Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R.W.Va., released the following statement announcing the re-launch of the Congressional Coal Caucus in the 112th Congress.  Capito was joined by Reps. Altmire, Holden, Shimkus, Rehberg and Costello as co-chairs. “Coal is our nation’s most abundant natural resource and supports more than 130,000 good-paying jobs across the country.  Anyone who turns on a light or plugs in a computer or watches their favorite TV show has coal to thank for providing a low-cost energy supply.  Failure to include this vital resource in an all-of-the-above approach to our energy security will mean widespread consequences, from higher utility bills at home to increased costs at the grocery store. 

“With the Administration’s recent attacks on the industry, most notably the EPA’s veto of the existing Spruce Mine Permit, the Coal Caucus stands to play a key role in bringing to light the important role coal plays in our day-to-day lives.  As a West Virginian, I am especially concerned with the EPA’s attempts to use their regulatory authority to further an anti-coal agenda.  While I agree that the environmental impact of coal mining must be considered, any decisions regarding the future of coal can be done so in a balanced manner that also weighs economic factors.  As such, I’ve supported investment in clean-coal technologies.

“I look forward to working with my coal-state colleagues to make sure the coal industry, and the thousands of jobs it supports, has a strong, unified voice in the 112th Congress.”

 

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin presented the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute’s Charles Bowling Scholarships to 10 area students at the association’s Thursday meeting. KVMI has been awarding these scholarships annually for more than 70 years.

“The Kanawha Valley Mining Institute is proud to make these scholarships available to these students that represent the future of our industry and our communities.  The KVMI was chartered in 1934 and has been making these scholarships, now known as the Charles Bowling scholarships, ever since,” said Kevin Whipkey, KVMI president.

“The KVMI provides an opportunity for members of the mining community to establish relationships within the industry and also provides these students the opportunity to develop a network within the industry that can serve them well as they enter their working careers.”

 

RECIPIENTS OF THE

KVMI CHARLES BOWLING SCHOLARSHIPs

AWARDED FEBRUARY 10, 2011

 

ROBERT BOSTIC – Kenna, WV  -   Sophomore

CIVIL  ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY -  BRIDGEMONT CTC

 

LAUREN CLARK – Bradley, WV  -   Sophomore

MECH. & CIVIL  ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY -  BRIDGEMONT CTC

 

CODY COOPER – Racine, WV  -   Junior

CIVIL  ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY -  BRIDGEMONT CTC

 

JOSHUA DEWEESE – Orma, WV  -   Junior

CIVIL  ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY -  BRIDGEMONT CTC

 

PAUL FISHER – South Charleston, WV  -   Junior

POWER PLANT TECHNOLOGY -  KANAWHA VALLEY  CTC

 

STEPHEN HUDDLESTON – Sissonville, WV  -  Junior

CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY -  WVU - INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

 

BRAD JARRELL – Mt. Hope, WV  -   Junior

CIVIL  ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY -  BRIDGEMONT CTC

 

THOMAS NAY – Charleston, WV  -   Senior

POWER PLANT TECHNOLOGY -  KANAWHA VALLEY  CTC

 

STEVEN THOMPSON – South Charleston, WV  -   Sophomore

CIVIL  ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY -  WVU-IT

 

SPENCER WILLS -  Oak Hill, WV  -   Sophomore

CIVIL  ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY -  WVU-IT

 

Eleven companies were recognized on Friday for excellence in mine reclamation for 2010. The awards were made at the concluding luncheon of the 38th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium Charleston Civic Center.

The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection. To be eligible, a mining operation must be nominated by their local state inspector.

The Greenlands Award, the state’s top environmental award, went to Coal-Mac’s Pine Creek Slurry Impoundment in Logan County.

The Society of American Foresters Award went to Apogee Coal Company’s Guyan Surface Mine.

"Today, we recognized the real, true practicing environmentalists of this state and nation,” West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said. “The men and women who mine, manage and support these award-winning operations truly set the standard for environmental achievement and practical stewardship.”

“It is always a great pleasure to make these awards," said WVCA President Bill Raney, "These companies go far beyond requirements of the law in order to be good stewards of state’s resources. They represent the very best efforts of an industry committed to environmental responsibility. I also want to applaud the industry as a whole for the outstanding job of environmental stewardship it does each and every year..”

 

Greenlands Award

Coal-Mac, Inc.

Pine Creek Slurry Impoundment in Logan County.

Permit # 0-13-81.

 

Surface Mine North Award

Luke Paper Company

Green Mountain Surface Mine in Mineral County.

Permit #S-0189-76.

 

Surface Mine South Award

Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC

Tommy Creek #3 Surface Mine in Raleigh County.

Permit # S-3020-07.

 

Coal-Mac, Inc.

Phoenix Little Muncy Surface Mine in Mingo and Logan counties.

Permit # S-5019-94.

 

Pritchard Mining Company

Lens Creek #2 Surface Mine in Kanawha and Boone counties.

Permit #S-3-26-93.

 

Underground Mine South Award

Consolidation Coal Company

Squire Jim #1 Deep Mine in McDowell County.

Permit # U-4004-91

 

Brooks Run Mining Company

Wyoming #2 Deep Mine in Wyoming County

Permit #U-4012-89

 

Coyote Coal Company

Campbell’s Creek #3 Mine in Kanawha County.

Permit #U-6001-86.

 

Coal Refuse Facility North Award

Carter-Roag Coal Company

Carter-Roag Refuse Facility in Randolph County

Permit # O-31-85.

 

Coal Refuse Facility South Award

Apogee Coal Company

Fanco Preparation Plant in Logan County

Permit # O-5023--94

 

Haul Road Construction North Award

ICG Eastern, LLC.

Bearpen Haul Road in Webster County

Permit # S2019-88.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thirty West Virginia mining operations have been recognized by the industry for their safety efforts in 2010. The awards were announced at the West Virginia Coal Association’s 38^th Annual Mining Symposium in Charleston earlier this year.

“Each and every one of our companies work hard every day to meet the highest standards of safety.” Association President Bill Raney said.  “In making these awards, we are recognizing not only the outstanding accomplishments of these companies, we are also recognizing the commitment to safety of every single operation. These award winners are fantastic examples of the commitment to safety every one of our member companies shows on a daily basis. Each of them is to be commended for the hard work they put in each day to sure their operations are as safe as possible and to send our people home at the end of their shifts.” 

Raney said Phoenix Coal-Mac’s Holden 22 Surface Mine operation took the top honor for surface mines, claiming the Bart B. Lay, Jr. Milestones of Safety Award. Raney said Consolidation Coal Company’s Shoemaker Mine claimed this year’s Eustace Frederick Milestones of Safety Award for underground mines.  

“Both Phoenix Coal-Mac’s Holden 22 operations and Consolidation Coal’s Shoemaker Mine have made a commitment above and beyond what is required by state and federal regulations,” Raney said. “They are the truly dedicated to the safety of their employees, and they are greatly deserving of this award.” 

The West Virginia Coal Association’s Mountaineer Guardian Awards are presented each year to mining companies that have demonstrated a commitment to safety standards.  Inspectors for the West Virginia Office of Mine Health Safety and Training nominate companies based on numerous criteria.

 

All Award Winners

(30 total)

 

Eustace Frederick Milestone’s In Safety Award

Underground Mines

Consolidation Coal Company, Shoemaker Mine

 

Bart B. Lay Milestone’s in Safety Award

Surface Mines

Phoenix Coal-Mac, Holden 22 Surface Mine

 

Underground

Consolidation Coal Company                                        Blacksville #2

Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC                                Cucumber Mine

Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC                                Wyoming #1 Mine

Marfork Coal Company, Inc.                                       Allen Powellton Mine

Metticki Coal, LLC                                                    Metticki E Mine

Mingo-Logan Coal Company                          Mountaineer II Mine

Pinnacle Mining Company, LLC                               Pinnacle Mine

Rivers Edge Mining Inc.                                            Rivers Edge Mine

Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC                                Poplar Ridge Deep Mine#1

Tunnel Ridge, LLC                                                    Tunnel Ridge Mine

Wolf Run Mining Company                                           Imperial Mine

XMV, Inc.                                                              XMV 37 Mine

 

Surface

Consol of Kentucky, Inc.                                           Peg Fork Surface Mine

Extra Energy, Inc.                                                   Eckman #2

Simmons Fork Mining Inc.                                          Ewing Fork #1

ICG Eastern LLC                                                      Birch River Mine

Fola Coal Company, LLC                                           Surface Mine #1

Frasure Creek Mining, LLC                                        Surface Mine #5

 

Preparation Plants

Emerald Processing, LLC                                           South Hollow Plant

Mammoth Coal Company                                          Mammoth Processing Plant

Litwar Processing Company, LLC                                  Litwar Preparation Plant

Fola Coal Company                                                  Peach Orchard Prep Plant

ICG Eastern LLC                                                      Birch River Prep. Plant

Rock Spring Development, Inc.                              Camp Creek Plant

Wolf Run Mining Company, Inc.                           Sentinel Preparation Plan

 

Quarry Operations

J.F. Allen Company                                                  Aggregates Quarry

 

Independent Contractors

Keyrock Energy, Inc.

Speakers Included All of the State’s Congressional Representation and Governor

The West Virginia Coal Association held its 38^th Annual Mining Symposium last week. The event continues to grow larger each year, with more than 1,100 people each of the three days of the conference. Dozens of vendor companies were also on hand to show off their latest products.

“We are just astonished at the growth of this event,” said Bill Raney, association president. “When this started it wasn’t much more than a few company representatives and a vendor or two with a table-top display. The Symposium today has truly become a key event on the industry’s calendar.

The list of people addressing the event this year included all five of the state’s Congressional delegation: Senators Rockefeller and Manchin, as well as Congressional Representatives Rahall, Capito and McKinley.  Governor Earl Ray Tomblin also spoke at the event. Each of the speakers talked about the importance of coal to the state and the nation and how important it is to get that message through in Washington.

The event also drew significant coverage by state media, with all the major television, print and radio media in attendance. A live television link provided coverage of the event to local television stations across the state.