Opposition building to FirstEnergy power plant deal

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:04:49 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With a Public Service Commission hearing now less than two weeks away, critics are flooding the commission with arguments against Ohio-based-FirstEnergys proposal to transfer its Harrison Power Station to a West Virginia subsidiary. P...

4th Circuit upholds Alpha mine permit decision

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:43:06 -0400

Read the ruling here.CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal appeals court has upheld a decision that cleared the way for a Clean Water Act permit needed for a new mountaintop removal mine in Loga...

Regions coal industry faces huge drop, report says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:36:41 -0400

Editorial: Coal down, gas up CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal production in Southern West Virginia and the rest of central Appalachia will continue to plummet over the next 30 years, ac...

Groups seek EPA mountaintop removal rule

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400

Read the petition http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/ CHARLESTON, ...

Hearing begins on Patriots bid to cut benefits

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:01:45 -0400

By Jim Suhr ST. LOUIS -- A long-awaited bankruptcy hearing began Monday in which a St. Louis-based coal company insists it must significantly cut thousands of retirees health-care and pension benefits or risk liquidation -- a claim tha...

Leaked OSM study outlines slurry dam concerns

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:39:05 -0400

Appeals court backs EPAs veto of Spruce Mine

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:49:26 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was clearly within its legal authority when it rejected a permit for one of the largest mountaintop removal mines in West Virginia history, a panel of three federal appeals court judges

Bill seeks independent review of mining health impacts

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:41:04 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Legislation pending in Congress would impose a fee on coal companies that engage in mountaintop removal to fund a broad government study of the practices effects on the health of coalfield residents. Supporters said Tuesday th...

Court questions mining permits

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A federal appeals court has criticized a streamlined permit process used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, adding to the questions about the way the agency reviews new mountaintop removal mining proposals. The 6th U.S. Circuit Co...

Coal-backed research takes on mining health studies

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:45:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Scientists backed by a $15 million industry-funded research project are picking apart -- and trying to disprove -- a series of studies that found coalfield residents near mountaintop-removal mining operations face greater risks of seri...

EPA set to align rules on coal plant water, ash disposal

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:16:58 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Obama administration said Friday it plans to "align" a long-awaited rule on the disposal of toxic ash from coal-fired power plants with another overdue proposal that aims to reduce water pollution from electrical genera...

Study outlines overlooked impacts of mountaintop removal

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:04:36 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Mountaintop removal is having frequently overlooked impacts on forests, biodiversity, climate and public health, and an updated federal review is needed to more fully examine those issues, according to a new study by government and uni...

More strip-mine dust controls needed, researchers say

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:16:14 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal operators can and should take more aggressive steps to reduce dust emissions from blasting and heavy equipment at mountaintop removal mines, according to new studies released this week as part of a controversial industry-funded re...

EPA defends water quality guidance in appeal

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:27:27 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Obama administration argued Tuesday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was right when it issued new water quality guidance intended to reduce the damage to streams and aquatic life from mountaintop removal mining. Depar...

Researchers hear results of industry-backed mining study

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:46:43 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Researchers from universities around the region gathered at the Charleston Marriott this week to learn about new ways to dry out coal slurry, debate whether focusing on mining is a good long-term economic strategy, and consider new r...

EPA nominee says Obama not out to destroy coal

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:55:37 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Obama administration is not out to destroy the coal industry, the presidents nominee to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday.During a confirmation hearing, would-be EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy tried to ass...

Environmentalists say war on coal a fabrication

(Vicki Smith) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0400

U.S. coal mining employment the past two years was the highest its been in 15 years, despite claims that President Barack Obama is waging war on the industry, an environmental group that studied federal data said Tuesday.Appalachian Voices also said th...

Obama again seeks reforms in mine cleanup program

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:10:21 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- President Obama is, for the fifth time, asking Congress to stop diverting money intended for cleaning up abandoned coal mines to states that have already reclaimed all of their old mine sites. The Obama proposal is again included in t...

Study finds greater risk to coal plants

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal-fired power plants around the country may face much greater financial risks than previously projected from a combination of low natural gas prices and stronger air quality rules, according to a new Duke University study. The econ...

Coal-backed studies evoke controversy

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:30:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A two-year-old, $15 million coal industry project to fund research on minings health, environmental and economic impacts is beginning to produce results. New papers have been published, conference presentations are being delivered, and...

UMW marches on Patriot Coal in Charleston

rustymarks@wvgazette.com (Rusty Marks) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:13:48 -0400

Mine families ask who will be next. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An estimated 6,000 to 10,000 union members and supporters rallied at the Charleston Civic Center on Monday, then m...

Mine families at rally ask who will be next.

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:19:12 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Linda Robinette doesnt rely on Patriot Coal for her health benefits. But shes worried what might happen if the company is allowed to cut union-negotiated benefits for retirees. "We are here for a good cause. If Patriot and Pea...

Sales of coal power plants raise concerns

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:42:26 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- FirstEnergy wants to transfer ownership of its huge coal-fired Harrison Power Station to a West Virginia-based subsidiary. American Electric Power wants to do the same thing with two of its coal plants, John Amos, near St. Albans, ...

Classroom climate change

mackenzie.mays@wvgazette.com (Mackenzie Mays) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:46:06 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Libby Strong remembers feeling uneasy, standing in front of a classroom full of students in Mt. Storm and preparing a lesson on climate change during the early 1990s. The area is home to a large coal-fired power plant and nearby Mettik...

DEP aluminum rule change criticized

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:26:51 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Citizen and environmental groups on Wednesday evening blasted a Tomblin administration emergency rule to weaken West Virginias water quality limits for the toxic metal aluminum. Leaders of the West Virginia Environmental Council...

EPA revises W.Va.s list of polluted streams

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:59:11 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Federal regulators stepped in this week to revise a biennial report on impaired rivers and streams across West Virginia, after state officials -- citing a legislative mandate -- left more than 1,000 miles of polluted waterways off th...

Feds OK coal slurry dam expansion

(Vicki Smith) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:46:55 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- Federal regulators have approved Alpha Natural Resources plan to expand one of the nations biggest coal slurry impoundments to a height taller than the Hoover Dam. The plan will also increase the volume of wast...

New Robert C. Byrd miner-safety bill introduced in House

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:05:28 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., joined Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., in introducing the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2013, legislation aimed at strengthening national efforts to protect coal miners health and safety. &qu...

Patriot Coal seeks to break contract with UMWA

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:14:34 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Patriot Coal Corp. on Thursday asked a U.S. bankruptcy judge to throw out the terms of the companys contract with the United Mine Workers union and modify the health-care plan covering thousands of retired miners. Lawyers for Patriot ...

More mine rescue reforms needed, report says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:21:12 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Federal regulators should revisit and potentially strengthen their requirements for coal operators to provide emergency breathing devices for miners to use in escapes from underground mine fires or explosions, a new National Academy of...

Mining counties have higher death rates, study says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:03:22 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Residents in the coal-mining communities of West Virginia suffer higher overall death rates than non-mining areas of Appalachia, according to a new University of Pittsburgh study made public Wednesday. The study, conducted as part of ...

House votes 99-0 on coal-backed selenium bill

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:39:02 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The House of Delegates on Friday approved legislation that mining lobbyists hope will lead West Virginia to weaken its water pollution limit for toxic selenium discharges from coal operations. Delegates voted 99-0 to approve the b...

Coal lobby wary, but hopeful of industrys future

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:35:47 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal industry lobbyists said Thursday that mining still has a bright future in West Virginia but complained that President Obamas re-election will continue to bring new regulations that oper...

Interests clash on selenium runoff bill

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:20:07 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal industry supporters on Monday depicted a water quality bill making its way through the Legislature as another move to protect West Virginia mine operators from "extreme and punitive" federal environmental policies. Bu...

Judge overturns boards mining pollution ruling

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:25:52 -0500

Click here to read the ruling

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A West Virginia judge has overturned a state board ruling that promi...

U.S. seeks shutdown of Barbour slurry dam

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:06:00 -0500

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The U.S. Department of Labor wants a federal judge to order the immediate shutdown of a potentially dangerous West Virginia coal slurry impoundment it says hasnt been certified by a professional engineer for two years. In a fili...

Bankrupt Patriot Coal seeks employee bonuses

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:24:01 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Bankrupt Patriot Coal this week sought court approval to distribute more than $6 million in bonuses to corporate executives and salaried employees, a move that was quickly condemned by the United Mine Workers union. <...

Tomblin speech light on talk of energy issues

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:54:56 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Wednesday night promised to keep fighting tougher federal regulation of the coal industry, touted continued growth of the states natural gas business, and said he would spare West Virginias mine safety agen...

Plants' CO2 emissions next likely target for EPA

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With President Obama promising more action during his second term to curb climate change, observers and experts are increasingly predicting that the next likely step for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a move to re...

W.Va. mining jobs drop again in fourth quarter

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:15:01 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- New federal data shows that coal-mining employment in West Virginia dropped by more than 1,200 jobs during the final quarter of last year, continuing a trend that industry analysts project is likely to continue. The number of mining...

Patriot plan short on health-care fund, UMW says

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:41:34 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A plan proposed by bankrupt Patriot Coal would provide only half of the money needed to fund health-care benefits for thousands of retired coal miners and their families, according to new court documents filed by the United Mine Worker...

Groups demand health impact reviews for MTR permits

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:48:39 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Citizen group lawyers are again trying to force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to examine the growing body of science that links living near mountaintop removal operations to greater risk of serious health impacts before the agency...

EPA faces potential suit over lax oversight

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:33:21 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- National and state citizen groups are threatening to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for not stepping in to force West Virginia regulators to clean up hundreds of polluted streams. On Friday, lawyers for the Sierra Club, ...

Key Tomblin mine safety measure not enforced

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 23:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last week in his inaugural address, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin touted his administrations efforts to ensure the safety and health of West Virginias coal miners. "We made our mines safer by passing a comprehensive mine safety bill to p...

Upper Big Branch Mine superintendent sentenced

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:17:43 -0500

BECKLEY -- A former Upper Big Branch Mine superintendent was sentenced to nearly two years in jail for his role in a plot to skirt safety rules and cover up the resulting hazards at the Raleigh Coun...

MSHA rule would crack down on repeat mine safety violators

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:21:25 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Coal operators whose mines repeatedly violate safety and health standards could more easily be hit with tougher enforcement actions under a new rule being finalized by the Obama administration. U.S. Department of Labor of...

W.Va. among top extreme weather states in 2012

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:54:00 -0500

Read the report CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Nearly 100 records for heat, rain and snow were set in counties across West Virginia last year, and the state ranked among ...

OSM says state didnt address coal dam risks

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:58:53 -0500

Read the report

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia regulators have not adequately examined the risks that coal-slurry impoundment...

Years after Tenn. disaster, coal-ash rules still stalled

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Four years ago Saturday, a coal-ash dike ruptured at the Tennessee Valley Authoritys Kingston Plant west of Knoxville, Tenn. More than a billion gallons of wet ash from the coal-fired power plant poured into nearby streams, fields a...

EPA proposes tougher soot standards

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:44:16 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Obama administration on Friday finalized tougher new limit on fine particle air pollution, in its first significant regulatory action since winning re-election last month.

The Charleston Gazette - Mining the Mountains