Earlier this week, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review the EPA’s retroactive veto of Mingo Logan Coal Company’s permit in Logan County.  Twenty-six other states’ Attorneys General joined in the brief thanks to the coordinating efforts of AG Morrisey.  A related story is attached to this Coal Bits.

West Virginia’s energy industry movers and shakers were on hand Tuesday, December 17, for the annual Governor’s Energy Summit in Charleston.

West Virginia’s primary energy resource – coal – took center stage for the event, held at the Charleston Marriott Town Center.

Bob Murray, founder and president of Murray Energy, which recently completed the acquisition of the majority of Consol Energy’s coal mining properties in the state, was on hand to give the keynote address.

West Virginia University announced today that Sarah Smith, Alpha Natural Resources’ Director of Government and External Affairs in West Virginia, has been named Associate Vice President for State and Corporate Relations, a new position, beginning in January.   Sarah has been active with the Association as the alternate representative for First Vice Chairman Kevin Crutchfield and as Chairwoman of the Association’s Public Relations Committee.  We appreciate her support and assistance and wish her the very best in her new challenges.

The 41^st Annual Coal Mining Symposium is set for January 29 – 31^st, 2014 at the Charleston Civic Center.  Exhibit and Sponsorship information was sent to everyone the end of last week and responses have been numerous.  The general registration will be sent later today by e-mail and will also be available on-line at www.wvcoal.com

A block of sleeping rooms have been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express (directly across from the Civic Center) at a rate of $99.00 per night.  To reserve your room please call the Holiday Inn Express directly at304.345.0600 and let them know you want to be in the block of WVCA rooms.

By Greg Carter, Content Manager

CHARLESTON (December 18, 2013) — The West Virginia Coal Association today issued the following statement regarding West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's friend of the court filing urging the U.S. Supreme Court review the U.S. EPA's retroactive veto of a Clean Water Act permit for Mingo Logan Coal Co.'s Spruce surface mine in Logan County.

"We applaud today's action by A.G. Morrisey on behalf of West Virginia's coal mining families," said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. "Since his taking office earlier this year, A.G. Morrisey has been at the forefront of confronting the out-of-control EPA's assault on our hard working coal miners. Today's announcement of a friend of the court filing is just the latest example of his commitment to restoring the necessary balance between federal and state authority.