By PAMELA BRUST (pbrust@newsandsentinel.com) , Parkersburg News and Sentinel

PARKERSBURG - Action on a resolution opposing mountaintop coal removal died Monday for lack of second during the Wood County Commission meeting.

In August, the commission sponsored two separate public informational sessions on mountaintop coal removal, including opponents of the coal mining practice, and a second with coal industry representatives.

The proposed resolution, presented by Walt Auvil and several other mountaintop coal removal opponents, noted other types of coal mining provide more employment, mountaintop mining methods are "environmentally and economically destructive" and mountains are the heritage of all West Virginians. The opponents asked the commission to sign off on the resolution, similar to ones passed in other parts of the state, opposing the process.

H.R. 2273, “Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act” was passed earlier today by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 267 to 14 with all three House Members from West Virginia voting in favor of the legislation.

H.R. 2273, introduced by Congressman McKinley, R-WV, relates to the classification of “fly ash” from coal–fired electric generators and preserves its beneficial uses.

An Association briefing paper is attached for your awareness and use.

Companion Legislation is expected to be introduced in the US Senate.

Please notify the Association if you have any questions or need additional information.

The West Virginia Coal Association and our partners above believe the passage of H.R. 2273, the Coals Residuals Reuse and Management Act, sponsored by Rep. David McKinley (WV), is vital to the future of the coal industry, electric utilities and every industrial business in this country, as well as every American. Passage of this bill and HR 2018 would effectively rein-in the EPA’s three-year, job-killing assault against America’s basic industries and the millions of Ameri can families who depend on those industries every day.

“America is at a critical moment in its history -- our unemployment rate is over 9% percent and rising. Millions more are underemployed. Millions have lost homes, lost businesses and lost hope. While it is never a good time to destroy jobs, to de- liberately sacrifice jobs at such a time simply to impose a radical political agenda is unconscionable and unbelievable.

“We urge passage of HR 2273 and HR 2018 today! Let’s get America working again!” - Bill Raney, president, West Virginia Coal Association.

The Friends of Coal would like to congratulate Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on his hard-fought victory over GOP challenger Bill Maloney in yesterday’s gubernatorial race. Both men earned our respect for the way in which they conducted themselves in this election. 

While the debate was frank and open on many issues, there were far more areas of agreement than disagreement – on lowering taxes, on creating jobs and reining in an out-of-control federal bureaucracy, but most of all they agree on the importance of coal to the future of West Virginia.

With the election of Gov. Tomblin, our state will continue to move forward, as we sustain the fight against the real issues that confront us and work together to find the answers.  Gov. Tomblin has proven himself to be a strong, capable leader during his time in the State Senate and as Acting Governor.  We are confident, as governor, he will continue the fight to free our state's primary industry -- coal -- from the assault by the Obama EPA. 

We’re anxious to move forward together and take on the hard work of building a better future for our state and protecting our people’s jobs.

The WV Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety has issued a proposed rule purporting to update and revise the state mining law pertaining to hoisting equipment used at underground coal mining operations.  The rule is intended to bring West Virginia’s law on this subject into conformity with corresponding federal law.  A comment period extends to November 6.  A copy of the proposed rule is available from:  chamilton@wvcoal.com