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OCTOBER 2015 VOL. 120 NO. 10 FEATURE ARTICLES NEWS/4 RAISE BORING/18 18 A New Approach to Shaft Development Work Raisebor engineers the largest diameter raise in the Alabama coalfields 23 A Test of Valor The 104th national mine rescue competition brings dozens of teams to Kentucky to put their skills to the test 26 2015 U.S. Prep Plant Census MINE RESCUE/23 SAFETY EQUIPMENT/34 While a number of plants changed hands, the total number remains relatively stable 34 A Different Perspective NIOSH researchers learn from CM operator responses to proximity detection systems 36 Third Quarter Fatality Overview Industry marks fairly quiet June-September period COAL IN THE NEWS 4 Blaschak Coal Expands Mining Activities 4 TECO Closes Coal Division Sale 5 Alpha Moves Forward in Bankruptcy Case 6 Production Could Start Soon for High Point Surface Mine THIS ISSUE 8 Colowyo’s Mine Plane Approved 10 Murray Energy Sues UMWA, Cites Deal Breach This month, Coal Age publishes its annual Prep Plant Census, including 12 Senators Unveil Black Lung Reforms Plan a comprehensive listing of the nation’s facilities and their latest updates. 13 DOL, NIOSH Establish Black Lung QA Program It also takes on the topic of shaft development, documenting some record-setting work in the heart of Alabama’s coalfields. Coverage and 14 Duke Energy to Reduce Emissions From Power Plants, complete results from the 2015 National Coal Mine Rescue Competition Fund Projects begins on page 23. On the cover, an Atlas Copco Robbins 123R C raise 15 Minnesota Power Will Expand Portfolio, But Keep Coal boring machine rests at the Jim Walter Resources No. 7 mine, where Cowin & Co.’s Raisebor completed a 26-ft-diameter raise bore shaft to a 15 Morehead State Dedicates Craft Academy depth of 1,440 ft earlier this year. 16 Sierra Club, Xcel Energy Argue Over Sherco Plant’s Future 17 Usibelli Stops Coal Exports for the Rest of 2015 DEPARTMENTS 2 Editorial 4 WORLD NEWS Coal in the News 5 World News 5 South African Miners End Strike 10 People 12 Dateline Washington 6 India Vows Ambitious Green Targets, Defends Coal Use 14 Calendar 16 Awards 8 Wyoming, China Reps Building Bridge of Coal 38 Operating Ideas 40 Suppliers News 42 Product News 45 Classified 48 Legally Speaking October 2015 www.coalage.com 1 editor’s note Court Wisely Grants a Stay on WOTUS www.mining-media.com Mining Media International Editorial Office uring early October, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals 11655 Central Parkway, Suite 306 Jacksonville, Florida 32224 U.S.A. granted a nationwide stay on the Waters of the United D Phone: +1.904.721.2925 States (WOTUS) rule recently proposed by the Environmental Fax: +1.904.721.2930 Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The proposed rule was an effort to clarify the scope of Editor-in-Chief—Steve Fiscor, [email protected] federal regulatory jurisdiction to satisfy U.S. Supreme Court Western Field Editor—Russ Carter, [email protected] decisions in 2001 and 2006, which concluded that the agencies Field Editor—Donna Schmidt, [email protected] adopted an interpretation that unduly widened the scope of European Editor—Simon Walker, [email protected] Latin American Editor—Oscar Martinez, [email protected] their authority. Many cases against the WOTUS rule are pend- BY STEVE FISCOR Assistant Editor—Jennifer Jensen, [email protected] ing in courts around the country. / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Graphic Designer—Austin St. Clair, [email protected] The proposed rule changes were mostly an effort to more clearly define the WOTUS for all Clean Water Act (CWA) programs. Most of the Mining Media International changes were related to tributaries, adjacent wetlands and “other waters.” As pro- Corporate Office posed, it would have expanded federal jurisdiction considerably over waters that 8751 East Hampden, Suite B1 Denver, Colorado 80231 U.S.A. have little or no connection to flowing streams and rivers, exposing new mines or Phone: +1.303.283.0640 mine expansions to additional permitting delays, which would further threaten the Fax: +1.303.283.0641 economy in the coalfields by putting more jobs at risk. President/Publisher—Peter Johnson, [email protected] Despite the fact that the EPA said the rule would more clearly define tributaries, it Vice President of Sales & Marketing—John Bold, [email protected] was the definitions that worried the court the most. In its ruling, the court said, “In Midwest/Eastern U.S. & Canada, Sales—Victor Matteucci, [email protected] one sense, the clarification that the new rule strives to achieve is long overdue. We Western U.S. & Canada, Sales—Mary Lu Buse, [email protected] also accept that respondent agencies have conscientiously endeavored, within their Scandinavia, UK and European Sales—Colm Barry, [email protected] technical expertise and experience, and based on reliable peer-reviewed science, to Germany, Austria & Switzerland Sales—Gerd Strasmann, [email protected] Australia/Asia Sales—Lanita Idrus, [email protected] promulgate new standards to protect water quality that conform to the Supreme Japan Sales—Masao Ishiguro, [email protected] Court’s guidance. Yet, the sheer breadth of the ripple effects caused by the rule’s def- Indonesia Sales—Dimas Abdillah, [email protected] initional changes counsels strongly in favor of maintaining the status quo for the Latin America Sales—Paulina Downey, [email protected] / Sylvia Palma, time being.” [email protected] A nationwide stay was granted by a 2:1 vote, with the majority believing that Classified Advertising—Kirk Carbo, [email protected] opponents currently challenging the rule would likely prevail. The court also took Show Manager—Tim Fearney, [email protected] issue with the content of the rule, and the lack of notice and comment for significant Production Manager—Dan Fitts, [email protected] changes that were added in the final version. The court also noted that the rule had already been stayed in 13 states. “Recognizing the legal infirmities that could ultimately topple the rule, the court wisely decided to suspend the nationwide implementation of the waters of the U.S. rule,” said Hal Quinn, CEO, National Mining Association. “As it stands, the federal overreach embodied in the WOTUS rule will only add more uncertainty and delays to state, local and private land use decisions.” Coal Age, Volume 120, Issue 10, (ISSN 1040-7820) is published monthly by Mining Many in the mining business believe the rule does not comply with Supreme Media Inc., 10 Sedgwick Drive, Englewood, Colorado 80113 (mining-media.com). Periodicals postage paid at Englewood, CO, and additional mailing offices. Canada Court decisions and that they were not given significant notice to review and com- Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40845540. Canada return address: Station A, PO ment as required by law. The dissenting judge said the court should not issue a stay Box 54, Windsor ON N9A 6J5, Email: [email protected]. Current and against the rule until it determines that it has jurisdiction under the CWA to review back issues and additional resources, including subscription request forms and an editorial calendar, are available online at www.coalage.com. the rule. The majority believed they had the discretionary power to issue a stay until SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Free and controlled circulation to qualified subscribers. the questions related to jurisdiction are answered, and that briefing is under way. The Non-qualified persons may subscribe at the following rates: USA and Canada, 1 year, court’s nationwide stay was the right decision as they consider the merits of a regula- $56.00, 2 year, $96.00, 3 year, $162.00, Student, $16.00, Outside the USA and tion that will surely impact the coal mining business and many other industries. Canada, 1 year, $77.00, 2 year, $137.00, 3 year, $225.00 surface mail (1 year, $145.00, 2 year, $257.00 airmail delivery). For subscriber services or to order single copies, write to Coal Age, 8751 East Hampden, Suite B1, Denver, CO 80231 USA; call +1.303.283.0640 (USA) or visit www.mining-media.com. ARCHIVES AND MICROFORM: This magazine is available for research and retrieval of select- ed archived articles from leading electronic databases and online search services, including Factiva, LexisNexis, and Proquest. For microform availability, contact ProQuest at 800-521- 0600 or +1.734.761.4700, or search the Serials in Microform listings at www.proquest.com. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Coal Age, P.O. Box 1337, Skokie, IL 60076 USA. Steve Fiscor, Coal Age Editor-in-Chief REPRINTS: Mining Media Inc, 8751 East Hampden, Suite B1, Denver, CO 80231 USA [email protected] phone: +1.303.283.0640, fax: +1.303.283.0641, www.mining-media.com PHOTOCOPIES: Authorization to photocopy articles for internal corporate, personal, or instructional use may be obtained from the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) at +1.978.750.8400. Obtain further information at www.copyright.com. COPYRIGHT 2015: Coal Age, incorporating Coal and 2 www.coalage.com Coal Mining & Processing. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. xperience has no substitute. With the largest number of operating longwall shearers in the world, Eickhoff is uniquely specialized in providing best-in-class shearers that deliver: · High performance & availability. · Highest quality gearing that is unequalled. · Proven Ei-Control SB automation technology. Eickhoff shearers are fully supported by our demonstrated commitment to life-cycle management services. Our singular focus on shearer performance, quality and service is your most competitive advantage for higher productivity and lower costs. A tradition of innovation for 150 years. Eickhoff Corporation 200 Park West Drive 3LWWVEXUJK3$ SINCE 7 eickhoffmining.com The Cutting Edge 5NITED3TATESs'ERMANYs!USTRALIAs#HINAs3OUTH!FRICAs2USSIAs0OLANDs"ELARUS Empowering Energy Producers™ news Blaschak Coal Expands Mining Activities Blaschak Coal Corp.

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