American Coal Concert Series Launched - Coal News

Inside
Obama Tries To Dismantle Coal Page 4
SME Annual Meeting Page 6
SCBA Escape System Page 7
Gas Analysis Instrumentation Page 8
Surface Mining Focus Page 14
Bauma 2010 Report Page 15
Surface Mining Developments Page 16
Volume 7 Number 6 www.coalnews.net June 2010
American Coal Concert
Series Launched
By Bill Reid
Managing Editor
The brand-new American Coal
Concert series was launched
when international award-winning
Grammy nominated recording
artist and songwriter Stella Parton
stepped onto the stage at the
Bluefield Performing Arts Center.
According to Bluefield Daily
Telegraph Senior Editor Bill Archer,
“Parton electrified the audience
and although the stage lights, amps
and sound system were powered by
coal-fired energy, the show, performed
by Stella Parton and her
band Underground, was driven by
love and loyalty. Parton and
Underground delivered an incredible
performance, capturing the
imagination of the audience and
receiving applause in return.”
This was the inaugural American
Coal Concert presented by Coal
News to support the coal industry at
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage Paid
Nashville, TN
Permit No. 781
a time when outsiders are determined
to end coal mining in
Appalachia and, eventually, in the
United States. As a tribute to the
American coal miner, Coal News
released a brand new CD in
February of this year featuring Stella
Parton, which she calls American
Coal. In conjunction with the new
CD, a series of American Coal
Concerts are being arranged
throughout the country with further
shows being planned in
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and
Kentucky.
Alpha Natural Resources and
Patriot Coal joined by local manu-
Beautiful and Talented Stella Parton Lights Up Her Audience
facturing businesses sponsored the
concert and all proceeds went to
children’s charities, WE CAN
(Working to Eliminate Child Abuse
and Neglect) program, as well as
the Bluefield Daily Telegraph’s
Newspapers in Education program.
Bent Hickory, local bluegrass
favorites, opened the show and got
hands clapping with up-tempo performances
of “Rocky Top” and
“Orange Blossom Special”. Prior to
the performance, appreciation was
expressed from the stage to the
sponsors who made the show possible,
as well as an appeal to those
attending to ask for support for coal
by writing to their political representatives.
Stella Parton’s highly talented
tribute to the American coal miner
on stage began with “Sixteen Tons”,
“Dark as Dungeon”, and “Working
in a Coal Mine”. Members of
Underground were wearing coal
miners hard hats with lights. Parton
put her own unique style into all
three songs and gave a thrilling performance
of the 1966 Billy Edd
Wheeler song “Coal Tattoo”.
Parton’s beautiful rendition of her
sister Dolly’s song “Blackie
Kentucky” tells the story of the
strong ties people of the coalfields
have to their homes.
Perhaps the strongest song was
“Preacher and a Miner” that tells
the story of a man named Jesse who
was “born in East Kentucky, near the
West Virginia line,” and “like his
grandpa and his daddy, he earned
his living in the mines”. From there,
Parton continued with a warm but
uplifting performance of a pair of
international songs, “These are My
Mountains” and “School Days End”,
which address mountain and coalfield
images. The concert also
included the Loretta Lynn huge hit
“Coal Miner’s Daughter” and a
rousing performance of “I’m a Coal
Mining Man” that proudly proclaims
“it’s my chosen way of life and I help
to make America’s economy role.”
To close out the energetic and entertaining
show, Parton called on the
Bluefield JROTC Color Guard to post
colors prior to her rousing performance
of “I Love My County”, one of
her original compositions.
Comments from those attending
were all highly positive and full of
enthusiasm. “I am not normally a
guy that goes to cultural events, but
I’m glad I went to this,” said Bud
Clapp of Pocahontas Land
Company. “Those in attendance
were treated to a high energy performance
from Stella,” added Marc
Meachum, President and CEO,
Greater Bluefield Chamber of
Commerce. Lou Stoker, Mayor of
Bramwell, West Virginia summed it
all up. “The American Coal Concert
is beautifully put together with
selections to bring tears and smiles
to listeners. The melodies linger in
our ears and hearts long after the
music stops playing.”
For American Coal Concert
inquiries, phone 304-327-6777 or
e-mail billreid007@comcast.net.
See Editor's View Page 3

2
June 2010
Coal News
Sen. Rockefeller
Outlines Safety
Legislation
Sen. J. Rockefeller (D-WVa)
has announced his broad outlines
for mine safety improvements
and has described his
“new legislative approaches”
including adding workplace safety
enforcement and accountability
standards through MSHA and
OSHA. His approach also
includes: streamlining the
Pattern of Violation rules and
regulations so that repeat
offenders are subject to additional
oversight and enforcement;
reducing the appeals
backlog at the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Review
Commission; improving whistleblower
protections; and increasing
fines and penalties for companies
that “routinely violate
safety laws and regulations.”
Rockefeller has also introduced
an amendment to the
financial reform legislation now
on the Senate floor that would
require publicly traded mining
companies to include “critical
mine safety information” in their
annual and quarterly filings with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). The Senate
Appropriations Committee has
conducted a hearing to review
current safety resources of federal
agencies including MSHA and
the Senate Committee on Health
Education Labor and Pensions
has held hearings on the safety
enforcement authority at MSHA
and OSHA.
Funds Approved
for FMSHRC
The Senate Appropriations
Committee has approved $22
million in additional funding to
reduce the backlog in the number
of mine safety citation appeals
pending before the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Revision
Commission (FMSHRC). Of the
funding, $18.2 million is for the
Solicitor of Labor and MSHA, and
$3.8 million is for the FMSHRC.
The new funding will be available
for twelve months as part of the
FY 2010 Supplemental
Appropriations bill. House staff
are reporting that members
believe the Senate funding is too
low and will include more dollars
in their version.
House Members
Condemn EPA’s
Actions on Coal
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) joined
by twenty-two other members of
the House of Representatives,
both Republicans and Democrats
representing districts in fourteen
states throughout the U.S., is
condemning the EPA for delays in
coal mine permitting and for
guidance on CWA permits in
Appalachian mines that relies on
conductivity as a sole measure of
stream impairment. The group
called upon EPA Administrator
Lisa Jackson to withdraw recently
implemented rules that have
“caused significant barriers and
delays in issuing job creating
coal mining permits throughout
the region.”
The group, from both parties,
characterized EPA’s new rules on
surface mining as the
Administration’s “latest tactic in
its war against Appalachian
Coal” and pointedly said EPA has
“crossed the line” and is putting
80,000 jobs in jeopardy. The letter
asks EPA to “immediately
withdraw policies that jeopardize
mining and mining families
throughout Appalachia” and
points to EPA’s preemption of
federally approved state water
quality programs.
Analysis Finds
Fault with Study
of Appalachian
Coal Community
Health
An analysis commissioned by
NMA has found factual discrepancies
and methodical flaws in
studies published by Dr. Michael
Hendryx and others, contending
that increased mortality in
Appalachian communities was
due to high rates of coal production
in the area. The analysis was
completed by Jonathan Borak,
MD, Clinical Professor,
Epidemiology and Medicine at
Yale University; and Kathryn
Salipante Zaidel, MEM.
In their review of eight peerreviewed
journal articles
authored by Dr. Hendryx, they
noted the complete omission of
obesity, diabetes, and alcohol
consumption from the Hendryx
analyses as important factors
that could influence health and
mortality rates in Appalachia.
Borak also pointed to Hendryx’s
finding of high mortality rates in
Appalachian counties with high
levels of coal mining, but not
among coal miners and not in
other coal mining areas. All the
observation led Hendryx to propose
that his findings of excess
death might be related to the
unique “topography and population
centers characteristic of
Appalachia,” Borak and Zaidel
concluded. “These results also
suggest that coal mining is not
the reason for excess deaths.”
Hendryx has been a popular
witness before state and federal
legislative and regulatory bodies,
including congressional hearings,
and his studies have also
received widespread attention in
West Virginia media. NMA Senior
VP for Regulatory Affairs, Bruce
Watzman, said, “Dr. Borak’s findings
are important to the entire
mining community. They raise
fundamental questions about the
conclusions reached by Dr.
Hendryx and their relevance to
any assessment of the overall
contributions of mining in
Appalachia.”
NMA Coal
Forecast
Updated
NMA’s Economics Coal
Subcommittee is forecasting that
domestic coal consumption will
rebound from 2009 levels,
increasing 5.5% in 2010, based
on the Subcommittee’s update of
the 2010 forecast. Due to reduction
of high coal stockpiles by
utilities, total demand for mined
coal is expected to increase by
only 0.9%, as total U.S. production
is expected to be down 0.7%
from 2009 with production from
Eastern coalfields down 2.9%.
The forecast indicates that
total domestic coal consumption
will be 1.008 billion tons for
electricity, including electric
power, commercial, and industrial
sectors. Domestic coking coal
consumption is expected to be
up 24.2% to 27 million tons, and
total exports will be up 26.9% to
75 million tons in 2010, with
exports of met coal to Canada
and overseas making up the
lion’s share of exports at 57 million
tons. The NMA
Subcommittee expects the economy
to grow at about 3% in 2010.
Top Challenges
Ranked by
Mining
Executives
As surveyed, mining executives
from 113 North American metals
and minerals companies and
ranked their top five challenges.
“Ensuring workplace safety” was
listed by 71% of the respondents
as their top challenge. This was
followed by “improving performance
and operational effectiveness”
which 67% identified as a
top challenge. Other items on the
list were “managing capital projects”
which was ranked by 46%,
“recruiting and retaining a
skilled workforce” ranked by
38%, and “addressing environmental
concerns” ranked as a
top challenge by 37%.
The coal companies in the
group ranked their number one
obstacle to organic growth as
“decline in market demand” plus
all companies surveyed said the
number one obstacle to organic
growth is “complying with government
regulations” which was
identified by 42% of the respondents.
Some 87% of respondents
said they were pursuing an
aggressive cost control strategy
as their top way to maintain profitability
in the current economy.
Senate Climate
Proposal
Unveiled
Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass) and
Joe Lieberman (I-Conn) have
unveiled their version of climate
legislation, the “American Power
Act”. According to a summary of
the proposal, the bill will call for
a 17% cut in emissions of greenhouse
gases (GHGs) below the
2005 level by 2020 and an 80%
reduction by 2050. Emissions
limits would apply differently
and, according to various timetables
for various industry sectors,
begin with powerplants in 2013.
The measure directs much of the
revenue generated to rebates
and other assistance for consumers
and businesses impacted
by higher electricity costs, to
fund various programs that would
be mandated by the proposal,
and for debt reduction.
Two billion dollars in annual
funding for research and development
of carbon capture and
storage technologies would be
funded by a special assessment
on electric utilities for all fossil
fuel-based electricity sold to customers.
In addition to falling
under the cap-and-trade provisions
for utilities, coal-based
power plants permitted in 2009,
or thereafter, would be subject to
a performance standard. That
provision also outlines a process
for accelerating retirements of
coal-based plants to accelerate
reductions in GHGs and other air
pollutants.
NMA has expressed its concern
that the legislation will have a
devastating impact on coal mining
jobs and production over the
next two decades, because the
targets and timetables proposed
for emissions reductions are not
aligned with the expected
deployment of carbon capture
and storage technology. Further,
the legislation will be harmful to
trade exposed energy intensive
industries, such as minerals and
metals mining. If Sens. Kerry and
Lieberman are unable to get sixty
votes for their climate change
bill, the Senate will likely act on a
smaller energy bill instead,
according to Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-Nev).
Carbon Curbs
Will Devastate
Coal Mining
Employment
According to the
Congressional Budget Office
(CBO), after reviewing three economic
impact studies of climate
change policies, controls on carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse
gas emissions will be
especially putative for coal mining
employment. The impact of
these policies on overall employment
over the next few decades
would be modest, but the impact
on coal-based employment
would be substantial, said CBO.
Summarizing studies by
Resources for the Future, Charles
River Associates and the
Brooking’s Institution, CBO projects
coal mining employment will
decline 10-18 percent by 2015
and by more than a third by
2025. Among the fossil fuels targeted
for emissions reduction,”
CBO said. “Coal mining would
probably see the largest percentage
decline in employment,”
reflecting coal’s higher greenhouse
gas content and its widespread
use in electricity generation.”
The review found that hard
rock mining would likely suffer
“relatively small” employment
declines over the same period.

June 2010
106 Tamarack Street
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Bill Reid
billreid007@comcast.net
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Contents may not be disseminated
without permission of
Coal News.
By Bill Raney,
President West Virginia
Coal Association
The EPA has declared a war on
Appalachian Coal. The agency’s
apparent intent to rescind the
already issued Spruce Mine permit is
the first time such an action has
been taken and shows a reckless disregard
for the impact on our people,
on future investment in our region
and even basic fairness. If EPA pursues
this course, the very future of
mining in our state and region… not
just mountaintop mining operations
or even surface mining … but all
forms of mining is threatened, and
with it the futures of 50,000 West
Virginian and 80,000 Appalachian
families whose livelihoods depend
on mining coal.
We call upon our Congressional
representatives, our local and state
elected officials and everyone concerned
about the future of our state
and our region to let the EPA and the
Obama Administration know this
effort to destroy the Eastern coal
industry must come to a stop.
The EPA issued the Spruce Mine
The Editor’s View
Coal News has launched its
exciting American Coal
Concert series with the first
concert being held at the
Performing Arts Center in
Bluefield, West Virginia (see cover
story). Recognizing that the coal
industry is being attacked on all
fronts, we at Coal News decided to
play our part and do something
about it in the form of music,
which is extremely powerful in
evoking emotions and bringing
people together. Towards this
goal, Coal News collaborated with
the beautiful and highly talented,
international award-winning
Grammy nominated recording
artist and songwriter, Stella
Parton, to produce an exclusive CD
of coal mining songs called
American Coal.
This wonderful album, recently
released, is designed to become a
collector’s edition. The liner notes
contain details of why America
runs on coal, as well as a description
of the colorful history of our
modern, advanced-technology
industry that cares about communities
and reclamation, and produces
half of the nation’s electricity.
At the time of the album’s production,
we of course had no idea
that the industry would be faced
with the aftermath of the tragic
Upper Big Branch explosion, which
has devastated all of us.
In conjunction with the release
of the new CD, the series of
American Coal Concerts are being
arranged throughout the country.
This American Coal Concert series
contains the heartwarming and
passionate mining songs from the
CD which Ms. Parton has selected
as a tribute to the American coal
miner. The concert also traces the
history of coal, its importance to
the nation, as well as the role of
coal in the community.
During each performance, there
will be an appeal from the stage to
those attending to sign-up to support
coal on a number of websites.
Stella Parton is available during
part of 2010 to perform the
American Coal Concert at coal rallies
and meetings, as well as fairs,
festivals, picnics, in theaters, and
other events. The aim is to provide
outstanding entertainment coupled
with the opportunity to contribute
to worthy charities all while
seeking to win support for coal. To
arrange a concert in your community
please email me at billreid007@comcast.net.
We are attempting to get as
many copies of this CD out in the
public as possible in our effort to
gain support for coal at a time
when tens of thousands of jobs
and the stability of thousands of
families and entire communities
are being put at risk by those who
wish to stop coal mining.
Individual copies may be purchased
for $15 plus postage and
Mining Matters
Spruce Mine Permit
permit almost three years ago.
During a 10-year review prior to its
issuance, the EPA participated along
with the other agencies every step of
the way during the review and
praised the company’s efforts to
design the project in such a way as to
minimize the impact on the environment.
In fact, total recoverable
reserves of coal were reduced by
10.6 million tons as a result. It is not
an exaggeration to say this permit is
the most scrutinized mining permit in
the history of West Virginia or the
Appalachian region.
Bill Raney
But the issue goes far beyond a
American Dream – and that is to
single permit. If EPA revokes the
have a good job, make a decent wage
Spruce permit, their action brings
and provide for their family.”
into question all forms of economic
What company would invest in a
development across the region –
project -- whether it is a coal mine, a
anything that requires a company or
shopping center or a residential
an individual to move a shovelful of
development – if a permit can be
dirt. The uncertainty this has created
revoked even years after it was granted?
Since the permit was issued in
is paralyzing to our region’s economy.
As Governor Manchin said
2007, Arch Coal has made significant
investment in the project; peo-
regarding this permit, “This federal
bureaucracy is misleading, and is
ple have been hired and are at work.
adding excessive red tape that is
At full production the mine would
affecting people’s livelihoods.
employ 235 miners and create
Government should be a facilitator
another 300 indirect and induced
and partner, not a hindrance to
jobs in the area. The jobs created by
Americans working to obtain the
3
handling. Pricing is available for
bulk quantities with company logo
imprinting included. For details,
contact Raptor Records, a division
of Attic Entertainment,
atticent@gmail.com, or visit
www.stellaparton.com. Multiple
quantities can also be purchased
at CD Baby.
For the next few months a portion
of CD sales will be donated to
the Montcoal Disaster Fund for the
families of the miners who were
killed at Upper Big Branch. We
hope that readers of Coal News
can help us support the coal
industry in these challenging
times. Everything possible must be
done to promote coal and win the
hearts and minds of both the public
and our political representatives.
Please help us help coal by
purchasing the American Coal CD
for you and your friends.
Bill Reid
billreid007@comcast.net
the Spruce permit would be highpaying,
long-term employment
opportunities. These jobs would pay
approximately $70,000 annually
with full benefits and the total economic
impact of this operation is
estimated at approximately $15 0
million annually.
The EPA and the Obama
Administration appear more than
willing to sacrifice entire industries,
thousands of jobs and bankrupt
counties and states even as they ask
the American taxpayer to shoulder
more and more costs for questionable
big government programs.
In his State of the State Address
this past January, Governor Manchin
stated the issue clearly, “Our coal
miners aren’t asking for a handout.
They are just asking for the ability to
work!” They work hard every day to
provide the coal that is the foundation
of our state and regional economy
and indeed provides the basic
raw materials on which our nation’s
economy depends. The time has
come to step back from the precipice
and put people first … to put our families
and our economy before politics
and personal agendas.

4
June 2010
Administration is Using CWA to
Dismantle Coal Industry
The Obama Administration is using
the Clean Water Act Section 404
permitting process to dismantle
the coal industry in the Appalachian
region. This is one of the investigation
findings of the Senate Environment and
Public Works Committee Minority Staff
Analysis released by Sen. James Inhofe
(R-Okla) ranking member of the committee.
The report says that after a thorough
investigation of the 235 coal mining
404 Permits that were under review by
EPA as of May 11, 2009, the investigation
found that their obstruction is having
an deleterious effect on rural jobs,
energy production, and small businesses
in Appalachia.
Since the initiation of the investigation,
EPA issued 45 of the 235 permits,
which allowed these projects to move
forward. The investigation, which
included gathering information from
EPA, as well as conducting detailed
interviews with permit applicants, found
that the remaining 190 coal mining
operations tied up at EPA are expected
to produce over 2 billion tons of coal
throughout the life of operations and
support roughly 17,806 new and existing
jobs, as well as 81 small businesses.
To put this in perspective, unless EPA
Senate Minority Report
releases the remaining 190 permits,
roughly 1 in every 4 coal mining jobs in
the Appalachian region will be at risk of
elimination, 81 small businesses will
lose significant income and will be at
risk of bankruptcy and over two years of
America’s coal supply will be in jeopardy.
These impacts hit especially hard
in West Virginia and Kentucky, where
the majority of the delayed mining operations
are located. EPA’s actions, or lack
thereof, will also impact other
Appalachian states, including Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, and
Alabama, according to the report.
If EPA continues to maintain its hold
Types of Mining Blocked by Adminstration
on Kentucky’s permits, the state will
lose an estimated $127 million in tax
revenue annually. In fiscal year 2008-
2009, Kentucky’s coal industry generated
$282 million in tax revenue for the
state. West Virginia also greatly benefits
from coal revenue. If EPA continues to
maintain its hold on West Virginia 404
Permits, the state will lose an estimated
$217 million in tax revenue annually. In
fiscal year 2009, the West Virginia coal
industry generated $533 million in tax
revenue for the state.
Of particular note, is that the investigation
also revealed the Obama
Administration’s broader agenda to
drastically curtail coal mining in
Appalachia. For decades, the environmental
community has politicized
mountaintop mining by exaggerating its
environmental impacts and stoking
unfounded fear in mining communities.
The investigation shows that the
Administration is exploiting this fear as
a means to block all coal mining operations
in the Appalachian region.
According to the report, the
Administration’s public statements
regarding their review of the 190 mining
permits, including the June 2009
Memorandum of Understanding
between the White House and several
federal agencies, and a variety of press
statements throughout the course of
2009, appear to address mountaintop
mining only. The June 2009 press statement
alone included sixteen references
to “mountaintop mining” while only
mentioning “surface mining” four times
in that same statement. The investigation
found that these statements are
highly misleading. As shown in the figure,
in blocking the 190 coal mining
permits in Appalachia, the
Administration only halted 19 actual
mountaintop mining operations. The
remaining 171 blocked mining operations
included a range of surface,
underground, and refuse operations.
“The report confirms that EPA is
threatening the highest paying jobs in
the region at a time when federal, state,
and local governments are all attempting
to pull this country out of the worst
economic recession in decades,” said
NMA President and CEO Hal Quinn.
“EPA’s policies undermine those efforts.
Coal mining jobs are vital to the economic
and social fabric of communities
throughout Appalachia, and the lawful
permits EPA continues to review are
necessary for continued employment at
nearly 200 operations throughout the
region.”
EPA Spruce No. 1 Hearing Draws Hundreds
West Virginia Gov. Joe
Manchin and Rep. Nick
Rahall (D-WVa) strongly condemned
EPA’s actions on the proposal
by EPA to prohibit or restrict mining
activities in streams associated with
the Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan
County, West Virginia at a pre-hearing
rally arranged by the Friends of Coal
and FACES of Coal.
About 1,000 coal mining supporters
participated in the EPA hearing in
Charleston, West Virginia on the first
Clean Water Act (CWA) permit the
agency has ever proposed to fully
revoke years after its issuance. The
Spruce No. 1 permit for a surface mine
in Logan County was issued in 2007
after an extensive 10-year review,
including preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement. EPA
announced earlier this year that it was
starting the process to suspend the
permit.
There were about 100 supporters
who spoke at the hearing on the
Spruce project, including local elected
officials, education leaders, and community
members representing churches,
schools, small businesses, and
others. About 40 opponents of the
Spruce Permit, largely comprising
EPA Panel Listen to Speakers
environmental extremists, participated
in the hearing.
“Revoking this permit that was lawfully
issued almost three years ago,
with your agency’s blessing, after
more than ten years of the most comprehensive
environmental review,
again by your agency, is as troublesome,
unnecessary, and arrogant as
anything we’ve ever seen in West
Virginia,” said Bill Raney, President,
West Virginia Coal Association. “I
think if you dig deep and honestly
answer the common working man’s
definition of environmental justice,
you’ll find this threat by EPA, your
agency to revoke this permit without
any reason, to be wrong.”
John McDaniel of Arch Coal said his
company cannot investigate in the
Spruce mine if the EPA can reject the
permit at any time. “We believe all of
these issues were addressed long ago
and are very disappointed.”
“West Virginia has been implementing
its version of the Clean Water
Act for decades, issuing permits that
contain some of the nation’s most
stringent discharge limits to protect
water quality standards, standards
many states have chosen not even to
adopt,” added Chris Hamilton, Senior
VP, WVCA. “West Virginia’s implementation
of its water quality standards in
permitting programs was unchallenged
by EPA for years, or until the
federal agency sought to hijack the
state’s primary responsibility for water
quality protection by interpreting the
state’s own water standards, and
doing so in such a way that conflicts
with the state’s own interpretation.”
“This situation would be a laughable
exercise in regulatory dysfunction if it
were not so serious, that a federal
agency would use state laws and regulations
as a hammer to take a permit
endorsed by that very state. The EPA
would seek to avoid millions of hours
of analysis and review by the Corps in
the issuance of the project-specific
EIA,” said Jason Bostic, VP, WVCA.
“This is serious situation. Hundreds of
jobs are at stake, millions of dollars of
investment, millions of dollars in
potential tax revenues, and the faith
and participation of the communities
in and around the Spruce mine. The
very communities that EPA somehow
thinks they are protecting by hijacking
their ability to control their own destiny.”
Logan County School
Superintendent Wilma Zigmond drew
applause when she told the panel that
coal provides more than $7.5 million
in property taxes for her district.
“Consider the losses, both financial
and emotional, and the impact this
would have to Logan County School
System. Remember coal keeps the
lights on and our schools running.”
Several speakers traveled a considerable
distance to attend. Kentucky
Coal Association Bill Bissett blasted
the EPA. “Your director, Lisa Jackson,
literally says I don’t care about the
economic impact. It’s unfair and it’s
wrong. It’s an injustice.”
Bill Reid, Managing Editor, Coal
News, quoted EPA’s mission, “to protect
human health and to safeguard
the natural environment,” adding he
said “if mines are closed, poverty,
sickness, and mental health problems
occur which is the very opposite of
EPA’s mission, “to protect human
health.” Reid raised point four of EPA’s
purpose, which includes the words
“economic growth.” “If mines are
closed, this is hardly “economic
growth” and it is once again exactly
the opposite of EPA’s mission statement,”
said Reid.

June 2010
5
National Mining Association
(NMA) President and CEO
Hal Quinn began a roundtable
discussion, “The Economics
of Coal,” at the kickoff event of the
Congressional Coal Caucus.
Quinn emphasized coal’s significant
contribution to jobs creation,
the economic future of local communities
and to the nation’s economic
and energy security.
Quinn told the caucus that,
NMA’s Says Coal the “Real Deal”
hands.”
“Coal is providing real jobs; real
economic opportunity; affordable
and secure energy; a vital feedstock;
and fuel for steel, cement,
paper, food and chemical production
in the U.S.” He said these are
not hoped-for contributions, theoretical
benefits or out-sourced
jobs. Rather, he stressed, “They
are the real deal, with a track
record of accomplishment and a
future that is, in many ways, in your
He congratulated the
caucus on their work thus far in
raising awareness of the nation’s
abundant and affordable supply of
coal-based energy.
The Congressional Coal Caucus,
launched in January, currently has
81 House members, including bipartisan
co-chairs, Reps. Jason
Altmire (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore
Capito (R-W.Va.), Tim Holden (D-
Pa.) and Denny Rehberg (R-
Mont.). The roundtable discussion
also featured the United Mine
Workers of America, the
Association of American
Railroads, the American Coalition
for Clean Coal Electricity, the
Edison Electric Institute, the
American Iron and Steel Institute
and Alpha Natural Resources. All
discussed the vital role of coal in
the nation’s economy.
Chambers Denounce EPA Mining Guidelines
Seventeen local chambers of
commerce from across West
Virginia are speaking out to
expresses their united concerns about
new federal guidelines threatening to
eliminate coal mining in Central
Appalachia. Sixteen local chambers
co-signed on a joint letter to U.S.
Senators Robert C. Byrd and John D.
Rockefeller, IV, asking the two senators
to intervene with the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to protect coal’s future in the state. The
Charleston Regional Chamber of
Commerce sent a similar letter on its
own, mirroring the views on the other
chambers.
The new guidelines, which were
announced by EPA on April 1, will
impose unscientific and unattainable
water quality standards that only apply
to coal mining and only in the six
Appalachian coal producing states of
West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Tennessee and Virginia.
All three of West Virginia’s members
in the U.S. House of Representatives
have weighed in with the EPA on this
Harold P. Quinn, Jr.
issue. Third district Congressmen Nick
J. Rahall and first district Congressman
Alan B. Mollohan both signed a letter
with Virginia Congressman Rick
Boucher, asking the EPA to reconsider
these new standards. On a separate
letter, second district Congresswoman
Shelly Moore Capito joined 22 other
U.S. House members asking EPA to
withdraw the regulations.
The local chambers—representing
thousands of businesses across the
state and tens of thousands of jobs—
are concerned about the “grave, longterm
effects” that the new regulations
will have not only on coal mining and
coal jobs, but also on other businesses
and industries throughout the state.
“Seventeen different local business
communities from all corners of our
state have come together to speak in
one unified voice,” said Bryan Brown, a
spokesperson for The Federation for
American Coal, Energy and Security
(FACES of Coal). “What they said was
that EPA should suspend these guidelines
immediately and work with our
elected leaders in a transparent manner
to enact realistic standards that
won’t threaten 80,000 jobs in
Appalachia,” said Brown.
The Federation for American Coal,
Energy and Security (FACES of Coal) is
an alliance of more than 60,000 people
from all walks of life who are joining
forces to educate lawmakers and the
general public about the importance of
coal and coal mining to our local and
national economies and to our nation’s
energy security. For more information
on FACES of Coal, visit: www.facesofcoal.org.

6
June 2010
Meeting Report
SME Annual Meeting Draws Nearly 5,000
Several Thousand Professionals Listen to Opening Session
Bruce Watzman, Jeff Kohler, Steve Leer, Gary Goldberg, Michael Hood, Raja V. Ramani
Jergen Brune
John Murphy
David Kanagy
Nikhil Trivedi
The 2010 SME Annual Meeting
and Exhibit, held in Phoenix,
Arizona, and Celebrating 100
Years of Mining Research drew an
attendance of 4,937.
The meeting began with the SME
Keynote Session titled Extracting the
Science: A Century of Mining
Research presenting leaders in all
areas that contribute to the scientific
body of knowledge in mining: industry,
academia, and government. The
speakers offered a historical perspective
with an eye toward a future
that is both safer and healthier, while
also productive and sustainable. The
session was moderated by Bruce
Watzman, Senior VP for Regulatory
Affairs, National Mining Association.
Speakers were: Jeffery Kohler,
Associate Director of Mining, NIOSH;
Steven F. Leer, Chairman and CEO,
Arch Coal Inc.; Gary Goldberg,
President and CEO, Rio Tinto
Minerals; Michael Hood, CEO, CRC
Mining; and Raja V. Ramani,
Emeritus Professor of Mining and
GeoEnv Enginering, Penn State
University.
At the meeting, there were 102
sessions comprising 436 presentations.
There were four short courses
and three field trips. There were fifteen
alumni and special functions.
The Coal and Energy Division had fifteen
technical sessions, plus the
Coal and Energy Division Luncheon
comprising Silent Auction, and
Business Meeting. The Coal and
Energy Division Chair was Jurgen
Brune and Division Program Chair
was Joseph Zelanko, Rosebud
Mining Co.
The Exhibit Hall at the Phoenix
Convention Center North opened
with the Opening Reception on the
Sunday evening and was open two
full days on the Monday and Tuesday,
as well as Wednesday morning.
Sponsored by SME, there was a
Recruitment Pavilion offering mining
companies an opportunity to interview
and recruit grad students, as
well as exhibit their products and
services. There was also an
International Pavilion showcasing
exhibitors from around the world.
SME and the SME Foundation had a
special booth to assist in the always
popular SME Cyber Café, offering
free internet access. There was a
total number of 630 Booths.
At the AIME/SME Dinner, 2010
SME President William H. Wilkinson
handed over to the new President
Nikhil C. Trivedi. The President-Elect
is John N. Murphy and the SME
Executive Director is David Kanagy.
For further information phone 800-
763-3132 or visit www.smenet.org.
Attendance Included 4,937 Industry Professionals
There was a Record 630 Exhibits

June 2010
7
Drager SCBA Mining Escape System
K
Armstrong, Sales Manager
Mining – Canada, U.S., and
Mexico, Draeger Safety Inc.,
gave a presentation to the SME
Annual Meeting entitled Drager SCBA
Mining Escape System. Drager has a
rich history in mining. The SCBA Mine
Egress System was first used in mining
in the late 1960’s and 1970’s by
mine rescue underground cage tenders
and underground hoistmen
called the stand and fill/wear and fill.
With NIOSH approval in the late 80’s
of the Airoquip Quick Connect stand
fill/wear, fill was taken out of service.
In the mid-90’s, underground mine
rescue teams and companies
switched to the Quick Fill for cage tender
and hoistmen. In the late 90’s,
mines purchased the Quick Fill system
to do post-blast examination by
ventilation teams.
The MINER Act 2006 requires
expansion of mine emergency plan
increasing requirements for SCSRs in
the USA coal market. Draeger
Australia in the late 1990’s worked on
the design of the Mine Emergency
Escape system for coal mines in
Australia. The application was for
escape and underground firefighting
teams. The SCBA has a number of features.
No changeout is required during
escape and the units can be refilled
quickly and safely. It is a positive pressure
unit with low breathing resistance.
Verbal communication is the
key. There is a pressure gauge for displaying
remaining air and the units are
maintainable rather than disposable.
A comparison of the SCBA vs. the
SCSR follows. The SCSR is NIOSHapproved
with escape from IDLH
atmosphere only. The SCBA is NIOSHapproved
for both escape and entry
into IDLH atmosphere. It is NIOSHtested
at 40 LPM for 60-minute duration.
The SCSR has difficulty in exchanging
to a new unit. The SCBA units are
not exchanged during egress. The
units are recharged while still worn by
the user.
The SCSR has limited training on
Fig 1 SCBA Seals Around Entire Face
Fig 3 12 SCBA Cache
Fig 5 Breathing Air Compressor
K. Armstrong
“live” units. With the SCBA training is
done with actual units. When training
is completed, clean the unit and refill
the cylinders.
With the SCSR goggles, vision is
restricted. With the SCBA, full-face
piece allows for wider range of vision.
With the SCSR, the nose clip is
uncomfortable to wear and may not
provide effective seal. With the SCBA,
a full-face piece provides seal around
the entire face and allows for a more
comfortable fit (see Figure 1).
With the SCSR, talking is virtually
impossible, and with the SCBA, verbal
communication is clear. SCSR units
require pre-start system to initiate O2
flow. The SCBA has first breath activation.
With the SCSR there is no indication
of oxygen consumed. With the
SCBA there is a pressure gauge for
displaying the remaining air.
The SCSR is chest-mounted with
possible restriction of movement.
With the SCBA, both hands are free
and weight is evenly distributed.
With the SCSR during escape, the
temperature of inhaled air can
become hot and uncomfortable. With
the SCBA, the air is cooled when
expanding from compression and this
expansion cools the SCBA and the air
to the user. The SCSR has high breathing
resistance, while the SCBA is a
positive pressure system with a lung
demand activation. The SCSR has a
service life plan of ten years and the
SCBA has a cylinder with a fifteenyear
life with hydrotesting every five
years. The units are maintainable
rather than disposable.
The SCBA Mine Escape System has
refill stations with forty refills or twenty
refills. The refills are based on refilling
60-minute cylinder from 0 psi to
4,500 psi. The SCBA caches are 20
SCBA or 12 SCBA (see Figures 2 and
3).
The 20 SCBA cache has two drawers
of 8 SCBAs and one wall of 4
SCBAs. The 12 SCBA cache has two
drawers of 6 SCBAs. The unit can be
transported by forklift or scoop and
lifted or pulled into place.
The refill systems use breathing air
Fig 2 20 SCBA Cache
Fig 4 40 Refill Station
Fig 6 Booster Pump
at 6,000 psi and 100% pneumatic
operation. There are no electric components
and there is a simple threestep
SCBA refill procedure. The 40
refill station contains 8,144 cubic feet
breathing air with refill connections
for ten persons. The 20 refill station
contains 4,072 cubic feet of breathing
air with refill connections for five
persons. The 20 refill station has 27
cylinders from 0-4,500 psi and 30
cylinders from 2,200-4,500 psi. The
40 refill station has 54 cylinders from
0-4,500 psi and 63 cylinders from
2,200-4,500 psi (see Figure 4). The
20 refill station has 32 man-hours
available after 27 SCBAs have been
refilled, that is one person at 32 hours
and two persons at 16 hours. The 20
refill is 80 inches long by 60 inches
wide by 40 inches high and weighs
4,500 pounds. The 40 refill station
has 62 man-hours available after 54
SCBAs have been refilled; that is one
person at 62 hours and two persons
at 31 hours. Its dimensions are ten
feet long by five feet wide by forty inches
high and weighs 8,500 pounds.
Refill systems filling procedure is a
three-step system. Step 1: open refill
station door; Step 2: open the fill
valve; Step 3: connect the refill line to
the SCBA. The SCBA Mine Escape
System meets and exceeds current
NIOSH SCSR standards. The District
Manager must approve the
Emergency Escape Plan. The system
is 100% pneumatic operation and
there are no electronic parts for MSHA
approval.
A breathing air compressor is
required support equipment (see
Figure 5). This has an output pressure
of 6,000 psi and produces CGA Grade
D breathing air. The booster pump is
shown in Figure 6,. The breathing air is
6,000 psi and it is recommended that
this is air driven with a PTO driven
screw compressor and dedicated
storage bank. A Class II fill station is
required for refilling the SCBAs after
training/service. This is NFPA and
OSHA.

8
June 2010
Instruments for Gas Analysis
Michael P. Valoski, Chief,
Toxic Agents Branch,
MSHA, gave a presentation
to the SME Annual Meeting
entitled Instruments for Gas
Analysis at Mine Fires/Explosions.
Mine fires and explosions are
horrible events that affect miners,
mine operators, and the surrounding
community see Figure 1. While
these events still occur, they have
become fairly uncommon events.
Recent mine fires/explosions were
at Sago, Alma No. 1, and Kentucky
Darby. At these mines, nineteen
miners died and mines permanently
closed. MSHA monitors the situation
via gas analysis to assist the
District Manager in determining
the appropriateness of the action
being contemplated by the mine
operator. MSHA wants to minimize
unnecessary risks.
Instruments can be detector
tubes, handheld instruments,
portable instruments, or gas chromatographs.
All sampling must be
conducted safely. For example, the
instruments should be held in the
exhaust air while the operator
remains in fresh air. Also, samples
should be collected as soon as
possible so mine rescue teams will
have information when they arrive
at the mine.
Detector tubes should be intrinsically
safe, inexpensive, easy-touse,
small size, and as accurate as
possible, measuring one gas at a
time, cross sensitivity, and may
have limited shelf life. Only detector
tubes that take one stroke
should be used. Multiple stroke
tubes take too long to determine
the gas concentration. The exposure
to the possible hazardous
environment should be limited.
Detector tube is shown in Figure 2
and gases detected are shown in
Figure 3.
Handheld instruments can be
accurate, small, fast response,
alarm when in dangerous environment,
require calibration gas, may
Fig 1 Farmington 1968
have a short sensor life, cross sensitivity,
and the gases can destroy
the sensor. These are carried by
mine rescue teams and some can
measure up to five gases. Some
can store the measurements for
time study. Handheld instruments
are shown in Figure 4, and the
gases measured are shown in
Figure 5.
Portable instruments can constantly
sample the environment,
have a wide dynamic range, are not
intrinsically safe, can be large,
require gas calibration, require an
electric line, and require a pump to
pull the sample to the sensor.
MSHA carries these to the mines,
can quickly collect a sample if a
change in the gas level is seen.
Portable instruments are shown in
Figure 6 and the gases measured
are shown in Figure 7.
Gas chromatographs are stable,
measure ten gases from one injection,
require calibration gas, specific
for gas, wide dynamic range,
not intrinsically safe, require electric
line, very expensive, and need
trained operators. MSHA has a
Mobile Gas Laboratory with gas
chromatographs. There are many
ways to configure the gas chromatograph
to obtain gas levels.
MSHA has gas chromatographs
stationed in Denver, Colorado and
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as well
as Mt. Hope, West Virginia. These
must be constantly used because
the retention times change. Few
mines have gas chromatographs.
Gas samples are collected in evacuated
glass bottles, mylar, or tedlar
bags, or plastic syringes. The gases
measured are CO, CO2, O2, N2,
AR, CH4, C2H6, and H2. A software
suite allows the calculation of the
important mine fire indices. Gas
chromatograph s can be benchtop
or portable. The benchtop are used
for laboratory work, while the
portable are able to travel. The
portable type produces faster
results, but the lower detection
limit is poorer than the benchtop.
The mobile gas laboratory is
shown in Figure 8. Gas chromatographs
are carried inside the
lab. The lab is totally self sufficient.
The benchtop gas chromatograph
is shown in Figure 9. The micro gas
chromatograph is shown in Figure
10.
The author concluded that gas
chromatographs are essential and
there is the need to obtain information
using different types of instruments.
Each instrument type has
its uses. Detector tubes provide the
least useful information and handheld
instruments need to be used
by Mine Rescue Teams.
Fig 2 Detector Tube Fig 3 Gases Detected Fig 4 Handheld Instruments
Fig 5 Gases Measured Fig 6 Portable Instruments Fig 7 Gases Measures with Portable Instruments
Fig 8 Mobile Gas Laboratory Fig 9 Bench Top Gas Chromatograph Fig 10 Micro Gas Chromatograph

June 2010
9
Above Ground Communications
RMainhart, J. Taylor, and D.
Wolfe, Center of Excellence
for Remote and Medically
Underserved Areas (CERMUSA),
Saint Francis University, Loretto,
Pennsylvania, gave a presentation
to the SME Annual Meeting entitled
Augmentative Above Ground
Communications for Mine Rescue
Operations.
Terrain and environment differ
greatly from one mine to another.
Therefore, augmentative above
ground communications needs may
vary from one rescue event to another.
In developing IP-based solutions
to provide voice communications in
difficult to serve areas, it becomes
possible to deliver additional communications
modes, such as data
and video. A communications “tool
kit” approach offers a dynamic
method of addressing a wide variety
of variables, both environmental
and content or needs-based.
Such a system, properly
deployed, will offer an interface
between surface and underground
rescue communications, and creates
the potential to harness
telemedicine capabilities from a
Fresh Air Base directly to first
responders or medical command.
By using commercial off-the-shelf
components and systems, mine rescue
efforts can be better coordinated
among the several stakeholders,
allowing for improved information
sharing in a secure manner. Using
an IP-based communications tool
kit, multiple communication modalities
can be used singly or in combination
in order to overcome differences
in environment and communication
needs.
The emergence of advanced communications
technologies presents
opportunities and raises new challenges
in the mission of conducting
mine rescue operations. The instant
access to voice, data, and video
may result in information overload,
and a blurring of the real and virtual
space. Keeping the human factors
in mind, in 2008 and 2009, Saint
Francis University in Loretto,
Pennsylvania, through its Center of
Excellence for Remote and
Medically Underserved Areas (CER-
MUSA), conducted a needs assessment
and demonstrated an array of
IP-based communications technologies
that could allow stakeholders
in the mine rescue environment
to improve the ability to share
and transmit information. The contract
with NIOSH focused on the difficult
above ground communications
problems that hinder the
efforts of mine rescue support and
decision-making staff see Figure 1
and Figure 2.
Recent changes, prompted by the
MINER Act of 2006, as well as communications
challenges identified
during several more recent mine
rescue events, resulted in development
of a revised Mine Emergency
Command System (MECS). It
appears that MECS structure is similar
to the National Incident
Management System (NIMS) model
Robert Mainhart
developed by the Department of
Homeland Security and broadly
used through the Civilian
Emergency Management System.
While the MECS relies on a consensus-based
Command Group, involving
each of the principle stakeholders
in a mine rescue event, the NIMS
system defines a unitary command.
Given that the Command Group
model is deeply engrained into the
culture of the mining industry and
regulators, it becomes even more
important that, as communications
technologies allow more information
to flow during mine rescue
operations, the information must be
secured while at the same time
being shared with all appropriate
stakeholders.
Numerous vendors have developed
NIMS-based incident command
data management software
“dashboards” that assist in the distribution
and organization of tactical
and operational information.
Based on the nearly identical organizational
structure between NIMS
and MECS, any of these products
could be incorporated into an overall
mine rescue incident response
plan, or adapted on an incident-byincident
basis see Figure 3.
The communications toolkit concept
demonstrated by CERMUSA
offers stakeholders in the coal mining
community an array of methods
to overcome environmental and
geographical obstacles to effective
communication during mine rescue
events. Human factors must also be
considered because the ability to
exchange information more effectively
means decision-makers now
have more information available,
but must simultaneously distribute
and secure the data see Figures 4
and 5.
Further, while these communications
tools are relatively easy to
operate once established, the
nature of emergency response suggests
that these tools be as much as
possible integrated into day-to-day
operations so as not to impose an
additional hurdle to establishing a
communications network during a
mine rescue operation. The coal
mining community has a well-established
commitment to continuing
training for these involved in mine
rescue. Such continuing training
with a communications toolkit for
both the technicians who establish
and operate the network, as well as
those who use it is essential see
Figure 6.
By their nature, mine rescue
events place considerable strain on
existing communications infrastructure.
The development of a communications
toolkit can and should be
an effort that involves all stakeholders.
While not advocating any specific
policy in this area, it is suggested
that mine operators, knowing
their local environment best, survey
in advance usable ground and sky
paths for deployment of augmentative
above ground communications
networks in likely areas of operation.
Ongoing discussions with local
telecommunications service
providers should include conversations
about the ways and means of
adding capacity during emergencies.
The ideal emergency response
plan would include both the expected
quantity and type of information
exchange required of all stakeholders,
and how the communications
infrastructure would be deployed
and shared.
This demonstration of communications
technologies is only a first
step in the continuing evolution of
the information distribution and
sharing that is crucial to the mining
community and to the people it
serves. Whenever new technologies
are introduced, it is vitally important
that they blend into the existing
workplace environment. The technologies
being discussed in this
document should seamlessly blend
into the operational culture of the
mine rescue process.
Fig 1 Project Overview Fig 2 Demonstration Area Fig 3 Communications Aerostat
Fig 4 Interfacing Under and Above Ground Fig 5 Underground Interface Fig 6 Mobile Communications Platform

10
June 2010
How to Limit the Blame Game
Adele Abrams, ESQ, CMSP,
Law Office of Adele
Abrams, and H. John Head,
PE, CEng, Continental Placer,
Inc., gave a presentation entitled
How to Limit the Blame Game to
the SME Annual Meeting. This
presentation covered both the
legal aspects and the technical
aspects.
Crisis management goals
include the following:
Prevention: provide safe and
healthful workplaces, audit regularly,
regulatory compliance!
Detection: accident investigation
(actual and near miss), monitor
injury/illness data for site
and industry trends. Recovery:
regain confidence of public.
Measurement: post-incident
evaluation to remediate root
causes of problems (not quick
fix).
When an accident or serious
crisis occurs, consider if it can
be handled by: on-duty personnel
only, company personnel (on
and off duty), company personnel
plus outside counsel/consultants,
all of the above plus emergency
responders and/or government
investigators.
Mine Act Section 3 definitions
include (k) “accident” includes a
mine explosion, mine ignition,
mine fire, or mine inundation, or
injury to or death of, any person.
30 CFR Part 50.2(h) includes
“dirty dozen” for immediate
reporting (15 minutes) under 30
CFR 50.10. Failure to report
results in minimum $5,000
penalty. Other categories
include: hoist outage for less
than 30 minutes, fires lasting
greater than 30 minutes,
unplanned ignition of gases,
dust, blasting agent or explosives,
unplanned roof or rib fall
in active workings that impairs
ventilation or impedes passage.
The Mine Act Section 103(k)
order says “in the event of any
accident occurring in a coal or
other mine, an authorized representative
of the Secretary, when
present, may issue such orders
as he deems appropriate to
ensure the safety of any person
in the coal or other mine…” The
(k) order says “and the operators
of such mine shall obtain the
approval of such representative,
in consultation with appropriate
State representatives, when feasible,
of any plan to recover any
person in such mine or to recover
the coal or other mine or return
Adele Abrams, ESQ
affected areas of such mine to
normal. Working in the face of a
K-Order will result in citation,
special assessment, and possible
Section 110 actions against
agents.
30 CFR Paragraph 50.11:
Investigation (a) says “and will
promptly inform the operator of
his decision. If MSHA decides to
investigate an accident, it will
initiate the investigation within
24 hours of notification.” (b)
“Each operator of a mine shall
investigate each accident and
each occupational injury at the
mine…each report prepared by
the operator shall include, (1)
the date and hour of occurrence;
(2) the date the investigation
began; (3) the names of individuals
participating in the investigation.
Each report prepared by the
operator shall include a description
of the site and an explanation
of the accident or injury,
including a description of any
equipment involved and relevant
events before and after the
occurrence, and any explanation
of the cause of any injury, the
cause of any accident or cause of
any other event which caused an
injury. Each report prepared by
the operator shall include the
name, occupation, and experience
of any miner involved; a
sketch, where pertinent, including
dimensions depicting the
occurrence; a description of
steps taken to prevent a similar
occurrence in the future; and
identification of any reports submitted
under Paragraph 50.20 of
this part.
Incident investigation procedures
include defining the scope
of the investigation and selecting
and briefing an investigative
team and making work assignments
as follows: determine type
and extent of incident and damage,
evaluate normal operating
procedures, review maps when
appropriate, secure accident
site and restrict access, identify
witnesses and isolate, review
precursor events.
Investigative procedures
include interview witnesses,
obtain evidence, take photos,
videotape site and obtain measurements,
analyze data (including
police and government
reports, autopsies, etc.), determine
causation and remedial
measures, conduct post-investigation
briefing, and prepare
summary report. Involve counsel
in all of the above, where appropriate,
to privilege work product.
A team approach in investigations
is critical since the designated
leader may be unavailable
(or injured). Backup is needed
for long duration of events or
where MSHA sends multiple
“Crisis
Management
Goals Include:
Prevention,
Detection,
Recover, and
Measurement”
investigators. It is essential to
have a chain of command so
nothing gets missed. The team
coordinator’s duties include:
assessing situation and determining
gravity, contacting counsel
if appropriate, notifying regulatory
agencies (if mandated),
directing efforts in the area,
evacuating and accounting for
personnel, directing sites shutdown,
coordinating site security,
and making authorized statements
to the media.
Cooperation with the authorities
is vital. Learn ahead of time
which agencies have the right of
entry, warrant requirements, etc.
Ensure agents understand they
are not required to write out or
give verbal statements without
council, to be audio/videotaped,
or to sign any documents.
Understand statutes and regula-
H. John Head, PE
tions. Be present (where possible)
during interviews with
employees, managers, witnesses.
Try to get copies of police,
EMR, and coroner reports ASAP.
Only prepare written statements
at direction of counsel (to maintain
privilege). Understand “right
to remain silent.” Criminal prosecution
is possible. Know what
documents must be provided.
Never make false statements
ever.
Document requests may be
made through subpoenas, or
pursuant to Section 103(a) or
108(a)(1)(E) of Mine Act.
Documents sought by MSHA can
include: non-privileged incident
reports, self-inspection forms
(audits), sampling results, purchase
orders, safety committee
minutes, worker’s comp and
other insurance reports, equipment
inspection and calibration
records. MSHA can subpoena
these documents prior to the
issuance of citations only if they
convene a public hearing. Nonmandatory
documents can also
be obtained post-citation
through the discovery process.
There are a number of other
document issues. Documents
containing opinions should bear
the caption, “Privileged and confidential,
attorney work product,
prepared in anticipation of litigation.”
Identified hazards
should not be referred as violations.
Only authorized individuals
employed by the employer
and approved by counsel should
prepare investigative documents
and related reports. Nonrequired
records should never be
released without corporate or
legal approval. Always require
MSHA to request non-mandatory
records in writing.
With regard to MSHA interviews
and investigations, know
your rights ahead of time. They
include: the right not to speak to
MSHA’s representatives at all
(initial investigators or “special”
investigators in Section 110 proceedings.)
The right to have a
representative of own choosing
present if you voluntarily decide
to give a statement. Do not:
admit knowledge of violations,
agree that a violation exists, provide
non-statutorily required
documents, guess or speculate.
At MSHA on-site investigations,
never leave the inspector
unaccompanied at the worksite.
Know the rules, think in terms of
affirmative defenses, and lay
groundwork. Take comparative
IH samples, try to get worker’s
consent to be present during
interviews (or get copies of their
statements), but avoid coercion
(Section 105(c) potential complications).
Write down inspectors
statements. Replicate drawings,
measurements and photos.
Don’t perform “demonstrations”
for the inspector.
The Mine Act is a criminal
statute. Every 104(d)
citation/order and imminent
danger 107(a) order will be specially
investigated and can yield
to personal civil penalties of up
to $70,000 or criminal prosecution
for “agents of management”
as well as corporate penalties of
up to $220,000 per citation.
Every special investigation under
Section 110(c) is reviewed for
criminal prosecution.
Imprisonment is also possible
where there is conspiracy or
obstruction of justice. State officials
can prosecute under criminal
statutes, e.g. negligible
homicide, manslaughter, reckless
endangerment, assault and
battery.
A number of post-incident
actions should be taken. Analyze
hazards involved (equipment,
materials, work practices, procedures,
work environment, health
issues). Determine which controls
were in place, and which
were lacking or failed in time of
emergency. Train/retrain
employees. Inform everyone with
need to know of corrective
actions (and get necessary funding
authorization). Implement
actions needed to remediate
conditions. Follow-up to ensure
that results are achieved to prevent
future incidents.

June 2010
Colorado’s MSHA-Approved Mine Rescue Contest/MERD
Harry Lovely, Mine Safety and
Training Program, Colorado
Division of Reclamation,
Mining and Safety; and Collin Smith,
Mining Engineering, Colorado School
of Mines, gave a presentation to the
SME Annual Meeting entitled
Colorado’s MSHA-Approved Mine
Rescue Contest/MERD.
MERD is Mine Emergency Response
Development. The contest has three
components: field problem, first-aid
contest, and technical contest. The
field problem is to safely and systematically
explore a simulated mine
looking for miners, encounter fires,
cave-ins, dangerous atmosphere, and
placards are used to relay information
to the teams.
The MERD has very little to no simulation,
participation between teams
and involvement of the Incident
Command Center, risk vs. reward, and
one continuous event encompassing
as much as possible.
The 2006 MINER Act was put into
place by Congress to amend the
Federal Mine and Safety Act of 1977.
It required coal teams to participate in
two local mine rescue contests annually
among other changes. MSHA followed
set Act guidelines and proposed
the following rules: 30 CFR
Parts 49 and 75 were published
September 6, 2007 and the comment
period was held open until November
16, 2007.
49.60(c) Alternative to Participation
in Local Rescue Contests; under the
proposal, Mine Emergency Response
Development (MERD) drills can count
as equivalent training when the team
participates in a realistic simulation
exercise, such as fire and explosion
drills, while wearing breathing apparatus.
Harry Lovely responds to MSHA
and explains the type of training that
is done at the Edgar Mine Rescue
Training Center, as well as asking for
clarification on MERD requirements.
The final rule 30 CFR 49.60(b)
Requirements for a Local Mine
Rescue Contest: (b) a local mine rescue
contest is training that provides
Fig 1 Edgar Mine - 35 Years Mine Rescue Training
Fig 3 Teams are Exposed to New Technology
Fig 5 Incident Command
Collin Smith
an objective evaluation of demonstrated
mine rescue team skills and
can be a Mine Emergency Response
Development (MERD) exercise or a
practical simulation exercise, such as
a fire or explosion drill where the team
participates in simulated mine rescue
team exercises and wears breathing
apparatus.
On May 9, 2008, approval came
from the MSHA District 9 office to
conduct MSHA-approved MERDs at
the Edgar Mine. The first MSHAapproved
MERD was held on May 21,
2008. The Edgar Mine is in Idaho
Springs Colorado about 40 miles west
of Denver. It is owned by the Colorado
School of Mines and used to train
future engineers with hands-on experience.
It is used as an experimental
location and a tourist mine. The
Colorado Division of Reclamation,
Mining, and Safety, Mine Safety
Training Program (CDRMSMSTP) has
used the Edgar Mine for 35 years to
conduct mine rescue training with
hundreds of coal and metal/nonmetal
teams. The geology and development
offers teams random room
and pillars, multiple stopes, chutes,
and raises, as shown in Figure 1.
The Colorado MERD guidelines
must be: realistic as possible, bring
everything the team would bring to a
real mine rescue situation, first-aid
required during MERD, no all encompassing
written statement, teams
must ask proper questions, and placards
are used sparingly and no simulation
is allowed. There must be: real
ventilation controls, actual fires, theatrical
smoke, gas readings done in a
realistic manner, a teaching exercise
with interaction with the judges and
helpers is encouraged. The Incident
Command Center is in total control at
all times. The teams can be exposed
to new technology during the event
(see Figures 2 and 3).
The MERD briefing is held the day
before the event and includes a very
incomplete statement of the “problem.”
This is given the day before to
allow teams to fully think about what
needs to take place before they head
underground. The rotation of teams is
shown in Figure 4 and the Incident
Command is shown in Figure 5.
Certain events can arise that will
cause the backup team to get
involved. All members of the Incident
Command may be “tested” at any
given time. Teams interact in a way
they would have not done otherwise.
Teams have scored from zero to ten on
ten items with similar tasks, but not
done in the same location. Judging is
done like Olympic figure skating with
the same set of judges watching each
team do a similar type of activity.
Judges do not know scores from other
areas of the problem.
The ten scored areas are: one,
Incident Command scoring; two,
maps; three, written test; four, gas
meter testing; five, teamwork and
team safety; six-nine, underground
tasks; ten backup team score. There
are no placards in real life and a
team’s experience and ICC approval
will have to dictate the action.
Example: unsafe roof. There is high
risk for the team, but the other side
11
may hold high reward. Rescuing a survivor
on the other side that could possibly
not wait for the team to secure
the area. Appropriate time is given in
MERD to discuss how the team would
handle the situation.
Example: carbon monoxide at 50
ppm and oxygen below 19.5% and
smoke. The coal contest says this is
irrespirable. In reality, the aspect of
time must be taken into account. The
patient behind the barricade could be
in extreme need of care. ICC will analyze
the situation and have team enter
or reventilate.
Example: patient beyond 25-feet
limit. The rule is there for team safety.
In reality, under proper circumstances,
a team can bend the rule.
Colorado MERD will often present a
patient 5 feet, 25 feet, or even 100
feet beyond the 25-feet limit.
Colorado has held twelve MSHAapproved
coal MERDs and one
metal/non-metal MERD (see Figure
6). In 2010, there are five MERDs
already scheduled.
Fig 2 Incident Command Center is in Control
Fig 4 Rotation of Teams
Fig 6 MSHA Approved Coal MERDs

12
June 2010
Wayne Hartley, Mine
Rescue, Queensland
Mines Rescue Service,
Australia, gave a presentation at the
SME Annual Meeting.
Following a major underground
coal mine incident, there followed a
review of the role of mines rescue –
the Queensland Mine Rescue
Brigade. It wasn’t until 2002 that
the real change started to happen.
The issue of geographical distance
was addressed by mines rescue
substations being located on the
mine sites with parent rescue stations
in a central location (see
Figure 1).
The management system was
reformed with the industry based
into a state system. Funding was
changed to be industry-based and
the focus was on risk management.
The mines rescue system needed to
Queensland Mines Rescue Service
be significant and reform and
changed management system in
mines rescue struggled with the
implementation. The competitiveness
of the coal industry meant that
no one was of one mind and there
was the issue of distance in the
state of Queensland. A second
attempt was made to change and
implement a new structure with risk
management now a strong focus.
The mission is to be of significance
and to influence, as well as becoming
one organization. The rescue
system was given significant support
with new equipment, etc.
Funding was reviewed and the system
reformed to be industry-based.
The management system was
replaced and the rescue system was
confirmed to stay as a mine sitebased
system.
The Queensland Mine Rescue
Wayne Hartley
Service Organizational Chart is
shown in Figure 2. The government
challenged the industry with Level 1
major exercises that were legislated
with industry and government support.
QMRS reformed the MR training
systems and improved the MR
equipment and MR response systems,
testing the system regularly
every six to eight weeks.
Competitions focused on “what we
do in real emergency operations
underground.”
QMRS introduced Mines
Emergency Management System
and later MEMS 2 (Electronic
Information Management Software
for MEMS). This involved training
mine site management in emergency
management using an
Incident Command System. The system
was based on planning/operations/logistics
and managed by a
small Incident Control Team (ICT).
Mine site hazard management
plans and systems incorporate the
MEMS concept. It gives a huge
insight into emergency management
for the whole industry. The
report is made public along with the
recommendations.
QMRS operates on behalf of the
whole industry, the GAG Inertisation
Unit. It is available to Australian
mines for emergency operations in
mine fires and recovery of the mine
following a fire. The annual cost is
approximately 400,000 Australian
dollars. That is, $8,500 per mine
annually, what is considered to be a
cheap insurance. The unit is touch
screen operation requiring a crew of
five and consumes 1,000 liters of
fuel per hour producing 25 cubic
meters of inert product and water
vapor per second. QMRS maintains
the unit for the industry and ensures
24/7 response (see Figures 3 and
4). The Queensland Mines Rescue
Service Operations give quality and
targeted support with improved
organization and execution.
Fig 1 Queensland, Australia Fig 2 Organizational Chart Fig 3 GAG Inertization Unit Fig 4 Truck Available 24/7
Problems with Rescue Chambers and
Large Scale Evacuation Situations
Carl Baisden, Academy for
Mine Training and Energy
Technologies, Southern
West Virginia Community and
Technical College, gave a presentation
to the SME Annual Meeting
entitled Strategic Problems Mine
Rescue Teams Encounter with
Rescue Chambers and Large Scale
Injury and Evacuation Situations.
Advanced mine rescue and technology
is shown in Figure 1. Teams
require specialized rescue chamber
training, as well as thermal
image advancements, as shown in
Figure 2. Training and multiple
teams working together requires
standardization of skill sets.
Another challenge is exposure to
large or multiple bodies of fire.
Advanced skill set development in
fire attack is necessary to halt
advancement by manned or
unmanned monitors, as shown in
Figure 3. Training includes compressed
air foam and advanced fire
systems.
Other training includes communications
technician training and
underground miner tracking systems.
Training also includes quick
throw barricades and permanent
barricades.
The ability to locate and defend
a shelter is important. Technical
confined space training includes
navigation issues, as well as
advanced search techniques with
single file advance in thick smoke.
Decision-making, such as do we go
Carl Baisden
or do we stay, is included in the
training. Sufficient back-up teams
ready for deployment are made
available.
Another item to be covered in
training is plotting a strategic route
for chamber evacuations. Possible
conditions for the evacuation are
considered, as well as the adequacy
of rescue gear that is available
such as stokes/trauma
supplies/portable O2. Thermal
cameras are used as standard to
determine flame ahead.
Problems are examined in entering
a chamber such as communications,
team safety, and air lock
concerns. Medical training must be
thorough to operate in confined
spaces and poor visibility.
Advanced life support training
must be included with paramedics
and cross-training, as well as considering
the consequences. There
are issues of packaging to expedite
a rescue. Proper and accurate surveys
are essential in mine rescue
work. Proper attire is important for
the circumstances.
Plotting a Strategic Route is Shown
in Figure 4. All resources must be
used and previous cross-training
has been carried out to ensure minimum
response time. Rescue
teams are now cross-trained with
Aero Medical Group and the Air
Evac Lifeteam. Rapid rotation of
flights must be arranged with
direct communications with the
flight crew. In training, stage
resources must be carried out to
resupply and accommodate large
scale rescues.
Fig 1 Advanced Mine Rescue Fig 2 Thermal Image Advancements Fig 3 Fire Attack Fig 4 Plotting Strategic Route

June 2010
13
Transitioning to Standardized and
Enhanced Skills Training
Susan Bealko, MS, MPH, with
co-authors Dan Alexander
and Linda Chasko, NIOSH-
PRL, Pittsburgh, PA, gave a presentation
to the SME Annual Meeting
entitled U.S. Underground Coal
Mine Rescue: Transitioning to
Standardized and Enhanced Skills
Training.
NIOSH research on Escape and
Rescue from Underground Coal
Mines has been able to identify a
the major skills disparity across the
170 underground coal mine rescue
teams (see Figure 1), create a list of
essential team skills, and conduct a
training facility and mine rescue
team training inventory. They have
also developed a strategy for
improved mine rescue training and
training facility recommendations.
A list of basic mine rescue skills was
created including knowing the difference
between contest vs. real life
rules, map reading, mine gases and
ventilation, and roof and rib control.
It also includes specialized firefighting
and foam training, rapid navigation
and smoke, as well as apparatus,
emergency response equipment,
PPE, incident command and
MERD training. A number of training
items need to be further developed
including heavy object lifting, vertical
rope or shaft rescue, still or swift
water rescue, advanced first-aid
and triage, mine rescue verbal content
and protocol, refuge chamber
Fig 1 There is Major Skills Disparity
Fig 3 Western US Facilities
Fig 5 Should Be 12 Regional Centers of Excellence
Susan Bealko, MS, MPH
rescue, and multiple casualty rescue.
The Eastern and Central U.S.
mine rescue facilities (as of March
2009), are shown in Figure 2 . Those
in the Western U.S. are shown in
Figure 3. Facility and team locations
are shown in Figure 4. These include
Black Warrior 10, Illinois 22, and
Western U.S. 29. Currently, there
are 10 available training facilities
that are used for underground coal
mine rescue training.
There are also many mine rescue
facilities in Australia, South Africa,
Poland, and around the world.
Bealko discussed applying the
Australian model with a Regional
Training Center Capacity. Both
Queensland and New South Wales
have regional mine rescue training
centers with the facility utilized for
mine rescue, first responder training,
audits, Incident Command,
technical support and specialized
services. There are 4-6 full-time
employees. The regional centers
train an average of 15 teams, about
120 persons. Based on the
Australian model of 15 teams per
facility, in this country there should
be 12 Regional Centers of
Excellence, as shown in Figure 5. If
the current 10 facilities were
enhanced, only two more facilities
may be needed.
The optimum features include:
underground mine (real and simulated);
fire pits (underground and
outside); command center and control
room; emergency response
tools and equipment; virtual reality
theaters; repelling capabilities;
water rescue areas; indoor contest
practice fields; on-site lodging;
medical facilities; and collegiate
support. The benefits of this are:
standardize emergency response
skills, more equal opportunities for
training, efficiency with multiple
training exercises; combined and
shared resources; centralized mine
rescue experts; specialized equipment;
a place to develop leaders;
and other intangible benefits.
There are a number of trends as
mine rescue moves forward. These
include the construction of new
facility major construction finished,
advanced underground firefighting,
specialized first-aid training and
support services, incident command
training, skills enhancement
at contents, realistic training tools
(GMS), and collegiate mine rescue.
Doll’s Run facility in West Virginia
has recently opened. This includes
live firefighting in a simulated entry.
The MTTC facility at Ruff Creek,
Pennsylvania has also recently
opened. Further progress has been
made in live firefighting and
advanced first-aid. There has also
been further training in Incident
Command. Another considerable
advancement is simulated gas
detection, as shown in Figure 6.
There is also considerable interest
with college teams.
Ongoing research at NIOSH
includes metal and non-metal mine
rescue inventory and further work
on enhanced regional facilities. The
research includes the cost of
enhanced regional facilities, who
pays and where, and first responder
and new miner training.
For further information, contact
Susan Bealko, sbealko@cdc.gov.
Fig 2 Eastern and Central US Mine Rescue Facilities
Fig 4 Facility and Team Locations
Fig 6 Simulated Gas Detection

14
June 2010
Surface Mining Focus
Bauma 2010 Report
The latest version of Liebherr 363-tonne capacity haul truck, the
T282C, still the world’s largest electric drive truck.
The huge Bauma equipment
show returned to Munich,
Germany in April. Keith
Haddock sends this first hand
report to Coal News from the triennial
trade show, one of the
largest in the world.
Despite difficulties due to the
volcanic ash from Iceland during
its first few days, Bauma 2010
ended the week on an upbeat
note. Attendance was down
somewhat to 415,000 from the
500,000 recorded at the previous
Bauma three years ago, but
by the end of the week a number
of exhibitors were reporting higher
sales than expected. “The
good old times are coming back:
the figures for sales taken at the
fair far exceed our expectations.
We reckon we will be able to
match the volume we took at the
record Bauma in 2007”, confirmed
Michael Heidemann,
Managing Director of Germany’s
Caterpillar dealer, Zeppelin.
In the few days leading up to
Bauma, travel was difficult or
non-existent, but thanks to
organizer Messe München’s outstanding
job of “crisis management”
to reschedule visitors and
find other personnel to man
booths for people who did not
arrive on time, the show went on,
and the busy aisles appeared
normal.
Disregarding the volcano
effect, Bauma was actually bigger
than last time. The record
exhibition space expanded to
555,000 square metres and
3,150 exhibitors attended from
53 countries. The show area consisted
of 19 halls, most measuring
161m by 71m, for a total of
195,000 square metres of covered
area. Outdoors, another
360,000 square metres of space
was crammed with machinery
and supplies.
Liebherr
Liebherr again claimed the
largest exhibition space with over
13,500 square meters covered
with some 65 machines from
every area of Liebherr’s extensive
equipment programme. Among
the forest of crane booms and
other machines, the latest version
of Liebherr’s world recordbreaking
haul truck stood proud.
The T282C is the world’s largest
electric drive hauler at 363
tonnes (400 tons) capacity and it
attracted a crowd every time its
3,000 kW engine was fired up
and the dump box raised. The
T282C features a new cast frame,
axle box and cab, and AC (IGBT)
drive system designed by
Liebherr. This results in what
Liebherr calls “Vertical
Integration” where the manufacturer
is in control of all components
in the drive train. Most of
these vehicles work in America
western surface coal mines or
Canada’s oilsands. After Bauma,
the show truck will return to
Liebherr’s U.S. Newport News,
Virginia, factory for further testing
followed by field evaluation.
Bucyrus
Following the acquisition of
Terex Mining by Bucyrus
International, Bucyrus certainly
demonstrated its presence at
Bauma in a big way. Since the
takeover took place as recently
as December, plans for Bauma,
already in place, had to be rapidly
changed. The Bucyrus indoor
display of underground mining
equipment was always planned,
The familiar RH-120E hydraulic shovel moves from Terex to its new
home at Bucyrus, where it sports its new colors and logo.
so that remained unchanged.
But now with Terex under its wing,
a portion of the outdoor area previously-booked
by Terex was cordoned
off and assigned to a
Bucyrus RH-120E hydraulic shovel
painted in the new maroon and
white livery with Bucyrus logo.
The Terex acquisition provides
Bucyrus with a long needed line
of hydraulic mining excavators,
and the 15 cubic metre, 287-
tonne RH-120E RH-120E certainly
was a crowd puller during frequent
demonstrations where the
boom and bucket were put
through their paces. Another
large Bucyrus hydraulic shovel,
an RH-40E, was positioned at
one of the main entrances carrying
a sign “Bucyrus acquired
Terex Mining”. The 105-tonne
RH-40E carries a 6 cubic metre
nominal backhoe bucket.
Of course most of Bucyrus’
machines are too large to move
to any exhibition, so details of its
other machines were shown
through scale models: i) The
Superior Highwall Miner (SHM) is
a crawler-mounted machine that
extracts coal from exposed
seams in the highwall. The
machine penetrates up to a distance
of 300m into the seam,
and brings the coal out via a
string of pushbeams fitted with
two counter-rotating auger conveyers.
ii) The 495HR “Super 2”
electric shovel boasts a
LatchFree dipper, HydraCrowd
and 108-ton capacity. This innovation
replaces the former traditional
rope crowd found on
Bucyrus shovels. iii) Crawlermounted
49HR blast hole drill
capable of drilling hole sizes
from 251 – 406 mm, has a bit
loading of 63,000 kg. iv) The
218-tonne MT4400 AC electricdrive
haul truck is one of the former
Terex (Unit Rig) electric
trucks, ranging up to 363 tonnes
capacity and upgraded with IGBT
AC drive technology. v) 8750D3
walking dragline features gearless
AC direct drives for hoist and
drag, utilizing a single large low
speed AC motor for each function.
Terex
Terex introduced two examples
from its new range of articulated
dump trucks: the TA300 at 28
A scale model demonstrates the working procedure of the
Superior Highwall Miner, now part of the Bucyrus organization.
The largest of the new range of Terex articulated dump trucks
built in Scotland, the TA400.

June 2010
15
Surface Mining Focus
Surface Mining Machinery
Caterpillar’s largest offering at Bauma was the 134-tonne 993K
wheel loader. It carries a standard bucket of 13 cubic metres..
Caterpillar’s current largest hydraulic excavator is the 385C. Here the
90-tonne shovel is paired with the 36-tonne capacity 770 haul truck.
tonnes capacity, and its largest
ADT, the TA400 at 38 tonnes
capacity. The TA400 features a
planetary transmission and low
emission Tier 3 compliant fuel
efficient engine. Terex Scotland
remains unaffected by the
Bucyrus acquisition, so Scottishbuilt
rigid mechanical dump
trucks up to 100 tons and ADTs
continue under the Terex name.
Caterpillar
Surface mining machines were
prominently displayed amongst
the almost 60 machines comprising
Caterpillar’s display in one of
the large halls. Cat’s largest
offering was the 134-tonne 993K
wheel loader with standard bucket
of 13 cubic metres and powered
by the C32 engine developing
783 kW. Other wheel loaders
in the mining section were the
966H and 988H with operating
weights of 24 and 50 tonnes
respectively. Cat boasts a field
population of almost 4,000 units
for the 988H. Cat’s largest excavator,
the 90-tonne 385C with
face shovel, was paired with a
36-tonne capacity 770 haul
truck. A 231 kW (310 horsepower)
D8T was the machine chosen
to represent Caterpillar’s T-series
large crawler tractors. When
equipped with a semi-U blade,
the D8T weighs just under 40
tonnes.
Caterpillar has developed a
new hardened steel quarry body
for select models of Cat trucks to
extend wear life and decrease
cost per tonne moved. The
Quarry Body features 400
Brinnell steel, which resists abrasion
and provides superior durability
without additional weight or
liner systems. The new body is
being introduced for the Cat 770,
772 and 775F rigid-frame trucks.
Caterpillar’s “Sustainable
Solutions” central area in the hall
featured a 16-year old 775B rigid
frame truck that had been
through the Caterpillar Certified
Rebuild process in German dealer
Zeppelin’s maintenance facilities.
Looking like a new truck, it
will return to many more years of
hard productive work after it
leaves the Bauma spotlights.
Also in the Sustainable Solutions
area Caterpillar displayed the
new D7E electric drive bulldozer
that first appeared at Conexpo
2008 in Las Vegas, and the first
of its brand new E-series excavators,
the 336E replacing the former
336D. This machine features
advanced emission control
packages making it compliant
with EPA Tier 4 Interim emission
standards. It carries a next generation
turbocharger that fully
integrates a Cat Clean Emissions
Module, and a Cat NOx reduction
system resulting in 90% reduction
of particulate matter and
45% reduction of oxides of nitrogen.
Komatsu
Komatsu occupied a large portion
of one of the halls with examples
of construction machines for
each industry segment it represents.
The mining truck HD605-7
stood proud with its 552 kW
engine and 63 tonne carrying
capacity. As with all Komatsu’s
HD-7 series dump trucks from 36
to 91 tonnes, the HD605-7
engine meets EPA Tier 3 emission
regulations. Komatsu also displayed
its new D375A-6 bulldozer.
In the 71-tonne, 474 kW
class, the machine features
Komatsu’s KOMTRAX satellite
monitoring system as standard.
This exclusive system enables
machine function monitoring
through direct Internet access or
from any remote computer.
Hitachi
Hitachi’s current dash-6
hydraulic mining excavators are
available in six sizes up to the
massive EX8000-6 with 40 cubic
metre bucket, and weighing in at
810 tonnes. The smallest of this
range, the EX1200-6, made its
appearance at Bauma in backhoe
form. It weighs 112 tonnes and
carries a Cummins QSK23 engine
rated at 567 kW.
Conveying Systems
In-pit mobile crushers and
conveyor systems in conjunction
with shovels in surface mines
have been tried many times over
the past three decades.
Reducing the number of haul
trucks on long hauls, or even
eliminating them sounds attractive.
But in reality this form of
transportation in surface mines,
except in a few cases, has not
exactly been the roaring success
that theoretical studies predicted.
Climate conditions, pit
organization, unsuitable geology,
low availability due to breakdowns,
and inflexible systems,
have all played a part in their limited
use. But certain manufacturers,
including Germany’s
Tenova Takraf, continue to provide
this equipment. The company’s
booth at Bauma displayed
the company’s capabilities in all
kinds of material bulk handling
systems including bucket wheel
and bucket chain excavators,
surface miners, belt conveyors
and mobile crushing systems. In
2009, company installed a
mobile crushing plant rated at
12,000 tonnes per hour for a coal
mine in Queensland, Australia.
Fed by a 50 cubic metre shovel,
the unit features a slewable
superstructure and a slewable
discharge boom to permit exceptional
flexibility. Now Tenova
Takraf offers similar modular
mobile crushing systems that can
operate in conjunction with a belt
wagon for even greater flexibility.
They are offered with capacities
from 4,000 to 12,000 tonnes per
hour.
Komatsu’s 63-tonne HD605-7 haul truck represented one of
the company’s surface mining products.
The smallest of Hitachi’s mining and quarrying excavators, the 112-tonne
EX1200-6, was actually the largest of the many excavators displayed by Hitachi.

16
June 2010
Bucyrus Developments in Surface Mining
By Anthony Donovan
Bucyrus International
Bucyrus International, Inc. of
South Milwaukee, WI (USA) has
been at the forefront of surface
mining equipment innovation for over a
century. As the company embarks on a
new era following the acquisition of
Terex Mining, Bucyrus remains focused
on developing surface mining technologies
that enhance safety, reliability,
and productivity for surface mining
operations across the globe. The following
provides a glimpse of some of
the new surface mining developments
taking place at Bucyrus, but rest
assured, more innovation is yet to
come!
Bucyrus 495HR 2 – The Next Generation
Rope Shovel
Bucyrus has produced what it
believes to be the world’s most
advanced electric rope shovel, the
495HR² (pronounced 495HR Super 2).
With innovations like the
HydraCrowd TM and the LatchFree TM
Dipper System, coupled with the efficiency
of AC IGBT electrics and
enhanced propel power, the rope shovel’s
safety, reliability, and productivity
will bypass that of its predecessors.
Add the comfort and control of the mining
industry’s most inventive operator’s
cab and a bold new look, and you have
the 21 st century’s most progressive
rope shovel.
Headlining the design improvements
of the 495HR² is a newly designed,
Bucyrus 495HR 2 Rope Shovel
patents-pending operator’s station and
cab. A two-year, $1 million plus
research and development project,
including industrial research, “voice of
customer” field surveys, partnership
with a leading ergonomics expert, and
collaborative workshops with customers
from around the globe, provided
the foundation from which the cab
design emerged. Bucyrus Design
Engineers, armed with insight into the
aspects most desired by Bucyrus customers,
set-out to develop a cab that
delivers more comfort, added safety,
greater reliability and enhanced productivity.
What they created was a work
environment sure to be the envy of corporate
executives and mining machinery
operators alike!
Another feature of the rope shovel is
an enhanced propel system, garnering
a 12% increase in maximum propel
torque! This system was designed to
combat propel challenges encountered
in the mine environment, most notably
in the soft footing found in oilsands and
wet digging environments. It provides
the necessary power boost to maneuver
the machine in tough digging situations,
avoiding downtime associated
with ground-lodged shovels.
The 495HR 2 includes two of the most
recent Bucyrus front-end innovations,
the LatchFree TM Dipper System and the
HydraCrowd TM . The Bucyrus LatchFree
Dipper System is designed to render
latch assembly downtime a thing of the
past for owners of the 495HR 2 . The
LatchFree Dipper System affords a significant
competitive advantage by way
of more predictable maintenance
schedules, fewer incidents of
unplanned maintenance, increased
shovel “uptime”, and enhanced shovel
productivity.
Bucyrus HydraCrowd provides instantaneous,
highly responsive control with
smooth vibration-free operation, and it
negates the heavy inertial loading of
rack and pinion style crowd systems by
locating the hydraulic power pack on
the machinery house deck. Shovel
downtime associated with unplanned
interferences is greatly minimized,
translating to greater reliability and productivity.
The Bucyrus MT6300AC – The
Industry’s Highest Payload Truck
The Bucyrus MT6300AC offers customers
an incredible array of features
and benefits, most notably its industry
leading payload of 400 tons. From
front to back and top to bottom, the
MT6300AC’s design gives users superb
production and hauling capabilities. It
is built to take on the harshest environments
and most challenging conditions.
Its exceptional ground clearance
and tight turning radius allow for agile
maneuvering. The proven suspension
is designed to perform under the most
severe road conditions. At the same
time, it features a low center of gravity,
enhancing overall truck stability.
The electric drive system and triplereduction
rear wheels enable the
Bucyrus MT6300AC to pull away from
the shovel more easily and quickly. An
integrated software-based control
algorithm minimizes wheel slip and
Bucyrus MT6300AC 400 Ton Truck
wheel slide characteristics, providing
more control in poor underfoot conditions.
It features a hybrid, high-efficiency
dump body, highlighted by a unique
curvature design for its front, floor and
canopy, which facilitates easier dumping.
As rugged as it is on the outside, the
Bucyrus MT6300AC is refined on the
inside, offering customers a larger,
longer cab. It gives operators noticeably
more legroom and features two
full-size adjustable seats, plenty of storage
space, power windows, a curved
windshield and a peripheral visibility
range of 191 degrees. It is powered by
an MTU/Detroit Diesel C Series engine,
producing 3,750 HP (2786kW).
Inside and out, the Bucyrus
MT6300AC stands ready to make a
huge impact on the hauler market. It
truly is an innovative and impressive
truck – eager for world to experience it
firsthand.
Bucyrus Automation for Hydraulic
Excavators, Drills, & Trucks
Bucyrus is well on their way to fully
autonomous machine operation for
their stable of hydraulic excavator, drill,
and truck product lines. To facilitate
this goal, all types of machines have to
be based on a unified control architecture
following a strict ‘steer-by-wire’
principle. For hydraulic excavators, this
has been a standard for years, with the
first product lines of rotary blasthole
and hydraulic track drills in the process
of being converted to such fully electrohydraulic
steering. Bucyrus trucks will
follow close behind. This electrohydraulic
steering setup allows for the
addition of various driver assistance
systems, examples of which include
AutoLevel, AutoDrill, AutoBitChange,
and coming soon, AutoTram, for the
Bucyrus drill product line.
Responding to the growing demand
for better transparency of machine
behaviour and production data on the
one hand, and capability for remote
control on the other, Bucyrus has developed
a unified software interface for
their hydraulic excavator, drill, and
truck lines based on the SAE standardized
JAUS network protocol. Via one
wireless network to the mine communication
structure – which require customization
to suit each mine’s existing
system – a specialized software called
Bucyrus Remote Service System
(BRSS) allows for bidirectional communication
with every machine covering
purposes of machine health monitoring
and event processing. This system
allows secure access to the internal
machine network from anywhere in the
world via the Internet.
The Bucyrus Remote Service System
described above will be integrated as a
new standard, first to be seen on
Bucyrus hydraulic excavators and drills.
BRSS and the JAUS interface are available
as upgrade options on existing
machines as well, and the major mine
management providers, like Modular
Mining et al., are provided frequent
updates concerning the latest
upgrades to the Bucyrus interface standard.
Bucyrus RH340 Hydraulic Shovel
Bucyrus Scale Models

Mining Technology
Versatility
Diesel-Powered Multipurpose Vehicles
Flexibility, cost effectiveness and proven common systems are designed into all Bucyrus
Diesel equipment.
The FBL-10 is your low-cost, versatile solution for payloads of up to 10 tonnes. This fast &
powerful machine is easy to operate & maneuver. The Rapid Attachment System offers
quick changes between buckets, forks, jib cranes, reelers, work platforms, & lube pods.
The FBL-10 can also be adapted to accommodate other types of attachments.
Our new narrow compact loader CL10 is also rated at 10 tonnes, has a maximum lift
height of 2.1 meters and can be equipped with the Rapid Attach System. For heavier
loads, upsize to the FBL-15, increasing your carrying capacity to 15 tonnes.
Combined with a Bucyrus CHT-50 trailer 2-meter-wide 50-tonne shields can be hauled
quickly and easily.
All Bucyrus diesel vehicles share state-of-the-art product and safety features including
low heat, zero smoke dry or wet exhaust systems and independent engine cooling.
Operator cabs are built for safety, comfort and high visibility.
www.bucyrus.com
Passion
Every Bucyrus product comes with 100% of our
people’s passion for one of the most preferred
suppliers brand, state-of-the-art technology, and
global premium service.
Our people live in burgundy. The color of passion.
The color of Bucyrus.
Reliability at work

18
June 2010
IPCC Systems Interest Growing
Says P&H
Surface coal mining operations
have long relied upon truckbased
overburden handling
strategies, and for many good reasons.
Trucks provide good versatility
as the mine plan evolves through its
early years and phases. Trucks can
be easily relocated from excavators
that are shut down or undergoing
maintenance to other available
excavators. And their acquisition
and operating costs are a known
quantity based on decades of truckbased
overburden handling operations
management.
As mines enter “middle age” and
begin to deepen and spread out,
however, the costs associated with
truck-based overburden handling
systems necessarily increase to a
point where they prompt exploration
of potentially less costly material
handling system alternatives including
in-pit crushing-conveying systems
or IPCCs.
Since announcing its decision to
develop and market overburdenhandling
IPCCs during MINExpo
2008, P&H Mining Equipment has
engaged in discussions with several
large-scale surface coal mining
operations, examining the pros and
the cons of truck-based versus IPCCbased
overburden handling systems.
Coal News recently interviewed
P&H IPCC systems product manager
Scot Szalanski to learn more about
what key factors need to be considered
when analyzing IPCCs as a
potential alternative to truck-based
overburden strategies.
Coal News: How do you compare
trucks as the prime mover in surface
mines with the emerging interest in
IPCC systems?
Szalanski: Trucks have been and will
continue to be valuable and versatile
overburden handling tools for surface
mining operations. What
makes IPCCs intriguing as an alternative
for some mines to consider,
however, is the growing awareness
that they offer the opportunity to
provide materially lower cost-perton
economies versus trucks as
operations continue to expand and
deepen.
Coal News: Is there a cost “tipping
point” with regard to trucks versus
IPCCs? And if so, how or when does
that tipping point occur?
Szalanski: For most open pit coal
mines, moving more than 15 million
bank cubic yards per year seems to
be that point when overburden handling
cost can prompt a strategic
review. That volume of material to
be moved, combined with truck travel
time – including time returning
P&H In-Pit Crushing-Conveying (IPCC) System
empty for the next refill – are key
cost factors. Use of trucks also
requires significant support machinery
expense – graders, water trucks,
dozers, tires and tire-service trucks,
fuel trucks, operator and maintenance
cost, and lastly higher and
often volatile fuel cost. Add to this
the growing pressure to reduce carbon
emissions and what we’ve
arrived at is an overburden handling
strategy “perfect storm” cost situation
for operators of open pit coal
mines.
Coal News: What are the pros and
the cons associated with IPCC systems?
Szalanski: Pros include the fact that
IPCC technology is over 50 years old
and therefore an established option.
It is the next most flexible overburden
handling method next to truckshovel
based operations but it is far
more efficient. An IPCC operation is
not as dependent on weather as
trucks are and it does not return
empty. IPCCs offer mines greater
ability to meet increasingly tighter
environmental regulations. IPCCs
are also easily expandable with lowest
capital and operating cost as
strip ratio increases.
Cons include the fact that IPCCs
have a high capital cost. They are
also perceived to have lower overall
system availability, and perceived as
well to lack synchronicity with the
shovel that feeds them. One other
concern is that IPCCs are serviced by
multiple suppliers and as a result
have limited aftermarket service and
support.
Coal News: What is your response
with regard to those actual and perceived
IPCC system disadvantages?
Szalanski: With regard to high capital
cost, a detailed total cost of ownership
or TCO analysis is absolutely
necessary when making a financial
comparison between trucks and
IPCCs. TCO analysis examines both
operating costs as well as capital
cost and it must include the proposed
life-of-mine horizon as well as
annual tonnage requirements as
they vary over that time frame. You
then calculate a cash flow analysis
for the proposed IPCC versus trucks
on a net present value or NPV basis.
For some mines, the IPCC strategy
offers compelling cost saving advantages.
To address the concern about the
shovel working in optimal harmony
with the IPCC, P&H Mining
Equipment has developed a continuous
processing remote health system
called PreVail, that links the
shovel, crusher, spreader and all
appropriate conveyors to provide
everyone – mine management,
shovel and IPCC system operators,
MinePro and P&H engineers at the
factory – with the ability to distill
large volumes of system health and
performance data into the information
and knowledge needed to optimize
the complete IPCC system productivity
and reliability.
To address concerns about having
necessary service support, a P&H
IPCC system is installed and supported
by the regional P&H MinePro
Services team that supports the
mine’s P&H and other equipment.
Coal News: Is there anything else
that can help mine management in
its overburden handling strategy
review?
Szalanski: It helps to be able to visualize
the productivity and how an
IPCC might be applied to the mine’s
production landscape. How that
IPCC can adapt and evolve as the
mine operations progress over time
through planned overburden and
production phases is critical. Our
engineers have developed a proprietary
“4D Visualization” system that
combines a mine’s 3D mine topographic
model with application of
IPCC system components. Using
fast-forward time, we can visually
show how the mine plan will develop
over the life of the mine.

June 2010
19
Atlas Copco “Sustainable Productivity”
To effectively communicate its
efforts to ensure reliable,
lasting results with the
responsible use of human, natural
and capital resources, Atlas
Copco has launched a new brand
promise – Committed to
Sustainable Productivity. This
new brand promise encompasses
all Atlas Copco divisions and is
effective immediately.
“With the new brand promise
we can communicate that in addition
to our ability to innovate for
superior productivity, we are a
very responsible company,” said
Annika Berglund, senior vice
president – Corporate
Communications. “Sustainability
– thinking about what will last –
has always been a part of our
product innovation, customer
service, diversity, safety, and
environmental concerns.”
For Atlas Copco, the concept of
sustainable productivity includes
more than just “green” or environmental
issues. It refers to an
entire set of corporate values that
embraces a long-term view of
commitment, interaction and
innovation that improves product
quality and productivity, while
simultaneously benefiting Atlas
Copco customers and the global
community at large.
“In today’s corporate world, we
as a company need to be open
about what we stand for in order
to attract the best people and
assure our customers that we are
a trustworthy business partner,”
said Ronnie Leten, Atlas Copco
president and CEO. To that end,
Atlas Copco’s commitment to
sustainable productivity
includes:
• Reducing the impact of production
on the environment;
• Promoting diversity amongst
employees and management;
• Improving energy efficiency
and reducing the cost of ownership;
• Supporting suppliers in implementing
best practices;
• Having the most reliable products
and services;
• Ensuring a consistently high
competence level;
• Boosting health and productivity
through better ergonomics;
• Focusing on health and safety
in the workplace;
• Offering services that secure
maximum availability;
• Innovating for continuous product
development; and
• Acting for a better society
around us.
Leten pointed out that delivering
on this promise will require a
lot of hard work throughout the
Atlas Copco organization, but the
reward will be a stronger, better
company. “Our customers need to
know that they will be productive
not just today or tomorrow, but
even years from now. We always
strive to provide the highest possible
productivity, but we believe
doing so at the expense of certain
values would ultimately damage
both Atlas Copco and our customers.
Our culture is what
makes us stand out among competitors,
and this new brand
promise will reflect that.”
The new brand promise is
already visible on Atlas Copco’s
web site. During the course of the
year, it will be printed on all
brochures, posters and other
company material.
Separately, at Bauma 2010,
Atlas Copco launched a new carrier-integrated
breaker ventilation
system for tunneling applications.
The ventilation system
delivers additional air to the
breaker, minimizing the risk of
extensive wear.
Atlas Copco hydraulic breakers
are suitable for tunnel heading,
scaling, extension and demolition
work. When working underground,
abrasive dust in the air
can enter the percussion chamber.
The oil circuit between the
attachment and the carrier can
become contaminated, and rust
can form on the piston from water
sprinkling on the breaker. All
these factors can cause considerable
wear on the breaker.
To avoid these problems, Atlas
Copco developed a carrier-integrated
breaker ventilation system
to supply additional air. The system
is easy to install by a simple
hydraulic connection to the carrier;
the electronic system of the
carrier is not touched. The new
breaker ventilation requires no
separate tow-behind air compressor,
and no additional air
hose lying around the work surface.
The system is synchronized
with the hydraulic breaker and
operates without emissions.
The carrier-integrated breaker
ventilation system is available for
Atlas Copco breakers in the
2205-9259 pound class.

20
June 2010
Today’s Drilling Challenges Met With
Boart Longyear ® Drilling Technology
By Brandon Jaynes
Two Rivers Marketing
The economic downturn has
undoubtedly made its mark on
the coal industry. Despite the
plummeting prices of most commodities,
coal remained viable
throughout most of 2009, and in
some sectors even increased by a
small percentage, primarily due to
long-term coal contracts that were
initiated during the previous commodity
boom. This led many drilling
companies that specialized in other
mineral commodities toward coal
exploration projects — flooding the
market with new operations. With
an increased number of players in
the market and fewer investment
dollars to go around, coal drillers
have become more cost-focused as
they have been faced with unprecedented
downward pressure on their
margins. Productivity has become
more important than ever before.
While margins have improved for
many drilling contractors in 2010,
some experts are saying that full
recovery will be slow, and amidst
concerns in the United States over
current coal legislation, cap and
trade and what that could mean for
the entire industry, drilling contractors
are remaining steadfast and
keeping their drills in the ground.
In addition to a new, more competitive
market and lower contract
margins, drilling contractors are
still faced with many traditional
challenges. Coal can be found in
highly varied ground conditions
throughout the globe — in the
United States it is most prevalent in
the Appalachia region and the soft
ground of the interior Midwestern
states — and even with a high
degree of specialization, these varied
conditions lead to difficulty for
drill crews.
While challenges vary tremendously
from region to region, it is
common for surface exploration
crews worldwide to encounter hard
seams when drilling in soft ground.
“These hard lenses invariably tear
up traditional surface set drill bits,”
explains Monika Portman, corporate
communications manager for
Boart Longyear. “The crew then has
to trip out the rod string to replace
the bit — this causes costly downtime,
and can have a significant
impact on the profitability of an
operation.”
As a 120-year-old global mineral
exploration company, Boart
Boart Longyear Drill Rig
Longyear has been heavily involved
in the soft ground market — coal,
limestone, sandstone — for many
years in the United States, Europe,
South Africa and Australia, and has
encountered surface coring challenges
firsthand, as well as through
their customers across the globe.
Traditional surface set coring bits
weren’t holding up to the needs of
today’s drilling contractors, so in
March of 2010, Boart Longyear
introduced the new Surface Set
XP bits. This new generation of
coring bits is unlike anything in the
industry, and has the capacity to
redefine the surface-set category
and set a new benchmark for productivity
in soft and sedimentary
applications.
Traditional surface set bits are
composed of a hard matrix with a
single layer of natural diamonds on
the surface. This single layer of natural
diamonds struggles to perform
when faced with a hard seam or
other abrupt change in ground conditions.
Throughout the development of
the new bits, the world-class metallurgical
engineers at Boart Longyear
designed a patented Ultramatrix,
which is capable of holding multiple
layers of large synthetic stones in
place throughout the life of the bit,
increasing productivity and bit life,
which yields better penetration and
reduces rod tripping and costly
downtime.
Boart Longyear tested these bits
with a key customer in West
Virginia, among several other
regions throughout the globe. The
Customer’s crews on site were
impressed at the penetration rates,
and the new bits were far exceeding
expectations. It was here that the
Boart Longyear Ultramatrix was perfected.
Where a traditional surface
set bit would average about 1500
feet, drillers on the testing site were
reaching depths up to 4500 feet
with a single bit — three times
longer life in the ground than a traditional
surface set bit.
Throughout the testing phase, the
new bits delivered superior cutting
and deeper penetration than anyone
on site had ever seen, and when
met with hard lenses that often
destroy traditional surface-set bits,
the bits were proven to have a
strong “push-through” capability,
often pushing through the seam
with little to no impact on penetration
rates, preventing unnecessary
rod trips and enabling the drillers to
keep their rod string in the ground
longer. The bits also proved to be
highly versatile, yielding similar
results with both low-powered,
high-torque rigs and high-powered,
low-torque rigs.
Coal is a crucial industry that is
faced with many challenges.
Advances in drilling technology will
play an essential role in meeting
those challenges, and Boart
Longyear will continue to contribute
to the future of coal production.
Boart Longyear Launches Flyable Rig
Boart Longyear® Limited, the
world’s leading integrated
drilling services and products
provider, released the new flyable
SC11 rig, the only compact and
modular rig in its class that offers
5456 Nm of torque and can manage
PQ-size rods.
The drill is a surface exploration
rig targeted at the 1300- to 1500-
meter NQ market, and can be broken
down into compact flyable modules.
“The SC11 is built from Boart
Longyear’s proven LM® technology
and designed for use in surface
applications where access is limited
and drill footprint is a critical consideration,”
said Craig Mayman, Boart
Longyear global product manager
for capital equipment. “It’s extremely
flexible — conveniently assembling
and disassembling in flyable,
compact modules — while delivering
best-in-class power at a cost-competitive
value. And, in colder
regions, its compact size enables
operation inside a drill shack.”
The SC11 delivers large-diameter
Boart Longyear Drill Rig is Flown In
and deep-hole drilling capacity with
a 132 kN pullback rating and PQ
handling capacity. The rig features a
variable-speed motor that provides
a low-end torque output of 5456 Nm
at the head for tri-cone drilling and a
1230-rpm speed for diamond
drilling. Whether low or high-torque
applications, the SC11 features
high-efficiency hydraulics to easily
make or break rod joints and transport
rods safely.
Hydraulic actuators also control
the rig’s rod handler, providing
smooth and efficient movement in
three dimensions. The rod handler
utilizes proven LM rod-handling
technology and features proximity
sensors to protect the operator by
preventing rod drops when operators
are nearby. A laser beam system
positioned between the helper and
Drill Rig in Use
rod handler control panel stops
movement when drillers enter the
operating area. Once the beam is
interrupted, the rod handler immediately
stops and can
only be restarted when the driller
resets it.
In addition, the rig utilizes the
patented Boart Longyear Nitro
Chuck ® with gas-charged springs
that actuate the jaws holding the
rods to provide fail-safe operation.
The control panel also utilizes lifttoshift
rotation and feed levers to
deliver constant speed and protect
the operator against accidental
actuation.
The SC11 has been designed to
easily break down into flyable modules,
with the heaviest lift being only
680 kg. Lifting points are easy to
identify and are positioned at the
module’s center of gravity to provide
a balanced load, while quick-connect
hydraulic couplings further
accelerate assembly and disassembly
and prevent oil spills. All modules
utilize easy-to-see guides to
help operators quickly align and
assemble the rig, speeding up the
landing process.
Pressed steel framing with malefemale
joints help the modules drop
into position and highly visible jacking
and lifting points make assembly
and disassembly safe and easy.
To learn more contact the local
Boart Longyear sales
representative or visit www.boartlongyear.com/sc11.

June 2010
21
Joy OPTIDRIVE Technology
Available on Feeder-Breakers
Few innovations in mining
machinery technology have
been as widely adopted and
enthusiastically accepted as has Joy
Mining Machinery’s OPTIDRIVE AC
variable frequency drive. In less than
two decades, OPTIDRIVE has grown
from inception to being universally
applied to Joy’s underground mining
equipment, most recently as an option
on the company’s STAMLER PROD-
UCTS of Feeder-Breakers.
“There have been variable frequency
drives (VFDs) on feeder-breakers for
a number of years,” offered Mike
Chizmar, Global Product Manager
Feeder-Breakers, “but nothing to compare
with the advanced integrated
capabilities Joy’s OPTIDRIVE brings.
“Additionally, with OPTIDRIVE our
customers have a single interchangeable
drive control system for JOY
underground mining machines:
Shuttle cars, continuous miners, flexible
conveyor trains and, now, feederbreakers,”
he said, noting that each
piece of equipment still retains the
software unique to its application.
What OPTIDRIVE does is integrate
the electrical and mechanical systems
and each unique piece of software.
Where the motors and drive in the
OPTIDRIVE system are designed for
each other, Joy controls the technology
to ensure a compatible system that
maximizes utilization of both components,
as opposed to using industrial
off-the-shelf components modified for
underground mining.
OPTIDRIVE equipped feeder-breakers
are available for both underground
and surface applications. Interest in
VFD with underground feeder-breakers
is on the increase and, currently,
about 60% of the units going into surface
applications are so equipped. All
STAMLER Feeder-Breakers with electro-mechanical
conveyors are capable
of accepting VFDs.
Worldwide, more than 1,000 STAM-
LER Feeder-Breakers are currently in
use making Joy the market leader for
feeder-breakers in both the U.S. and
globally.
The origin of OPTIDRIVE dates back
to 1992 when Joy adapted AC variable
frequency drives to two existing continuous
miners, with redesign and
retrofitting following in 1996 and
1997, the same year when Joy
installed a similar VFD on a longwall
shearing machine; the same basic unit
in use today, upgraded along the way
to improve and increase overall performance.
The major advantage of AC drives is
that more power can be provided to
drive a machine within the same
space previously occupied by DC
motors. Additionally, because AC
motors are brushless, the time-consuming
and maintenance expense of
brush replacement associated with
DC motors is eliminated, as is the possibility
of contaminants entering the
motor during replacement.
In 2001, the next generation VFD
system was fitted to continuous miners
and, two years later, to Joy’s flexible
conveyor train (FCT) continuous
JOY STAMLER Feeder-Breaker with Joy OPTIDRIVE
haulage system and shuttle cars. By
2004, Joy introduced OPTIDRIVE, the
bringing together of the interchangeable
hardware and the software
unique to each machine under a single
brand name.
“Since then,” Chizmar noted, “its
success has been exceptional and the
reason for this unparalleled success is
OPTIDRIVE’s proven increased performance,
reliability and availability. In
addition to offering the universal benefits
of interchangeable parts and
reduced inventories, reduced maintenance
costs and lower costs per ton of
coal mined, OPTIDRIVE also brings
individual benefits to each piece of
equipment, such as increased longwall
shearer motor capacities and new
software that provides increased current
limit of the drive at slower motor
speeds, improving both performance
and reliability.
“With shuttle cars,” he continued,
“OPTIDRIVE resulted in a significant
increase in power, speed and productivity,
as well as in improved operator
comfort that in itself promotes productivity.
With continuous miners, this
gave Joy the ability to design physically
smaller machines for low seams
without sacrificing the power and
mass essential to mining the coal in
the most productive and efficient way
possible. Also, OPTIDRIVE made it
possible to increase the maximum
tramming speed of the continuous
miner to more than 85 feet per minute
(25 metres per minute) and, in the
instance of the JOY 14CM27 continuous
miner, to 90 feet per minute (27
metres per minute). This means less
time moving place-to-place and more
time doing what a continuous miner is
designed to do, mine coal.”
The key to the effectiveness of the
identical OPTIDRIVE hardware and
machine-specific software is no better
demonstrated than in its application
to Joy’s flexible conveyor train.
OPTIDRIVE matches the speed of the
traction and belt systems between the
outby and inby ends of the machine,
enabling the operator to tailor the belt
speed to match the production rate of
the continuous miner. This helps
reduce belt wear that, together with
the system’s soft-start capability,
results in longer belt life and lower
costs per ton of coal mined.
“This is similar to what OPTIDRIVE
brings to STAMLER Feeder-Breakers,”
Chizmar noted. “While the function of
the feeder-breaker is the same regardless
of application—to break/size
material, to convey it and discharge
it—its final design may not be as we
take into consideration the hardness
of the material to be processed and
the potential detrimental effects, if
any, on the conveyor related components.
Other design concerns include
customer preferences and associated
maintenance.”
According to Joy, the OPTIDRIVE system
programming controls the conveyor
by two means. Either the conveyor
speed can be varied manually
through the VFD or the breaker motor
amperage readings can slow the conveyor
automatically to facilitate breaking
of the material being conveyed to
the discharge end of the unit. Prior to
OPTIDRIVE, with electro-mechanical
conveyors the only way this could be
accomplished would be to physically
install retarding chains or to change
sprockets or electric motor RPM, neither
of which is really feasible unless
the change is to be permanent.
OPTIDRIVE allows an operator to
control 25% to 100% of the feederbreakers
rated conveyor throughput
capacity, which is particularly important
in handling hard materials. By
slowing down the flow of material
through the breaker, there is less
impact and shock load on the breaker
components, prolonging life and
reducing maintenance. In one
instance, in converting from an electro-mechanical
conveyor machine to
an OPTIDRIVE AC-VFD unit, an operator
reported reducing the number of
shear pin failures by more than 50%.
“With OPTIDRIVE,” Chizmar continued,
“these advantages are accomplished
with less hydraulic circuits
while requiring less than typical
hydraulic maintenance. When you can
increase efficiency, decrease wear,
decrease maintenance and the time it
takes to perform it, you allow the operator
to spend more time in the coal.
When you do that, you have made a
major contribution to lowering costs
per ton, improving production and
productivity, and increasing profitability.”

22
June 2010
Fenner Dunlop Classic Conveyor
Growing with Product and Service Solutions
Fenner Dunlop Classic Conveyor's Headquarters in Blairsville, PA.
When Fenner Dunlop Classic and began developing and patenting
new products, from belt clean-
Two years after Pat Dolan, Sr.’s
South America.
Conveyor recently
announced distributorship ers to slider beds. He became Vice death, Fenner PLC in 2008
agreements that extended its product
and service coverage over much
of the southeastern and south central
President Operations and Sales in
1988.
When Pat Sr. retired in 1992, his
acquired Conveyor Services Corp.
and its three companies—Classic
Conveyor Components, LoadOut
United States, the company three sons and one daughter Services Inc. and Conveyor
was signaling another milestone in
its rich history of growth and
progress in the conveyor solutions
industry.
Classic’s “parent firm,” Conveyor
Services, sprang from humble
beginnings and a strong service
ethic in 1980. Pat Dolan, Sr., a
coal-handling superintendent in
the power industry, pulled together
a crew to service mines and power
generation plants in western
assumed ownership of Conveyor
Services, and Troy Dolan was
named president. As the firm’s reputation
and customer base grew,
Troy oversaw significant growth. In
1996, He signed a distributor
agreement with Scandura/Fenner
Dunlop. Service shops were established
in Ohio and West Virginia.
In 1998, Troy founded Classic
Conveyor Components Corporation
in Blairsville, PA and opened a
Services SA in Chile. By then,
Conveyor Services had grown to
some 350 employees in eight U.S.
locations and the Chile office, producing
more than $100 million
annual revenues—a good fit for
Fenner, one of the world’s largest
manufacturers of mining and
industrial conveyor belting.
The acquisition became a significant
part of Fenner Dunlop
Americas’ newest division, Fenner
Pennsylvania’s Appalachian shop in West Virginia. Classic Dunlop Conveyor Services,
Mountain region. Loaded into a
World War II military ambulance,
Dolan’s “Belt Doctors,” as they
were known, made the rounds to
repair and service conveyor belts
negotiated a U.S. distributorship
with Lorbrand in South Africa and
undertook expansion into Western
U.S. markets in Colorado and Utah.
In 2002, the company founded
“…bringing the full-service element
to Fenner Dunlop’s existing business
of manufacturing conveyor
belting,” the firm’s announcement
stated. (Fenner Dunlop also folded
on site, 24/7.
LoadOut Service Corporation to newly acquired King Energy
That business, and its service culture,
became engrained in Pat’s
son Troy at an early age. When he
was still in school, Troy apprenticed
with the service crews and became
a full-time Belt Technician upon his
high school graduation in 1983.
He was promoted to Outside
Sales/Foreman three years later
provide coal companies expertise
in containing transportation costs
and improving their bottom lines
through innovative loadout service
methods.
Classic in 2005 made its first
venture into the international marketplace
when it opened a full service
shop in Antofagasta, Chile,
Services and Solid Systems
Engineering LLC into that division.)
In its role as a key part of Fenner
Dunlop’s resurgent service strategy,
Classic Conveyor designs and
manufactures a full line of conveyor
components and structure to meet
material handling needs for mining,
aggregates, pulp and paper,
and power industries. In its
Blairsville, PA manufacturing facility,
Classic produces frames, structure
and components, and designs
custom products that increase productivity,
reduce downtime and
promote safety.
“We are uniquely equipped at our
Blairsville plant to design and manufacture
standard and custommade
structure and components,”
says Classic Conveyor’s president,
David Hurd, “We focus on three
strategies to keep our customers’
systems running efficiently and
safely—products, services and
engineered solutions.”
Hurd added that Classic Conveyor
continually strives to improve its
manufacturing operations through
such advancements as a robotic
welding system to increase productivity,
ensure employee safety and
lower costs for customers.
Classic products include idlers,
conveyor drives, terminal groups,
structure and more. Further,
Classic’s conveyor system solutions
include programs that help
operators control and reduce costs
and grow revenue—safety audits,
belt mapping, component management
programs, preventive maintenance
and field engineering support.
David Hurd, President
“We place a lot of emphasis on
quality design and engineering,”
Hurd explains, “because we know it
reduces component, belt and structure
failure and improves overall
safety. For example, our own quality
requirements for our frictionless
centrifugal seal idlers are more
stringent than CEMA standards.”
Fenner Dunlop Classic Conveyor
components are sold and serviced
at its company locations in
Blairsville, Logan, WV, and Marion,
IL, and through Fenner Dunlop
Conveyor Services locations in
Sabina, OH, Big Creek, WV,
Farmington, NM, Denver, CO,
Delta, CO, Price, UT and Gillette,
WY.
Meanwhile, Classic Conveyor
continues working to identify topnotch
distributors, both in the U.S.
and Latin America, to augment the
network of established service
locations. Classic has made significant
progress in that expansion--
such as the most recent announcement
of new distributorships that
included Amerimex USA in
Arkansas, Louisiana and parts of
Mississippi and Tennessee, and
Richmond Supply, Inc., in most of
Georgia, all of South Carolina and
parts of North Carolina.
Fenner Dunlop Classic Conveyor's Drive Systems are State-of-the Art.
Classic Conveyor Idlers Exceed CEMA Standards.

Now Available
I
nternational award-winning, Grammy nominated recording artist and
songwriter Stella Parton has produced an exclusive CD of coal mining
songs which she calls American Coal.
This wonderful album, released in February, is sure to become a collector’s
edition, and is a tribute to the American coal miner. Listeners to
the CD are urged to support coal by sending emails to their elected representatives
in the State Capital and Washington, D.C.
The CD may be purchased for $15 plus postage and handling. Pricing is
available for bulk quantities with company logo imprinting included. Contact
Raptor Records, a division of Attic Entertainment, atticent@gmail.com or visit
www.stellaparton.com. Multiple copies may also be purchased at CD Baby.
Coal is Safe, Secure, and Sensible
Copyright 2010 Coal News, Inc. All Rights Reserved

24
June 2010
Fletcher Beam Setter Increases Safety
After hearing a request from
a safety-conscious customer,
the Engineering
Department at J. H. Fletcher &
Co. in Huntington, W. Va. developed
a machine that dramatically
increases worker safety during
mine slope beam installations. It
eliminates much of the need for
heavy lifting and awkward reaching
that can result in injury.
In the past, workers hefted large
beam components into position
manually, holding them stationary
until they could be bolted
together, explained Ben
Hardman, Fletcher coal products
sales manager. After several
beams had been set, they were
fastened together using connector
bars and corrugated metal
panels. Finally, grout or concrete
would be pumped around the
metal to make a sealed structure.
To manage these operations, miners
had to climb around the structures
with tools and materials,
Fletcher Beam Setter Designed for Safe Slope Development
maneuvering them into position.
“We wanted to eliminate as
many hazards from these activities
as possible,” Hardman said.
With the new machine, beams
can be pre-assembled, trammed
to the installation site and lifted
into position by the operator,
located in the tram deck, under a
canopy. Next, workers can move
to a powered platform while
installing connectors and panels,
and pumping the sealer. Exposure
to injury is decreased, while productivity
is improved.
The machine is built on a small
face drill chassis, and utilizes a
small face drill boom. The boom
swings, lifts and extends. Two
3600 rotary actuators ensure
accurate beam positioning. The
platform lifts, tilts and extends so
workers can be stable. A walkover
deck design allows easy
access from platform to tram
deck.
J. H. Fletcher & Co. is a global
leader in design and manufacture
of mobile underground mining
equipment for the coal and industrial
minerals industries.
Call Ben Hardman at
304.525.7811 or email bhardman@jhfletcher.com
and learn
how to make slope development
safer and more productive.
2010 SPEAKERS
Rocky Mountain Coal
Mining Institute’s
106th Annual Meeting
and Convention
“Taking Ownership for
Our Future”
Zermatt Resort & Spa - Midway, Utah
June 27-29, 2010
Registration material
available online.
303/948-3300 www.rmcmi.org
SUNDAY EVENING
Rocky Bleier
MONDAY MORNING
Dennis Deaton
Todd Conklin
Jim Luther
MONDAY AFTERNOON
Randy Baker
Kurt Kost
Bart Hyita
Leigh Freeman
Mark McCatty
TUESDAY MORNING
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Football Player
and Vietnam War Hero
Be the Best You Can Be
Quma Learning - Ownership Spirit
Los Alamos National Laboratory - Safety
BHP Billiton - Safety Awards
P&H Mining Equip.- Surface Mining Equip.
Alpha Natural Resources - Outlook for PRB
CONSOL Energy Inc
Operational Excellence
Downing Teal -Leadership for Engineers
and Scientists - A Work in Progress
Mine Leadership Training Group
Motivating Your Work Force to Take
Ownership
Ray DuBois Trapper Mining Inc.
Dragline to Truck-Loader
Shelly Hickman Bucyrus Internation - The Power of Coal
Rich Walje Rocky Mountain Power
Is There Coal in Our Future?
J. D. Wientjes Komatsu America Corp. -
Optimal Equipment Applications
Tim Gard Closing Lunch - Comedian

Stella Parton
O
utsiders are determined to end coal mining in Appalachia and, eventually, in
the United States. In support of coal, in February Coal News released a
brand new CD featuring international award-winning,Grammy nominated recording
artist and songwriter Stella Parton, which she calls American Coal.
A series of American Coal Concerts are being arranged throughout the country
and Ms. Parton is available during part of 2010 to perform her American Coal
Concert at coal meetings, as well as fairs, festivals, picnics, in theaters, and other
events.
For CD purchases,e-mail atticent@gmail.com or visit www.stellaparton.com.
Multiple copies can also be purchased at CD Baby.
For concert booking inquiries, call Bill Reid at 304-327-6777.
Coal is Safe, Secure, and Sensible
Copyright 2010 Coal News, Inc. All Rights Reserved

26
June 2010
Martin New Dust Collector Design
Helps Reduce Power Consumption, Boost Effectiveness in a Smaller Footprint
Installed on a belt conveyor transfer point, MARTIN® Insertable
Dust Collectors help control dust without the long ducting runs
Aglobal leader in bulk material The mesh-like material filters better said Martin Product Engineer Dan
control has introduced a new and lasts longer -- while consuming Marshall. “They help solve airborne
insertable dust collector that less energy -- than conventional filter dust problems by keeping fine particles
features improved filtering and a
smaller footprint, helping bulk material
handlers minimize airborne dust at
belt conveyor loading points. The
MARTIN® Insertable Dust Collector is
an automatic, self-cleaning filter
designed to remove dust from the air in
conveyor loading and transfer points,
silo vents, bucket elevators and
screens.
The collector design employs filter
elements that are approximately oneeighth
the size of filter envelopes in the
preceding system. The smaller filter
elements allow a significant reduction
in the dust collector’s “footprint,” so it
can be installed in locations where
tight quarters complicate the installation
of other systems.
bags. The new filters also allow a
reduction in fan size to move air
through the elements, helping to
reduce the overall power consumption
of the collection system.
MARTIN Insertable Collectors feature
a pulse cleaning system, which
uses a short burst of air sent back
through the filter to dislodge accumulated
material. Filter changes are a
no-tool procedure from the clean side
of the dust collector.
“These new insertable dust collectors
can eliminate many of the problems
seen
with central ‘baghouse’ collection systems,
including long runs of ducting,
large enclosures, maintenance difficulties
and high power consumption,”
in the load or returning them to the
material stream.”
Designed for Efficiency
The new line of insertable collectors
was developed to handle the heavy
dust concentrations and air volumes
arising from material transfer points.
They are designed to remove 99.9% by
weight of all dry particulates 0.5
micron and larger (based on a timeweighted
average of a properlyinstalled,
operated and maintained
unit).
The automated “reverse jet” cleaning
sequence facilitates continuous operation,
keeping filters working effectively
with a minimum of compressed
air. The small integrated fan runs only
when the conveyor is operational, fur-
Dust Collector delivers performance and ease of service
ther improving energy efficiency.
“These systems eliminate the need
for installing or maintaining ductwork,
and there’s no haulage or cleanup
costs for waste disposal, since fugitive
material is returned to the process,”
Marshall added. “Probably its most
popular feature with operators is the
clean-side access for inspection and
filter changeouts,” he said.
“It’s a quick and easy process, saving
further on time and maintenance
costs.”
The new line of insertable dust collectors
require just 10.2 CFM (~.29
MPM) of compressed air at 90-100
PSI (~6.21 bar). Standard electrical
configuration is 230/460V, 3-phase.
Martin Engineering offers a full range
of insertable systems and filter media
to match specific application requirements.
They can be used as standalone
systems or as supplemental
dust management with existing central
collection systems. Specific units
are available in explosion-proof
designs.
Founded in 1944, Martin
Engineering is the world leader in making
bulk materials handling cleaner,
safer, and more productive. The company
is headquartered in Neponset, IL,
USA, with global reach from operations
in Brazil, China, France,
Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, South
Africa, Turkey and the UK. Martin
Engineering products are available
from business units and authorized
representatives around the world.
For more information on improved
MARTIN® Insertable Dust Collectors,
see a Martin Engineering representative
or visit the company website at
www.martin-eng.com.
Martin Engineering Buys Cougar Industries
Martin Engineering — the
world’s largest supplier of
industrial vibrators — has
aquired Cougar Industries (Peru, IL),
a manufacturer of high-quality
industrial vibrators made in the
USA.
Martin Engineering CEO Scott
Hutter said that plans are to retain
the Cougar name and continue
operations in Peru as a division of
Martin Engineering. “Cougar has a
great reputation for high quality,
heavy-duty electric vibrators operating
on alternating & direct current,”
he observed.
“This move will give us complete
control over our vibrator quality and
delivery,” Hutter continued. “It will
also allow us to quickly design,
engineer and manufacture vibrators
for special customer applications.
Martin Engineering will now be able
to more actively pursue worldwide
With the acquistion of Cougar, Martin Engineering will
actively pursue 12 and 24 volt vibrator applications
applications for all types of vibrators,
especially 12 & 24 volt models
used on mobile equipment, which is
one of Cougar’s strengths.”
With its improved filter technology, the MARTIN® Insertable
Since patenting its first truck
vibrator in 1964, Cougar has grown
through expansion and strategic
acquisition to become a name associated
with quality products, workmanship
and service. The company
designs and manufactures an electric
line of single and 3-phase vibrators
in a wide range of force outputs.
The firm also manufactures
piston, ball, ring and turbine pneumatic
vibrators and a complete line
of hydraulic powered units.
Cougar has a long history supplying
an extensive family of 12- and
24 VDC vibrators specifically for
truck and mobile applications, and
supplies a broad line of equipment
to evacuate material from storage
vessels. Air Cannons, Gyro-Whip
Bin Cleaning and Power Lance Bin
Drill Systems will continue to be
made in Peru, IL.
In 2008, Martin Enginerring
opened its 30,000 square foot
Center for Innovation (CFI) in
Neponset. The CFI is headquarters
for Martin Engineering’s global R&D
investments focused on improving
productivity and profitability for all
industrial operations where clean,
safe, productive handling of bulk
material is key to the production
process.
Over the years, Martin
Engineering’s headquarters has
expanded to occupy more than
152,000 square feet (14,121 m 2 )
of floor space. The campus now
includes sophisticated engineering,
research and development, high
tech computer controlled machines
for laser cutting, turning, forming
and urethane molding. An integrated
computer system controls order
entry, JIT manufacturing, inventory
and accounting. The Neponset
facility and several of its subsidiary
companies are certified to the
“world-class” ISO 9001 Quality
Systems.

Thursday, June 17
The Resort at Glade
Springs
Daniels, WV
The Honorable Governor Joe Manchin III
State Senator Mike Green
Bill Reid, Coal News Publisher and Managing Editor
Mike Castle, Strategic Solutions
Dr. Tony Szwilski, Marshall University
Christy Bailey, Executive Director National Coal Heritage Area
The Public Perception of Coal
Mine Safety Products: Emerging Technologies
Virtual Interactive Simulation Environment
The Regulatory Environment’s Affect on Coal Mining and the
Coal Industry’s Response
A Historical Perspective on the Industrialization of the New River Gorge
Mine Rescue Team Training: Recovering Miners from Refuge Chambers
For more information contact:
326 Third Avenue, Suite 305
Montgomery, WV 25136
Phone: 304.734.6620
Fax: 304.981.6065
www.WVMSTC
WVMSTC.org.org
Sponsored By:

28
June 2010
Faculty Position for the Mining Technology
Program at Penn State Fayette
The growing ABET-accredited Mining Technology program
at Penn State Fayette seeks applications for a fixed-term
36-week faculty position. The ideal candidate must have
an MS in Mining Engineering or a closely-related field. A
Ph.D. is preferred. A state or federal underground electrical
card and underground experience are a plus.
Please send a resume and cover letter to Dr. Delia Conti,
Director of Academic Affairs, Penn State Fayette, The
Eberly Campus, P.O. Box 519, Uniontown, PA 15401.
PENN STATE IS COMMITTED TO AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY & THE DIVERSITY OF ITS WORKFORCE.
Electrical MiningTechnician
Electro-Mechanical-Corporation (EMC), a 52-year-old privately owned company located in
Bristol,VA, manufactures a wide variety of electrical products used in the generation,
transmission, and distribution and control of electricity. Line Power, a division of EMC is currently
seeking a self-directed and highly motivated mining technician who has demonstrated skills and
experience as follows:
• Five to seven years of both electrical and
mechanical experience.
• Competent in calling on both mining and
non-mining customers.
• Ability to resolve technical issues via phone
is mandatory.
• PLC experience is required.
• Knowledge of power distribution and
MSHA regulations.
The candidate will be underground less than 33%
of time.The balance of time will be between surface
mines and industrial customers. Electrical, electronics
or equivalent experience is required. Service Reps are
provided a company vehicle plus competitive pay and
benefits.The successful candidate will be expected to
live in or be willing to relocate to the greater Tri-Cities
(Bristol/Kingsport/Johnson City). For confidential
consideration e-mail your resume, references and
pay history to: jobsLP@electro-mechanical.com
or call 276-645-8890.
• Ability to provide on-site service and
maintenance training is vital.
• A current MSHA underground miner
certification/general mining, electrical
UG certification and electrical surface
certification is required.
• Frequent overnight travel may be required.
• A valid driver’s license and an excellent
driving record are required.
Line Power Manufacturing
Human Resources • 329 Williams Street
Bristol,VA 24201 • EEO
For More Information Phone 304-369-9118 or 304-369-0316

June 2010
Atlas Copco
Excore Diamond
Bit Gives Line
Faster Drilling
With optimized crown designs and
new matrices, Atlas Copco’s new
Excore diamond bit line achieves
greater penetration rates with an
extended service life. As a result,
contractors using Excore bits can
drill both faster and deeper, but
spend less time changing bits.
The metallurgy and design of the
Excore bits allow their use in a wider
range of applications than their predecessors.
Drillers can reduce the
types of diamond drill bits usually
required to tackle different rock conditions
on site – without losing performance.
As a result bit selection is
simplified. This improves both productivity
and cash flow.
The new Excore diamond bit line
has been thoroughly tested over the
past two years on four continents,
under varied conditions, with different
customers. Results conclusively
show a significant improvement in
performance and bit life.
Sioux Introduces
New Brochure
for EN-Series All-
Electric Pressure
Washers & Steam
Cleaners
Sioux Corporation introduces a
new brochure for its popular EN-
Series All-Electric line of hot water
pressure washers and steam cleaners.
The brochure features new photos,
details of the product features,
and a listing of the current model
numbers available.
Standard models are available
with 50 Hz or 60 Hz electricals, and
with any voltage used world wide.
This product line, like all Sioux products,
is backed by Sioux’s Twenty-
Year Reliability Guarantee, superior
technical service after the sale, and
more than 70 years of experience.
The EN-Series product line includes
ETL third-party testing to UL and CSA
safety standards as well as a wide
range of options and accessories. All
EN-Series units are available in
explosion proof versions for operation
in hazardous locations.
Sioux Corporation is the leading
designer and manufacturer of application-specific,
industrial cleaning
equipment, specialty water heaters,
steam generators and related custom
equipment. Sioux has the right
piece of equipment for a wide range
of cleaning requirements.
For more information on Sioux’s
products please call 888-763-8833
or 605-763-3333, or visit the Sioux
Corporation website at
www.sioux.com.
MPS Centurion
Introduces the
Concept Miner
Helmet
MPS Centurion a unit of Mine &
Process Service, Inc. has introduced
the Concept Miner Helmet. Taking
the weight off of a miner’s head, it
weighs only 11.5 ounces. It features
a rugged ABS shell with an extremely
comfortable,
6-point
suspension/cradle. The helmet features
a clip on the front for affixing a
cap lamp along with a strap in the
rear of the helmet to secure the cord.
It is a low profile with a total height
off of a wearer’s head of approximately
2 inches. The Concept Miner
Helmet complies with MSHA
Program Information Bulletin No.
P07-16 regarding hardhats.
For further information, please
contact: MPS Centurion, P.O. Box
484, Kewanee, IL 61443 USA; PH:
800-852-6529; FAX: 309-854-
5206; Mail@go-mpsinc.com;
www.go-mpsinc.com.
New from
Jennmar
Twin-Lok resin is J-Lok’s newest
product. Twin-Lok’s formulation and
Product News
manufacturing process are patented.
This product provides the customer
with two different gel times in
one cartridge. This is ideal for
Jennmar’s torque tension bolting
systems. Twin–Lok resin eliminates
waste and enhances the roof control.
“PH” Roof/Rib Safety
Channel (patent pending) is another
new product from Jennmar. It controls
roof/rib sloughage, cutter roof,
and enhances the performance of
wire mesh. Another new venture for
Jennmar is its newest affiliate
Jennchem. Jennchem was formed by
the Calandra family and Troy Dolan.
Jennchem carries a full line of
polyurethanes for ground consolidation.
Its newest product J-crib is a
pumpable crib solution that can be
pumped up to 15,000 ft. from a single
borehole. Niosh test results are
available upon request. Jennchem
will be launching its own pumpable
mine seals in May of 2010!
Completely
Wireless
Communications
and Tracking
Strata Safety Products introduces
StrataCommTrac, a completely wireless,
self-forming, self healing, nodebased
communication system that
communicates on a mesh architecture.
It is a simple, battery powered,
“pick and place” node-to-node system
that does not require a hard-wire
backbone, cables or a pre-existing
communication system.
StrataCommTrac is designed to
comply with MSHA’s PPL #P09-V-01
by providing post-accident two-way
communication between miners
underground and surface operators,
as well as real-time electronic tracking.
Significant advantages lie in the
simplicity of the wireless components
and the low cost installation.
For more information, please contact
Wes Shoff, 205-221-3226.
Fairchild
International
Adds AC Drive to
Dual Tram Scoop
Line
Fairchild International is now producing
the 35C-WH2-30-AC, AC
Drive, Workhorse Dual Tram Scoop.
This battery-powered vehicle is the
latest addition to Fairchild’s series of
dual tram scoops and shield haulers.
The AC Drive provides increased battery
life cycles and reduced motor
maintenance costs.
This unit is ideally suited for use in
slope graded mines and minimum
seam heights of 6 feet. Fairchild’s
latest Dual Tram Workhorse Scoop
features a 180 cubic feet capacity,
center eject bucket, 44 to 48 inch
tires, Reliance 25 hp at 1,800 rmp,
pump motor, dual Reliance 75 hp at
variable rpm, tram motors and gear
reducers. The vehicle’s heavy duty
steel frame is 30 inches high and
designed to withstand the harshest
conditions.
Other attributes include larger battery
capacity, ball bearing center
section with automatic lubrication,
expanded operator’s compartment
with door, adjustable canopy with
back protection, heavy-duty groundbased
battery changing system and
John Deere inboard planetary axles
with wet disc service brakes.
For more information, contact
Fairchild International, at
540.726.2380 or email
sales@fairchildint.com or visit
www.fairchildint.com.
Fenner Dunlop
FireBoss®
Receives MSHA
30CFR14 Approval
Leading the way in fire retardant
conveyor belting for over 60 years,
Fenner Dunlop Americas was one of
the very first manufacturers to
receive MSHA 30CFR14 B.E.L.T.
stamp of approval for its underground
FireBoss ® conveyor belts in
the US. The underground product
line was specifically developed to
exceed the new B.E.L.T. standards,
making worksites safer for underground
conveying.
The new compounds, Fire Boss ®
and Fire Boss Ultra ® , were developed
as key ingredients in Fenner
29
Dunlop’s fire retardant belting to significantly
reduce fire propagation
and smoke density. The self-extinguishing
properties of Fire Boss ®
aid in sustaining oxygen levels, in
reducing smoke density and in suppressing
carbon monoxide levels in
case of a mine fire.
Fenner Dunlop continually takes
all steps necessary to ensure that
every precaution is taken to place
the safest and best performing belt
in its intended application.
Matrix Largest
METS Install
to Date
With over 80 installations to date,
Matrix Design Group, and its distributors
Carroll Engineering and Delta
Electric, have seen quite a wide variety
of mines. To date though, none
have matched the size of the Alliance
Coal’s Dotiki Mine in west Kentucky.
With over twenty miles of beltline and
five sections, Dotiki is the largest
METS communications and tracking
installation thus far, with over 300
nodes and 50 new Matrix Wireless
AMS (WAMS) CO sensors.
Matrix currently has an additional
65 installations in progress
including mines in all major coal
regions. Thanks to this experience,
and the input from the miners they
work with every day, Matrix has
been able to provide over 40 major
enhancements to their software
interface and user tools in the last
two years. While Matrix continues
to be the industry leader in tracking
installations, they are also
continually developing new products
to provide complete, reasonably-priced,
low-maintenance,
tracking, communications, and
atmospheric monitoring systems
to operators.
For further information, call
812-490-1525, e-mail
sales@matrixdginc.com or visit
www.matrixdginc.com.

30
June 2010
Professional Page
United States - Headquarters
4000 Town Center Blvd, Suite 300
Canonsburg, PA 15317
Tel 724-873-4400 • Fax 724-873-4401
jtboydp@jtboyd.com
COALFIELD SERVICES, INC.
Material Handling
installation & maintenance
Rigging/Steel
fabrication & erection
Ventilation Fans/Elevators
Machinery Relocation,
placement & alignment
2942 Peppers Ferry Road
Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone (276)228-3167
Fax (276) 228-7912
info@coalfieldservices.com
www.coalfieldservices.com
Meeting general and specialized
contracting needs since 1977
PROFESSIONAL PAGE
Advertise Here To Get Your
Message Out To 31,000 Readers.
For information,contact: 304-327-6777
or email coalnews@comcast.net

June 2010
June 5-11, Joint Reclamation
Conference, entitled “Bridging
Mining Reclamation Science and
the Community” to be held at the
Radisson Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA.
This joint conference is three conferences
in one. 27th Annual
American Society of Mining and
Reclamation, 12th Annual
Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine
Reclamation Conference, and 4th
Annual Appalachian Regional
Forestation Initiative Conference.
For conference committee contacts
and materials, go to www.pghminingreclamationconf.com.
For additional
information about ASMR, go
to www.asmr.us and about ARRI go
to www.arri.osmre.gov.
June 26, RMCMI Short Course in
Midway, Utah. Subject is
“Motivating Your Workforce to Take
Ownership.” For further information,
contact bcoen@rmcmi.org,
303-948-3300, or visit
www.rmcmi.org.
June 27-29, Rocky Mountain Coal
Mining Institute 106th Annual
Meeting and Convention in Midway,
Utah. Theme is “Taking Ownership
for our Future.” For further information,
contact bcoen@rmcmi.org,
Gene Mattila has
been appointed
Business Line
Manager for
Atlas Copco’s
Rock Drilling
Tools products.
“With his broad
expertise and senior status in the
U.S. construction and mining business,
along with his proven leadership
skills and ability to deliver
results, Gene is uniquely suited to
take on this challenge,” said
Torbjorn Redaelli, President, Atlas
Copco Construction Mining
Technique USA, LLC.
Kimberly Wells
has been named
Director of
Business
Development,
Engineering
Consulting
Services, Inc.
ESCI has offices in Corbin,
Owensboro, and Pikeville,
Kentucky, and Williamson, West
Virginia, in addition to their headquarters
in Lexington, Kentucky.
The company focuses on civil, environmental,
mining, and safety.
Jim Quasey has joined Industrial
Scientific as Vice President of
303-948-3300, or visit
www.rmcmi.org.
July 27-29, 29th International
Conference on Ground Control in
Mining, sponsors include NIOSH,
MSHA, WVCA, and West Virginia
University, to be held at Lakeview
Scanticon Resort and Conference
Center, Morgantown, West Virginia.
For further information, contact
Tom Barczak, 412-386-6557, fax
412-386-6891, e-mail
thb0@cdc.gov.
September 2, Kanawha Valley
Mining Institute Meeting, South
Charleston-Ramada Inn, 6:30 p.m.,
reception and dinner, need sponsor.
For further information, e-mail
jim.corsaro@pennvirginia.com or
visit www.kvmi.org.
September 16-17, RMCMI
Montana/North Dakota/Wyoming
Regional Meeting in Sheridan,
Wyoming. For further information,
contact bcoen@rmcmi.org, 303-
948-3300, or visit www.rmcmi.org.
September 20-22, Bluefield Coal
Symposium, to be held at the
Quality Hotel and Conference
Center (formerly Holiday Inn),
Bluefield, West Virginia, sponsored
by the Greater Bluefield Chamber
G l o b a l
Operations. In
this role, he will
have responsibility
for all global
manufacturing,
manufacturing
engineering, supply
chain, quality, and operational
excellence functions within the
company. He will also serve as a
member of the Corporate Executive
Council.
Barbara J. Gundy
has been promoted
to Assistant
Vice President of
the Cultural
Resources
Services Group of
Skelly and Loy.
Dr. Gundy is in charge of personnel,
scheduling, technical aspects,
and inventory needs of the firm’s
cultural services group. An extensive
participatory and supervisory
experience in all types of cultural
resource studies, including precontact
and historic period archaeology,
serving as principle (or principal)
investigator on hundreds of
projects for federal, state, and
local governmental tribal and private
clients.
Coal Calendar
of Commerce. The theme is
Continuing Along the Road to Zero.
A block of rooms are reserved at
the Quality Hotel and Conference
Center at a special rate. To reserve
a room phone 304-325-6170. For
symposium reservations or to
exhibit, phone 304-327-7184, fax
304-325-3085, e-mail info@bluefieldchamber.com,
or visit
www.bluefieldchamber.com.
September 30-October 2, Fall
Meeting, West Virginia Coal Mining
Institute, to be held at The
Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs,
West Virginia. For further information,
contact Royce Watts, 304-
293-5695, ext. 2102, or e-mail
royce.watts@mail.wvu.edu.
October 5-7, American Coal
Council Coal Market Strategies, to
be held at the JW Marriott Star
Pass Resort and Spa, Tucson,
Arizona. For information, visit
www.americancoalcouncil.org.
October 7, Kanawha Valley Mining
Institute Meeting, South
Charleston-Ramada Inn, 6:30 p.m.,
reception and dinner, need sponsor.
For further information, e-mail
jim.corsaro@pennvirginia.com or
visit www.kvmi.org.
On The Move
Caroline R.
Mosites has
joined Steptoe &
Johnson to practice
in the
Clarksburg office,
concentrating on
the areas of business
and energy law. Mosites
comes to the firm from Cassidy,
Kotjarapoglus and Pohland of
Greensburg, PA where she served
as an associate practicing in the
areas of oil, gas, and property law.
Mosites legal career also includes
work in the areas of family law,
estates and trusts, and ERISA.
Chad Griffith has
joined Steptoe &
Johnson in the
firm’s energy
group concentrating
in the
areas of energy,
mineral, and
business law. A graduate of
Frostburg State University (BS) and
West Virginia University College of
Law (JD), Griffith’s experience
includes performing title examinations
and preparing title reports on
coal, oil, gas, and other minerals,
in addition to managing abstracting
teams to assist energy clients
October 12-14, TRAM/National
Mine Instructor’s Seminar, sponsored
by MSHA, to be held at the
National Mine Health and Safety
Academy. Seminar also includes an
exhibit of training materials developed
by MSHA, state grants recipients,
and the mining industry. For
further information, contact Bob
Glatter, 304-256-3100, or Cheryl
Stevens, 304-256-3236.
October 14-16, SME Central App.
Section Fall Meeting and Joint
Meeting with KCA, to be held at the
Marriott Griffin Gate, Lexington,
Kentucky. For further information,
contact Kathryn A. Dew, 540-231-
7055, fax 540-231-4070,
dewk@vt.edu; or Roberta James,
859-233-4743, rjames@kentuckycoal.com.
October 28-29, Pittsburgh Coal
Mining Institute of America and
SME Pittsburgh Section Annual
Joint Meeting, Holiday Inn
Meadowlands, Washington,
Pennsylvania. For further information,
contact Mary Del Rosso, 412-
835-7387,
mary412d@comcast.net, or
www.smepittsburgh.org.
October 28-30, 34th Annual
with extensive development plans.
Kristen L.
Andrews has
joined Steptoe &
Johnson to practice
in the
Wheeling office
concentrating in
the area of general
litigation.
Andrews received a legal education
from the University of Akron
School of Law and in 2009 graduating
Magna Cum Laude. She was
an Assistant Editor of the
University of Akron Law Review, as
well as its Citation Editor. While in
law school, Andrews earned a CALI
Excellence for the Future Award in
Criminal Law Administration of
Criminal Justice and Remedies.
Prior to law school, Andrews
attended WVU where she earned in
Bachelor of Science in Forensic
and Investigative Science with an
emphasis in Chemistry.
Gary D. Holland
has joined
Steptoe &
Johnson to practice
in the
Charleston office,
concentrating in
the areas of busi-
31
Kentucky Mineral Law Conference
to be held at the Marriott Griffin
Gate Resort, Lexington, Kentucky.
Sponsored by the Energy and
Mineral Law Foundation and cocited
with an annual meeting of the
Kentucky Coal Association and
SME Central App Section Fall
Meeting. For details, go to
www.emlf.org or call 859-231-
0271.
November 4, Kanawha Valley
Mining Institute Meeting, South
Charleston-Ramada Inn, 6:30 p.m.,
reception and dinner, need sponsor.
For further information, e-mail
jim.corsaro@pennvirginia.com or
visit www.kvmi.org.
December 2, Kanawha Valley
Mining Institute Meeting, South
Charleston-Ramada Inn, 6:30 p.m.,
reception and dinner, need sponsor.
For further information, e-mail
jim.corsaro@pennvirginia.com or
visit www.kvmi.org.
December 6-7, American Coal
Council Coal Trading Conference,
to be held at the Millennium
Broadway Hotel, New York, New
York. For information, visit
www.americancoalcouncil.org.
ness and energy law. Holland is a
graduate of the Appalachian
School of Law (JD) and the
University of Kentucky’s Gatton
College of Business and
Economics (BS). Prior to practicing
law in Virginia and Tennessee,
Holland served Steptoe & Johnson
as a Project Manager for various
matters within the energy group.
Outside of the firm, Holland is an
active volunteer within the YMCA,
assisting the Buchanan County, VA
organization as a member of its
Board of Directors.
William (Bill) Mooney has been
appointed Executive Vice President
of Finance and CFO of Fenner
Dunlop Americas, leading manufacturer
of industrial conveyor belting
and services. He is based in the
new headquarters in Pittsburgh,
PA where he oversees the financial
and IT operations of Fenner Dunlop
Americas Manufacturing, Fenner
Dunlop Conveyor Services, and
Classic Conveyor Divisions.
Mooney joins Fenner Dunlop with
over 30 years of financial and
executive management experience
in the manufacturing and service
sectors.

The
LONGWALL
AUTHORITY
Fairchild International, a U.S.–based manufacturer of
underground mining equipment, is producing the
heavy-duty 36S Shield Hauler. This vehicle
has proven stability under heavy loading in longwall
operations. The 36S features state-of-the-art
technology exceptional design characteristics
throughout the machine, including dual 50HP tram
motors, 72-84 inch fork length, and 175 cubic foot
bucket. It also includes 48-inch tires with durable
inboard planetary axles.
With innovative engineering developed over more
than 40 years of being in business, Fairchild gives you
all of the latest technology. With your purchase, you
also get the satisfaction of knowing your equipment
always sets the industry standard.
Fairchild Model 36S Shield Hauler
Key Features:
> 36-ton capacity
> Superior heavy-duty steel frame
> IGBT controller
> Overspeed control
> 22 HP pump motor
> Dual-tram 50 HP rotors
> Tram-motor-mounted wet-disc park brake
> Exceptional maintenance-friendly designs
> First-class customer service and support
For more information about how our equipment can
improve your mining efficiency, productivity, and safety,
call us at 540-726-2380 or visit www.fairchildint.com
Fairchild Corporate O e
P. O. Box 300 • Glen Lyn, VA 24093
Phone: (540) 726-2380 • Fax: (540) 726-2388