Beckley Register-Herald: Jenkins offers assistance program for jobless miners

In the wake of the recent announcement that more than 2,200 jobs in the mining industry are being eliminated by two coal companies, U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va, released a packet of state and federal resources for miners seeking jobs and benefit assistance.

"West Virginia coal miners and their families are facing difficult times," Jenkins said. "Thousands of West Virginia coal miners have already been laid off and thousands more families worry about their future."

The packet gives addresses, websites and telephone numbers of where laid-off miners can go for job-searching advice and how to file an unemployment claim. It also provides information on the federal black lung program and Social Security benefits.

Jenkins said he understands not knowing what steps to take after being laid off is stressful and hopes the informational packet is a useful resource for miners searching for new employment.

"Individuals can spend days, sometimes weeks, looking for where to turn and I wanted to lend help," he said of the five-page packet.

His field offices in Beckley and Huntington can help in dealing with federal and state agencies and the mountain of paper work often associated with government aid.

Jenkins said the need for the packet came two weeks ago when Alpha Natural Resources announced the “expected idling” of its subsidiary Rockspring Development Camp Creek Underground Mine and Processing Plant in Wayne County. Layoff notices were given to 439 employees Friday.

A short time later, Murray Energy Corp. said it will lay off more than 1,800 workers at five facilities in three states. Murray Energy, the sixth-largest private employer in West Virginia, said it will lay off 1,418 workers across the five mines it has in the Mountain State, or about 48 percent of its West Virginia workforce.

Over the past several weeks, at least two mining companies have filed for bankruptcy — Xinergy Ltd., which operates mines in Greenbrier and Boone counties, and Patriot Coal Co., which has seven mines in southern West Virginia and its headquarters in Scott Depot.

And three mining companies, all with operations in West Virginia, had their debt downgraded to junk territory recently. Arch Coal Inc. operates six mines in West Virginia, including the Beckley Complex in Eccles. Walter Energy Inc. operates the Maple Mine in Fayette and Kanawha counties and the Gauley Eagle mines in Nicholas County. Blackhawk Mining runs the Hampton Complex in Mingo and Logan counties.

Over the weekend, the congressman was in Boone County meeting and handing out packets to displaced miners.

For a packet, contact Jenkins' Beckley office at 304-250-6177, stop by at 223 Prince St., Beckley or visit his website at evanjenkins.house.gov.