Because the EPA has, in effect, declared war on the coal industry in West Virginia and Ohio—there will be a “Rally in the Valley for Coal” Thursday, August 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Riverfront Park in Moundsville.  The aim of the rally is to demonstrate to the Obama administration and Congress that the people in the Upper Ohio Valley intend to fight back.

The rally will be sponsored by We the People-Ohio Valley. West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney will be on hand for the event.

On July 21, 2011, the EPA released new guidance on the issuance of Clean Water Act permits for Appalachian surface coal mining operations. The new guidance replaces the April 1, 2010 version that has produced a virtual moratorium on the issuance of permits for new or expanded surface coal mining operations. The new version suffers from the same legal deficiencies as the previous guidance – failure to follow notice and comment rulemaking procedures and intrusion into the water quality standard-setting role allocated to states under the Clean Water Act.

The Holmes Safety Association, Coal River Council is having its annual golf outing September 11th, 2011 at the Briar Patch Course in Beckley.

The purpose of the golf outing is to raise enough money to finance the group’s scholarship fund. Since the inception of this scholarship program, the Coal River Council has met the challenge of providing financial aid for deserving young men and women in each of Boone County’s three high schools.

If you would like to sponsor a hole or a team please respond to: Kelly Blair, Hobet Mining, Box 305, Madison, WV 25130 (Tel.304-369-8180) or Eddie Morris, Coal River Energy, P.O. Box 79, Alum Creek WV 25003 (Tel. 304-756-2769). Checks should be made out to Holmes Safety Association, Coal River Council.

Registration is now open for the 22^nd Annual Hatfield Scramble Golf Outing, hosted by the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute. The scramble will be Tuesday, September 20, at the Brier Patch Golf Course in Beckley.

Monies collected from hole sponsorships support KVMI’s scholarship program!

For more information on the event Hatfield Scramble, call 304.414.4500. Thanks for supporting coal and thanks for supporting KVMI.

The Friends of Coal continue their outreach efforts with the following events:

• Manned a booth at the James River Coal Family and Friends Outing in Gilbert  August 13^th.
• Will man a booth at the West Virginia State Fair on August 17^thand 18^thin conjunction with FACES of Coal.
• Will sponsor the annual Paint the Capitol City Green event with Marshall University in Charleston, August 18
• Will participate in the Rally in the Valley August 18^thin Moundsville.
• Will participate in the Sharples Reunion August 20^thin Sharples.