Scheduled for February 18 through 20 in the state’s capital city, the symposium will kick off with sessions focusing on health and safety and environmental topics, including:

Federal Issues Affecting the Industry – Bob Cornett and Robert Hardman, MSHA;

Proximity Detection Devices – Jim Dean, WV Mine Safety Task Force;

Respirable Dust Trends and Control – NIOSH;

Global Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Regulations – Stuart Slaven and David Flannery, Jackson Kelly; and

Carbon: Opportunities and Challenges – Greg Henthorne and Clark Talkington, SCC Americas.

A coal safety legal forum will also be held, with a roundtable of experts including Mark Health of Spilman, Thomas & Battle; Dave Hardy, Allen Guthrie McHugh and Thomas Bob Pollitt of Steptoe & Johnson; and Tom Rubenstein of Dinsmore & Shohl.

The second day will begin with the annual State of the State address by Governor Joe Manchin. Other discussions scheduled for the day include:

US Coal Forecast – Hal Quinn, National Mining Association;

Labor Issues – Anna Dailey, Dinsmore & Shohl; and

Environmental Litigation Update – Bob McLusky, Jackson Kelly.

The afternoon’s itinerary will be highlighted by an open forum on electric utilities and coal with presenters such as Dr Charles Bayless of American Electric Power and James Martin of Dominion Energy.

During the final half-day, speakers include Rick Remish of Imagine West Virginia, talking about coal, energy and the environment, and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Randy Huffman and Tom Clarke, who will take on the topic of the state’s mining and reclamation program.

The symposium will conclude with the presentation of the association’s annual reclamation awards.

The WVCA encourages pre-registration for the symposium. Further information can be found on the group’s website.