In our continuing partnership with the WV Secondary Schools Activities Commission (SSAC) we have the opportunity to present the State Championship and Runners-up trophies to the final two teams and/or individuals in the championship events for each of the three classes (A, AA, AAA) in each sport.  The individuals on each team also receive a Friends of Coal plaque to commemorate their and their team's achievements.  We encourage our members to participate in these presentations and the remaining events include the following.  Several members have already indicated their interest in participating and are noted in parenthesis.  Please let Sandi know (304-342-4153) (sdavison@wvcoal.com) if you or any of your employees would have an interest in participating·

·         SOFTBALL (May 22-23) Vienna, Jackson Park

·         BASEBALL (May 30-June 1) Charleston, Appalachian Power Park

CONCORD, N.C. – Hillman Racing today announced that the West Virginia Coal Association and the Friends of Coal organization will be the primary marketing partners on the No. 27 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry driven by Team 7 Motorsports driver Jeff Agnew at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Friday night’s N.C. Education Lottery 200.

Located in Charleston, W.Va., the West Virginia Coal Association is a trade association representing more than 90 percent of the state's underground and surface coal mine production.  Its purpose is to have a unified voice representing the state's coal industry as well as increase emphasis on coal as a reliable energy source to help the nation achieve energy independence.

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.

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.

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.