By Ken Ward Jr. – August 16, 2010

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Federal officials said Monday they are stepping up enforcement of ventilation requirements for underground coal mines following reports of major violations at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine, where 29 workers died in an April 5 explosion.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration issued four memos to agency inspectors and the mining industry, emphasizing rules that require proper fresh airflow underground, ventilation control equipment, methane detection equipment and MSHA approval of airflow changes.

Read more at http://wvgazette.com/rssFeeds/201008160711

The ‘clean rich’ are taking over from the ‘dirty rich’ and they want to protect the environment, observes author DAVID CALLAHAN

So the blown-out oil well in the gulf has finally stopped gushing, plugged with heavy mud and awaiting the ultimate “kill” by a relief well. Yet, even with the largest oil spill in the nation’s history in the background, what seems to have been killed much more quickly is Washington’s will to take meaningful action on the environment. After axing climate-change legislation in late July, the Senate is now taking up a modest energy bill — and even that effort may go nowhere.

Read more at http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10227/1079862-109.stm

By TOM ZELLER Jr., Published: August 14, 2010, New York Times, ROCK CREEK, W.Va.

LORELEI SCARBRO’S husband, Kenneth, an underground coal miner for more than 30 years, is buried in a small family cemetery near her property here at the base of Coal River Mountain. The headstone is engraved with two roosters facing off, their feathers ruffled. Kenneth, who loved cockfighting, died in 1999, and, Ms. Scarbro says, he would have hated seeing the tops of mountains lopped off with explosives and heavy machinery by mining companies searching for coal.

Critics say the practice, known as “mountaintop removal mining,” is as devastating to the local environment as it is economically efficient for coal companies, one of which is poised to begin carving up Coal River Mountain. And that has Ms. Scarbro and other residents of western Raleigh County in a face-off of their own.

Read more at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/business/energy-environment/15coal.html

by: Alaska Journal of Commerce

Between permitting and construction, the Chuitna coal project 45 miles west of Anchorage likely won’t be up and running for four years.

When — and if — it reaches the production phase, the Chuitna mine could supply as much as 10 percent of the increase in worldwide demand expected in the next five years.

Read more at http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/081310/loc_cna.shtml

By Canda Harbaugh, The Western News, Wednesday, August 11, 2010 9:00 am

It’s hard to say what sways the vote of elected officials, but Troy Mine executives and Montana’s U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg like to believe that in the case of changes to a sweeping mine safety reform bill, local miners had some influence.
“It really mattered that the (Troy Mine) safety committee took the time to fill out a petition and write a letter and hand it to me to take back to Washington, D.C.,” Rehberg said Saturday after speaking to local residents in Libby during a listening session. “… From a Western Caucus perspective and a Republican resource committee perspective, and using their information – the cumulative effect was they had an influence. They had an impact.”

Read more at http://www.thewesternnews.com/news/article_16892174-a4f4-11df-838b-001cc4c03286.html

DENVER, Aug 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Liberty Coal Energy (LBTG 0.00, 0.00, 0.00%) (the “Company”, or “Liberty Coal”) is pleased to provide the following corporate update.

Ranchester Wyoming Coal Project

Liberty Coal is pleased to report that permitting activity for development drilling on the Ranchester Coal Project in Northern Wyoming has been initiated. Liberty expects a decision on this permit from the regulatory agencies in approximately 40 days.

Read more at http://www.marketwatch.com/story/liberty-coal-energy-corp-announces-corporate-update-2010-08-11?reflink=MW_news_stmp

August 9, 2010

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Two of West Virginia’s largest coal companies, International Coal Group and Massey Energy, have announced they want to take advantage of a recent Supreme Court ruling that lets corporations spend any amount on advertising in political campaigns. The companies say they intend to purchase ads in this fall’s congressional elections in West Virginia and Kentucky.

Some consider it an attempt to stop the new mine safety rules Congress began writing after the Upper Big Branch disaster. Julie Archer tracks political money issues as a project manager for West Virginia Citizen Action.

“They want to spend, on behalf of these candidates, blood money. Massey Energy and ICG are two of the companies with the worst safety records out there.”

Read more at http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/15317-1

By Ken Ward Jr. — August 9, 2010

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Initial testing of the two methane “sniffers” used as part of the monitoring system at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine turned up no evidence of tampering or malfunctions, the state’s top mine safety official confirmed Monday.

“The methane detectors were tested and they didn’t find anything wrong with them,” said Ron Wooten, director of the state Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training.

Read more at http://wvgazette.com/rssFeeds/201008090657

MICHAEL JAMISON Missoulian | Posted: Saturday, August 7, 2010

KALISPELL — A measure that would ban mining on federal land along Glacier National Park’s western edge has passed a major Senate hurdle, and has been expanded to provide water quality protections for nearby communities.
“This is tremendous news,” said U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. “Working together, we can protect this magnificent area so our children and grandchildren can enjoy it like we do now.”

Read more at http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_961f5bf6-a2a6-11df-9b19-001cc4c03286.html

                                                                                                       Increase (Decrease)
                                                       Three Months Ended June 30                         in Net Income
                                                       2010                     2009                  Amount                %
                                                           (Amounts in thousands, except per ton data and percentages)
Coal sales                                       $       764,295            $   554,612           $     209,683            37.8 %
Tons sold                                                 38,340                 27,658                  10,682            38.6 %
Coal sales realization per ton sold              $         19.93            $     20.05           $       (0.12 )          (0.6 )%

Read full 10-Q at http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-q-arch-coal-inc-2010-08-06