Mine safety Coal leaders bringing critical message

Mine safety Coal leaders bringing critical message

As a multitude of state, local and national coal leaders coverage upon Bluefield this week, a renewed focus on mine safety will be first and foremost on their agenda. We join the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce in welcoming to Four Seasons Country the region’s coal industry leaders as well as several high-profile figures in the mining industry.

The coal leaders are gathering for the 2006 Bluefield Coal Symposium, which begins Wednesday and continues through Friday at the Holiday Inn of Bluefield.

As a region built upon the foundations of the historic coalfields of southern West Virginia, it is only fitting for Bluefield to serve as the location for this week’s important gathering.

With memories and images of the Sago Mine disaster still lingering across the state and nation, the central theme of this year’s coal symposium will be mining safety as it relates to the industry, according to Marc Meachum, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce.

A who’s who of the coal industry will be in town to discuss the all-important topic.

A few of the key coal leaders scheduled to be in attendance include Don Blankenship, chairman, president and CEO of Massey Energy; Ronald G. Stovash, senior vice president of operations for Consol; Dan Gerkin, senior vice president/government and political affairs for the National Mining Association; Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association; Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association; Tommy Hudson, president of the Virginia Coal Association; and John Feddock, senior vice president of Marshall Miller & Associates, among many others.

Gov. Joe Manchin, a calming and reassuring voice for the nation during the Sago disaster, also will be in attendance at this year’s coal symposium, along with several Sago Mine accident investigators, including Ray McKinney, Richard Gates, Mark Skiles and Allen Dupree of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and Dr. R. Larry Grayson, chair of the national committee formed in the wake of the Sago Mine accident.

Meachum said a report also will be made on the Sago mine tragedy during this week’s gathering.

With a message of utmost importance for the mining industry, we applaud the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce in organizing this A-list meeting of mine industry leaders.

There is no question that the nation is watching the coal industry as it struggles to recover from a year of deadly mining related accidents, including, of course, the Sago tragedy.

We hope that our local coal industry leaders, joined by several national coal figures, can complete a successful coal symposium this week with a renewed emphasis upon safety.

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