“A decision today by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia is yet another victory for West Virginia’s 63,000 coal mining families in their efforts to defend their jobs against an on-going legal onslaught that has needlessly delayed mining permits for years.

In its decision in the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition v. United States Army Corps of Engineers case the Court said in essence that it is the sole purview of the states, their elected policymakers (such as the Legislature) and state regulatory agencies to determine water quality standards when granting mining permits.

“Today was a good day for the 63,000 coal mining families of West Virginia. The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton to toss out another key part of the Obama Administration’s on-going war against coal mining in Appalachia is yet more proof that the administration’s regulatory assault is an egregious breach of the Constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the individual states.

“In his decision in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, Walton tossed out the agency’s ‘final guidance’ document with regard to water conductivity standards. Walton said the EPA had ‘overstepped its statutory authority under the Clean Water Act and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and infringed on the authority afforded state regulators by those statutes.’

PINEVILLE, WV– July 19, 2012 – Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE:CLF) (Paris:CLF) announced today a $10,000 contribution to the Volunteer WestVirginia Food Bank Fund. The fund was established after recent damaging stormsand power outages affected most of the state. Storm relief efforts have beencoordinated by West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s office and VolunteerWest Virginia.

“Cliffscares about our communities and wants to do our share to assist relief effortsfollowing these devastating storms,” said David Webb, Cliffs’ Senior VicePresident of Global Coal Operations. “Cliffs’ donation will assistorganizations already in place to help those hardest hit and least able to copewith the recent destruction.”

Pennsylvania bituminous coal companies, workers and their families, and industry suppliers and manufacturers have announced the formation of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance (FORCE).

Former State Senator John Pippy will serve as CEO of the newly-formed alliance. “I am excited to lead the Pennsylavania Coal Alliance.  We are advocting for more than 40,000 coal companies, workers and families, and suppliers – but the reach of the industry and our Alliance is much broader than that,” said Pippy.

George Ellis, who served as President of the now-defunct Pennsylvania Coal Association, will stay on as the President of the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, and will serve as the Alliance’s primary lobbyist.

The July episode of the Coal Seam television show is now airing on your local public access channels. WV Coal Association President Bill Raney was this month’s guest and discussed the current status of the coal industry in our state.

SCHEDULE:  The Coal Seam is broadcast across the state on your local cable systems. Check for times and days at http://www.librarycommission.wv.gov/programs/ltn/Documents/Library%20Television%20Network%20Schedule%202012.pdf.

STREAMING VIDEO:  The Coal Seam is available in streaming video at http://www.librarycommission.wv.gov/programs/ltn/videoserver/Pages/coalseam.aspx.

Host Chris Hamilton tapes the show at the State Library Commission television studios once a month, exploring topics of importance to our coal miners, their families and their communities.