CHARLESTON – West Virginia's new Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey, is a breath of fresh air. This week he released a letter he has sent to President Obama that both asks for Obama's help in reversing the damage done by the EPA under departing Administrator Lisa Jackson and serving notice that his office will defend the state's primary industry if Obama chooses to ignore the needs of our state and flaunt the Constitutional limitations of his office, Morrisey vows to use all the powers of his office to challenge Obama.

CHARLESTON – The Association’s new bi-monthly newsletter, “The Portal,” is now available. It is being delivered primarily electronically but hard copies are being distributed to key organizations, businesses and other locations.To sign up for e-delivery of “The Portal” please contact us at 304.342.4153. We will soon have an electronic subscription widget available on our websites at www.wvcoal.com and www.friendsofcoal.org.

CHARLESTON – The March edition of “The Coal Seam” – the monthly West Virginia Coal Association television show, broadcast on the State Library Television Network and available statewide on public access channels – is now on the air. It features special guests WVCA President Bill Raney and Vice President Jason Bostic, who discuss the Friends of Coal organization as well as some brief information about the process of post-mining reclamation. You can also catch the show at the State Library Television Network website at http://www.librarycommission.wv.gov/programs/ltn/videoserver/Pages/coalseam.aspx. Choose the “Building Communities” episode at the top of the list. Previous editions of The Coal Seam are also available for viewing.

Fatality rates at an all-time low, while annual number of deaths is 2nd lowest

Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration released this week indicates that, in 2012, mining fatality rates reached an all-time low for the second straight year. Fatality rates are calculated based on the number of mining deaths per 200,000 hours worked.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Division of Water and Waste Management has scheduled a public hearing and comment period on emergency rule changes to 47CSR2, “Requirements Governing Water Quality Standards.” The DEP proposes an emergency rule to revise the dissolved aluminum criteria and human health Category A beryllium criterion in 47CSR2.

The hearing will be held at DEP’s Charleston headquarters, 601 57th Street S.E., Charleston, WV 25304, in the Coopers Rock Training Room on March 27, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. In addition to oral comments provided at the hearing, the agency will accept written comments at any time up to the conclusion of the public hearing. No comments will be accepted after that time. Written comments may be submitted to the following address:

Kevin R Coyne
Water Quality Standards Program
WV Department of Environmental Protection
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304