Friends of Coal

MSU Mining Forum Set

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:00

By Michelle James

Mountain State University students as well as community members will have an opportunity to participate in a forum designed to address important issues regarding coal mining Wednesday in Carter hall. The forum, title, “Appalachian Coal Mining Under Attack,” will feature a presentation by Gene Kitts, senior vice president for mining service of International Coal Group Inc (ICG), followed by an open question and answer session.

“we’re doing this just to offer the public an opportunity to learn what is happening in today’s political environment and social environment (in relation) to the coal industry because it is very important to the economy of West Virginia,” said Dr. Norman Hinkle, dean of MSU’s School of Business & Technology.

Kitts’ presentation will include information including the progress made in safety, productivity and environmental protection in the past two centuries as well as the future of the coal industry.

Information provided will be “timely and critical” to those interested in West Virginia’s economy.

“Most people have heard a lot about cap-and-trade and he’ll (Kitts) talk about that and how it could negatively affect the coal industry,” Hinkle said.

Although Kitts will talk about the importance of the coal industry, Hinkle said he wants to “be very clear that we’re not taking a pro-coal stand,” he said. “We’re just doing this to offer the public and our students an opportunity to know what’s going on.”

The forum is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. For more information, contact Hinkle at 304-929-1320.

FOC License Place Legislation Advances

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:00

Legislation creating the official State Friends of Coal license plate was approved by the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure of the West Virginia Senate this morning. The stand-alone bill, SB 206, was unanimously adopted by the committee and will now advance to the full Senate for its approval.

The specific language of SB 206 was also amended into SB 4, which creates additional license plates, and will effectively increase its chance of passage.

We will keep you informed as this bill progresses through the legislative process.

In the meantime, please take a moment to contact both your Senate and House representatives to urge their support of SB 206 and SB 4, as amended.

Delegate Kominar Says EPA Out to Shut Down Coal Industry

Tuesday, 12 January 2010 00:00

Beckley Register Herald - January 12, 2010

CHARLESTON — A southern West Virginia lawmaker feels the ultimate goal of the Environmental Protection Agency is to wipe out the entire coal industry by initially outlawing the mountaintop removal practice via uncompromising regulation.

“It’s an attack on the whole industry,” Delegate Steve Kominar, D-Mingo, said in Monday’s interims session.

His criticism of the federal agency came after lawmakers heard updates on improving brownfields in a meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Development.

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