The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named the members of its Advisory Panel on the ecological effects of coal mining in Appalachia.  Referred to as the Science Advisory Board (SAB), the panel will assist EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) in preparing a scientific assessment of the ecological impacts related to mountaintop mining and valley-fill operations.  The evaluation is tied to EPA’s continuing regulatory focus on coal mining in Central Appalachia such as the April 1, 2010 “guidance” on application of the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act to mining permit applications.  More information on the SAB panel, including a list of members can be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/SABPRODUCT.NSF/81e39f4c09954fcb85256ead006be86e/acd3a1af5c7138e785257625006c891e!OpenDocument

For additional information contact jbostic@wvcoal.com

Thomas Rubenstein and Christopher Power, partners with Dinsmore & Shohl, were recently selected to serve as Trustees at Large for the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF).  Both attorneys will serve a first-year term from 2010 to 2011 on the Board of Trustees.

Thomas Rubenstein is the managing partner of the firm's Morgantown, West Virginia office.  He has more than 25 years of experience as a coal lawyer with both substantial in-house and private practice experience representing public and private operating and land holding companies.  Rubenstein focuses on legal and business matters pertaining to the coal industry, including transactions, mergers and acquisitions, coal sales, mine safety and health, and lease, sublease, operating and contract mining agreements.

Christopher Power is a partner in the firm's Charleston, West Virginia office.  He is a member of the Natural Resources and Environmental Practice Groups.  Power's practice encompasses civil and administrative litigation related to the energy industry, with a particular emphasis on natural resources extraction and related operations.

CONSOL Energy will be the main corporate sponsor of the joint meeting of the Office of Surface Mining's Reclamation and Enforcement Agency, the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI), American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR) and the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation to be held at the Greentree Radisson Hotel June 6 - 10.       

Please review and contact Jane Evans if you or others in your group would like to register for the entire conference, portions, or any of the various activities and special events. As the main corporate sponsor, we are entitled to four complimentary full registrations. Additional full or partial registrations can be purchased at the discounted conference rates: http://www.pghminingreclamationconf.com/registration.html 

Following are pertinent links to the conference Website, and which illustrate the level of CONSOL participation as presenters, speakers and hosts for various site tours and activities.

CEDAR has just completed their ninth year in southern West Virginia.  Over the nine-year period, CEDAR has provided 387 teachers with approximately $87,593 in grant money to utilize in their classroom teaching about the many benefits coal has to offer.   8,877 students have been involved in these coal study units in Mingo, Logan, Boone, McDowell, and Wyoming counties.

At the ninth Regional Coal Fair, 252 projects were on display from students in K-12 grades that demonstrated their understanding of how coal is formed, mined, and transported, as well as how the industry affects their daily lives.  Over the nine-year period, 2,343 projects have been represented at the regional level.  A total of $51,539 in cash prizes has been awarded to students for performance and $11,912 in cash prizes has been awarded to the school coal fair coordinators (teacher designated by school principal).  Exhibits were entered in seven categories:  Art, English/Literature, Math, Music, Science, Social Studies and Technology/Multi Media.  Each category is split into three grade levels (K-4), (5-8), and (9-12).  In addition to the cash prizes awarded, the students gained a hands-on education in coal and found pride in their strong coal heritage.

During the week of April 26 – April 30, approximately 800 visitors toured the projects at the Harless Community Center in Gilbert.  Bus tours were scheduled from the participating counties to tour the projects on display.  Two winning CEDAR students, William Poe and Dustin Adkins performed for Tug Valley Mining Institute attendees.  Tony Bumbico, Arch VP of Safety; John M Gallick, Alpha VP Safety & Health; and Rick Marlowe, Consol Director of Safety Awareness, addressed the Tug Valley Mining Institute meeting on Thursday night discussing safety, our industry’s top priority.

CEDAR of Southern West Virginia, Inc. is an all volunteer, not for profit corporation which began as a partnership between the Coal Industry, Business Community, and Educators, created with the purpose of improving the image of the coal industry

The Tug Valley Mining Institute’s monthly meeting is scheduled for May 27, 2010 and is to be their Scholarship dinner.  Bill Bissett of the Kentucky Coal Association will be the guest speaker with Hi-tech Construction sponsoring.  The meeting will be held at the Rivers Edge Restaurant in Williamson (formerly the Brass Tree).  Social hour will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. with dinner at 7.  To make reservations please contact Nathan Brown at 304.239.2300.