Published: August 27, 2008 07:05 pm      

Coal officials reach out to new generations

BLUEFIELD — At the end of the day, Bill Reid, chairman of the Bluefield Coal Symposium committee was openly expressing the hope that future generations of coal miners will learn the lessons of safety that were discussed during the past 48 hours.

“The challenge, as I see it, is that the new generation of coal miners are going to have a greater amount of responsibility at a younger age,” Reid said. “The safety and health of the people who work for the new generation of coal mining engineers are going to depend on them. It’s up to this generation — our generation — to pass on the passion for safety to the next generation of coal miners.”

This marks the second Bluefield Coal Symposium sponsored by the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. The symposiums grew from the former Bluefield Coal Rally, and are held biennially on years when the Bluefield Chamber doesn’t hold its Bluefield Coal Show.

“This symposium has gone much smoother than last year,” Randy Deason, chairman of the Bluefield Chamber board of directors said. “We learned a lot from our vendors, speakers and panelists during the last symposium, and from the feedback I’ve had, I think the changes we made were well received.”

Although the chamber billed the event as a “Coal Symposium for Coal People,” the crowd has a decidedly youthful slant this year, compared to 2006. Students from the mining engineering programs of Bluefield State College, Virginia Tech and West Virginia University all came to get a thorough indoctrination into the present state of coal mine safety.

“When I first told my dad that I was planning to enter the WVU mining engineering program, ha asked: ‘Do they still mine coal?’” David Eisenhauer, a senior mining student from Charleston said. “My parents have been supportive of my decision.” Although he is the first generation of coal miner in his family, Eisenhauer has worked three summers in a program Consol offers for college students. He is being heavily recruited by other coal operations.

“A lot of prospective mining engineering students don’t realize that they can pay their way through school by participating in a program like Consol offers and working through the summer,” Dr. Christopher J. Bise, chairman of the WVU mining engineering department said. “The word is starting to get out about our program. Earlier this year, our program was featured in the “Christian Science Monitor” and on National Public Radio. When the NPR piece aired in February, I received a call from a student in California seeking more information...California,” he said.

Adam Patterson, also a WVU mining senior and also from Charleston is an eighth generation coal miner. “My dad let me make up my own mine as to whether or not I wanted to go into coal mining, but my family has supported my decision. Patterson worked two summers in Consol’s college program, and one summer in a similar program that Peabody Coal operates.

Jake Kerch of Waynesburg, Pa., also a WVU senior is aware that the coal industry suffers an image challenge. “Some people put a negative light on the whole industry,” Kerch said. “We’re aware that our generation has a responsibility for the future of the industry.” Kerch has spent three summers working in Consol’s college student program.

Greg Barklay, a mining engineering student from Morgantown said that students have received training and have a good understanding of the specific challenges that face the coal industry. “We hit about everything in our program,” he said. Barklay worked for two summers in Consol’s college student program.

The WVU students traveled by bus from Morgantown, and arrived at about 11 p.m., Tuesday night. During the day, they heard from James W. Roberts, chairman of the National Mining Association and chairman and chief executive officer of Foundation Coal Holdings Inc.; John Gallick, vice president safety and health of Foundation Coal; Bill K. Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association; Michael J. Quillen, chairman and CEO of Alpha Natural Resources; and Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association.

Caylor said that during the lean years, the coal industry “shot ourselves in the foot,” by failing to increase production capabilities, and as a result of the global demands on American coal, “the U.S. supply is maxed out, and we don’t have surpluses that we can use to take advantage of the greater global demand.”

Raney said that the present demand for coal “presents such a wonderful opportunity for a young person to start out in a profession and make a career out of working in their home states,” he said. Raney praised the Chamber staff and Reid for organizing a symposium with excellent speakers who discussed a topic that is always vital to the coal industry.

Other speakers included Jim Dean, director of WVU Extension & Outreach; Dr. Christopher Mark and Dr. David C. Chirdon of NIOSH; Elizabeth S. Chamberlin, vice president of safety and training at Massey Energy; Allen Dupree, vice president, health and safety, Alpha National Resources; and Lou Barletta Jr., vice president, safety of Consol Energy.

Peter Lilly, president of Consol Coal Group served as keynote speaker for the Tuesday night dinner. Lilly spoke about Consol’s $800 million Coal To Liquid plant with SES (Synthetic Energy Systems) in Benwood. Lilly said that the technology is proven for this CTL plant. Additionally, Lilly pointed out that “America does not anticipate well,” but added, “we do respond to a crisis.” Lilly also called the Pittsburgh Seam, “a national treasure.”

Richard M. Whiting, president and chief executive officer of Patriot Coal Company was scheduled to speak on the topic: “Only in Appalachia,” during the final dinner program of the symposium.

“All of the key coal industry officials that I asked to participate said yes,” Reid said. “The people here are very interested in safety. I think we are well on our way to zero harm, but we are not there yet and we have to continue working on it.”

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com