T’S YOUR FUTURE...REACH HIGHER

CHARLESTON -- The Friends of Coal and MetroNews are proud to announce the 4th Annual West Virginia Scholar Program. The West Virginia Scholar Program allows us the opportunity to help change the life of a West Virginia family forever. If you are currently a junior in high school in West Virginia, over the next six weeks you will have an opportunity to shape your own future. By participating in the The West Virginia Scholar program, you could receive four years of tuition and fees at West Virginia Wesleyan College, one of our state’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning. If you are a current high school junior dreaming of making your future the very brightest it can be, We make you this promise: If you participate in the The West Virginia Scholar Program, we will give you the chance to win your dream. Please click on the Apply Now button and complete the application materials as directed. . You could be the 2011 Friends of Coal/MetroNews West Virginia Scholar!         APPLY NOW!

WASHINGTON -- A coal mine operator described today how the Office of Surface Mining of the U.S. Department of the Interior is pursuing policies that will “destroy tens of thousands of coal mining and related jobs” throughout the U.S. while usurping the authority of state agencies to regulate coal mining.  Gene Kitts, appearing on behalf of the National Mining Association (NMA) before the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, delineated the strategies used by OSM and other federal agencies to “eviscerate” coal mining production.

CHARLESTON – In a March 28 announcement, Governor Tomblin has declared the week of April 18 – April 22, 2011 (10th Regional Coal Fair to be held at the Harless Community Center) Coal Education week in West Virginia.

Coal is West Virginia’s primary industry. It provides 63,000 jobs and generates more than $26 billion in total economic impact each and every year. If you are an educator and would like to teach a section on coal, check out our website at www.wvcoal.com or at CEDAR at www.cedarswv.com.

Please Contact Georgene Robertson, CEDAR of Southern West Virginia, Inc. at 304/792-8433 for more information.

CHARLESTON -- The Friends of Coal is continuing its outreach efforts in print, broadcast and web media, as well as maintaining a presence at various events in the state:

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• Work is beginning on the Friends of Coal’s annual insert section in The State Journal. The section will go to print sometime in late-July.  If you have story ideas please contact us at304.342.4153.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors

WASHINGTON, DC -- On March 8, 2011, MSHA published a notice in the Federal Register soliciting additional comment on the proposed rule addressing Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors.

MSHA has identified 27 specific areas for which we are seeking additional comment. The notice were available for viewing on March 7, 2011 at the Office of the Federal Register, Public Inspection Desk:http://www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx.

The proposed rule was published on October 19, 2010 (75 FR 64412) and is available on MSHA’s website. All comments must be received or postmarked by midnight Eastern Daylight Saving time on May 2, 2011.