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March 22, 2012

The 2012 Regular Session of the Legislature adjourned late Friday afternoon, March 16^th, with approval of the budget bill for fiscal year 2013, beginning this July. During the 60 days there were 2,029 bills introduced by both the Senate (678) and the House (1,351).  Of those, 113 Senate bills and 101 House bills, for a total of 214 bills were passed and completed legislative action.

We appreciate everyone who joined together with us at the Association in defense of the coal industry throughout the 60-day session.  Those collective efforts resulted in the passage of the following bills as well as preventing passage of many bills that would have negatively affected our industry. Again thanks to all who assisted, both in the Capitol and from your homes and offices.

A summary of bills that passed, as well as those which did not, that were of concern and relevant to the industry is available at the Association office, 304-342-4153.

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March 22, 2012

After years of work and devotion, the Friends of Coal Soccer Complex at Trace Fork, located next to the South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena and adjacent to the Target store in the Southridge shopping area, along Corridor G south of Charleston, is ready for official dedication on Sunday.  I hope many members of the Association and lots of Friends of Coal will attend the afternoon ceremony to commemorate the extensive work done by our members in bringing this dream to reality.

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March 22, 2012

Earlier today the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision vacating in its entirety the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s revocation of a permit issued by the Huntington District of the Corps of Engineers for the Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia.  The Corps issued the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit to Mingo Logan Coal Co. in January 2007.  In September 2009, EPA initiated the process to “veto” the permit, referred to as a Section 404(c) action, even though it had been in place for two years and the operation was active.  EPA completed the administrative process to revoke the permit on January 13, 2011.  Mingo Logan sued the agency in federal court alleging that EPA’s authority with respect to CWA Section 404 permit was confined to vetoing a permit before the Corps completed its permit analysis and actually issued the permit.  Judge Amy Berman Jackson agreed, finding that “the Court cannot find that EPA’s interpretation of Section 404(c), extending its veto authority indefinitely after a permit has been issued [by the Corps], is reasonable.”   Judge Jackson accused the EPA of “magical thinking” in assuming it could exercise the Section 404(c) veto authority at any time and issued an order finding the permit issued by the Corps for the Spruce No.1 Mine “remains valid and in full force.”

Both the West Virginia Coal Association and the State of West Virginia filed amicus briefs supporting Mingo Logan’s case against EPA.

For a copy of the decision contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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March 13, 2012

The 2012 Miners’ Celebration Conference at the Tamarack in Beckley, WV (www.tamarackwv.com) on October 4-5, 2012, is being hosted by Marshall University; the WV Coal Association; the WV Department of Energy, Office of Coalfield Community Development; the National Coal Heritage Area; Strategic Solutions, LLC; and the UMWA.

The past, present and future of the mining industry depends upon thousands of individuals in key roles who contribute significantly to each ton of coal produced – its “enterprise ecosystem”. It is because of them AND YOU that the mining industry is the success it is today. On October 4 and 5, 2012, we will celebrate the contributions that have been made, are being made and will be made to West Virginia’s mining enterprise ecosystem.

Although such an ecosystem is made up of hundreds of disciplines, a small subset of the ecosystem’s disciplines has been identified and nominations for ‘Because of You’ awards are requested for outstanding individuals or groups that have made and/or are making significant contributions in the following area of the mining enterprise ecosystem.

A nomination form and eligible ecosystem categories are provided on the following pages.

NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please include contact information for yourself as well as your nominee(s) and indicate the number and title of the category for which they are being nominated. Multiple nominations are allowed but are limited to one nomination per category. Please limit nomination statement and supporting documentation to no more than 3 pages per nominee. Nominations may be mailed, faxed or e-mailed as directed on the form. It is expected that Marshall University’s Department of Communications will videotape interviews with successful awardees for presentation in the Tamarack Theater on Friday, October 5th, as we honor the ‘Because of You’ award winners

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March 08, 2012

IT’S YOUR FUTURE...REACH HIGHER

MetroNews, along with our sponsors is proud to announce the fourth annual West Virginia Scholar Program.

The West Virginia Scholar Program allows us the opportunity to help change the life of a West Virginia family forever.  If you are currently a junior in High School in West Virginia, over the next six weeks you will have an opportunity to shape your own future. By participating in the The West Virginia Scholar program, you could receive four years of tuition and fees at West Virginia Wesleyan College, one of our state’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning.

If you are a current high school junior dreaming of making your future the very brightest it can be, MetroNews makes you this promise: If you participate in the The West Virginia Scholar Program, we will give you the chance to win your dream. Please click on the Apply Now button and complete the application materials as directed. Everyone here at MetroNews wishes you the best of luck. You could be the 2012 MetroNews Energize West Virginia Scholar!