WVCA President Bill Raney spoke to the 2014 Class of the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Seminar at Marshall University in Huntington June 6. The seminar began in 1978 with sophomores from 45 high schools throughout the state in attendance. From these beginnings, the seminar has grown each year to include annually more than 130 Ambassadors.

During the 4-day seminar, Ambassadors interact with state leaders in business, industry, government and the service sector. The seminar provides many opportunities for ambassadors to enhance their leadership skills by acting as moderators for panels and engaging in intellectual discussions with leaders from the community. Ambassadors also participate in a hands-on community service project to help them realize the personal and social benefits of volunteerism and service.

Citizens for Coal held its first annual "Coalstock" concert Saturday, June 7, 2014 in Lick Creek Park in Danville, WV. Proceeds will be used to help continue the fight against the Obama Administration's War on Coal.

Performers included Kayla Stone and the Coal-Fired Band, Meet Me in the Matinee, The Daddy Rabbit Band, Tim Williams and Under Social. While attendance at the event was light, it received good coverage in the local media and Citizens for Coal President Roger Horton wants to thank everyone for coming out and supporting our area’s coal mining families.

On June 19^th, beginning at 10 a.m., the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, chaired by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), will hold a hearing to review EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas regulations for existing power plants. The hearing is titled “EPA’s Proposed Carbon Dioxide Regulations for Power Plants,” and Janet McCabe, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, will be the sole witness.

According to the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) weekly production report, weekly coal production for the week ending June 7 total 18.6 million tons, which is a 3 percent drop from last week’s total and 1.4 percent higher than the same week in 2013.

Year-to-date coal production nationwide totaled 426.4 million tons, which is .2 percent lower than the same period for 2013.

As part of its work to implement a new Aboveground Storage Tank Regulatory Program, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) has opened the registration period for tank owners to submit information required for a statewide inventory. Any tanks that are subject to the Aboveground Storage Tank Act (Senate Bill 373) that are not registered with the DEP by October 1 will be out of compliance with state law.