At the Board of Director’s meeting on Tuesday, February 7, the following new members were approved:  Appalachian Technical Services, Inc. (Jim Kelly); CBC Engineers & Associates, Ltd. (Mike Cross); Environmental Standards, Inc. (Ann Marie Gathright); and, GMS Mine Repair & Maintenance (Jeff Giacobe).  Welcome to all.

More than 1,000 attendees and almost 40 Associate member vendors attended the 2012 WV Mining Symposium event with Senator Manchin, Governor Tomblin headlining the roster of speakers.

Held February 1-3, the program featured presentations on coal mine health and safety, regulatory issues, new technologies and coal’s role in our state’s economy, both today and in the future.  Several of our Association members added substantially to this year’s program.

Fola Coal Mine No. 1 won the Barton B. Lay Milestones of Safety Award and

Consol’s Robinson Run No. 95 won the Eustace Frederick Award.

Mine safety is a central focus of West Virginia’s coal industry. At Thursday’s session of the 39th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium in Charleston, 32 mining and service companies were recognized for their commitment to workplace safety in 2011.

Barton B. Lay Milestones of Safety Award 2012 (Surface Mines)

Fola Coal Company, LLC, Surface Mine No. 1

Eustace E. Frederick Milestones of Safety Award (Underground Mines)

Consolidation Coal Company, Robinson Run No. 95

Seventeen companies were recognized last Friday for excellence in mine reclamation for 2011. The awards were made at the concluding luncheon of the 39th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium at the Charleston Civic Center on February 3^rd.

The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection. To be eligible, a mining operation must be nominated by their local state inspector.

The Greenlands Award, the state’s top environmental award, went to Coal Mac, Inc.’s Phoenix Surface Mine No. 2 in Logan County.