The West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, a joint initiative between the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute and the West Virginia Coal Association and housed at the WVU Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in Morgantown, inducted its newest class of honorees during a ceremony April 15^th. The event was held at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center in Charleston. 

During West Virginia Mining Symposium, which took place April 15-16 in Charleston, the West Virginia Coal Association recognized and celebrated “Exemplary Mine Safety & Environmental Excellence” achievements of mining industry operations across the state. 

“West Virginia’s coal industry continues to show its resilience and commitment to excellence across the board,” West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton said. “It’s always a proud day for us when we can recognize those who excel in safety and reclamation, showing that the best and brightest in the industry are right here in West Virginia.”

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training co-sponsor this special mining awards program. 

SAFETY AWARDS 

“Safety always has been and continues to be our top priority in the coal industry,” said Hamilton. “2024 was a record setting year for industry safety and our members demonstrate the highest levels of dedication to protecting our coal miners.”

Inspectors with the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training (WVOMHST) evaluate all coal operations and contractors to nominate the winners. WVOMHST Director Frank Foster presented the awards. 

The 2024 Governor’s Milestones of Safety Awards presented during the event include:

Best of Class Statewide Awards

• Eustace E. Frederick Award for underground coal mines: 
  • Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Blue Creek Mining, LLC, Blue Creek No. 1 Mine
  • Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal, Twin State Mining, Inc., Mine No. 44
• Bart B. Lay Jr. Award for surface coal mines:
  • Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Panther Creek Mining, LLC, Samples Mine
  • Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal, Extra Energy, Inc., Harmon East Surface Mine

Mountaineer Guardian Awards were presented to the following mining operations:

Underground Operations

• Alliance Coal, Mettiki Coal WV LLC, Mettiki E Mine
• Alliance Coal, Tunnel Ridge, LLC, Tunnel Ridge Mine, Region 1
• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Aracoma Coal Company, Inc, Davy Branch Mine, Region 2
• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Aracoma Coal Company, LLC, Lynn Branch No. 2 Mine, Region 2
• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Kingston Mining, Inc, Kingston No. 2 Mine, Region 4
• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Marfork Coal Company, LLC, Black Eagle Mine, Region 4
• Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Panther Creek Mining, LLC, American Eagle Mine, Region 4
• Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Panther Creek Mining, LLC, Winchester 2, Region 4
• Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Rockwell Mining, LLC, Coal Branch No. 1, Region 4
• Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Rockwell Mining, LLC, Flying Eagle Mine, Region 4
• Core Natural Resources, Inc, ICG Beckley, LLC, Beckley Pocahontas, Region 4
• Coronado Global Resources, Inc, Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Eagle No. 1 Mine, Region 2
• Coronado Global Resources, Inc, Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Muddy Bridge Mine, Region 2
• Coronado Global Resources, Inc, Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Powellton No. 1, Region 2
• Ramaco Resources, LLC, Michael Powellton, Region 2
• Southern Minerals, Inc, Raw Coal Mining Company, Inc, EDM No. 1 Mine, Region 2
• Southern Minerals, Inc, Raw Coal Mining Company, Inc, Sewell Mine R, Region 2
• United Coal Company, LLC, Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC, Affinity Mine, Region 4 

Surface Operations:

• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Nicholas Contura, LLC, Bishop Surface, Region 4
• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Republic Energy, LLC, Republic Surface, Region 4
• Appalachian Resource WV, LLC, Grapevine East Surface, Region 2
• Appalachian Resource WV, LLC, Remining #3 Surface, Region 2
• Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Rockwell Mining, LLC, Glancy Surface Mine, Region 4
• Ramaco Resources, LLC, Ram Surface No. 3 Mine, Region 2
• Central Coal Company, Wyoming Eagle, LLC, Sugar Run Surface Mine No. 1, Region 2
• Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal, Extra Energy, Inc, Loop Branch Surface Mine, Region 2
• COAL-MAC, LLC, Twin Branch Surface Mine, Region 2
• Contour Highwall Mining, LLC, Bundy Auger Mining, Inc, SHM 06 Highwall Mine, Region 4
• Coronado Global Resources, INC, Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Elklick Surface Mine, Region 2
• LP Mineral, LLC, Monumental Mine, Region 1
• Ramaco Resources, LLC, Maben Coal, LLC, Maben Surface Mine, Region 2

Prep Plants/Loadouts:

• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Bandmill Coal, LLC, Rum Creek Prep Plant, Region 2
• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Power Mountain Conture, LLC, Power Mountain Prep Plant, Region 4
• American Consolidated Natural Resources, Marshall County Coal Resources, River Loadout, Region 1
• Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Blue Creek Mining, LLC, Blue Creek Prep Plant, Region 4
• Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Kanawha Eagle Mining, LLC, South Hollow Plant, Region 4
• Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal, Prime Processing, Inc, Eckman (Dans Branch) Loadout, Region 2
• Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal, Prime Processing, Inc, Eckman Plant, Region 2
• COAL-MAC, LLC, No. 22 Prep Plant, Region 2
• COAL-MAC, LLC, Ragland Loadout, Region 2
• Core Natural Resources, Inc., Wolf Run Mining, LLC, Leer South Prep Plant, Region 1
• Core Natural Resources, Inc, Mingo Logan Coal, LLC, Cardinal Prep Plant, Region 2
• Cornerstone Minerals, Onyx Energy, LLC, Olan Processing Plant, Region 2
• Coronado Global Resources, Inc, Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Elklick Loadout, Region 2
• Coronado Global Resources, Inc, Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Saunders Prep Plant, Region 2
• Docks Creek, LLC, Region 2
• Kanawha River Terminals, LLC, Ceredo Dock, Region 2
• Pocahontas Processing, LLC, Delbarton Prep Plant, Region 2
• United Coal Company, LLC, Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC, Affinity Prep Plant, Region 4 

Quarries:

• Appalachian Aggregates, LLC, Beckley Quarry, Region 4
• Appalachian Aggregates, LLC, Mill Point Quarry, Region 4
• Appalachian Aggregates, LLC, Lewisburg Quarry, Region 4
• East River Aggregates, INC, Mercer Plant, Region 2
• JF Allen Co., Mashey Gap Quarry, Region 1 

Independent Contractors

• Boyd Cat Company, Region 4
• Clay Trucking, Inc, Region 4
• Jennmar Corporation, Region 2
• Kanawha Stone Co. Inc, Region 2
• Matrix Design Group, Inc, Region 1
• Preston Contractors, Inc, Region 1
• United Coal Company, LLC, Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC, Affinity PCC Trucking, Region 4

ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

“This year’s reclamation award winners are proof positive that the best environmentalists out there are in the coal industry,” said West Virginia Coal Association Vice President Jason Bostic. “Our members display a firm commitment to environmental protection and creative, responsible reclamation in West Virginia.”

Inspectors with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) selected the winners, and DEP’s Mining & Reclamation Director, Jonathan Rorrer, handed out the awards. 

The Environmental Excellence awards presented during the event include: 

The top award – the Greenlands Award, went to Blackhawk Mining, Rockwell Mining, LLC, Eagle Surface Mine.

The Overall Environmental Performance Award was presented to Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal.

The Special Community Recovery Award was presented to Scenic Enterprises, Core Natural Resources Mountain Laurel, and Southern Minerals 

Other reclamation award winners include:

Drainage Structures/Water Management Award

• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Republic Energy, LLC, Turkeyfoot Surface Mine. S301419

Haul Road Construction Award

• ACNR, Harrison County Coal Resources, Inc, Overland Conveyor, O102592
• Blackhawk Mining, Rockwell Mining, LLC, Robinhood # 2 Haul Road, U500497 

Prep Plant & Loadout Reclamation Award

• Allegheny Metallurgical, Century Mining, LLC, Rail Loop & Clean Coal Load-out Facility, O200113
• Core Natural Resources, ICG Beckley, LLC, Beckley Pocahontas Refuse Area, U301195

Underground Mine Reclamation Awards

• ACNR, West Virginia Land Resources, Inc, Blacksville No. 1 – U004584
• Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal, Black Wolf Mining Company, Mine No. 35, U402291

Surface Mine Reclamation Award

• LP Mineral, LLC, Ralph Six Surface Mine, S200810
• United Coal Company, Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC, Tommy Creek Highwall Mine No. 3, S302007

Valley Fill Construction Award

• Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Republic Energy, LLC, Long Ridge Surface Mine, S300115

For additional information, contact Chris Hamilton at (304) 342-4153.

A proposed $1 million per ship fee on Chinese manufactured transport ships, will have serious repercussions affecting coal exports around the world. 

In the waning days of the Biden Administration, five national labor unions filed a petition with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 requesting an investigation into the acts, policies, and practices of China in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.. Section 301 allows the United States to respond to unreasonable or discriminatory foreign government practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Arguing that the “American commercial shipbuilding industry is a shell of its former self,” the petition stated that the number of commercial shipyards in the United States had significantly decreased, jobs had been lost, and U.S.  amounted to only a fraction of one percent of the world’s commercial vessels. The petition alleged that China, as the world’s largest shipbuilding nation, has “seized market share, suppressed prices, and created a worldwide network of ports and logistics infrastructure that threaten to discriminate against U.S. ships and shipping companies, disrupt supply chains, and undermine vital national security interests.” As of 2025, Chinese manufacturers accounted for more than 50 percent of the world's transport ship builds.

Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Coal Association today expressed its strong and overwhelming support for President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's plan to roll back dozens of Biden-era regulations in a move towards revitalizing the coal industry, stabilizing grid reliability, and promoting economic growth in West Virginia and across the nation. 

West Virginia - the heart of America’s coal country - has found its ideal political leadership in incoming President Donald Trump, Governor Patrick Morrisey, Senators Capito and Justice and Congressional Representatives Miller and Moore.  Add in our state legislative leadership of Hanshaw and Smith, their legislative colleagues and members of the Board of Public Works, together, they represent a bright new dawn for our state, one where the coal industry isn’t just surviving but thriving. They bring a bold vision, unwavering commitment, and proven leadership that promises to elevate West Virginia's economy and protect its way of life.