Chris Hamilton will be the guest lecturer for the West Virginia University College of Engineering and Mineral Resources’ Distinguished Lecture Series. The event will be Monday, March 28 at 3 p.m. in the Engineering Sciences Building, Room G102.

CHARLESTON --- Mary Pat Steptoe, wife of Bob Steptoe of the law firm of Steptoe and Johnson, lost her courageous battle with cancer. She died peacefully at home with her entire family. Please remember Bob, their children and all of the Steptoe family members in your prayers.  Arrangement were incomplete at time of release.

AIKEN, SC --- Edward Barnes Leisenring Jr., one-time president of the family’s Westmoreland Coal Company, died March 2 at his winter home in Aiken, S.C. He was 85. Leisenring played a large role in West Virginia’s coal history. He was instrumental in growing Westmoreland Coal to a major West Virginia producer while he also served as Chairman of the National Coal Association. He is survived by his wife, Julia DuPont Bissell, and his children Erica, Edward W. and John Leisenring. (NMA Mining Week)

CHARLESTON -- Two additional mine safety bills were passed by the Legislature directing the Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety to study two mine safety topics. 

HB 2437 requiring the automatic de-energization of longwall shears and cutting heads on continuous miners when methane gas exceeds 1%.

HB 2888 strengthening requirements for whistleblowers to the Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety for study and rule-making consideration.

The Board is to investigate the requirements embodied in HB 2437 & HB 2888 to determine whether additional rules or revisions to existing rules are appropriate and report it findings to the Legislature by December 31, 2011.

West Virginia Innovative Mine Safety Technology Tax Credit Act Passes.

Late Saturday evening before the annual legislative session concluded, HB 2955 was adopted which generally raises permit fees for surface mining facilities. 

However, the legislation was amended earlier in the day by the State Senate by amending the provisions of SB 519 into the House bill, to establish the “West Virginia Innovative Mine Safety Technology Tax Credit Act”. 

The “West Virginia Innovative Mine Safety Technology Tax Credit Act” encourages new investment in mine safety technologies by providing for a credit against business franchise and corporate net taxes up to fifty percent (50%) of the investment cost of qualifying safety technologies.

The Act requires the  Mine Safety Technology Task Force and director of the WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training to develop a list of approved innovative mine safety technologies which qualify for the tax credit. Safety protection or technologies required by state or federal law are excluded from the Act.