The WV Coal Mining Institute, the WVCA and the Central Appalachian Section of SME will be held at the Stonewall Jackson Resort May 3-5, 2012.
Registration information was sent out previously via e-mail with detailed information. If you did not receive please let us know and it will be resent.
This week, FirstEnergy announced the closing of three coal-fired power plants because of the EPA’s new tougher air pollution standards. The power stations at Albright in Preston County, Rivesville in Marion County and Willow Island in Pleasants County are shutting down, putting over 100 people out of work.
FirstEnergy said it would cost too much to update these plants with the pollution control equipment necessary to meet EPA’s rules. These are old facilities and their days were numbered, but the EPA’s new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) hastened their demise.
The closings are a tough blow for those communities; jobs are lost and tax revenue from the utilities will dry up.
At the Board of Director’s meeting on Tuesday, February 7, the following new members were approved: Appalachian Technical Services, Inc. (Jim Kelly); CBC Engineers & Associates, Ltd. (Mike Cross); Environmental Standards, Inc. (Ann Marie Gathright); and, GMS Mine Repair & Maintenance (Jeff Giacobe). Welcome to all.
More than 1,000 attendees and almost 40 Associate member vendors attended the 2012 WV Mining Symposium event with Senator Manchin, Governor Tomblin headlining the roster of speakers.
Held February 1-3, the program featured presentations on coal mine health and safety, regulatory issues, new technologies and coal’s role in our state’s economy, both today and in the future. Several of our Association members added substantially to this year’s program.
Fola Coal Mine No. 1 won the Barton B. Lay Milestones of Safety Award and
Consol’s Robinson Run No. 95 won the Eustace Frederick Award.
Mine safety is a central focus of West Virginia’s coal industry. At Thursday’s session of the 39th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium in Charleston, 32 mining and service companies were recognized for their commitment to workplace safety in 2011.