West Virginia Coal
An Era of Overregulation
By Bill Raney
West Virginia Coal Association
For years, the West Virginia mining taxes, laws, rules, regu-
lations and policies have been more stringent than companion
federal requirements and requirements in other coal-produc-
ing states it competes with for market share. This translates
to making our coal more expensive to produce, which means
we’re working at a market disadvantage from the very begin-
ning of any negotiations for contracts, long or short term.
We continue to believe our West Virginia managers and coal
miners are the best in the world, but when confronted with cost
disadvantages that prevent us from selling our coal, the end
result is we won’t mine it and our folks will not be working.
That is the exact opposite of what the state and the industry
want and need as they strive each day to keep as many people
as possible working for as long as possible. West Virginia needs
market share to do this, which is why the West Virginia Coal
Association seeks equality in coal mining taxes, laws, regu-
lations, rules and policies that coal mines and miners must
comply with when compared to the federal requirements and
those in our sister coal-producing states.
Now, everyone must understand that here in West Virginia
we do not in any way ever want to diminish our environmental
protection achievements and mine safety accomplishments. We
simply will not do that. While we’ve made strides in conform-
ing to some of the environmental requirements, we continue
to have the highest severance taxes of surrounding states and
the most glaring inconsistency in the regulation of mine safety
and health. Unlike most states, West Virginia has its own pro-
gram that i