During the November legislative interim committee meetings held this past week, the Senate elected Senator Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall County) to serve as its President.  President Kessler has served in the Senate for 16 years and has been an advocate of coal.

WVCA’s “Coal Seam” show, hosted by Chris Hamilton, was filmed this week and features newly elected Senate President Kessler as its guest.  “Coal Seam” airs on WV Library Television Network/Public Broadcasting.  Check your local listing for days and times for viewing.

Longtime Friend of Coal, Art Kirkendoll, (D-Logan County) has been appointed by Governor Tomblin to serve his remaining term as Senator.  Art is a past Logan County Commissioner and has been active with the Association in numerous events.  He announced he would seek re-election to the Senate seat in 2012.

The Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety promulgated a final rule pertaining to the use of High Voltage Face Equipment in conjunction with longwall mining.  The administrative rule has been assigned Title 36, Series 47 and was filed with the Secretary of State and takes effect immediately.  Final rules were also adopted for using high voltage in conjunction with continuous mining machines.

The Board also continued its consideration and deliberations of a proposed mandatory Drug Testing program.  The drug testing program considered by the Board would basically:

• ·Requires all mining operations to have a mandatory drug testing program that would, at a minimum, ensure that all employees at the mine level would be tested on an annual basis;
• ·Requires the Director of the State Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training to suspend the WV certification of any miner whose miner’s certification issued from another state had been revoked for failing a drug test;
• ·Requires the Director to provide drug testing to any applicant for a miners “specialty” certification, i.e., fire boss, electrician, belt examiner, shot firer, etc.; and,
• ·Requires any prospective miner to have a drug test prior to the issuance of an apprentice miner’s certification.

C.A. Phillips, Director of the WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training was confirmed by the State Senate this week on a unanimous vote.  Phillips was originally appointed to his position by Governor Manchin last year and reappointed by Governor Tomblin in October.

The Governor’s Energy Summit, sponsored by the WV Governor’s Office and the WV Department of Commerce is a one-day conference, entitled West Virginia:  Energy Powering Economic Development, will be held on Tuesday, December 6, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Stonewall Resort.  It will feature presentations on energy independence and security, carbon challenges, alternative fuels, and coal and natural gas resources.

For registration purposes, an online link has been established at: www.energywv.com/energysummit.

This online link is for conference attendance only.  Should you require lodging, please contact the Stonewall Resort directly at (304) 269-7400.  A block of rooms is being held for the evening of December 5 for the “Governor’s Energy Summit” at a rate of $99/night.  All reservations should be made no later than Saturday, November 19.

The Pocahontas Coal Association will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, November 29^th, at 6 p.m. at the Princeton Elks Club.  As is tradition during the Fall Meeting, the PCA and the Bluefield Daily Telegraph will be presenting the Boys High School Football Player of the Week awards, as well as the Player of the Year award.

For further information contact Jason Fannin at 276.623.2914 or 276.698.5317.