As a scientist and a native of the Appalachian coal fields, I feel
compelled to respond to the article "A push for greater pollution
controls at proposed plant," April 5, by representatives of the
National Parks Conservation Association concerning the Virginia City
Hybrid Energy Center being planned for Wise County, Va.
I have testified twice at hearings before the Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality in support of this facility. I would not be
supportive of this project if I were not personally convinced that the
combustion technology selected, combined with additional
emission-control equipment will result in exceptionally clean
environmental performance.
Governor Manchin appointed Randy Huffman as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) effective May 1, 2008. He replaces the longest serving DEP Secretary Stephanie Timmermeyer who resigned in early April to pursue private interests with the intent of having more time to spend with her family. Randy Huffman has been serving as the Deputy Secretary of DEP as well as the Director for the Division of Mining and Reclamation. He immediately made two appointments to fill the positions he had held.
New West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Secretary
Randy Huffman is the first one to admit he doesn't have all the
answers, but he says he'll work to get them.
Huffman took over as the cabinet secretary for the large agency last
week. He replaces Stephanie Timmermyer who decided to leave state
government.
Huffman, who has filled many roles at DEP for 21-years, says he'll run
the agency much like Timmermyer did during the Wise administration and
the last four years under Governor Joe Manchin. Huffman says that will
include making the tough decisions.
The West Virginia Coal Association and the Coal Mining Institute inducted two new members Friday into the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame. Charles Jones with Amhurst Industries and WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Associate Dean Royce Watts were inducted into the 11th class.
The Hall of Fame was started back in 1998. It was created to honor the careers and accomplishments of individuals who have had a significant impact on the West Virginia mining industry.
Jones owns and operates 35 towboats and 10 floating cranes used up and down the Ohio River as well as Amhurst Coal.
Watts has been teaching at WVU for more than 50 years. But says the mines have always been a part of his life. "I was born in a coal company house. My father worked all his life in the mines. He died in a mine accident in Boone County in 1942,” he told MetroNews Friday.
Watts, who's helped coordinate the awards portion of the Hall of Fame since its inception, says all those inducted have one thing in common. "They all are people who have been vitally concerned for a large portion of their life with the West Virginia coal industry,” he said.
Watts says he is humbled to be among those honored.
“The FOCLA is thrilled to announce that we now have a permanent location to call our headquarters!” - Regina Fairchild, Chairwoman FOCLA
Thursday, May 1
5:30pm
144 Whitestick St. Mabscott, WV
Hylton Co. Bldg Upper Level
Parking Available on Upper Level
(Directions: from Byrd Drive or I77 take Mabscott Exit at the stop sign
go to the red light (FOE 2377 is on right) turn LEFT at light onto
WHITESTICK STREET, go approx 1/8 mile you will see Mabscott Supply on
right next building is the Hylton Office following sign to the FOCLA
Headquarters in the building.)
5:30pm - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
6:30pm – Join us for a FOCLA Meeting
Guest Speakers:
Beth Walker (R) – Supreme Court Justice
Marty Gearhart (R) – U. S. Congressman
Pat Reed (D) – Raleigh Co. Commissioner
Elliott “Spike” Maynard—Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court of Appeals is attempting to
The Auxiliary would like to take this opportunity to request your
attendance to this special meeting; this will be an open meeting we
encourage you to invite family and friends to attend.
Growing energy costs will force changes in the ways we live and do business in the United States.
A lifelong leader in the coal and transportation industries, Charles T.
"Charlie" Jones believes Americans might have to give up their
free-traveling lifestyle, where some people drive 50 miles each way to
work every day and never think twice about making other daily
excursions.
"Some people are spending $200 a week to go to work. Can they stand
that over the long haul? No. People will have to move closer to their
jobs.
by The Associated Press
Gov. Joe Manchin has appointed the deputy secretary of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to head up the agency.
Manchin announced Randy Huffman's promotion on Friday.
Huffman replaces Stephanie Timmermeyer, who last month announced plans to resign after five years in the post.
Huffman is a West Virginia native. Besides being deputy secretary, he is also director of the Division of Mining Reclamation.
Manchin said Huffman's 21 years of experience with DEP made him an obvious choice for the position.
Timmermeyer, who had planned to resign July 1, has decided to leave the agency at the end of the month. Huffman takes over on May 1.
WHEN it comes to building the power plants that generate the
electricity Americans need, the Not In My Back Yard crowd is now
screaming Not in Anybody's Back Yard.
A coalition of anti-coal groups contends it has scored 65 victories
over coal in the past three years, reported Judy Pasternak of the Los
Angeles Times.
Allegheny Energy has agreed to reroute part of the $1.3 billion power
line proposed for northern West Virginia in a deal that eliminates
major opposition from state Public Service Commission staff.
But the settlement, announced late Tuesday, does not include several
citizen groups and many residents who are working against the project.
