On Wednesday, 1/8/14, EPA re-proposed its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for regulating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new “fossil fuel-fired” power plants using Clean Air Act (CAA) § 111(b). 79 Fed. Reg.1430. The notice provides for a 60-day public comment period closing on March 10, 2014. EPA also announced that it will hold a public hearing on Jan. 28, 2014 in Washington, D.C., and separately noticed the rescission of its prior proposal of April 12, 2012 in its entirety. According to sources, it appears that EPA made few substantive changes from the original pre-proposed version released on Sept. 20, 2013. We encourage all members and others to comment about the ridiculous nature of these rules and the impossible standards they set forth. Contact the Association for additional information regarding specific comments to these re-proposed rules.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014
OPERATION, REGULATORY & TECHNICAL Session
| Wednesday | January 29, 2014 |
| 7:30 a.m. | Registration |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome/Introductions |
| 8:45 a.m. |
State of Mine Safety |
| 10:000 a.m. | BREAK Sponsored by Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC and Potesta & Associates, Inc. |
| 10:15 a.m. | "Patterns of Violations" - A West Virginia Case Study Mike Cimeno, Jackson Kelly Jason Nutzman, Dinsmore & Shohl |
| 10:45 a.m. | OSM Oversite Issues Kip Power, Dinsmore & Shohl |
| 11:15 a.m. | WV & The Endangered Species Act Aaaron Hieshman, Jackson Kelly |
| 11:40 a.m. | Mine Law Update Dave Hardy, Hardy Pence, PLLC |
| 12 noon | Lunch Sponsored by Jackson Kelly |
| 1:30 p.m. | Respirable Coal Dust Pat Brady, Murray Energy Mark Watson, Alliance Coal |
| 2:00 p.m. | Proximity Detection Technology Jim Dean, WVU Mining Extension Joel Watts, Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety |
| 2:30 p.m. | EPA's Water Quality Standards Clarification Rule Mike Castle, Strategic Solutions |
| 3:00 p.m. | Selenium Implementation Plan Ben Lowman & Kevin Segal, WV DEP |
| 3:30 p.m. | Selenium Treatment Technology Al Meek & Ron Mullennex, Cardno MM&A |
| 4:00 p.m. | Corps of Engineer's Regulatory Report Ginger Mullins, Corps of Engineers |
| 4:30 p.m. | Aluminum Passive Treatment Dr. Paul Ziemkiewicz, WV Water Research Institute |
| 5:00 p.m. | Associate Members Welcoming Reception |
| Thursday | January 30, 2014 |
| 7 a.m. | Registration |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast Sponsored by Walker Machinery and Dinsmore & Shohl |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome & Introductions Jim Laurita, WVCA Chairman |
| 8:45 a.m. | "Coal is the Cornerstone of Our Energy Future" Robert Murray, Murray Energy |
| 9:15 a.m. | "Coal Exports" Ernie Thrasher, X-Coal |
| 9:45 a.m. | State of the State - West Virginia First Governor Earl Ray Tomblin |
| 10:15 a.m. | Break Sponsored by Wells Fargo |
| 10:45 a.m. | Panel of Climate Issues Jeff Herholdt, WV Depatrment of Energy Paul Bailey, ACCCE John Benedict, WV Air Quality, DEP |
| 12 noon | Mountaineer Guardian Luncheon Sponsored by Bowles Rice and BrickStreet Insurance Awards Presentation: Eugene White, Director WV Office of Miners' Health, Safety & Training |
| 2:00 p.m. | MSHA 2014 Joe Main, Asst. Secretary, MSHA, US DOL |
| 2:30 p.m. | Alpha Training Academy |
| 3:00 p.m. | Deliberate Intent Rhonda Harvey, Bowles Rice |
| 3:30 p.m. | Legislative Panel Discussion Pro-Coal Legislators |
| 5:00 p.m. | Legislative Reception |
| Friday | January 31, 2014 |
| 7 a.m. | Registration |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast Sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome/Introductions |
| 8:45 a.m. | Fighting Federal Overreach Patrick Morrissey, West Virginia Attorney General |
| 9:15 a.m. | The 115th Congress: Looking Ahead |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break Sponsored by Preservati Law PLLC |
| 10:45 a.m. | Environmental Litigation Update Bob McLusky, Jackson Kelly |
| 11:15 a.m. | OSM Update Tom Shope or Roger Calhoun, OSM |
| 11:45 a.m. | WV's Mining & Reclamation Program Harold Ward, WV DEP |
| 12 noon | Reclamation Awards Luncheon Awards Presentation by Randy Huffman, Cabinet Secretary, WV DEP |
| 1:30 p.m. | Adjournment |
The 41st Annual Coal Mining Symposium is set for January 29 – 31st, 2014 at the Charleston Civic Center. The general registration is available on-line at http://www.wvcoal.com/2014-
A block of sleeping rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express (directly across from the Civic Center) at a rate of $99.00 per night. To reserve your room please call the Holiday Inn Express directly at 304.345.0600 and let them know you want to be in the block of WVCA rooms.
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Arrangements for “Buck” include the visitation/viewing at the Larry Joe Harless Community Center in Gilbert on Saturday, January 4th, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be at the Gilbert Presbyterian Church at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 5th, followed by a celebration of Buck’s life at the Larry Joe Harless Community Center beginning at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Larry Joe Harless Community Center, 202 Larry Joe Harless Drive, Gilbert, WV 25621. Evans Funeral Home in Chapmanville is in charge of arrangements. “Buck’s” full obituary is below.
James Howard “Buck” Harless, 94, of Gilbert, W. Va., passed away peacefully Wednesday night, January 1, 2014 surrounded by his wife Hallie and family.
He was born October 14, 1919 in Taplin, W. Va. to Bessie Brown Harless and her husband Pearly J. Soon after his birth, his mother died of pneumonia, and he was taken in and raised by his mother's sister, Rosa, and her husband, George Erastis “Ras” Ellis of Gilbert.
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The Kanawha Valley Mining Institute will hold its first monthly meeting of 2014 onThursday, January 9 beginning at 6 p.m.at the Holiday Inn & Suites in South Charleston.
The Honorable Justice Brent Benjamin of the WV Supreme Court of Appeals is the scheduled speaker with Strata Products as the sponsor. To register for the meeting go to: http://www.kvmi.org/
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The 41st Annual Coal Mining Symposium is set for January 29 – 31st, 2014 at the Charleston Civic Center. Exhibit and Sponsorship information was sent to everyone the end of last week and responses have been numerous. The general registration will be sent later today by e-mail and will also be available on-line at http://www.wvcoal.com/2014-
A block of sleeping rooms have been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express (directly across from the Civic Center) at a rate of $99.00 per night. To reserve your room please call the Holiday Inn Express directly at 304.345.0600 and let them know you want to be in the block of WVCA rooms.