Governor Earl Ray Tomblin promised to “aggressively pursue” the state’s lawsuit against the Obama Administration’s efforts to regulate the state’s mining industry out of business.

In his State of the State Address last week, Tomblin said he wants to nearly double the state Division of Energy's budget. He proposes increasing the agency’s budget by $200,000 from its current total operating budget of just $300,000.

The 2010 legislation aims to "make West Virginia a player in the national energy discussion" by raising the division's profile and expanding its range, said Sen. Brooks McCabe. The Kanawha County Democrat was the measure's lead sponsor.

Coal has a "short-term as well as an intermediate if not long-term role in the nation's energy policy," McCabe said. Besides reinforcing the importance of coal and natural gas, the measure encourages the division to promote the development of renewable energy sources from a rural state's perspective.

The eight-person Division of Energy receives federal funding to push renewable energy, but nothing for coal, gas and other fossil fuels, director Jeff Herholdt said. "There seems to be a different focus out of D.C."

Registration for the 38^th Annual WV Mining Symposium has been e-mailed to all Coal Bits recipients and is also included in this Coal Bits at bottom.  If you have not registered please complete the form and return to our offices, you will be invoiced for your participation in the Symposium.  A great program is being planned and an agenda will be sent by e-mail upon its completion.

An equipment failure of a WV approved emergency shelter was investigated by the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training.  The initial findings are being communicated to manufacturers and copied to the industry.

At this time no immediate danger is posed by the identified issue and no actions by operators is required.  Operators should continue their routine examinations and report any unusual findings to the manufacturer and the Director.

WV approved emergency shelter manufacturers are to review this report, when received, and respond with an evaluation of attributed of their equipment that would prevent such an occurrence or an action plan for the examination and corrective actions to be taken to the Director by February 15.

Please mark your calendars with a change for the Kanawha Valley Mining Institute’s meeting to February 10^th.  The meeting was initially set for the 3^rd but has been changed due to the WV Coal Mining Symposium.

CHARLESTON – Today’s decision by the Obama Administration and the U.S. EPA to revoke the permits for Mingo-Logan’s Spruce Mine shows an unbelievable arrogance and a total disregard for the impact this decision will have on the lives of West Virginia’s families.

The people of West Virginia cannot allow our economy to be destroyed as we wait for months or even years for a court decision on this issue.  It is vital that our congressional leadership take the steps necessary to bring the EPA’s senseless assault against Appalachian coal production to an end.

This issue goes beyond coal. Across our country, job after job is threatened by the arrogance of the EPA bureaucracy.  Congress must step up and bring this nightmare to an end.  Call your Congressional representatives and senators today. Tell them to end the tyranny of the EPA and restore the balance needed to bring jobs back to America.