More than 10,000 people stopped in or passed by the Friends of Coal exhibit at the Wheeling Cabela’s store June 26-29 as part of Cabela’s Hometown Heroes Celebration recognizing the contributions of coal miners, energy workers and active/retired military.

The Friends of Coal display was front and center at the entrance to the Cabela’s store.  Hundreds of people – area coal miners, energy workers and citizens from around the Tri-State region – signed up as a Friend of Coal.

Be on the lookout for a petition to the White House asking for a change in direction from the Obama administration’s treatment of America’s coal industry.  We are joining together with other state and national associations, Friends of Coal everywhere and citizens concerned about the actions recently taken by the Obama administration relative to the continued use of coal to generate electricity in the United States to initiate a petition under the White House’s “We the People” webpage.  This effort will require “all hands on deck” to participate and sign the petition because we must obtain a minimum number of signatures in order to require a response from the White House.  Details are being finalized and the step-by-step information will be forthcoming in the next few days.  Once received we will need to mobilize all our employees, families, friends and colleagues to sign the petition and insure we reach the threshold.

According to information released by the West Virginia Division of Commerce in February, West Virginia coal exports grew by 40 percent last year, increasing from $5.3 billion in 2011 to $7.4 billion in 2012.  West Virginia coal accounted for 49 percent of U.S. coal exports in 2012. 

The West Virginia Coal Forum – an organization representing both labor and management in the coal industry – will host a meeting to discuss the significance of coal exports to our state and national economies at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 11 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston.   

The WV Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety promulgated an "Emergency Rule" designed to close a major loop hole in the State's mandatory drug testing program.

The “Emergency Rule" promulgated by the Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety took effect July 1, extends the reporting and de-certification requirements in current state law to all individuals who fail a drug or alcohol test prescribed under state law.  Heretofore, only cases involving a positive drug test that resulted in discharge, will be reported to the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training for disciplinary action and suspension of mining certification privileges.

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin today announced Jason Pizatella will serve as his Deputy Chief of Staff effective immediately.

Prior to this appointment, Pizatella was most recently serving as Acting Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Revenue. In addition, the Fairmont native has been the Director of Legislative Affairs in the Governor’s Office since January 2011. Prior to joining the Tomblin Administration, he served as Deputy State Tax Commissioner and as counsel to the State Senate Committee on Government Organization and Committee on Finance. Before beginning his service in state government, Pizatella practiced law at Spilman, Thomas and Battle, PLLC in Charleston.