Only five rooms remain in our name at The Greenbrier for WVCA’s Annual Meeting on August 6 – 8, 2015.  For those that have made their room reservations, but have not returned their event registration to WVCA, we ask that you return the Annual Meeting registration form, which has been emailed or can be obtained by contacting our office, to us as soon as possible so that we can insure good counts for each of our events.  In addition to the fun filled, family focused three days we will have informative programs and special recognitions for our 100^th year, including special photographers being available for family photos.  We hope you will be able to join us and if you have questions, please call Sandi at the Association, 304-342-4153.   

·       Royce Watts, WVU Search Committee Chair, announced that Dr. John Herbst has accepted the position of WVU Mining Engineering Department Chair with expected employment date of August 2015.

·       Command change at the Huntington District Corps of Engineers was held today, July 10, with Colonel Leon F. Parrott relinquishing command to Colonel Philip M. Secrist, III.

·       Babst Calland will be holding “Business After Hours” on Thursday, July 23 at their new location at BB&T Square, 300 Summers Street, Suite 1000, in Charleston.

West Virginia’s Board of Coal Mine Health & Safety has promulgated a new mine safety rule designed to enhance safety while miners are working around or near surface impoundments.  The rule which takes effect next month, on August 17th, requires all dumping areas or fills to be constructed and maintained in a manner to ensure safe operation and stability and all individuals working in proximity to dumping or fill areas to be trained in the procedures and potential hazards existing in such areas.  Additionally, the rule contains provisions for life jackets, ring buoys and a skiff to be on site when individuals are working near or over water.  A copy of the rule is available through the Association office.

The West Virginia Coal Forum – an organization representing both labor and management in the coal industry – in conjunction with the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, will host a forum to highlight the challenges and opportunities facing the coal industry from 9 a.m. to noon on July 23^rd at the Quality Hotel & Conference Center in Bluefield.  Entitled “West Virginia Coal – 2015 & Beyond”, this series of educational and informational events will bring attention to the impact of U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan, state and federal environmental regulations and strategies for confronting these critical issues head on. 

On Tuesday, July 7^th, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey joined several state organizations to host a town hall meeting in Putnam County to discuss the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule regulating local waterways and his Office’s legal challenge to it.  In addition to Attorney General Morrisey, several local business leaders and representatives from the West Virginia Coal Association and West Virginia Business & Industry Council (Jason Bostic), Associated Builders and Contractors of West Virginia, Contractors Association of West Virginia (Mike Clowser), West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia Farm Bureau (Charles Wilfong) and West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (Corky DeMarco) discussed the potential effects this rule could have on local landowners.