By The Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- A proposed longwall mining complex in north-central West Virginia could create as many as 520 jobs. 

CONSOL Energy says the Mason-Dixon Mining Complex it's planning near Wadestown in Monongalia County would indirectly support about 2,600 jobs. It's expected to produce coal for about 30 years.

The Dominion Post says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is taking public comments on the project's environmental impact Tuesday.

Permit records at the state Department of Environmental Protection show the northern boundary of the mine's refuse site could come within 100 feet of Oak Forest United Methodist Church and Oak Forest Cemetery. 

But Pastor Rose Saunders says her members are comfortable with Consol's plans. 

Consol officials say construction could begin in about two years, but the timing depends on market conditions.

The 2012 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature officially kicked off with the Governor’s annual State of the State Address to a joint session this past Wednesday at the State Capitol.

In his address, Governor Tomblin provided a broad outline of where we are as a state and where he intends to lead us this year. Tax reform, fiscal responsibility, investment in education and energy are the centerpieces of his agenda.

Governor Tomblin was also unequivocal with his support of West Virginia’s 63,000 coal mining families, promising to continue fighting an out-of-control federal bureaucracy.

The Legislature began its 2012 Regular Session on Wednesday, January 11^th with the introduction of 159 bills in the State Senate and 46 in the House of Delegates.  In addition, 1,268 bills were carried over from last year in the House of Delegates.  As the session adjourned for the weekend, on Friday afternoon, there had been a total of 185 Senate bills and 83 House bills introduced.  When combined with the carryover bills, there are 1,586 bills already before this year’s Legislature.  While the State Journal article summarizes many of the bills that have specific relevance to our industry, keep in mind most of these are “carryovers” from last year, meaning they were introduced but no action was taken.

Stonie Barker Jr., a high-ranking coal executive in Lexington during the 1970s and '80s, died Tuesday at his home in Naples, Fla. He was 85.

Born in Chapmanville, W.Va., Mr. Barker worked his way up through the mining industry and eventually led Island Creek Coal Co., one of the largest coal companies in the United States at the time.

A report in The State Journal this week indicated coal mining remains the primary driver of the state’s economic engine.  Mark Muchow, deputy secretary of the West Virginia Department of Revenue, presented a balanced budget to the House of Delegates Finance Committee January 12, and cited coal employment and exports as some of the major drivers of West Virginia's economy.

According to Muchow's presentation, forty percent of coal, mostly metallurgical coal, ends up in Europe, although Asian and South American countries are becoming players in the coal market. The price of coal was four times higher in 2011 when compared to 2003, Muchow said.