The Friends of Coal would like to thank the more than 1,000 coal miners, their families and supporters who gathered at the State Capitol Thursday in a peaceful protest of the Obama Administration and its EPA's ongoing assault against Appalachian coal.
The rally was called by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in the wake of last week's veto by the EPA of a three-year old permit issued for Mingo-Logan's Spruce #1 surface mine in Logan County.
Tomblin was joined by Senator Joe Manchin, representatives of the state's congressional delegation and legislative leaders of both parties for the rally.
Tomblin pledged his administration will continue the state's efforts to fight the EPA's assault on the state's coal industry. Manchin told the crowd his first legislation as senator will be aimed at reining in the job-killing policies of the EPA.
The Friends of Coal would like to thank Governor Tomblin, Senator Manchin, Acting Senate President Jeff Kessler, Speaker of the House Richard Thompson and the hundreds of miners, their families and our friends who turned out to show their support of our state's primary industry.
We would also like to thank our numerous member companies who participated, as well as FACES, Citizens for Coal, the Logan Coal Vendors, the Coal Forum, the Mountaintop Mining Coalition, the Kentucky Coal Association and all the others who joined with us in making our voices heard. We are making a difference in this effort to save coal mining jobs.