CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Miners at the Hobet 21 mountaintop removal complex along the Boone-Lincoln County line have been warned that they might be laid off if a new permit is blocked in federal court, the United Mine Workers union said today.

UMW President Cecil Roberts promised the union would "continue to support all efforts to defend the jobs at Hobet through the legal process and elsewhere."

Roberts said Patriot Coal, which owns mine operator Hobet Mining, had issued layoff notices to miners at the operation.

"The UMWA is not going to stand idly by and watch all that happen," Roberts said. "We have repeatedly said that we will do whatever we need to do to preserve our members' jobs, no matter where they work. That's what we're going to do at Hobet."

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers issued a temporary restraining order that blocked a permit to extend the Hobet operation. Chambers scheduled a full hearing on a preliminary injunction request for Aug. 20 in Huntington.

The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and other groups sought the court order. They argue that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not properly consider the possible environmental impacts of the mining proposal and did not give the public adequate ability to comment on the permit.

Read more in Thursday's Gazette.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Miners at the Hobet 21 mountaintop removal complex along the Boone-Lincoln County line have been warned that they might be laid off if a new permit is blocked in federal court, the United Mine Workers union said today.

UMW President Cecil Roberts promised the union would "continue to support all efforts to defend the jobs at Hobet through the legal process and elsewhere."

Roberts said Patriot Coal, which owns mine operator Hobet Mining, had issued layoff notices to miners at the operation.

"The UMWA is not going to stand idly by and watch all that happen," Roberts said. "We have repeatedly said that we will do whatever we need to do to preserve our members' jobs, no matter where they work. That's what we're going to do at Hobet."

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers issued a temporary restraining order that blocked a permit to extend the Hobet operation. Chambers scheduled a full hearing on a preliminary injunction request for Aug. 20 in Huntington.

The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and other groups sought the court order. They argue that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did not properly consider the possible environmental impacts of the mining proposal and did not give the public adequate ability to comment on the permit.

Read more in Thursday's Gazette.