The West Virginia Coal Association joined with the West Virginia Coal Forum in three statewide events this week in Charleston, Wheeling and Beckley billed as “Stop the EPA’s War on Coal”.  The forums were designed to bring attention to EPA’s anti-coal regulatory agenda and to encourage more public action and support for the industry.

The Coal Forum program featured Governor Tomblin, all three Congressional representatives, both U.S. Senator’s offices, key members of the WV Legislature and industry and labor leaders. This week’s forums targeted several recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule proposals addressing utlity MACT and green house gas emissions. Organizers say the various rules either set the bar too high or go into effect too soon to allow coal-fired plants to adapt.

Please ask Senators Rockefeller and Manchin for their HELP in (1) controlling EPA and, (2) HELPING to protect our jobs, our way of life and our future.  Ask them to HELP with two major issues that are currently pending in Congress that are very important to our industry, our people and the entire State of West Virginia.  We need to get as many messages of support as possible to the Senators.   The two issues are: 

1. The "Fly Ash" Amendment to the Surface Transportation bill currently being considered by a conference committee. Senator Rockefeller is a member of this conference committee and has been quoted as saying he is currently opposed to making the amendment part of the Transportation Bill! this amendment will STOP EPA's efforts to classify regular power plant fly ash as hazardous, which it is clearly not! If EPA is not STOPPED, it will become nearly impossible to recycle this ash for use in concrete, highway, bridge and building construction and regular, controlled storage which we have been doing for years. If EPA is not STOPPEd, the costs of electricity from coal-fired power plants and highway construction projects will increase substantially. For years, we have proven we know how to handle, manage and control fly ash! This amendment is vital to West Virginia and needs to be approved by the conference committee.

2. (SJR 37) Senate Joint Resolution 37 will be considered by the full Senate on June 12. This Resolution will STOP one of EPA's most damaging rule-makings ever imposed on American coal-burning power plants. it is called the "Utility MACT" rule (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) and has prompted the premature closing of a number of coal-fired power plants across the country, including several in West Virginia. If it is not stopped it is projected to cost tens of thousands of jobs and increase our electric bills by as much as 25 percent - to rates that our seniors and those on fixed income can't afford. SJR 37 will STOP EPA from implementing this rule and force them to obtain Congressional approval before any other newly proposed rule can be put into effect. A simple majority of 51 Senators is needed to pass this Resolution. We need both of our Senators to support this important Resolution.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee http://naturalresources.house.gov/of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Natural Resources Committee will convene a hearing on the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s revocation of the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Mingo-Logan Coal Co. for the Spruce No.1 Mine in Logan County, WV.  Titled  “The Obama Administration’s Actions against the Spruce Coal Mine: Canceled Permits, Lawsuits and Lost Jobs.” Government witnesses invited to testify include:

1. Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
2. Ms. Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
3. The Honorable Joseph Pizarchik, Director, office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

A final witness list comprised of state, industry, and community representatives will be made available once it is confirmed.

CEDAR (coal education development and Resources) of Southern West Virginia, has just completed their eleventh year.  Over that period, CEDAR has provided 457 teachers with approximately $116,385 in grant money to utilize in their classroom teaching about the many benefits coal has to offer.  12,372 students have been involved in these coal study units in Mingo, Logan, Boone, McDowell and Wyoming counties.

During the week of April 30 – May 4, approximately 800 visitors toured the projects (241) at the Harless Community Center in Gilbert.  To date, CEDAR and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College have awarded $70,000 in scholarship monies to students from the participating counties.

The Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary has a new web site and are asking everyone to visit the new web site www.friendsofcoalladies.com as many times as you can.  For each time you visit, the web site moves up so when you type “coal” into your search engine the web site will be one of the top listed in your search.   The site also hosts a full store for purchase of FOC items and wearing apparel.