell you, whoever says that doesnt know what youre supposed to do with cake.