Dr. Tom Witt discussed the impacts of coal in the mountain state, particularly on the economy.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thirty-three West Virginia mining operations were recognized for stellar safety efforts in 2009 during the West Virginia Coal Association’s 37th Annual Mining Symposium on Thursday.
“All of our companies strive to meet the highest standards of safety.” West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said. “I wish we could recognize 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.
Awards presented during annual Coal Symposium in Charleston
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Awards presented during annual Coal Symposium in Charleston
12 companies were recognized on Friday for excellence in mine reclamation for 2009. The awards were made at the concluding luncheon of the 37th 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 awards include special presentations for conservation. Ducks Unlimited presented the West Virginia Wetlands Award to
The Greenlands Award, the state’s top environmental award, went to the International Coal Group’s Beckley-Pocahontas facility in Raleigh County. In making the award, West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said, “The construction of the facility involved the remediation and reclamation of a pre-law coal refuse site. ICG has proven its commitment to the environment and clearly shows the steps our industry will take to get the coal out of the ground while protecting our natural beauty.”
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In his keynote address to the 37th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium, Gov. Joe Manchin said he “delivered the message” about West Virginia coal to President Obama in a White House meeting Wednesday.
Manchin said he told the President that West Virginia coal must be part of the nation’s energy mix for at least the next 30 to 50 years while the nation and the world “transitions to the fuels of the future.”
To push aside coal today would destroy the nation’s economy and its ability to compete against countries like China and India, where the use of coal will continue unabated.
Manchin was one of 10 “coal state” governors who met with Obama to outline their concerns about the direction of the administration’s energy policies as well as recent actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with regard to the mining of coal in the state.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD
11:30 a.m. Lunch sponsored by Jackson Kelly
1 – 5 p.m. Health & Safety Session
1 p.m. Federal Mine Safety & Enforcement Program
Kevin Stricklin, Administrator
Mine Safety & Health Administration
Bob E. Cornett – MSHA District 3 Manager
Robert Hardman – MSHA District 4 Manager
2:15 p.m. WV Mine Safety Update
C.A. Phillips, Deputy Director
WV Office of Miner’s Health, Safety & Training
Joel Watts, Board Administrator, WV Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety
3 p.m. Proximity Detection Devices
Jim Dean
WV Mine Safety Task Force
3:30 p.m. Deep-Cut Mining
Gary Hartsog
Alpha Engineering
4 p.m. Coal Safety Legal Forum
Mark Heath, Spilman Thomas & Battle
Dave Hardy, Allen Guthrie McHugh & Thomas
Bob Beatty, Dinsmore & Shohl
1 – 5 p.m. Environmental Session
1 p.m. WV Mining Regulatory Update
Jason Bostic
1:30 p.m. NPDES Update
Allyn Turner
Spilman Thomas & Battle
2 p.m. OSM Oversight Update
Roger Calhoun
Office of Surface Mining
2:30 p.m. Corps of Engineering Permitting Update
Ginger Mullins
Huntington Corps of Engineers
3 p.m. Environmental Justice & Mining
Matt Tyree
Jackson Kelly
3:30 Conductivity Ranges & Responses
Ed Kirk, REIC
Randy Maggard, Argus Energy
5 p.m. Associate’s Welcoming Reception
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH
7:00 a.m. REGISTRATION
7:30 a.m. Breakfast sponsored by Dinsmore & Shohl and Logan Corporation
8:30 a.m. Welcome & Introductions
James O. Bunn
WVCA Chairman
8:45 a.m. Central Appalachian Challenges
Joe Craft, President/CEO
Alliance Coal Company
9:30 a.m. The State of the State
Governor Joe Manchin
State of West Virginia
10:15 a.m. Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
10:30 a.m. U. S. Coal Forecast 2010
Hal Quinn, President
National Mining Association
11:15 a.m. American Energy Securities Study
Kenneth Nemeth, Executive Director
Southern States Energy Board
12 noon Mountaineer Guardian Luncheon
Sponsored by Bowles Rice and Marshall Miller Associates
Awards Presentation by WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
2 p.m. MSHA 2010
Joe Main, Assistant Secretary
U. S. Mine Safety & Health Administration
2:45 p.m. West Virginia’s Coal Economy
Tom Witt, WVU
Cal Kent, Marshall University
3:30 p.m. Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
3:45 p.m. Coal Advocacy
-- Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary
-- FACES
-- Mountain Top Mining Coalition
-- Young West Virginians for Coal
5 p.m. Legislative Reception
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH
7 a.m. Registration
7:30 a.m. Breakfast sponsored by Brickstreet and
Wells Fargo Insurance – Energy & Mining Group
8:30 a.m. Welcome
8:35 a.m. Congressional Activity Relating to Coal
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito
9:15 a. m. OSM 2010
Joseph Pizarchik, Director
U. S. Office of Surface Mining
9:50 a.m. Renewable Energy –
The Gap Between the Idea and Reality
Dr. Charles Bayless
10:30 a.m. Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
10:45 a.m. Environmental Litigation Update
Bob McLusky
Jackson Kelly, PLLC
11:15 a.m. West Virginia’s Mining & Reclamation Program
Tom Clarke, Director, Division of Mining & Reclamation
WV Department of Environmental Protection
12 noon Reclamation Awards Luncheon
Sponsored by Spilman Thomas & Battle and
Potesta & Associates
Awards Presentation: Randy Huffman, Cabinet Secretary
WV Department of Environmental Protection
11:30 a.m. Lunch sponsored by Jackson Kelly
1 – 5 p.m. Health & Safety Session
1 p.m. Federal Mine Safety & Enforcement Program
Kevin Stricklin, Administrator
Mine Safety & Health Administration
Bob E. Cornett – MSHA District 3 Manager
Robert Hardman – MSHA District 4 Manager
2:15 p.m. WV Mine Safety Update
C.A. Phillips, Deputy Director
WV Office of Miner’s Health, Safety & Training
Joel Watts, Board Administrator, WV Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety
3 p.m. Proximity Detection Devices
Jim Dean
WV Mine Safety Task Force
3:30 p.m. Deep-Cut Mining
Gary Hartsog
Alpha Engineering
4 p.m. Coal Safety Legal Forum
Mark Heath, Spilman Thomas & Battle
Dave Hardy, Allen Guthrie McHugh & Thomas
Bob Beatty, Dinsmore & Shohl
1 – 5 p.m. Environmental Session
1 p.m. WV Mining Regulatory Update
Jason Bostic
1:30 p.m. NPDES Update
Allyn Turner
Spilman Thomas & Battle
2 p.m. OSM Oversight Update
Roger Calhoun
Office of Surface Mining
2:30 p.m. Corps of Engineering Permitting Update
Ginger Mullins
Huntington Corps of Engineers
3 p.m. Environmental Justice & Mining
Matt Tyree
Jackson Kelly
3:30 Conductivity Ranges & Responses
Ed Kirk, REIC
Randy Maggard, Argus Energy
5 p.m. Associate’s Welcoming Reception
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH
7:00 a.m. REGISTRATION
7:30 a.m. Breakfast sponsored by Dinsmore & Shohl and Logan Corporation
8:30 a.m. Welcome & Introductions
James O. Bunn
WVCA Chairman
8:45 a.m. Central Appalachian Challenges
Joe Craft, President/CEO
Alliance Coal Company
9:30 a.m. The State of the State
Governor Joe Manchin
State of West Virginia
10:15 a.m. Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
10:30 a.m. U. S. Coal Forecast 2010
Hal Quinn, President
National Mining Association
11:15 a.m. American Energy Securities Study
Kenneth Nemeth, Executive Director
Southern States Energy Board
12 noon Mountaineer Guardian Luncheon
Sponsored by Bowles Rice and Marshall Miller Associates
Awards Presentation by WV Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
2 p.m. MSHA 2010
Joe Main, Assistant Secretary
U. S. Mine Safety & Health Administration
2:45 p.m. West Virginia’s Coal Economy
Tom Witt, WVU
Cal Kent, Marshall University
3:30 p.m. Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
3:45 p.m. Coal Advocacy
-- Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary
-- FACES
-- Mountain Top Mining Coalition
-- Young West Virginians for Coal
5 p.m. Legislative Reception
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH
7 a.m. Registration
7:30 a.m. Breakfast sponsored by Brickstreet and
Wells Fargo Insurance – Energy & Mining Group
8:30 a.m. Welcome
8:35 a.m. Congressional Activity Relating to Coal
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito
9:15 a. m. OSM 2010
Joseph Pizarchik, Director
U. S. Office of Surface Mining
9:50 a.m. Renewable Energy –
The Gap Between the Idea and Reality
Dr. Charles Bayless
10:30 a.m. Break sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson
10:45 a.m. Environmental Litigation Update
Bob McLusky
Jackson Kelly, PLLC
11:15 a.m. West Virginia’s Mining & Reclamation Program
Tom Clarke, Director, Division of Mining & Reclamation
WV Department of Environmental Protection
12 noon Reclamation Awards Luncheon
Sponsored by Spilman Thomas & Battle and
Potesta & Associates
Awards Presentation: Randy Huffman, Cabinet Secretary
WV Department of Environmental Protection