Published in the March 2008 Coal USA Magazine

“The fact is, we need energy,” CMA president Stuart Sanderson said, adding that the public needs to look at two issues: the importance of access to affordable energy, and to allow for technology to evolve further towards the control of greenhouse gasses.

Established in 1876 and incorporated in 1897, CMA will celebrate its 110th anniversary in 2008.

Just as when it began, support remains strong for all sectors of mining such as coal, gold and uranium.

The CMA now includes 120 corporate members as well as many individual members that bring the group’s total roll call to more than 700. Its members, according to Sanderson, account for $2.6 billion annually in direct sales.

Additionally, with 10 currently active coal mines in the state – seven are underground – coal’s voice in the CMA is significant. In total, they produced 36 million tons in 2006 and their direct sales totaled more than $900 million.

Sanderson pointed to the Colorado’s historic record of excellence in safety. Moreover, he added, mining as an overall industrial sector has a better accident record than many other industries, according to research.

The mining community’s way to work towards a more harmonious relationship with the public begins with communication.

“Over the last twenty years, the industry has not done as much as it could to interact with and educate the public on the importance of minerals and mining,” Sanderson said. “Public education about minerals is essential.”

The industry must take any potential opportunity to be even more aggressive with education, informing the public of its commitment to environmental stewardship and safety. There may be challenges ahead, but there are reasonable opportunities to overcome them, he said.