OSMRE Observes 45th Anniversary of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has observed the 45th anniversary of the enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.
SMCRA established the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement for two basic purposes:
To ensure that the nation's coal mines operate in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining operations and to restore the land to beneficial use following mining.
To implement an Abandoned Mine Land program to address the hazards and environmental degradation resulting from over two centuries of coal mining activities that occurred before the law was passed in 1977.
Deputy Director Glenda Owens and OSMRE staff observe 45th anniversary of SMCRAA theme of the 45th anniversary observance is reinvigorating coal country over the next 15 years as the nation shifts to clean energy. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, P.L. 117-58, enacted on November 15, 2021, provides historic levels of funding to address legacy coal clean up and spur economic redevelopment. A total of $11.3 billion in AML funding over 15 years will go towards helping communities eliminate dangerous environmental conditions and pollution caused by past coal mining. This funding is expected to address the vast majority of inventoried abandoned coal mine lands in this country.
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WV Coal Leader: Dangerously Close to Blackouts With Mine Closures
West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton argues Sen. Joe Manchin's support of Democrats' climate agenda threatens the coal mining industry and domestic energy.
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US June Thermal Coal Exports Fall 15.2% on Year as CIF ARA Price Soars
An indication of demand destruction, US steam coal exports fell 15.2% on the year in June as the CIF ARA monthly average price more than tripled to $371.02/mt, according to US Census Bureau data released Aug. 4.
May, the CIF ARA price rose 13.2% while US thermal coal exports fell 1.3% to 2.8 million mt.
The decline in US June thermal coal exports was due to a steep reduction in subbituminous coal shipments, which fell 63.8% on the month and 74.1% on the year to 132,471 mt. Year-to-date subbituminous coal exports were 7.9% lower than the 2021 period.
Bituminous coal exports rose 8% on the month to 2.6 million mt, Census data showed. Compared with June 2021, bituminous exports were 4.2% lower. Year to date, bituminous exports were at a 5.4% deficit to 2021.
The lion's share of US thermal coal shipments were bound for India in June at 592,228 mt, up 8.2% from May. After India, Egypt was set to receive the highest volume at 349,758 mt. The third-highest volume was exported to the Netherlands at 331,900 mt, Census data showed.
Other top destinations for US thermal coal in June were South Korea at 277,152 mt; Morocco at 234,656 mt; and the Dominican Republic at 181,389 mt; Germany at 124,851 mt; and the United Kingdom at 110,214 mt.
Thermal coal accounted for about 40% of US coal exports in the latest month, while metallurgical shipments made up the remaining 60%, Census data showed.
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Supercharging the Reliability Crisis
For all of the focus on energy policy in Washington, attention to the unfolding grid reliability crisis remains alarmingly absent. In fact, some of the principal causes of the crisis are receiving fresh reinforcement while substantive efforts to address the forces weakening the nation’s supply of power have yet to materialize.
Even as grid regulators and independent system operators continue to raise the alarm over eroding reliability performance, little is happening to address its root causes. Even worse, the newly proposed Inflation Reduction Act extends and expands existing renewable electricity tax credits. The inevitable result will be to accelerate coal plant closures in favor of intermittent power sources, even as new reliability warnings, collapsing reserve margins and rolling blackouts become endemic. Reliable, dispatchable generation is coming off the grid far faster than reliable alternatives are replacing it.
John Moura, director of reliability assessment and performance analysis at the North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC), recently said, “there’s clear, objective, conclusive data indicating that the pace of our great transformation is a bit out of sync with the underlying realities and the physics of the system.”
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Bluefield Coal & Mining Show to Feature Live TV Interviews
For the second time, and building on its exceptional offerings for exhibitors, the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias is providing the additional service of live television interviews, according to Bob Ramsey, Chair of the Bluefield Coal & Mining Show, to be held September 14-16, 2022 at Brushfork Armory, Bluefield, West Virginia.
These interviews are designed to showcase products and services while at the same time livening up the show and providing a new focal point. The interviews will take place on the opening day on Wednesday September 14, 2022 at selected exhibitors’ booths and will provide additional exposure for exhibitors, while at the same time helping the Chamber promote the coal industry.
“This is a recent addition to the show, which was introduced three years ago, and proved to be popular with exhibitors,” said Bill Reid, Managing Editor CoalZoom.com, who will conduct the interviews. “Exhibitors will compete for interview time slots and the opportunity will be provided for those selected to showcase their products and services as well as significant contributions they make to the industry. They will also be given time to discuss their company’s approach to the exciting market for mining equipment and services, which presently exists.”
Bill Reid
The interviews will be streamed live on all the Chamber social media platforms and then streamed recorded over the three days of the show. The interviews will be projected on a large screen located inside the armory where exhibitors and attendees can listen and watch them as they appear.
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