Patriot Coal announced plans
Tuesday to layoff coal miners at two mining operations in Boone County
The company has named the Hobet 21
Mine and the Beth Station preparation plant at its Corridor G complex near
Danville in a federal WARN notice, meaning layoffs could occur in 60 days.
Patriot was not specific in its
Tuesday announcement on how many workers may be furloughed. The company said a
total of 360 people work at the two operations.
“The combination of increasing EPA
regulations, mild summer weather and low natural gas prices has resulted in
thermal coal pricing at levels below operating costs at many Appalachian
mines,” said Patriot President and CEO Ben Hatfield said in a prepared
statement. “Over the next two months, Corridor G management will further
evaluate operations and staffing to assess their ability to produce coal at
lower costs and determine the extent of actions to be taken. We deeply
regret the impact these actions will have on our hard-working employees and
neighboring communities.”
Patriot issued WARN notices to
approximately 100 workers back in April. Other coal operators in southern West Virginia
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin reacted to
the news late Tuesday afternoon saying his administration is committed to
providing workforce training and education opportunities to the impactd
families.
Tomblin said it’s not just the slow
market for coal that causing the companies to make layoff decisions.
“We recognize market trends can
play a part in these potential closures; however these trends also reflect the
regulatory environment in which industry must operate,” the governor said. “We
continue our fight for West Virginia ’s mining
jobs and urge the EPA to reconsider its proposed plan and realize the real
impact their proposed CO2 rules would have on West Virginia West Virginia
