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May 30, 2015

WVCA President Bill Raney and Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton joined Eugene White, Director of the WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training, to present two Murray American Energy operations with the state’s top safety awards at ceremonies held May 20^th. 

Murray American Energy’s Marshall County Mine, Marshall County Mine Loadout facility was awarded the Mountaineer Guardian Award for 2014 and Murray American Energy’s  Harrison County Mine was presented the Eustace E. Frederick Milestones in Safety Award for 2014.

“There is nothing more important to our members than the safety of their people,” Raney said. “These two operations have distinguished themselves in maintaining the highest standards of safety.”

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May 30, 2015

Upper Ohio Valley residents have launched the Ohio Valley Jobs Alliance to support local coal industry jobs.

The State Journal reports the mission of the alliance involves energy, manufacturing, construction and other industries working together to create jobs.

Alliance President Bruce Whipkey says the struggling coal mining industry is integral to the region’s economy and that citizens need to fight for it. He said the recent announcements of more than 2,000 layoffs accentuates the importance of this initiative and that these layoffs will affect thousands of other jobs that support the coal industry and will hurt local tax revenue.

Learn more at http://www.ohiovalleyjobs.org.

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May 30, 2015

West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney took part in a panel discussion and presentation at the annual North American Coalbed Methane Forum May 21 in Canonsburg, PA.  Raney discussed the current state of the coal industry in West Virginia, spotlighting some of the major challenges the industry faces in the current regulatory climate. 

Raney said West Virginia coal miners were able to overcome these pressures in 2014, actually showing a slight increase in production despite significant layoffs, mine closures and permitting issues.

Joining Raney was the leaders of coal associations in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania.  Robert Murray, President and CEO of Murray Energy was the keynote speaker pointing out the challenges faced by the industry going forward.  

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May 30, 2015

Leadership West Virginia, a leadership development program sponsored by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, held its annual coal session in Logan this past week. WVCA Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton took part in a panel discussion of the importance of coal to the state’s economy with a focus on the challenges faced by the industry today.

Joining Hamilton on the May 15 panel were: Kevin Craig, executive vice president of Natural Resource Partners, L.P.; David Ledford, president and CEO of the Appalachian Wildlife Foundation and Alan Stagg, president and principal economic geologist for Stagg Resource Consultants, Inc.

The group also toured Alpha Natural Resources’ Running Right Training Facility, the Highland Surface Mining Complex and the Logan County Airport, built on a former surface mine. In addition, the group heard a presentation by Appalachian Power Company President and COO Charles Patton on the EPA’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) and its impact on the economy.

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May 25, 2015

The Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary and Wren Miles from Caterpillar presented Leslie Gray Baker with an iPad to be used as an additional educational resource at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine.

Ms. Miles explained that the project has taken two years to develop but they wanted to make sure that all the content was accurate, engaging and specific to West Virginia.

The unique iPad kiosk is set up in the Museum area of the Rahall Company Store and with its interactive programming, it is sure to be a popular component of the Exhibition Mine experience.  There are touch pad segments on all aspects of the West Virginia coal industry.

Check out this new addition to the Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley.