According to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) weekly production report, year-to-date U.S. metallurgical exports through January 2014 were down 7.4% as compared to the same period last year (5mt v. 5.5mt) and steam coal exports were off by 11.6% (3.4mt v. 3.9mt). Coal imports were up by 63% for the same year-to-date period (1mt v. 0.6mt). West Virginia’s 2014 year-to-date production, through 3/15, was down 2.4% statewide when compared to the same period in 2013 (23.5mt v. 24.1mt), with northern WV production down 2.1% (8.5mt v. 8.7mt) and southern WV was off 2.5% (15mt v. 15.4mt). U.S. year-to-date production through 3/15 was down 2.7% (198.9mt v. 204.3mt). There were 118,480 railroad cars loaded last week in the United States.

The 2014 Joint Spring Meeting of the WV Coal Association, WV Coal Mining Institute and the CAS/SME will be held on May 7-9 at the Embassy Suites in Charleston, WV.  The agenda and registration information can be obtained from the WVCA offices by e-mailing:  sdavison@wvcoal.com.  As mentioned, the Hall of Fame induction will be on Thursday evening.

The WV Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety will hold a meeting on Monday, March 24, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Center.  The Board will review comments submitted on the Board’s Proposed Rule on Underground Haulage Safety.  The comment period ended March 11, 2014.

At its March 19^th Board of Directors’ meeting the Lumos Networks was approved for membership into the West Virginia Coal Association.  Ericka Duncan, their Public Affairs & Marketing Coordinator will serve as their representative.  Welcome to Lumos!

West Virginians for Coal (the WVCA PAC) has endorsed Charlotte Lane for the 2^nd Congressional race.  Charlotte is the former International Trade Commissioner, past Chairman of the WV Public Service Commission and has a long and storied history of protecting the coal industry in West Virginia.  A fundraiser for Charlotte is scheduled for March 27 at the WV Coal Association offices beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The PAC will also support Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito for the Senate seat that will be vacated by retiring Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV.