Please ask Senators Rockefeller and Manchin for their HELP in (1) controlling EPA and, (2) HELPING to protect our jobs, our way of life and our future. Ask them to HELP with two major issues that are currently pending in Congress that are very important to our industry, our people and the entire State of West Virginia. We need to get as many messages of support as possible to the Senators. The two issues are:
A very special thanks to Rocky Hackworth with Pritchard Mining for his participation in the State Baseball tournament. Rocky was on hand to present the Friends of Coal trophies to the champions in each of the three classes, as well as the personal plaques for each member of the championship and runner-up teams, The 2012 High School Baseball championships are being held at Power Park in Charleston and run through Saturday. Thanks again Rocky!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR KENTUCKY COAL
At the request of the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, the United States EPA will conduct hearings in Frankfort on June 5 and in Pikeville on June 7, regarding EPA’s specific objections to 36 individual KPDES permits for new or expanded surface coal mining operations in eastern Kentucky.
The EPA objections have prevented the issuance of all individual Clean Water Act (CWA) for more than two years. The economic effect of the EPA’s objections has been significant in that the 19 most recent objections alone are estimated to have cost Kentucky some 3,800 coal-related jobs and more than $123 million in lost coal severance taxes.
The 2012 Friends of Coal Auto Fair is set for July 20 – 22 at the Beckley YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Sports Center. Saturday Night Concert line-up is Ronnie Dunn with special guest James Wesley and is being sponsored by Alpha Natural Resources. For Concert tickets, pre-registration for the car show and vendors, please go to: http://www.friendsofcoalautofair.com/
The Energy & Mineral Law Society will be hosting a panel discussion on surface mining regulations on October 30, 2012 at 4 p.m. at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, VA. Speakers will include Paul Patton, Governor of Kentucky, Vaughn Groves, VP & General Counsel for Alpha Natural Resources and Jack Spadaro, mining engineer and activist. Open invitation to the public is extended.