Wednesday was the halfway point for this Legislature’s 60-day session and Tuesday was a good day as SB 357, the Coal Jobs and Safety Act of 2015, passed the full Senate by a 26-8 margin, without any major changes. This bill contains the mine safety issues (movement of equipment, drug testing changes, diesel commission repeal, track within 1,500 feet of face) and the environmental issues (permit as a shield, AL water quality standard rule, permit penalty conformance, inactive status, contemporaneous reclamation and impoundment standards ) of our original Legislative program. One major amendment was defeated that would have removed any changes to the movement of equipment provision of the bill with a vote along party lines with Senator Art Kirkendoll (D-Logan) breaking stride and voting with the Republicans. On Wednesday, the Bill was sent to the House and referred to the Judiciary Committee. It is expected to be taken up by that Committee next week.
CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Coal Association and the Friends of Coal would like to thank the West Virginia Senate for passing Senate Bill 357, the Coal Jobs and Safety Act of 2015.
The bill, which will protect our existing coal jobs, improve safety and help lay the foundation to get our state's leading industry back into a competitive position in the world economy, was passed by the State Senate earlier today. The companion bill, HB 2566, is currently under consideration in the House of Delegates.
Please take a moment to thank the Senators that voted in favor of the bill's passage. The vote record is here:
We urge you to contact your members of the House of Delegates and ask them to pass HB 2566, the House version of this legislation. It is vital for the future of our industry, the tens of thousands of jobs that depend on mining and our state's economy.
It is important to contact your legislators to let them know you approve of their ambitious business agenda and SB 357 and HB 2566 "Coal Jobs and Safety Act" purporting to update and revise several sections of state mining law.
We have designed a legislative tool on our website that allows contacting your legislators very easily. Below is a link to our website where you'll find our newly created legislative communications tool.
West Virginia Coal Association Applauds Quick Action by Legislature in Moving on Repeal
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s signature on HB 2001 Tuesday officially overturned the state’s Cap-and –Trade Act that was signed into law in 2009. The West Virginia Coal Association wants to thank the state’s new legislative leadership for its quick work in moving the repeal through both Houses and onto the Governor’s desk.
“This clearly shows how much things have changed in Charleston,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “And this also shows the commitment our Legislature and our Governor have in taking the steps needed to begin getting our state’s coal miners back to work. This is just the first component of that effort, and already it is easy to see this truly is a new day for our state.“
The West Virginia Coal Association hosted its 42nd Annual Mining Symposium on January 28th-30th in Charleston. More than 500 people attended the event with 35 vendors on hand with exhibits of equipment and services.
“It’s, we think, the largest gathering of coal people in one building anywhere in West Virginia,” said Bill Raney, the president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “It gives everyone a chance to share technical expertise through sessions, emerging technology, changing rules, new policies ... everything that affects the coal industry.”