NMA will host the State Associations on June 20-21 in their Washington, DC offices.  The heads of state associations will meet at 3 p.m. on  the 20th followed by a reception for members of Congress and key staffers from eastern bituminous coal states.  On June 21st, beginning at 8:30 a.m. a briefing for selected congressional staff members on key issues will begin the day’s agenda which follows:

            Overview of Eastern Coal Production 2007 – Bill Caylor, KY Coal & Bill Raney, WVCA

            Carbon Sequestration Technologies – George Ellis, PA Coal

            Coal to Liquids – Mike Carey, Ohio Coal

            Meeting with MSHA officials

            Compliance & Challenges of the MINER Act – Terry Hudson, Peabody Energy

            Mine Rescue – David Gooch, COA

            After Lunch

            Meet with U.S. Corps of Engineers

            Overview of Environmental Litigation – Jason Bostic, WVCA & Bob McLusky, JK

            Adjournment around 2 p.m.

   The Coal Edition of The State Journal will be published on June 29th.  Articles and ads have been submitted and we want to thank all of you who contributed to this publication.

 

The updated Association website is continuing to make progress and should be up and running around July 1st. Currently, plans for various interactive educational tools are in the works to help the community be exposed to the truth behind coal mining in West Virginia. The first project will consist of the many stages of the mine reclamation process and will use numerous photographs to help explain the process. We are excited to help educate people of all ages on the many misinterpreted aspects of such a fascinating industry.  

The Association joined the Mayor of Charleston, Danny Jones, WVU's new President-elect Mike Garrison, Putnam County Judge O.C. Spaulding  and other business officials on Wednesday, June 13, to welcome visitors from China's ShanxiProvince.  Coal and energy were the topics of interest as the Province produces some 600 million tons of coal each year. The delegation was led by Mr. Song Beishan, Vice Governor of Shanxi Province and included eight other high ranking Province officials.  The delegation began their visit in Morgantown and completed it on Thursday with a visit to Governor Manchin and a larger reception at the University of Charleston.    

 

Mr. LingHu Zhengce   Director General, Shanxi Development and Reform Commission

Mr.Qiao Liangsheng   Deputy Director General, Department of CommerceShanxiProvince;  Director General, Investment Promotion Agency, Shanxi Province

Mr.Guo Shufeng         Deputy Director General, Economic Commission, Shanxi Province

Mr.Li Anjin                    Director, General Office of the People’ Government Shanxi Province

Mr. Ren Xiaotong       Vice General Manager of Shanxi International Electric Power Group

Mr. Han Jincheng       Deputy Director Department of Commerce, Shanxi Province Chief Representative, Business Development, Organizing Committee of CICENEXPO

Ms.Jin Jun                  Section Chief, Department of Commerce, Shanxi Province Chief   Representative, Business Development, Organizing Committee of CICENEXPO

Mr.Zhang Pingyi   Board Chairman, Shanxi Rongsheng International Coal & Energy New Industry Exhibition Co., Ltd; Deputy Director General of the Office of the Organizing Committee, China (TaiYuan) International Coal & Energy New Industry EXPO (CICENEXPO)

Ms.Wang Kongrui      Consultant, Business Development of the Organizing Committee of CICENEXP

Next week's Tug Valley Mining Institute meeting will feature Association Board member Jim Bunn as the dinner speaker.  The June 21st dinner is being sponsored by Guyan Heavy Machinery at the Brass Tree Restaurant in Williamson, beginning at 6:00 p.m.