Bluefield Daily Telegraph

CHARLESTON — A new report by the West Virginia Division of Energy and the Office of Coalfield Community Development has found that 13,000 people are working in West Virginia as a result of projects created on land that has been reclaimed after surface mining.

The report found that 13,335 jobs were created from 43 different projects on reclaimed land in 12 counties, including McDowell. The report found that the uses of surface mine sites are varied, and include residential development, tourism, energy, schools, government facilities and manufacturing.

There are more than 15,000 operations that mine for raw materials in the United States, excluding oil and gas, based on information from the Mine Safety and Health Administration. U.S. mining has a broad impact on the national economy. Mining provides jobs, pays salaries and generates value in all 50 states. The economic contribution of mining is greater than these direct effects. Mining operators purchase inputs from other parts of the economy, and these suppliers in turn purchase goods from other companies. Employees spend wages at local businesses, whose owners in turn spend the proceeds on new supplies and other goods. Governments at the federal, state and local levels collect taxes on this activity. From a broader perspective, the products produced by U.S. mines provide the raw materials required by the rest of the economy. The ability of the U.S. economy to compete internationally depends on the availability of such inputs.

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Members and Friends,

Please read the foreword below from the Lexington Coal Exchange President, Joe Stearman and related emails that follow.  The PNC article that initiated this action can be found at the bottom of this email.  The action the Lexington Coal Exchange Board of Directors has taken is to move our checking account from PNC to another bank.  It is a small thing but it makes a statement.  Together we can make a difference.

Remember the Miners (RTM) is a public awareness campaign dedicated to honoring the legacy of all miners and the mining industry, bringing the human element to the forefront of the energy debate, and remembering the miners who have fallen. RTM also intends to raise awareness about the sacrifices that miners and their families make for our country. www.remembertheminers.org.