Especially in light of recent incidents at the state’s Sago and Alma mines, safety was a prominent and recurring theme throughout the three-day event, as were topics related to legislation and the current state of the industry.

The first day of the conference offered a workshop on health and safety, and several other presenters, including legal representatives for the industry, touched on legislative, regulatory and economic factors that are driving coal’s future.

Not forgotten was the industry’s technological and economic growth in recent decades, as well as the past few years. WVCA president Bill Rainey recalled that progress, but noted that all of the changes were works in progress.

“The first symposium was held in 1973. We as an industry have made enormous progress over those years. We’ve taken steps that no one thought possible 33 years ago. But despite the tremendous progress and the growth that we’ve enjoyed, we’re reminded each day that there’s much more to do.”

He added that the emergence of young faces into the industry was positive and could aid in stimulating communications between generations of workers. “All of you coal people gathered in one place in one room, to learn from one another, to learn from those who are smarter than we are, and to hear from national and state leaders about what you do every day, and that’s mine West Virginia coal.”

Some of the more high-profile speakers of the event included WVCA Environmental Committee chairman and ICG vice president Gene Kitts, who welcomed guests to a environmental workshop; West Virginia governor Joe Manchin, who spoke on “The State of the State” and talked about the January 2 explosion at ICG’s Sago mine; state congressman Joe Rahall, who offered insight into legislative topics regarding the coal industry; and WV Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) secretary Stephanie Timmermeyer, who discussed some of the state’s industry-related environmental programs.

The WVCA also hosted a number of miners for its annual Reclamation Awards and Mountaineer Guardian Safety Awards, presenting plaques to teams from throughout West Virginia for their accomplishments.

The WVCA’s outreach program, Friends of Coal, was also out in force and its members were easily located in the halls of the hotel (as well as its parking lot, strewn with a sea of “Friends of Coal” bumper stickers).

Now rooted in a long-standing tradition, the WVCA Symposium will continue to bring attention and awareness to the industry as well as promote the growth of coal and mining through its efforts thanks to its member companies, which include such industry forces as Arch Coal, Consol Energy, Alpha Natural Resources, and Eastern Associated Coal.

Founded in 1915, the WVCA takes pride in its membership, which produces about 80% of the state’s yearly output, which totals approximately 153Mtpa. There are more than 40,000 miners working in 544 mines throughout the state of West Virginia, 315 of which are underground.