Press

PRINCETON --The next regular meeting of the Pocahontas Coal Association will be held Thursday, December 10th, at 6:00 PM at the Princeton Elks Club. 
As is tradition during the Winter meeting, the PCA will be honoring the Boys High School Football Players of the Week, and also the Player of the Year. A dinner will also accompany the awards presentation. Bill Raney, President of the West Virginia Coal Association,will speak.
Please plan to come and bring a friend! 

FOR MORE INFORMATION :
Contact Jason Fannin at 276-623-2914 or 276-698-5317
The Pocahontas Coal Association,  Inc.

CHARLESTON –The Kanawha Valley Mining Institute will host its monthly meeting for December on December 3, at 6 pm at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Charleston.  The program sponsor is Joy Global and Shannon Vest. The program specifics will be announced next week.
This will be the Annual Christmas Celebration and if you can donate door prizes they will be appreciated.  A REMINDER: Scholarship applications are due by the December 3 meeting 
To Register for the KVMI Mailing List – Go To: http://www.kvmi.org/contact.html
or contact Pat Damron, President - KVMI at (304)544-7343 or pdamron@jhfletcher.com

CHARLESTON --The West Virginia Business & Industry Council will host the"Leading The Change" Pre-Legislative Conference from 9am-4:30pm on Tuesday, December 8. 
The program will include lunch, and a reception will be held from 4:30-6:30pm. The event will be held at the Charleston Marriott.  


Business leaders, policy makers and subject matter experts from across the state and region will discuss the issues and policies that will move West Virginia forward.


An agenda will be announced shortly, but content will revolve around the challenging issues facing our state and strategies to address them. State and national experts and legislative leaders will discuss a variety of topics, to include: 

·        Economic Development
·        Taxation
·        Legal and Workforce Fairness
·        Energy
·        Substance Abuse
·        And more!

Make your reservation by clicking below now, and thanks for your participation!

Register Now!

CHARLESTON - Follow this link for a pre-publication copy of a proposed rule that the Mine Safety and Health Administration published October 2 regarding the installation of proximity detection system on underground mining equipment.  Also available at this link is a fact sheet that the agency has prepared.  Comments on the rule will be accepted through Dec. 2, 2015. Under the proposed rule operators of underground coal mines would be required to install proximity detection systems on mining equipment, coal hauling machines and scoops on working sections using continuous mining machines.  Consistent with the proximity requirements for continuous mining machines the proposal indicates that the final rule will be phased-in over a period of 8-36 months depending upon the date of manufacture and installation of proximity technology in advance of the final rule. 

CHARLESTON -- During the November 18thInterim meetings,  the Legislature's Rulemaking-Review Committee (LRRC)   considered the proposed comprehensive rule to implement Senate Bill 423, the state's (revised) Aboveground Storage Tank Act. The rule, 47 CSR  63, was heavily modified by the agency in response to concerns raised by the Legislature. An inclusive copy of the rule as it will appear after the legislative modifications will be provided once it is available from the committee. With respect to the coal industry-specific concern regarding the default categorization of water treatment tanks as "Level One" tanks under the rule, the Committee specifically-instructed the agency to work with the Association to develop mutually-agreeable language that would classify water treatment tanks as level two tanks, to be as offered to an amendment when the rule is considered by the full Legislature in 2016.

CHARLESTON --West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) officially submitted the Emergency Rule revisions to the state's water quality standards for aluminum and selenium to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. EPA has 60 days following receipt of a proposed state water quality standard revision to approve the change or 90 days to disapprove the proposed modification. On Sunday, the Legislative Rulemaking-Review Committee of the West Virginia Legislature approved the companion package for the Emergency Rule without modification.

CHARLESTON -- In the next two weeks, initial pre-registration information for the 2016 West Virginia Mining Symposium will be forwarded to all members and interested parties.  As usual, this 42nd Annual event will be held at the Charleston Civic Center and will feature environmental and safety workshops and a full agenda of national and state experts and leaders discussing issues and developments most pertinent to our industry, as well as the annual Environmental Achievement and Mountaineer Guardian Safety Awards.   The specific dates for the upcoming Symposium are Wednesday, January 27th – 29th.  Please be watching for this pre-registration information as we hope this will continue to be one of the largest gatherings of coal mining people in the country.

 

CHARLESTON – The U.S. Senate passed a pair of resolutions November 17th  that disapprove of the two primary components of the EPA’s job-killing “Clean Power Plan.” The bills were passed in large part through the bipartisan leadership of West Virginia Senators Capito and Manchin, who joined with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), in pushing the legislation through.

Read more …

We extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families and loved ones of the several members of our Association family who have passed away during the past month. 


John Francis

Well known industry engineer and friend, John Francis, passed away on October 6th in Culloden, WV.  Many in the industry remember John for his practical ingenuity and attention to problem solving during his long career with Long Airdox and Persinger’s. John is survived by his wife, Rosemary, and family, who have indicated any memorials may be made to the Grace Baptist Temple, 1901 MacCorkle Avenue, St. Albans, WV  25177 or to a charity of one’s choice.   John’s funeral was held in Huntington.

Follow this link for a pre-publication copy of a proposed rule that the Mine Safety and Health Administration will publish in the Federal Register tomorrow regarding the installation of proximity detection system on underground mining equipment.  Also available at this link is a fact sheet that the agency has prepared. Comments on the rule will be accepted through Dec. 2, 2015.

 Under the proposed rule operators of underground coal mines would be required to install proximity detection systems on mining equipment, coal hauling machines and scoops on working sections using continuous mining machines. Consistent with the proximity requirements for continuous mining machines the proposal indicates that the final rule will be phased-in over a period of 8-36 months depending upon the date of manufacture and installation of proximity technology in advance of the final rule.