Two sessions will be held over the multi-day gathering, kicking off with keynote speaker Robert E Murray of Murray Energy. WVCA president Bill Raney will also present a review of coal-related issues from the state’s legislative session for the year.
Other discussions Thursday and Friday include: Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issues, led by West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training director Ron Wooten; “IGCC: The Pathway for the Future of Coal” by American Electric Power representative Frank Pifer; West Virginia University professor Alfred Stiller, speaking on “Gasification of Coal: Removal of CO and Other Impurities”; and a presentation by Peabody Energy regarding “The Wet Head on Continuous Miners”.
An overview of research activities by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health relating to the industry will also be held.
The final day of the event will have a significant focus on underground activities and current events relating to miner health and safety. Timothy Thompson of Thompson & Associates will begin the day with a presentation on “MSHA Inspection Methodology” while “Changes in the Penalty Phase of MSHA Violations” will be the topic taken on by Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love attorney Rebecca Oblak.
Wooten’s consulting engineer Randall Harris will then take the stage to present “Emergency Communications Systems”, followed by “Evaluation of Mine Tracking & Emergency Communications Systems” by WVU professor A Wahab Khair and “Development and Field Testing of a Seismic Locating System for Trapped Coal Miners” by fellow WVU educator Keith Heasley.
The session and event will close with a third WVU presentation by Felicia Peng, who will discuss “Developing Procedures for Evaluating the Performance of Emergency Refuge Chambers in Underground Coal Mines”.
In addition to the technical papers, the two groups have planned a golf tournament as well as their annual Coal Hall of Fame banquet. Sponsor WVCA confirmed that registrations are still being accepted.
Keep watching International Longwall News for post-event coverage of the meeting.
