After thirty years, Security America is moving their offices today and tomorrow to a new larger headquarters at 3412 Chesterfield Avenue, Kanawha City, WV  25304.  Phone numbers will remain the same (304)925-4747.

The holiday season will soon be upon us.  The economic downturn has affected our state and the amount of families in need is staggering.

The FOC Ladies Auxiliary has begun their 5th annual “Giving Hearts” fund drive for WV families who are in need.  Donations can be made to FOC Ladies Auxiliary, PO Box 1109, Beckley, WV  25802-1109; (304) 255.1457 Ext. 20 and can be “county specific”.

Gifts will be prepared by the FOCLA and Saturday, December 8th, will be gift pick-up day at the offices in Mabscott.

The FOC Laidies Auxililary is a 501-C-3 Non-Profit Organization – FEIN #27-3379290

Please remember, the following deadlines for the upcoming general election:

Voter Registration Deadline Oct 16

Early Voting Begins Oct 24

General Election November 6th

We have never faced an election more vital to the future of our industry, our state and our nation. As you well know, this election is most important as the future of coal and our industry hangs in the balance.

As we have said many times, the major challenges and issues facing the industry today are political in nature being driven by political agendas that require political solutions. Please make every effort possible to mobilize your friends and family to assist in getting out the vote.

This past Monday, the Association filed comments with the federal Fish & Wildlife Service on the agency’s proposed designation of the diamond darter as an endangered species. Concurrent with the proposal to list the species as endangered, the agency proposed to designate several miles of the Elk River as “critical habitat” to protect the continued existence of the small fish species. The population in the Elk River is the last known occurrence of the diamond darter in the country. For a copy of WVCA’s comments contact jbostic@wvcoal.com

Last week, the State of West Virginia joined several national groups in filing amicus briefs in the federal EPA’s appeal of a decision from Judge Amy Berman Jackson which invalidated the agency’s retroactive veto of Clean Water Act Section 404 permit issued to Mingo Logan Coal Company for its Spruce No. 1 mine. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the permit in 2007 and EPA revoked the permit in January 2011. Mingo-Logan challenged EPA’s revocation and in March 2012 Judge invalidated the veto action in its entirety. EPA has appealed Jackson’s decision to federal Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. For a copy of West Virginia’s amicus filing contact jbostic@wvcoal.com