Easten State Associations Meet in DC

     West Virginia Coal gathered with association and company officials from Kentucky, Maryland, Illinois, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio in Washington for an aggressive two-day meeting this week.  The group's mission is to bring attention to the importance of the coal industry in these states to the nation and to express concern and interest in many activities occurring in DC.  The Wednesday night reception had good participation from the West Virginia delegation as did the Thursday morning briefing.  The group also met with MSHA Administrator Richard Stickler and his assistant Bob Friend as well as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley and several members of his staff.   The productive two days was held at National Mining's headquarters and helped the group to be updated on the fast moving legislative agenda of Congress that includes coal-to-liquids legislation and another MINER Act being introduced.  The consortium of eastern and mid-western states account for more than 42% of the nation's production while having nearly 80% of the country's coal miners and 47% of the known reserves.  The next meeting is tentatively planned for late July.