Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE: PCX) announced the realignment of its operations management to strengthen oversight of key mine complexes in Appalachia and facilitate plans for expansion of captive production. Effective November 21, the following management team will report directly to Bennett K. Hatfield, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer:

• ·John R. Jones will join Patriot as Vice President, Operations – West Virginia South Region, including the Rocklick, Wells, Big Mountain and Paint Creek complexes.
• ·James N. Magro will serve as Senior Vice President, Operations – West Virginia North Region, including the Panther, Kanawha Eagle and Federal complexes.
• ·Michael D. Day will be Senior Vice President – Engineering and West Virginia Central Region Operations, with dual responsibilities for both the corporate engineering group and an operating region that includes the Logan County, Corridor G, Campbell's Creek and Blue Creek complexes.
• ·Lawrence J. Millburg will become Vice President, Operations – Kentucky Region, including the Bluegrass, Dodge Hill and Highland complexes.
• ·Terry G. Hudson will continue in his current position as Vice President – Safety.
• · E. Kent Hartsog will continue in his current role as Vice President - Operations Support

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin was inaugurated as the 35^th Governor of the State of West Virginia on Sunday afternoon on the Capitol steps with his wife, Joann and son by his side.  Supreme Court Justice Margaret Workman issued the oath of office, with a program that included Landau Murphy, Jr. (Logan County resident winner of America’s Got Talent) opening with the Star Spangled Banner and closing with Amazing Grace.

During the November legislative interim committee meetings held this past week, the Senate elected Senator Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall County) to serve as its President.  President Kessler has served in the Senate for 16 years and has been an advocate of coal.

WVCA’s “Coal Seam” show, hosted by Chris Hamilton, was filmed this week and features newly elected Senate President Kessler as its guest.  “Coal Seam” airs on WV Library Television Network/Public Broadcasting.  Check your local listing for days and times for viewing.

Longtime Friend of Coal, Art Kirkendoll, (D-Logan County) has been appointed by Governor Tomblin to serve his remaining term as Senator.  Art is a past Logan County Commissioner and has been active with the Association in numerous events.  He announced he would seek re-election to the Senate seat in 2012.

The Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety promulgated a final rule pertaining to the use of High Voltage Face Equipment in conjunction with longwall mining.  The administrative rule has been assigned Title 36, Series 47 and was filed with the Secretary of State and takes effect immediately.  Final rules were also adopted for using high voltage in conjunction with continuous mining machines.

The Board also continued its consideration and deliberations of a proposed mandatory Drug Testing program.  The drug testing program considered by the Board would basically:

• ·Requires all mining operations to have a mandatory drug testing program that would, at a minimum, ensure that all employees at the mine level would be tested on an annual basis;
• ·Requires the Director of the State Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training to suspend the WV certification of any miner whose miner’s certification issued from another state had been revoked for failing a drug test;
• ·Requires the Director to provide drug testing to any applicant for a miners “specialty” certification, i.e., fire boss, electrician, belt examiner, shot firer, etc.; and,
• ·Requires any prospective miner to have a drug test prior to the issuance of an apprentice miner’s certification.

C.A. Phillips, Director of the WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training was confirmed by the State Senate this week on a unanimous vote.  Phillips was originally appointed to his position by Governor Manchin last year and reappointed by Governor Tomblin in October.