VIDEO: Economist on Mining in Mountain State

Dr. Tom Witt discussed the impacts of coal in the mountain state, particularly on the economy.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/83604537.html 

Mingo-Logan’s Mountaineer #2 and Simmons Fork Mining’s Ewing Fork #1 take top honors at 2010 Mountaineer Guardian Safety Awards

Awards presented during annual Coal Symposium in Charleston

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thirty-three West Virginia mining operations were recognized for stellar safety efforts in 2009 during the West Virginia Coal Association’s 37th Annual Mining Symposium on Thursday.  

“All of our companies strive to meet the highest standards of safety.” West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said.  “I wish we could recognize every single operation. These award winners are fantastic examples of the commitment to safety every one of our member companies shows on a daily basis.

ICG’s Beckley-Pocahontas take top honors at West Virginia Environmental Awards

Awards presented during annual Coal Symposium in Charleston

12 companies were recognized on Friday for excellence in mine reclamation for 2009. The awards were made at the concluding luncheon of the 37th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium Charleston Civic Center.

The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection. To be eligible, a mining operation must be nominated by their local state inspector. 

The awards include special presentations for conservation. Ducks Unlimited presented the West Virginia Wetlands Award to 

The Greenlands Award, the state’s top environmental award, went to the International Coal Group’s Beckley-Pocahontas facility in Raleigh County. In making the award, West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said, “The construction of the facility involved the remediation and reclamation of a pre-law coal refuse site. ICG has proven its commitment to the environment and clearly shows the steps our industry will take to get the coal out of the ground while protecting our natural beauty.” 

Governor Says He “Delivered the Message” of Coal to Obama

In his keynote address to the 37th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium, Gov. Joe Manchin said he “delivered the message” about West Virginia coal to President Obama in a White House meeting Wednesday.

Manchin said he told the President that West Virginia coal must be part of the nation’s energy mix for at least the next 30 to 50 years while the nation and the world “transitions to the fuels of the future.”

To push aside coal today would destroy the nation’s economy and its ability to compete against countries like China and India, where the use of coal will continue unabated.

Manchin was one of 10 “coal state” governors who met with Obama to outline their concerns about the direction of the administration’s energy policies as well as recent actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with regard to the mining of coal in the state.

Symposium Agenda

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD
11:30 a.m. Lunch sponsored by Jackson Kelly
 
1 – 5 p.m. Health & Safety Session
1 p.m.       Federal Mine Safety & Enforcement Program
                Kevin Stricklin, Administrator
                Mine Safety & Health Administration
                Bob E. Cornett – MSHA District 3 Manager
                Robert Hardman – MSHA District 4 Manager
2:15 p.m.   WV Mine Safety Update
                C.A. Phillips, Deputy Director
                WV Office of Miner’s Health, Safety & Training
                Joel Watts, Board Administrator, WV Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety
3 p.m.       Proximity Detection Devices
                Jim Dean
                WV Mine Safety Task Force
3:30 p.m.   Deep-Cut Mining
                Gary Hartsog
                Alpha Engineering
4 p.m.       Coal Safety Legal Forum
                Mark Heath, Spilman Thomas & Battle
                Dave Hardy, Allen Guthrie McHugh & Thomas
                Bob Beatty, Dinsmore & Shohl
 
1 – 5 p.m.  Environmental Session
1 p.m.       WV Mining Regulatory Update
                Jason Bostic
1:30 p.m.   NPDES Update
                Allyn Turner
                Spilman Thomas & Battle
2 p.m.       OSM Oversight Update
                Roger Calhoun
                Office of Surface Mining
2:30 p.m.   Corps of Engineering Permitting Update
                Ginger Mullins
                Huntington Corps of Engineers
3 p.m.       Environmental Justice & Mining
                Matt Tyree
                Jackson Kelly
3:30          Conductivity Ranges & Responses
                Ed Kirk, REIC
                Randy Maggard, Argus Energy
5 p.m.       Associate’s Welcoming Reception
 
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH
 
7:00 a.m.   REGISTRATION
 
7:30 a.m.   Breakfast sponsored by Dinsmore & Shohl and Logan Corporation
8:30 a.m.   Welcome & Introductions
                James O. Bunn
                WVCA Chairman
8:45 a.m.   Central Appalachian Challenges
                Joe Craft, President/CEO
                Alliance Coal Company
9:30 a.m.   The State of the State
                Governor Joe Manchin
                State of West Virginia
 
10:15 a.m. Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
 
10:30 a.m. U. S. Coal Forecast 2010
                Hal Quinn, President
                National Mining Association
11:15 a.m. American Energy Securities Study
                Kenneth Nemeth, Executive Director
                Southern States Energy Board
 
12 noon     Mountaineer Guardian Luncheon
                Sponsored by Bowles Rice and Marshall Miller Associates
                Awards Presentation by WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
 2 p.m.      MSHA 2010
                Joe Main, Assistant Secretary
                U. S. Mine Safety & Health Administration
2:45 p.m.  West Virginia’s Coal Economy
                Tom Witt, WVU
                Cal Kent, Marshall University
3:30 p.m.   Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
3:45 p.m.   Coal Advocacy
                        -- Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary
                        -- FACES
                        -- Mountain Top Mining Coalition
                        -- Young West Virginians for Coal
 
5 p.m.       Legislative Reception
 
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH

7 a.m.       Registration
 
7:30 a.m.   Breakfast sponsored by Brickstreet and
Wells Fargo Insurance – Energy & Mining Group
 
8:30 a.m.   Welcome
 
8:35 a.m.   Congressional Activity Relating to Coal
                Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito
9:15 a. m.  OSM 2010
                Joseph Pizarchik, Director
                U. S. Office of Surface Mining
9:50 a.m.   Renewable Energy –
The Gap Between the Idea and Reality
                Dr. Charles Bayless
 
10:30 a.m. Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
 
10:45 a.m. Environmental Litigation Update
                Bob McLusky
                Jackson Kelly, PLLC
11:15 a.m. West Virginia’s Mining & Reclamation Program
                Tom Clarke, Director, Division of Mining & Reclamation
                WV Department of Environmental Protection
 
12 noon     Reclamation Awards Luncheon
                Sponsored by Spilman Thomas & Battle and
                                                        Potesta & Associates
                Awards Presentation:  Randy Huffman, Cabinet Secretary
                WV Department of Environmental Protection