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West Virginia University’s engineering and mineral resources school will be named the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in honor of businessman, philanthropist and alumnus Ben Statler, WVU President Jim Clements and other officials announced Thursday (Jan. 12).
Statler and his wife, Jo, both natives of Monongalia County, today pledged $34 million to the College – the largest single gift commitment ever to the University and to a college – at a special ceremony at Erickson Alumni Center; $11 million of the donation will qualify for a match from the state Research Trust Fund, making the total value of the naming gift $45 million. A portion of today’s pledge comes from a previously announced commitment.
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Charleston Gazette
Drug testing for miners to be mandatory
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin promised Wednesday night to seek more state mine safety improvements, but his list of proposals fell short of what independent investigators have said is needed to truly reform West Virginia's mining operations.
In a State of the State address that repeated Tomblin's strong allegiance to the coal industry, the governor also outlined his legislative response to investigative findings concerning the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster.
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FOLA, W.Va. -- Flying at about 1,000 feet above the hills of Clay County, a trio of West Virginia Air National Guard C-130s approached a 360-acre drop zone on an expanse of a reclaimed surface mine, opened their cargo ramps, and reduced their air speed to 150 miles per hour.
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According to the Energy Information Agency (EIA), U.S. coal production is trending upward by approximately .5 percent from this past year. EIA says production for 52 weeks ending December 31 was 1.09 billion tons compared to 1.08 billion in 2010.
Meanwhile, exports of met coal increased by almost 30 percent year-over-year, from 47.1 million tons in 2010 to 57.1 million tons in 2011. Steam coal exports saw a 54 percent increase, from 19.9 million tons in 2010 to 30.7 million tons in 2011.
West Virginia production increased by 1.5 million tons, from 135 million tons in 2010 to 136.5 million tons in 2011 – an approximate 1 percent increase. Production for the entire Appalachian region increased .6 percent, from 336.4 million tons in 2010 to 338.6 million tons in 2011. The spot price for Central App coal was $76.30, down slightly from $76.85 at the end of November.
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According to an AP report, halfway through its budget year, West Virginia has resumed its course toward a modest general revenue surplus in December after a brief rough patch for tax collections. Last month the state took in $336 million, or $28.7 million more than expected. That helped put state government $56 million above its revenue goal for the budget year, which ends June 30. Muchow credits the state's energy sector for much of the good fiscal news. Continuing a trend that's helped buoy the state amid the fragile recovery, Muchow cited coal prices and the strong export market for this fossil fuel. Muchow added that natural gas production and increased investments in West Virginia's share of the Marcellus shale field is also playing a role. The severance tax on extracted natural resources bested its December estimate. So did taxes on business equity — the business franchise tax — and corporate net income.
West Virginia expects to raise $4.01 billion from general tax revenues by June 30. It began January with $1.97 billion collected.
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