The chiefs of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Office of Surface Mining (OSM) will be among the federal and state officials on hand for the 2007 Coal Symposium, to be held Jan. 10-12 in Charleston.

Did you know that since 1863, West Virginia has mined nearly 13 billion tons of coal? And did you know that it takes one pound of coal to produce 1.25 kilowatt hours of electricity, which is power enough to light a 100-watt bulb for 10 hours?

Did you also know that West Virginia mines produced 159.5 million tons of coal last year, with 98.6 million of those tons coming from underground operations?

Those bits of information - and many more - are disclosed in Coal Facts 2006, a West Virginia Coal Association publication released today. Coal Facts is an annual, limited-run, magazine-style publication made available to media outlets and government agencies. Coal Facts highlights a multitude of diverse facts about the coal industry.

Andrew Jordon, president of Pritchard Mining Company, Inc., has been named chairman of the West Virginia Coal Association Board of Directors, Association President Bill Raney announced today.

Jordon, who is from Charleston, was officially named board chairman during the West Virginia Coal Association's annual meeting held last weekend. Jordon succeeds Randy Hansford, of Riverton Coal Production.

"We' re entering a year of great promise. And I think it's appropriate that the industry has chosen Andrew Jordon, a person earned respect throughout our industry, to lead the board," said Raney.

Twenty-five companies were recognized on Thursday for excellence in mine safety for 2006. The awards were made at the 34th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium at the Charleston House Holiday Inn.

The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training. To be eligible, a mining operation must be free of fatal accidents for the year and then be nominated by their local state inspector, based on overall safety record, special safety programs and cooperation with state agencies.

Eighteen companies were recognized on Friday for excellence in mine reclamation for 2006. The awards were made at the concluding luncheon of the 34th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium at the Charleston House Holiday Inn.

The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection. To be eligible, a mining operation must be nominated by their local state inspector.