CHARLESTON – Upshur County’s Wolf Run Mining Company, Barbour County’s Kanawha Energy Company and Tucker County’s Collins Building & Contracting were honored recently for environmental stewardship during the West Virginia Coal Association’s 40^th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium, held Mar. 6-8 in Charleston.

“We would like to congratulate Wolf Run Mining Company, Kanawha Energy Company, Collins Building & Contracting and the other organizations who were recognized for their hard work and responsible reclamation,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “Each of these companies goes far beyond what is required to restore former mine lands. We always say coal miners are the real environmentalists. They don’t just talk about doing something…they go out and do it. They do it because this is their home. We are proud to represent these companies and the 63,000 coal mining families who live and work here in West Virginia.”

CHARLESTON – Consolidated Coal Company’s Itmann #3 Mine in Wyoming County claimed the Deep Mine Reclamation South Award for environmental stewardship at the West Virginia Coal Association’s 40^th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium held Mar. 6-8 in Charleston.

“We would like to congratulate Consol and the other companies who were recognized for their hard work and responsible reclamation,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “Each of these companies goes far beyond what is required to restore former mine lands. We always say coal miners are the real environmentalists. They don’t just talk about doing something…they go out and do it. They do it because this is their home. We are proud to represent these companies and the 63,000 coal mining families who live and work here in West Virginia.”

Thanks to Larry Marshall of Alpha Natural Resources, State Senators Art Kirkendoll (Logan) and Ron Stollings (Boone) as well as Delegates “Rupie” Phillips (Logan) and Ted Tomblin (Logan) for presenting the State Championship trophies and individual plaques to the winning and runner-up girls basketball teams last Saturday in Charleston.  The team trophies and plaques for each player who participates on the winning and runner-up team in each of the three classes are sponsored by the Association and have the Friends of Coal logo permanently displayed on each.   It is always appreciated when our members can participate in these memorable presentations.

In a similar vein, for the Boys Basketball Championship this weekend, our reliable standby, Larry Marshall of Alpha Natural Resources will be joined by House Finance Chairman Harry Keith White (Mingo) and Delegate Justin Marcum (Mingo) as well as U.S. Senator Manchin’s Southern Representative, Mike Browning, for the presentation of the Class A Championship trophies and individual plaques.  For the Class AA championship, Delegate Marty Gearheart (Mercer) will join Larry for the presentations.  We are most appreciative of these members and officials who take time to present the Friends of Coal trophies and plaques to these young West Virginians.

With over 800 attendees, the 40^th Annual WV Mining Symposium was another success story for the books.  Guests speakers were well received and their presentations will be available on our web site -- www.wvcoal.com – no later than next week.  Photos of the following award winners will also be available on the same web site.

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), U. S. metallurgical exports were down approximately 1.2 million tons (-12.2%) in January of this year as compared to January last year, although steam coal exports for the U.S. were up by more than one million tons (+38.9%) for the same periods.  Through the first week of March, West Virginia production was down by approximately 7% this year as compared to 2012.