For the third quarter, 2011, the MSHA database shows that there were 1,123 coal mines with some production of coal, approximately 1.4% above the 3Q10 level of 1,107 mines. Of these 1,123 mines, we count 381 (34%) active mines that were owned by a public company and 742 active mines (66%) that were privately held. The publicly owned mines produced 75% of U.S. coal output in 3Q11 and the private mines produced 25%.  For this period, 69% of U.S. coal production came from surface mines and 31% from underground mines.

Representatives of the West Virginia Coal Association participated in the annual Governor’s Energy Summit earlier this month at the Stonewall Resort. The event, sponsored by the WV Governor’s Office and the WV Department of Commerce was entitled West Virginia: Energy Powering Economic Development.

WV Coal Association Vice President Jason Bostic gave a presentation outlining the status of permitting with EPA in West Virginia.  Ernie Thraster of Xcoal also presetned a detailed and insightful analysis of the metallurgical export market.

Senator Joe Manchin gave a special present to fellow Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York during this past week’s informal Christmas celebration at the U.S. Capitol.  As part of this year’s first annual “Secret Santa” gift exchange, Manchin gave Schumer a little piece of West Virginia – and a message. Manchin’s gift was a donkey and elephant carved from coal mined here in the Mountain State.

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., this past week introduced H.R 3697, the “Mine Safety Accountability and Improved Protection Act.” Capito’s legislation seeks to streamline the conference and appeals process, improve implementation of mine safety and health regulation, hold violators accountable by increasing penalties—both financial and criminal—for violations of the law, all with the end goal of creating a safer working environment for our miners.

“Mine safety is not a partisan issue. We can work together across party lines and across the Capitol to give everyone involved in mine safety, from inspectors to operators to the miners themselves, the resources they want, need and deserve to run a safe mine,” stated Capito, co-founder of the Congressional Coal Caucus.

We are pleased to welcome the following new members into the WVCA and the WV Coal Alliance (Friends of Coal):  Martin Consulting, LLC, Tim A. Martin, President; Mine Site Technologies, Tom Riley, Account Executive/Central Appalachia; and, Southwire Company, Chris Marlow, VP, Sales.

We also have a company name change:  Casualty & Surety, Inc. is now Bunker Hill Underwriting Agency, Inc., Jim Godfrey remains as President.