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We were informed yesterday afternoon by MSHA that the agency will publish a proposed rule on October 19 entitled "Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors." A copy is currently available to view at http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-25249_PI.pdf and the Agencies press release which accompanies the rule may be viewed at http://www.msha.gov/Media/PRESS/2010/NR101014.pdf.
The proposed rule would lower the current 2 milligram dust standard to 1 milligram over a two-year period; mandates the use of PDMs; provides for the use of a single, full-shift sample to determine compliance; address extended work shifts and redefines normal production shifts.
MSHA has also announced a “stakeholders meeting” set for 10: a.m. on October 20th at its Arlington, VA Office and a limited call-in opportunity for WVCA to participate telephonically. If you are interested in participating with us from our office on the 20th, please let us know by replying to this email or by call Sandi at 304-342-4153.
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What do individuals think when the word coal comes to mind? Usually, heat, use in generation of electric, mining, way of life for millions of individuals, etc. Yes, those are the normal thoughts, but what about by products of the industry? Nature has treated the United States generously with excellent coal resources and much more is derived from the coal industry than just lumps of the black material from our land. That is only the beginning of a process that provides the world a multitude of products that are very beneficial in our every day life. We all know that we get Power and Heat if we burn coal. In addition, processing of coal provides us with hundreds of useful products.
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wvgazette.com
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Greg Fowler remembered drag racing his 1967 Chevelle Super Sport up and down West Virginia's roads.
In the '60s, drag racing on unpopulated rural roads was a normal activity for 20-somethings with fast cars.
One of their favorite spots to race was in Mason County, on a stretch of W.Va. 62 between Point Pleasant and Leon that the racers dubbed Wilson's Stretch -- so named for the family that owned a farm near the road.
Fowler and his friends discovered that the Wilsons would not call the police on the drag racing party as long as they steered clear of the farm.
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by Alek Duerksen, guest columnist, Collegiate Times
I write this letter in response to Matt Schmitt’s column “Mountaintop mining endangers beauty, economy of Appalachia,” (CT, Sept. 28). I take issue with numerous statements he made in his article, in addition to the overall message. I will address each sequentially as they appeared in the piece.
First, “men in business suits command an arsenal of weaponry with the sole purpose of mining the earth from beneath our very feet.” My first point would be that the earth is not mined from beneath our very feet. Mining companies reach out to landowners long before mining ever starts and negotiate a royalty agreement or property purchase which benefits all parties; land owners must give their express permission before mining can occur.
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The Friends of Coal is continuing its outreach efforts on several fronts into the fall. In addition to a full schedule of conferences and events planned for the fall, the organization is hosting various groups of college students interested in learning about the industry.
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Earlier this week, the Friends of Coal spoke with a group of students from the University of Charleston and a group of Wheeling Jesuit students will be in visiting on October 21.Â
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In addition, Friends of Coal was represented this past weekend at the annual Rocket Boys Festival in Coalwood. More than 3,000 people were on-hand for the event held in the hometown of the Rocket Boys, made famous in the movie “October Sky.” Â
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Later this month, the Friends of Coal will be taking part in a conference hosted by the West Virginia State Board of Education intended to begin development of a secondary schools curriculum to prepare high school students for careers in the energy and mining sector. The conference will be held in Fairmont.
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And the Friends of Coal will be attending the annual meeting of Create West Virginia in Wheeling later this month. Create West Virginia is an extension of the Vision Shared organization, founded by the late-Gov. Cecil Underwood to lead the economic development and diversification efforts of the state.
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