As part of the Association’s on-going effort to reach out to groups across the state, WVCA Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton met on Feb.8 with several groups in the Eastern Panhandle Business Association and several radio stations. Hamilton discussed the current opportunities and challenges for the industry in the state and the importance of coal even to areas of the state not known for mining.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's (OSM), Charleston Field Office (CHFO) has released the 2012 West Virginia Annual Evaluation Report. This report is a summary of OSM's evaluation of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's implementation of its regulatory and abandoned mine land programs for the period July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012. The report is available in either printed or electronic format. Printed copies of the report will be made available upon request, by calling our office at (304) 347-7158 or mailing your request to: OSM-Charleston Field Office, 1027 Virginia Street, East, Charleston, West Virginia, 25301. The electronic version of the report is available on the CHFO's web page at: http://odocs.osmre.gov/qdocs.aspx. On this site, use the drop down menus and enter the “State” (West Virginia); the “Keyword” (Oversight); the “Evaluation Year” (2012); and the “Category”(Annual Evaluation Reports). Click the submit button and the document information will appear at the bottom of the page where it gives you a view option that you will also need to click for the document to open.

CHARLESTON – “The West Virginia Coal Association and its members would like to congratulate Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin as he is inaugurated to a full-term as governor.  Gov. Tomblin is a proven leader, a sound fiscal manager and a strong supporter of our state’s 63,000 coal mining families.

“Today’s inauguration is a joyous time for our state. It is a celebration of a lifetime of hard work by Gov. Tomblin -- first in the Legislature and now as our state’s chief executive -- in which he has led our state to a sound financial position, balancing our budget even during the worst economic downturn of our lives.

“We salute Gov. Tomblin for his leadership, his foresight and his commitment to the state and its people. And we welcome the opportunity to work with him and with the leadership of the Legislature to assure the future of West Virginia.

“Today is a time for celebration. Tomorrow, the hard work begins. The upcoming Legislative session will be pivotal for the future of our state. We are confident that we have the opportunity to make that future a bright one for our people”

U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller announced this morning in Charleston that he will not seek re-election to the Senate in 2014. At the end of his current term Rockefeller will have been in public service in WV for more than 50 years. He’s served in the House of Delegates, as Secretary of State, Governor and U.S. Senator. Last month, Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito announced she will run for that U.S. Senate seat.