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The U.S. House of Representatives will abolish its Climate Change Committee when the new Congress is seated in January.
According to a spokesman for incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), “The Committee was created by Democrats simply to provide political cover to pass their job-killing national energy tax.” It was established in 2007 by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and chaired by Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
Statement of the West Virginia Coal Association to the US Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration proposed rule "Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors.” Public Hearing at the National Mine Health & Safety Academy, Beaver, WV -- December 7, 2010.
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A recently released report by Deloitte Consulting, Tracking the Trends 2011: The Top Ten Issues Mining Companies Will Face, provides an overview of the primary issues facing the mining industry as we move into the new year.
The concerns include:
Financing constraints that have followed the recent global financial crisis.
Rapid global industrialization is driving a mismatch between supply and demand for commodities;
Increasing need to do more to engage key community stakeholders at every stage of the mine’s lifecycle; New mining taxes; New regulations;
Greater policy influences being exerted by various governments in the wake of the global financial crisis; The need for more strategic long-range planning;
Skilled labor retention and recruitment challenges, particularly in middle-management ranks;
Ramifications and new strategic requirements presented by expansion into marginal projects and more remote geographies;
Escalating stakeholder demands for greater mining company disclosure of environmental standards and impacts;
Inadequate infrastructure to support mining activities and transport of commodities; and, Balancing risk with new opportunities.
A full copy of the report is available at: Deloitte’s website.
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The House Republican Conference of the United States House of Representatives has chosen its new slate of committee chairman, who will take office when the new Congress is seated in January.
The new chairmen include:
West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito (R—2ndDistrict) will serve as chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit. Meanwhile, incoming freshman Congressman David McKinley (R-1st District) has been named to the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) becomes chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, replacing Nick Rahall (D-WV).
Hal Rogers (R-KY) was picked to be the new chairman of the Appropriations Committee over ranking member Jerry Lewis (R-CA).
Fred Upton (R-Mich.) won the contest to chair the Energy and Commerce Committee. He will decide next week on who will chair subcommittees, with Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) reported to be a likely choice to head the Energy and Environment panel.
Ralph Hall (R-TX) will chair the Science and Technology Committee, putting Hall in the forefront of efforts to question the administration’s climate policies. NMA looks forward to working with the new committee leadership to strengthen the nation’s energy independence and its economy.
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(Courtesy of the National Mining Association)
The Supreme Court this week agreed to hear a case that will decide whether citizens have the right to sue power plants for emitting greenhouse gases under a nuisance claim. The case in question, American Electric Power Co., Inc. v. Connecticut, will be the first before the court that directly decides “global warming” issues. NMA filed an amicus brief this summer urging the court to hear the case and reject the notion that the court system is the appropriate venue for determining the benefits and detriments of fossil fuel use to society.
The case will be the most significant environmental decision since the court decided in 2007 that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Legal observers noted two likely outcomes: either the court denies states and individuals seeking emissions cuts have a public nuisance standing, or denies their motion because EPA is already regulating emissions. In agreeing to hear the case, the court ignored pleas from the Obama administration to remand the case to the lower court in consideration of pending EPA climate change rules.
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The Friends of Coal is putting together its outreach calendar for 2011. Currently we are putting the finishing touches on our Legislative Calendar, preparing our support materials and scheduling events.
Among the events already scheduled are:
Seminar Presentation and Sponsorship of the West Virginia Construction and Design Exposition, set for March 23rd and 24th here in Charleston. Seminars presented by the Friends of Coal include “Surface Mining: Restoration and Post-Mine Land Use” and “The Potential Impact of EPA Policy on the Economy of West Virginia.” (Note: Seminar topics are subject to change.
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A break-in at the storage site of the Wyoming County Toy Fund has left the fund just about toyless for its December 19 distribution party. The fund had taken advantage of an opportunity to buy toys in the off-season at a significant discount. Then, as workers began their prep for the party, they made the horrifying discovery that many of the toys had been stolen and most of the remainder vandalized. Fund Chairman Todd Houck fears the fund may not survive. Not only will it have to replace those toys, they also found out they will be serving more children than ever. “We won’t be able to shop until the last minute,” Houck told The Register-Herald. “And if no donations come in, we won’t be able to shop — period.”
To help ensure that the neediest of Wyoming County’s children have a happy Christmas in 2010, mail a tax-deductible donation to L. Dale Stewart, treasurer; P.O. Box 268; Matheny, WV 24860 or make a cash contribution at any branch of First People’s Bank or First Community Bank.
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MSHA issued a specific warning about highwalls because winter months can bring drastic changes to their stability due to freezing and thawing. Water accumulates in crevices of rocks and then freezes. The ice acts as a wedge to expand the crevice opening. The ice thaws and the cycle begins again which in turn compromises the stability of the highwall that can result in highwall failure.
BEST PRACTICES
• Conduct examinations of the highwall before, during and after every rain, freeze, or thaw.
• Scale down loose hazardous material.
• Do not work under loose material for any reason.
• Pay special attention when working in the corners of box cuts.
• Increase the number of benches at each highwall to catch falling material.
• Use CB radios to keep equipment operators informed of highwall conditions.
REMEMBER: Safety depends you!
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Local pastors and community leaders from the Mingo-Logan-Boone region will join in a special event to recognize the societal benefits of mining to our state and region and to join in prayer for both the safety of the mining community over the holidays and in 2011…and for the future of the industry.
WHAT: Interfaith Service Recognizing the Value of Mining to West Virginia
WHEN: Monday, December 20 -- 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Chief Logan Lodge and Conference Center
Featured speakers include Father George Kostas, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Logan, and Pastor Mitchell Bias, Regional Church of God, Mingo County.
Local pastors interested in participating should contact the Logan Chamber of Commerce at (304) 752-1324.
The mining community and the general public are encouraged to attend and be a part of showing their support for our mining industry and its workers and families. Light refreshments will be served.
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The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration held the first of a series of public hearings on its proposed “respirable dust” rule this past week in Beckley. Chris R. Hamilton, senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, presented the industry and Association viewpoint at the hearing. The Association’s testimony is shown at the end of Coal Bits
The hearing provided the opportunity to express concerns over MSHA not allowing machine mounted scrubbers to function as designed to mitigate coal dust at the point of generation and unnecessarily exposing miners to hazards associated with section equipment moves as the result of the Agency’s reluctance to approve extended-cut continuous mining plans. We urge all our members and the Friends of Coal to contact MSHA and our members of Congress and let them know the proposed rules are not the right prescription.
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