Thank You US Senator Jay Rockefeller for sitting down with our members to discuss healthcare issues facing businesses in our community, We appreciate your time and your staff for the opportunity to be heard

> Sen. Jay Rockefeller, seated at right, talks with local small business owners in Beckley Thursday about the compromise health reform bill Congress is now discussing. Rockefeller said he intends to take the concerns and suggestions for improvements from the Beckley session back to Washington to include in the ongoing debate. Chuck Garvin / The Register-Herald

Click here for coverage by The Register-Herald

Click here for coverage on Senator Rockefeller's Website

Z Way the Best Way
 

Z-Way Groundbreaking Ceremony, Recognizing efforts in sustained cooperation to build a road that can lead our community to further economic development

Ceremony Coverage by The Register-Herald

Economic Forecast
Beckley Micropolitan Statistical Area (MicroSA) Outlook Forecast 2009-2013

Bureau of Business & Economic Research, College of Business & Economics, West Virginia University
www.bber.wvu.edu

Underwritten by the Raleigh County Commission

Members, Thank You for attending to get the latest economic information on our community.

Click here to view report by Bureau of Business & Economic Research

Click for coverage by The Register-Herald

For More Info and to order a County Data Profile for any county in WV:

Tom S. Witt, PhD

Associate Dean, Research & Outreach Director, Bureau of Business & Economic Research

West Virginia University

College of Business & Economics

320 Business & Economics Building

PO Box 6025

Morgantown, WV  26506-6025

304-293-7835 / Fax:  304-293-7061

tom.witt@mail.wvu.edu

George W. Hammond, PhD

Associate Director, BBER, Associate Professor of Economics

West Virginia University

College of Business & Economics

320 Business & Economics Building

PO Box 6025

Morgantown, WV  26506-6025

304-293-7876 / Fax:  304-293-7061

ghammond@wvu.edu

george.hammond@mail.wvu.edu

Members discuss new challenges facing the coal industry

Thank You Beaver Coal Company for sponsoring this very important event

Thank You Gene Kitts, Senior Vice President–Mining Services, ICG – International Coal Group for speaking to us

Mining Issues Discussed

More than 77,000 direct mining jobs and coal production in Appalachia are put at risk by EPA’s action.  At a time when we are spending billions of taxpayer dollars to create jobs, it is inconceivable that we would be taking actions that rob us of the highest paying jobs in the region

Mining operations in Appalachia provide the coal to generate affordable electricity to 77 million households in the East

At least 150-200 lawful permit applications are affected by EPA’s decision.  Many of these applications have been awaiting action for months–some even years.  They include permits for all types of mining in the region-not just mountaintop mining operations.  Most of the applications are for existing mines that need permits to continue coal production and to retain existing jobs

EPA’s announced review is a blanket, open-ended review of all pending and new permit applications.  No deadline has been set for completion of the review process.  This action will further delay receipt of needed permits

In order to operate, coal mines in Appalachia must have approved permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), which provides for the construction of fills for placement of excess rock, e.g., overburden; to build roads; construct buildings and other facilities; and to install necessary environmental protection measures necessary for a modern mining complex.  Mines that have exhausted the capacity of a permitted fill or other permitted projects must apply for new permits.  Mines must cease/cannot begin operation without approved permits

The recent 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision confirmed that activities permitted under Section 404 are consistent with provisions of the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Jobs lost from suspension of surface mining cannot be replaced by underground mining jobs as these operations.  Surface mining, including mountaintop mining is the safest and most efficient way to mine the coal under review

The Obama Administration has strongly advocated the use of coal-America’s most abundant domestic energy resource-to reduce this country’s dependence on foreign energy and has supported funding for vital clean coal technology, but you can’t use coal or develop new technology if you can’t produce coal