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Details: May 09, 2013

The WV Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety promulgated an "Emergency Rule" designed to close a major loop hole in the State's mandatory drug testing program.

The Board's "Emergency Rule", which becomes effective on July 1, extends the reporting and decertification requirements in current state law to all individuals who fail a drug or alcohol test prescribed under state law. Heretofore, only cases involving a positive drug test that resulted in discharge, were reported to the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training for disciplinary action and suspension of mining certification privileges.

Details: May 09, 2013

Congresswoman Shelley Capito has joined with co-sponsors Barr, Shimkus, Lummis, Stivers, Wagner, Johnson, Griffith, Whitfield, McKinley, and Latta to introduce the Coal Jobs Protection Act in the House. The bill number is H.R. 1829.

The bill proposes controls on the EPA in order to prevent the withdrawal (veto) of permits after issuance, as occurred with the Spruce permit. A companion bill in the U.S Senate is being sponsored by Senator Mitch McConnell.

Details: May 09, 2013

Former Association Board member, Jim Thomas, II, passed away on Wednesday in Charleston. Jim was well known throughout the industry as he and his brother, Newt, operated Carbon Fuel for a number of years. Since his retirement, he had been in numerous statewide organizations and a wide variety of civic activities in Charleston and the Kanawha Valley. Jim was inducted in the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame in 2000. Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home in Charleston is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete at this time.

Details: May 09, 2013

The 2013 Friends of Coal Auto Fair is set for July 19-21^st at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Sports Complex in Beckley, WV. More than 50,000 people from all over the country are expected throughout the weekend to take in the car show, carnival rides, live music, special performance, surprise guests and festival food. Sponsorship opportunities are available and more up-to-date information can be accessed by visiting: www.friendsofcoalautofair.com

Details: May 09, 2013

Members may want to let their employees know their children (high school) may attend the annual WV High School Entrepreneurship Summit at Camp Horseshoe. June 9 – 15 details are available on the below attachment.

Sponsorships pay all the fees except $50 the student invests – or finds a sponsor for their $50 share of the fee. The PDF is attached below (double click on PDF):

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