February 4, 2014

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released findings related to coal leasing and the need for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to enhance the appraisal process. GAO found that the BLM consistently failed to explain the rationale for accepting bids for coal leasing on federal land that at least initially were far below the actual fair market value presale estimates.

The report stated that the state offices of the BLM did not allow independent review of these leasing agreements with coal companies. Additionally, GAO cited that the BLM failed to take advantage of an independent third party appraisal within the Department of the Interior (Office of Valuation of Services).  Lastly, GAO was highly critical of the BLM’s failure to provide even limited information to the public on federal coal leasing.

 Read article at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-140

 See document at http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/659801.pdf

February 4, 2014

This article discusses the GAO report which highlighted the BLM’s failure to take into account during its appraisal process the higher prices the coal companies can obtain for exports, the failure to obtain multiple bidders before awarding a federal coal lease and the BLM’s lack of transparency in keeping the American public in the dark about coal leasing.

One of the figures in the article shows and alarming trend of the BLM’s systematic practice of coal leasing rigged in favor for the coal industry operating in the particular region. Since 1990, the BLM has leased 107 coal tracts and 96 of these coal leases had only one bidder for the project. This allows the coal company to pay under the fair market value for the lease and causes taxpayers to lose out in millions of dollars in revenue.

 Read article at http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/04/3246101/federal-coal-leasing-program-gao-report/

January 17, 2014

A 20-year-old miner from West Virginia with 2 years of mining experience was killed while working under ground. The coal miner worked at the Mountain View Mine owned by Mettiki Coal of West Virginia.

The victim was working between the coal rib and the frame of the feeder when the securing post dislodged. This is the first fatality reported in the calender year 2014 for the coal mining industry.

 Read article at http://www.msha.gov/FATALS/2014/FAB14c01.asp#.UznOT61dXW8

January 10, 2014

The residents of Charleston, the state capital of West Virginia learned Friday morning that leakage from a 35,000-gallon tank owned by Freedom Industries had spilled into the Elk River. Up to 5,000 gallons of an industrial chemical used for coal processing had seeped into the city water supply.

The spillage caused schools to close, businesses were unable to open, hotels turned away customers and residents of Charleston waited in long lines in order to fill jugs with clean water. This chemical spill associated with coal processing raised concern and anger among the capital city as to why a chemical plant would be located upstream from the city water company.  At this point, the water company cannot determine when the contamination is able to leave the city water supply.

 Read article at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/11/us/west-virginia-chemical-spill.html?_r=0

January 7, 2014

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration released a report that Nationally, 42 miners died in work-related accidents in 2013, which was a 17% increase from 2012.

States like West Virginia and Kentucky were the highest for fatalities in 2013 with six deaths apiece, Illinois had 4 deaths, Pennsylvania had 3 and other states like Wyoming had 2. Though these deaths are preventable, the 17% increase of fatalities in 2013 highlights the need to do more to protect miners across the country.

 Read article at http://www.wyomingbusinessreport.com/article/20140107/NEWS/140109988/0/SEARCH

December 5, 2013

A 32-year-old coal miner from the southern Ohio region died on November 23^rd when the shearing machine he was operating severed a high-pressure hydraulic hose. The fatality occurred at the Century Mine located near the border of Ohio and West Virginia.

Ryan Lashley was a coal miner with the American Energy Corporation, a subsidiary of Murray Energy. The mine has recorded 33 injuries since the start of the year and two weeks prior to the fatality, a miner at the Century Mine was injured and transported by hospital.

Read article at http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/12/05/ohio-d05.html

November 17, 2013

A 34-year-old miner from Montrose, Colorado and a 59-year-old miner from Durango, Colorado died on November 17 from carbon monoxide poisoning. 20 other miners were sent to Western Slope Hospitals after the accident at the Revenue-Virginius mine.

Both fatalities were miners working for Star Mine LLC based out of Denver, Colorado. This is the 36^th mining fatality at U.S. mines this year, according to the federal Department of Labor.

Read article at http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_24542891/two-miners-trapped-20-others-injured-after-ouray#axzz2wXaQvb3s

October 22, 2013

Michael Hendryx of West Virginia University recently released a report that highlights the severe emotional toll that the coal industry’s practice of mountaintop removal takes on the people living where these extraction tactics take place.

The study released showed that of 8,591 adults living in Central Appalachia, 17% of respondents in mountaintop removal mining areas suffered from major depression. This was compared with 10% of respondents diagnosed with major depression in non-mining areas.

 Read article at http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2013/10/22/new-study-examines-mountaintop-removals-potential-impact-on-mental-health-in-appalachia-communities/

 See document at http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/eco.2013.0029

October 13, 2013

A 59-year-old in Pike County, Indiana died on October 11th after he was pinned between the shuttle car and coal rib. The victim worked for Five Star Mining Company’s Prosperity mine in Indiana.

Larry Schwartz died on the scene and this is the 4^th fatal coal-mining accident since October 1^st.

 Read article at http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2013/10/13/another-coal-miner-dies-on-the-job-6/

September 12, 2013

In less than a month since the death of a miner at Black Thunder Mine in the Powder River Basin, 3 coal miners at the North Antelope Rochelle mine located in the Powder River Basin suffered second- and third-degree burns.

The miners were burnt at a coal truck crusher dump when hot bearing embers and a weed burner used to heat the bearing race ignited the dust. The mine is owned by Peabody Energy Corporation based out of St. Louis.

Read article at http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/coal-dust-fire-at-wyoming-mine-burns-miners/article_52300686-746b-531e-8427-f3df489a6f03.html