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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The fight against Obama's EPA is never-ending. But, today West Virginia and surrounding states got a win over the Federal Government in the 6th Circuit, thanks to the work of Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.
The 6th Circuit has blocked the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers from enforcing new rules over small stream, land, farms and other private property.
"Thanks to a conservative Attorney General with the courage to take on D.C. and Obama, we have a fighting chance to save our energy industries, farms and private property rights," said West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas. "Every day Patrick Morrisey works to protect us from an out-of-control Federal bureaucracy. West Virginia is lucky to have such a committed and effective conservative leader in Patrick Morrisey."
West Virginia is a leader among the 31 states fighting this Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule.
The rule extends the EPA and Corps of Engineers' regulatory jurisdiction to an untold number of small bodies of water, including roadside ditches and short-lived streams or any other area where the agencies believe water may flow once every 100 years. It was published in the Federal Register June 29, and the agencies began enforcing the rule Aug. 28.
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CHARLESTON - Attached for your information is a pre-publication copy of aproposed rulethat the Mine Safety and Health Administration will publish in theFederal Registertomorrow regarding the installation of proximity detection system on underground mining equipment. Also attached is afact sheetthat the agency has prepared. Comments on the rule must be submitted 90-days following publication, approximately Dec. 2, 2015.
Under the proposed rule operators of underground coal mines would be required to install proximity detection systems on mining equipment, coal hauling machines and scoops on working sections using continuous mining machines. Consistent with the proximity requirements for continuous mining machines the proposal indicates that the final rule will be phased-in over a period of 8-36 months depending upon the date of manufacture and installation of proximity technology in advance of the final rule. The proposal solicits comments on application of this rule to equipment in use off the working section. Additionally, the proposed rule is only applicable to underground coal mines however; MSHA specifically solicits comment on extending this rule to underground metal and nonmetal operations as well.
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The 2015 edition of Coal Facts, the West Virginia Coal Association’s annual report on the status of the state’s coal industry, is now available. It is available at the WVCA’s office in Charleston or for download at http://www.wvcoal.com/docs/Coal%20Facts%202015.pdf. Drop by and see us or visit our website for your copy today.
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US COAL PRODUCTION CONTINUES TO GAIN AND CLOSES GAP ON 2014
|
Coal Commodity |
Avg. BTU |
SO2 |
Price |
Price/mmBTU |
|
Central Appalachia |
12,500 |
1.2 |
$48.60 |
$1.94 |
|
Northern Appalachia |
13,000 |
3 |
$51.90 |
$2.00 |
|
Illinois Basin |
11,800 |
5 |
$34.35 |
$1.46 |
|
Powder River Basin |
8,800 |
0.8 |
$11.55 |
$0.66 |
|
Unita Basin |
11,700 |
0.8 |
$39.75 |
$1.70 |
|
Natural Gas |
n/a |
0.01 |
n/a |
$2.69 |
CHARLESTON –Coal production in the U.S. for the week ending August 29th rose for the fourthstraight week, continuing a long-term upward trend, and to narrow the gap to last year’s totals significantly in recent weeks, according to the latest report from the Energy Information Agency (EIA).
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CHARLESTON - The September episode of the West Virginia Coal Association’s Coal Seam television show is now on the air. The special guest was Senate President and Lt. Governor Bill Cole, who discussed the issues related to the President’s Carbon and Mercury Rules and their impact on the future of coal in the state – focusing specifically on what the state can do on its own to help the industry compete while continuing to push back on the Obama Administration’s regulatory assault.
Cole also discussed the 2016 Legislative Agenda, saying that a big part of the upcoming session would be focused on tax reform and other means to help state businesses compete.
The Coal Seam is available on your local public access cable channel, including Suddenlink Channel 17 in the southern part of the state. Check your local listings for the dates and times.
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SOUTH CHARLESTON – West Virginia Coal Association Vice President Jason Bostic provided an overview of the 3,000+ page rewrite of the federal mining regulations proposed by the Office of Surface Mining as the Stream Protection Rule.
The presentation focused on the most problematic issues with the rule, such as the potential impact on underground mining operations and the inclusion un-codified water quality standards with the mining permits.
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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS – The West Virginia State Chamber of Commerce has elected former two-time West Virginia Coal Association Chairman Andrew Jordon as its new board chairman for the 2015-2017 term. The Chamber announced the selection at its annual Business Summit held earlier this week at the Greenbrier.
The three-day meeting included the state’s largest gathering of business, education and policy leaders.
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BLUEFIELD -- The West Virginia Coal Association and Friends of Coal will be attending the Bluefield Coal Show on September 16-18 at the Brushfork Armory on Bramwell Road. The annual event continues to grow and today is considered one of the major regional shows in the U.S. Recent shows featured approximately 240 exhibitors displaying first-hand what the future holds in the way of equipment and new innovative technologies being developed in the coal industry. We hope you will join us and show your support for the state’s leading industry at the 2015 Bluefield Coal Show on September 16, 17, and 18. Registration forms are available at http://www.bluefieldchamber.com/bluefield-coal-show.
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- Coal Facts 2015 is Now Available
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