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The Command Unit Rapid Response Task Force 1 and Mine Rescue Truck, was created as a direct result of last year's Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, a press release issued by the governor's office said. "I am still saddened by the loss of 29 lives nearly one year ago," Gov. Tomblin said in the press release. "The families of the UBB tragedy have said 'Don't let this happen again'. This mine rescue truck is our response to help fulfill that request. We have made sure that it is fully equipped to provide mine rescue teams with the tools needed to greatly improve a mine rescue operation if and when called upon in the future." Read more …
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Southern Community and Technical College developed the new vehicle, which will serve as a command post for mine rescues.
State officials Tuesday gathered at the Capitol to dedicate a new tool for mine rescue.
Command Unit Rapid Response Task Force 1 and Mine Rescue Truck was developed by Southern Community and Technical College in response to last year's Upper Big Branch Mine explosion.
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Scientists have been forced to retract a paper that claimed sea level were rising thanks to the effects of global warming, after mistakes were discovered that undermined the results.
The study was published in Nature Geoscience and predicted that sea levels would rise by as much as 2.7 feet by the end of the twenty-first century.
The paper also highlighted that it reinforced the conclusions of the U.N.'s controversial Fourth Assessment report, which warned of the dangerous of man-made climate change.
However, mistakes in time intervals and inaccurately applied statistics have forced the authors to retract their paper -- the first official retraction ever for the three-year-old journal, notes the Guardian. In an officially published retraction of their paper, the authors acknowledged these mistakes as factors that compromised the results.
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Urge your Member of Congress to vote in support of three critically important pro-mining amendments being considered by the House today. If enacted, these amendments will help push back against EPA's regulatory destruction of the coal industry, bring back balance to the regulatory uncertainty hindering the coal industry, and provide high-paying jobs for our nation's hardworking miner's.
We urge you to call your representative or visit our Action Center and tell your Member of Congress to vote in support of:
- Amendment No.109 offered by Rep. Morgan Griffith of Virginia
- Amendment No. 216 offered by Rep. David McKinley of West Virginia
- Amendment No.498 offered by Rep. Bill Johnson of Ohio.
Contacting your Member of Congress via the NMA Action Center is easy and takes only a moment
CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR ACTION CENTER - We need you to act now, votes are expected in the next 24 hours!
Thank you for making your voice heard.
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It is tournament time again and we are looking for FOC members who would like to award trophies at the different functions listed below. If you have an interest or plan to attend one or more of these tournaments and would like to award trophies please give the Association a call so that we can coordinate with WVSSAC.
February 18 – Swimming in Morgantown
February 26 – Wrestling in Huntington
March 12 – Girls’ Basketball in Charleston
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Last week, Association member Brickstreet Insurance received notification that the company has earned a rating of A- from A.M. Best Company.
A.M. Best is a full-service credit rating organization, which serves the financial services industry and focuses on the insurance sector. Policyholders and depositors refer to the organization’s ratings and analyses to help assess the financial strength and creditworthiness of risk-bearing entities and investment vehicles.
According to BrickStreet President and CEO Greg Burton, A.M. Best cited the company’s robust surplus, reserving methodology, investment strategy, loss control policies and procedures as key features that made the A- rating possible. BrickStreet’s rating places the company among the most financially-secure insurance providers in the nation and indicates it has excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.
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Speakers Included All of the State’s Congressional Representation and Governor
The West Virginia Coal Association held its 38th Annual Mining Symposium last week. The event continues to grow larger each year, with more than 1,100 people each of the three days of the conference. Dozens of vendor companies were also on hand to show off their latest products.
“We are just astonished at the growth of this event,” said Bill Raney, association president. “When this started it wasn’t much more than a few company representatives and a vendor or two with a table-top display. The Symposium today has truly become a key event on the industry’s calendar.
The list of people addressing the event this year included all five of the state’s Congressional delegation: Senators Rockefeller and Manchin, as well as Congressional Representatives Rahall, Capito and McKinley. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin also spoke at the event. Each of the speakers talked about the importance of coal to the state and the nation and how important it is to get that message through in Washington.
The event also drew significant coverage by state media, with all the major television, print and radio media in attendance. A live television link provided coverage of the event to local television stations across the state.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thirty West Virginia mining operations have been recognized by the industry for their safety efforts in 2010. The awards were announced at the West Virginia Coal Association’s 38th Annual Mining Symposium in Charleston earlier this year.
“Each and every one of our companies work hard every day to meet the highest standards of safety.” Association President Bill Raney said. “In making these awards, we are recognizing not only the outstanding accomplishments of these companies, we are also recognizing the commitment to safety of every single operation. These award winners are fantastic examples of the commitment to safety every one of our member companies shows on a daily basis. Each of them is to be commended for the hard work they put in each day to sure their operations are as safe as possible and to send our people home at the end of their shifts.”
Raney said Phoenix Coal-Mac’s Holden 22 Surface Mine operation took the top honor for surface mines, claiming the Bart B. Lay, Jr. Milestones of Safety Award. Raney said Consolidation Coal Company’s Shoemaker Mine claimed this year’s Eustace Frederick Milestones of Safety Award for underground mines.
“Both Phoenix Coal-Mac’s Holden 22 operations and Consolidation Coal’s Shoemaker Mine have made a commitment above and beyond what is required by state and federal regulations,” Raney said. “They are the truly dedicated to the safety of their employees, and they are greatly deserving of this award.”
The West Virginia Coal Association’s Mountaineer Guardian Awards are presented each year to mining companies that have demonstrated a commitment to safety standards. Inspectors for the West Virginia Office of Mine Health Safety and Training nominate companies based on numerous criteria.
All Award Winners
(30 total)
Eustace Frederick Milestone’s In Safety Award
Underground Mines
Consolidation Coal Company, Shoemaker Mine
Bart B. Lay Milestone’s in Safety Award
Surface Mines
Phoenix Coal-Mac, Holden 22 Surface Mine
Underground
Consolidation Coal Company Blacksville #2
Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC Cucumber Mine
Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC Wyoming #1 Mine
Marfork Coal Company, Inc. Allen Powellton Mine
Metticki Coal, LLC Metticki E Mine
Mingo-Logan Coal Company Mountaineer II Mine
Pinnacle Mining Company, LLC Pinnacle Mine
Rivers Edge Mining Inc. Rivers Edge Mine
Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC Poplar Ridge Deep Mine#1
Tunnel Ridge, LLC Tunnel Ridge Mine
Wolf Run Mining Company Imperial Mine
XMV, Inc. XMV 37 Mine
Surface
Consol of Kentucky, Inc. Peg Fork Surface Mine
Extra Energy, Inc. Eckman #2
Simmons Fork Mining Inc. Ewing Fork #1
ICG Eastern LLC Birch River Mine
Fola Coal Company, LLC Surface Mine #1
Frasure Creek Mining, LLC Surface Mine #5
Preparation Plants
Emerald Processing, LLC South Hollow Plant
Mammoth Coal Company Mammoth Processing Plant
Litwar Processing Company, LLC Litwar Preparation Plant
Fola Coal Company Peach Orchard Prep Plant
ICG Eastern LLC Birch River Prep. Plant
Rock Spring Development, Inc. Camp Creek Plant
Wolf Run Mining Company, Inc. Sentinel Preparation Plan
Quarry Operations
J.F. Allen Company Aggregates Quarry
Independent Contractors
Keyrock Energy, Inc.
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Eleven companies were recognized on Friday for excellence in mine reclamation for 2010. The awards were made at the concluding luncheon of the 38th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium Charleston Civic Center.
The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection. To be eligible, a mining operation must be nominated by their local state inspector.
The Greenlands Award, the state’s top environmental award, went to Coal-Mac’s Pine Creek Slurry Impoundment in Logan County.
The Society of American Foresters Award went to Apogee Coal Company’s Guyan Surface Mine.
"Today, we recognized the real, true practicing environmentalists of this state and nation,” West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said. “The men and women who mine, manage and support these award-winning operations truly set the standard for environmental achievement and practical stewardship.”
“It is always a great pleasure to make these awards," said WVCA President Bill Raney, "These companies go far beyond requirements of the law in order to be good stewards of state’s resources. They represent the very best efforts of an industry committed to environmental responsibility. I also want to applaud the industry as a whole for the outstanding job of environmental stewardship it does each and every year..”
Greenlands Award
Coal-Mac, Inc.
Pine Creek Slurry Impoundment in Logan County.
Permit # 0-13-81.
Surface Mine North Award
Luke Paper Company
Green Mountain Surface Mine in Mineral County.
Permit #S-0189-76.
Surface Mine South Award
Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC
Tommy Creek #3 Surface Mine in Raleigh County.
Permit # S-3020-07.
Coal-Mac, Inc.
Phoenix Little Muncy Surface Mine in Mingo and Logan counties.
Permit # S-5019-94.
Pritchard Mining Company
Lens Creek #2 Surface Mine in Kanawha and Boone counties.
Permit #S-3-26-93.
Underground Mine South Award
Consolidation Coal Company
Squire Jim #1 Deep Mine in McDowell County.
Permit # U-4004-91
Brooks Run Mining Company
Wyoming #2 Deep Mine in Wyoming County
Permit #U-4012-89
Coyote Coal Company
Campbell’s Creek #3 Mine in Kanawha County.
Permit #U-6001-86.
Coal Refuse Facility North Award
Carter-Roag Coal Company
Carter-Roag Refuse Facility in Randolph County
Permit # O-31-85.
Coal Refuse Facility South Award
Apogee Coal Company
Fanco Preparation Plant in Logan County
Permit # O-5023--94
Haul Road Construction North Award
ICG Eastern, LLC.
Bearpen Haul Road in Webster County
Permit # S2019-88.
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