The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District (Corps) has extended the comment period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) prepared by the WVDOH, FHWA and the Corps for the King Coal Highway Belo to Delbarton Project and Consol of Kentucky, Inc.’s (CONSOL) CWA Section 404 Individual Permit (IP) application for the discharge of fill material into waters of the United States (U.S.) in conjunction with the construction and operation of the proposed Buffalo Mountain Surface Mine. The DSEIS was issued on March 19, 2013 and published in the Federal Register on March 29, 2013. A PDF version of the document and supporting information is available at the following web address:

http://www.transportation.wv.gov/highways/engineering/comment/kch-delodelbarton/Pages/default.aspx.

The comment period for the DSEIS has been extended to June 21, 2013. Please refer to the Public Notice dated April 1, 2013 for more information on this project.

Those who wish to file written comments may send them to:

Gregory L. Bailey, P.E. Director, Engineering Division West Virginia Division of Highways Capitol Complex Building Five, Room 317 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0430

Ginger Mullins Chief, Regulatory Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 502 Eighth Street Huntington, West Virginia 25701 (304)399-5610

TRIADELPHIA - In response to the growing energy industries in the tri-state area, West Liberty University's Resource Corp. kicked off a new coal and natural gas industry initiative known as the Institute for Energy and Commerce on Tuesday at the university's Highlands Center.

During a press conference at the center, WLU President Robin Capehart said the initiative is in response to the "rapidly changing economic world in which we live."

 

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin officially signed HB 2579, commonly referred to as the Selenium Bill into law during a Wednesday afternoon ceremony at the Capitol,  Below, Governor Tomblin, surrounded by Senators and Delegates who were instrumental in assisting the passage of House Bill 2579, signs the bill into law.  This significant legislation is intended to help protect jobs in our industry.

This bill was approved by 133 of the 134 members of the entire Legislature, because there was one member absent the day the bill was passed. This important bill changes the practices and protocols for monitoring discharges with the objective of collecting meaningful and accurate data that will prompt the development of a more realistic standard for selenium, particularly in situations with flowing water. The existing standard was developed in standing water situations outside West Virginia. The bill takes effect on July 12, 2013.

According to new projections from the U.S. Energy Information Agency, coal will continue to regain market share in electricity generation as its competitive position with natural gas continues to improve.

According to the report, coal generated at least 40 percent of U.S. electricity from November of last year through March, taking a clear lead over natural gas, which a year ago had equaled coal but which is losing some appeal as its cost rises.

According to the MSHA database there were 900 coal mines with some production of coal in 1Q13. A few mines, together likely representing less than 1% of 1Q13 U.S. coal production, have not yet reported 1Q13 production totals to MSHA, so the final results could be slightly higher. Of the total of 900 mines reporting some coal production in 1Q13, EIA reported 296 (33%) active mines that were owned by a public company and 604 active mines (67%) that were privately held. The publicly owned mines produced 75% of U.S. coal output in 1Q13 and the private mines produced 25%.