Bill Raney, the president of the trade association that represents the majority of the state's underground and surface coal production, said Jackson is to blame for coal's decline in Appalachia.

"There's been a lot of criticism directly to her specifically in court decisions and Congress," Raney said. "They have criticized her policy regarding coal. You've got to conclude ... that sitting in that leadership position had something to do with framing that policy."

Jackson, the EPA's first black administrator, announced her intentions to leave following President Obama's State of the Union speech in January.

Her four-year tenure was marked by high-profile debates over global warming pollution, the Keystone XL oil pipeline, new controls on coal-fired plants and other issues that affect the national economy and peoples' health.

She constantly found herself between administration pledges to solve controversial environmental problems and resistance from Republicans and industrial groups that complained that EPA rules destroyed jobs and made it difficult for American companies to compete globally.

The EPA, with Jackson at the helm, is particularly unpopular in Appalachia's coal country, where politicians and industry representatives call the agency's policies a "war on coal."

But many experts have told the Gazette that the impact of the EPA's regulatory changes is overblown. Other factors continue to impact coal production in Central Appalachia, they say. Thinner and lower-quality coal seams are left, which means that production is dropping. Competition from inexpensive natural gas and other coal basins in Western states also negatively affect the state's coal industry.

While he believes that Jackson's departure will be good for the state, Raney said the West Virginia Coal Association is concerned with whether the EPA's next chief will be "someone with a much greater appreciation for coal mining."

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Sen. Joe Manchin, both D-W.Va., and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., also expressed concern for Jackson's replacement.

"I hope President Obama will carefully consider the next appointee who will fill this extremely important position," Tomblin said in an emailed statement to the Gazette. "And it is my hope the individual chosen will return a reasonable balance to the EPA. With tough economic times and growing energy needs, we need leadership that will have the perspective to work with all sides to move our country forward."

Rockefeller seeks middle ground for the future of coal.

"My hope is that West Virginia can find common ground in advancing clean coal no matter who is at the helm of this important agency, because new technology is the only realistic and honest path we have to a secure future for our coal industry and, more importantly, our coal miners," Rockefeller said in a statement.

Manchin noted that he and Jackson have had their differences, "but we were always able to have a respectful dialogue," he said in a statement. 

"I wish her well in her next endeavor," Manchin said. "I will continue to fight for a balanced energy policy for the United States -- which is exactly what we have in West Virginia -- and I look forward to working with anyone willing to help bring this commonsense West Virginia approach to the 113th Congress."

Capito, co-founder of the Congressional Coal Caucus, said Jackson's departure gives the president an opportunity to invite West Virginia into the conversation about a balanced approach to energy policy.

"We need an all-of-the-above approach that utilizes our powerful homegrown natural resources, including coal and natural gas," Capito said in an emailed statement to the Gazette. "The EPA should be a working partner in our shared goal of energy independence, job creation and environmental protection, not a punitive imperialistic hammer driven by ideological agenda.

"I thank Administrator Jackson for her service and wish her well," Capito said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Lori Kersey at lori.ker...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1240.