CHARLESTON – Today’s decision by Region III of U.S. EPA  to reaffirm its withdrawal of the permit for the Spruce #1 surface mine continues this administration’s war against Appalachian coal. It reveals an agency willing to put a political agenda ahead of people.

“With this decision the EPA continues down the arrogant and selfish path that puts a radical political agenda ahead of people and the jobs our nation so desperately needs at this time,” said West Virginia Coal President Bill Raney. “As we have said before, this decision establishes a very dangerous precedent in that it reneges on an already approved permit, something that has never been done previously. It brings into question the reliability of the entire permitting process and shows an arrogant disregard for the impacts this will have on the state’s economy and its people.”

Poised on the platform, ready to zip along the mountain line, guests of the new Adventures on the Gorge (www.adventurewestvirginia.com) Gravity zipline are set to take in a panoramic view of the New River Gorge.  The open-air zipline offers a mile-long tour, zigzagging across the ridgeline and crossing a scenic mountainscape.

We were informed yesterday afternoon by MSHA that the agency will publish a proposed rule on October 19 entitled "Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors." A copy is currently available to view at http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-25249_PI.pdf and the Agencies press release which accompanies the rule may be viewed at http://www.msha.gov/Media/PRESS/2010/NR101014.pdf.

The proposed rule would lower the current 2 milligram dust standard to 1 milligram over a two-year period; mandates the use of PDMs; provides for the use of a single, full-shift sample to determine compliance; address extended work shifts and redefines normal production shifts.

MSHA has also announced a “stakeholders meeting” set for 10: a.m. on October 20th at its Arlington, VA Office and a limited call-in opportunity for WVCA to participate telephonically.  If you are interested in participating with us from our office on the 20th, please let us know by replying to this email or by call Sandi at 304-342-4153.

In a late September letter, Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin and House of Delegates Speaker Rick Thompson jointly appointed Alpha Natural Resources’ Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Michael Peelish, to the Coal and Energy Research Bureau at West Virginia University.  Michael is the coal industry representative on the Bureau, which oversees research projects at the Mining Engineering Program. 

The Young West Virginians for Coal, founded and operating at West Virginia University plans a major concert on November 10 in Morgantown.  The Young West Virginians for Coal raised more than $100,000 for the families of the Upper Big Branch Mine.  That money is to be distributed by the end of October.  This Morgantown concert will be the official introduction of a new motto for the industry, “Remember the Miners”, that is not a memorial statement but rather one that will prompt people everywhere to better understand the significance of our industry and its wonderful miners.  Sponsors are being sought for the event. Details are set forth on the attachment.