Coal lobbyist remains optimistic about coal's future

Apr 9 - McClatchy-Tribune Content Agency, LLC - Daniel Tyson The Register-Herald, Beckley, W.Va.

 

The president of the West Virginia Coal Association said Tuesday night he's confident coal will continue to be a major player in the state economy, despite seven years of significant decline.

Bill Raney, the coal industry's chief lobbyist, said the state is experiencing losses in the number of operational mines and jobs, but he believes some of those unemployed miners will return to work.

"We have too many good miners, too much good coal in West Virginia," he said. "I don't think its foolish to be optimistic about coal's future. We're going to continue to scratch and dig."

Raney, who spoke at Concord University's Coal Heritage Lecture Series, said the state lost 26 percent of its coal production within the last seven years. In 2008, there were 100 surface mines in West Virginia, and now there are only 25.

All told, about 6,000 mining jobs were eliminated in West Virginia during the same period, and most of those loses were in the southern coalfields. Boone County, once the No. 2 coal producer in West Virginia, and Wyoming County are seeing the largest decline in mining jobs.

While the southern coalfields are struggling, that is not the story of northern West Virginia's mines. The top three coal-producing counties are in the northern areas of the state with No. 1 being Marshall County, followed by Marion County and then Ohio County, Raney said.

Marshall only has two mines, but produces 17 million tons of coal annually, Marion extracts 13 million tons and Ohio County's output is 11.1 million tons, he said.

The fourth spot is held by Boone County which extracts 11 million tons of coal annually, he said.

Raney explained there is a difference in northern and southern mines. "The difference is geological. It's different in configuration," he said. In other words, the coal seams are different.

During his 45-minute talk, Raney said the association would like to see mining companies extract between 125 to 130 million tons of coal annually in West Virginia. Currently, those companies are extracting less than 80 million tons, 43 tons less on an annual bases than it was seven years ago, he said.

When asked about mine safety from an audience member, Raney vowed the coal association would "never will roll back safety."

He said the media misrepresented Senate Bill 357, which he claimed actually protects the safety of miners and "evens the playing field" for companies competing against other coal-producing states.

Raney contends the bill reduces bureaucratic involvement of allowing diesel machines into the mines, replaces antiquated regulations concerning guide wires and protects workers by immediately pulling certification if a miner fails a drug test.

"I've been accused of taking backward steps on safety, but that's false," he said.

That comment came in response to Delegate Mike Caputo, D-Marion, who also is vice president for UMWA District 31. Caputo said SB 357 is the "first time we've ever voted to go backwards in coal mine health and safety."

In the end, Raney, who attended grade school in Wyoming County, said his objective is to "reestablish respect for the all West Virginia miners."

-- E-mail: dtyson@register-herald.com

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