Alpha Natural Resources Southern WV Team Captain Tommy Dove competes in the National Mine Rescue Competition that was held in October in Columbus, Ohio.

More than 100 teams from 13 states competed in the 2011 National Mine Rescue, First-Aid, Bench and Preshift Competition at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio which was held in early October.

Teams from West Virginia fared very well in the event including taking third, eighth and eleventh in the overall competition results. First and Fourth in the Combination Competition results and six teams in the top ten of the First Aid competition. 

By PAMELA BRUST (pbrust@newsandsentinel.com)

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

PARKERSBURG - Action on a resolution opposing mountaintop coal removal died Monday for lack of second during the Wood County Commission meeting.

In August, the commission sponsored two separate public informational sessions on mountaintop coal removal, including opponents of the coal mining practice, and a second with coal industry representatives.

 

By PAMELA BRUST (pbrust@newsandsentinel.com) , Parkersburg News and Sentinel

PARKERSBURG - Action on a resolution opposing mountaintop coal removal died Monday for lack of second during the Wood County Commission meeting.

In August, the commission sponsored two separate public informational sessions on mountaintop coal removal, including opponents of the coal mining practice, and a second with coal industry representatives.

The proposed resolution, presented by Walt Auvil and several other mountaintop coal removal opponents, noted other types of coal mining provide more employment, mountaintop mining methods are "environmentally and economically destructive" and mountains are the heritage of all West Virginians. The opponents asked the commission to sign off on the resolution, similar to ones passed in other parts of the state, opposing the process.

H.R. 2273, “Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act” was passed earlier today by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 267 to 14 with all three House Members from West Virginia voting in favor of the legislation.

H.R. 2273, introduced by Congressman McKinley, R-WV, relates to the classification of “fly ash” from coal–fired electric generators and preserves its beneficial uses.

An Association briefing paper is attached for your awareness and use.

Companion Legislation is expected to be introduced in the US Senate.

Please notify the Association if you have any questions or need additional information.

The West Virginia Coal Association and our partners above believe the passage of H.R. 2273, the Coals Residuals Reuse and Management Act, sponsored by Rep. David McKinley (WV), is vital to the future of the coal industry, electric utilities and every industrial business in this country, as well as every American. Passage of this bill and HR 2018 would effectively rein-in the EPA’s three-year, job-killing assault against America’s basic industries and the millions of Ameri can families who depend on those industries every day.

“America is at a critical moment in its history -- our unemployment rate is over 9% percent and rising. Millions more are underemployed. Millions have lost homes, lost businesses and lost hope. While it is never a good time to destroy jobs, to de- liberately sacrifice jobs at such a time simply to impose a radical political agenda is unconscionable and unbelievable.

“We urge passage of HR 2273 and HR 2018 today! Let’s get America working again!” - Bill Raney, president, West Virginia Coal Association.