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The Governor’s Energy Summit, sponsored by the WV Governor’s Office and the WV Department of Commerce is a one-day conference, entitled West Virginia: Energy Powering Economic Development, will be held on Tuesday, December 6, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Stonewall Resort. It will feature presentations on energy independence and security, carbon challenges, alternative fuels, and coal and natural gas resources.
For registration purposes, an online link has been established at: www.energywv.com/energysummit.
This online link is for conference attendance only. Should you require lodging, please contact the Stonewall Resort directly at (304) 269-7400. A block of rooms is being held for the evening of December 5 for the “Governor’s Energy Summit” at a rate of $99/night. All reservations should be made no later than Saturday, November 19.
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The Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety promulgated a final rule pertaining to the use of High Voltage Face Equipment in conjunction with longwall mining. The administrative rule has been assigned Title 36, Series 47 and was filed with the Secretary of State and takes effect immediately. Final rules were also adopted for using high voltage in conjunction with continuous mining machines.
The Board also continued its consideration and deliberations of a proposed mandatory Drug Testing program. The drug testing program considered by the Board would basically:
- ·Requires all mining operations to have a mandatory drug testing program that would, at a minimum, ensure that all employees at the mine level would be tested on an annual basis;
- ·Requires the Director of the State Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training to suspend the WV certification of any miner whose miner’s certification issued from another state had been revoked for failing a drug test;
- ·Requires the Director to provide drug testing to any applicant for a miners “specialty” certification, i.e., fire boss, electrician, belt examiner, shot firer, etc.; and,
- ·Requires any prospective miner to have a drug test prior to the issuance of an apprentice miner’s certification.
C.A. Phillips, Director of the WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training was confirmed by the State Senate this week on a unanimous vote. Phillips was originally appointed to his position by Governor Manchin last year and reappointed by Governor Tomblin in October.
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Longtime Friend of Coal, Art Kirkendoll, (D-Logan County) has been appointed by Governor Tomblin to serve his remaining term as Senator. Art is a past Logan County Commissioner and has been active with the Association in numerous events. He announced he would seek re-election to the Senate seat in 2012.
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During the November legislative interim committee meetings held this past week, the Senate elected Senator Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall County) to serve as its President. President Kessler has served in the Senate for 16 years and has been an advocate of coal.
WVCA’s “Coal Seam” show, hosted by Chris Hamilton, was filmed this week and features newly elected Senate President Kessler as its guest. “Coal Seam” airs on WV Library Television Network/Public Broadcasting. Check your local listing for days and times for viewing.
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Governor Earl Ray Tomblin was inaugurated as the 35th Governor of the State of West Virginia on Sunday afternoon on the Capitol steps with his wife, Joann and son by his side. Supreme Court Justice Margaret Workman issued the oath of office, with a program that included Landau Murphy, Jr. (Logan County resident winner of America’s Got Talent) opening with the Star Spangled Banner and closing with Amazing Grace.
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Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE: PCX) announced the realignment of its operations management to strengthen oversight of key mine complexes in Appalachia and facilitate plans for expansion of captive production. Effective November 21, the following management team will report directly to Bennett K. Hatfield, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer:
- ·John R. Jones will join Patriot as Vice President, Operations – West Virginia South Region, including the Rocklick, Wells, Big Mountain and Paint Creek complexes.
- ·James N. Magro will serve as Senior Vice President, Operations – West Virginia North Region, including the Panther, Kanawha Eagle and Federal complexes.
- ·Michael D. Day will be Senior Vice President – Engineering and West Virginia Central Region Operations, with dual responsibilities for both the corporate engineering group and an operating region that includes the Logan County, Corridor G, Campbell's Creek and Blue Creek complexes.
- ·Lawrence J. Millburg will become Vice President, Operations – Kentucky Region, including the Bluegrass, Dodge Hill and Highland complexes.
- ·Terry G. Hudson will continue in his current position as Vice President – Safety.
- · E. Kent Hartsog will continue in his current role as Vice President - Operations Support
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The Civic Center has a brand new basketball floor that has a rich history and will reflect the proud tradition of West Virginia’s coal miners everywhere. The new court is 120 feet by 60 feet and is constructed of First Grade Northern Hard Maple and was used in the last two NCAA Final Four Women’s Basketball Tournament held in Indianapolis in 2011 and San Antonio in 2010. It was refurbished by Connor Sports Floors of Chattanooga, Tennessee and installed yesterday. The first game to be played on this new court will be this coming Tuesday when West Virginia hosts Morehead State.
The floor features a very distinctive, yet familiar, design that is symbolic of the relationship between the State of West Virginia and coal mining. The floor features a black perimeter and large orange outline of our state with the silhouettes of three coal miners.
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ST. LOUIS , Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE:PCX - News) today announced the realignment of its operations management to strengthen oversight of key mine complexes in Appalachia and facilitate plans for expansion of captive production. Effective November 21 , the following management team will report directly to Bennett K. Hatfield , Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer:
- ·John R. Jones will join Patriot as Vice President, Operations – West Virginia South Region, including the Rocklick, Wells, Big Mountain and Paint Creek complexes.
- ·James N. Magro will serve as Senior Vice President, Operations – West Virginia North Region, including the Panther, Kanawha Eagle and Federal complexes.
- ·Michael D. Day will be Senior Vice President – Engineering and West Virginia Central Region Operations, with dual responsibilities for both the corporate engineering group and an operating region that includes the Logan County, Corridor G, Campbell 's Creek and Blue Creek complexes
- ·Lawrence J. Millburg will become Vice President, Operations – Kentucky Region, including the Bluegrass, Dodge Hill and Highland complexes
- ·Terry G. Hudson will continue in his current position as Vice President – Safety.
- · E. Kent Hartsog will continue in his current role as Vice President - Operations Support
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The Associated Press story about the anticipated decline of Central Appalachian coal production paints a bleak picture for the future of coal in that region. According to the article, coal production is expected to plummet in the near future, primarily due to depletion of mineable reserves.
The writer cites a 2010 report by Mcllmoil and Hansen of Downstream Strategies, an environmental consulting firm in Morgantown, W.Va., as well as other sources. As a geologist familiar with coal resources in Eastern Kentucky, I wanted to find out more about how Mcllmoil and Hansen arrived at these conclusions.
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