West Virginia was the 2nd largest producer of coal in the United States in 2005, making 160 million tons or 13% of whole production, while Wyoming was number one, making 380 million tons, approximately 35% of the nation's whole coal production. But, the coal made by West Virginia is more in demand than that which will be stated in western states because it is recognized as a solution using coal.

With demand for substitute power options in the U.S. at an all time large, the buying price of coal doubled within the last 2 yrs, as natural gasoline and oil prices have sky rocketed with items decreasing, specially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico in August of 2005. The Gulf generates nearly 40% of the nation's natural gasoline and refines nearly 30% of the nation's oil and continues to be hampered by the storm's devastation. In 2006, coal is expected to provide around 50% of the vitality necessary for U.S. electrical resources and speculators expect the future of the coal market to give their development around the following decade, time for their charge of production before the 1970's.

The disasters of the 2005 hurricane time along the Gulf Shore as well as the subsequent flooding of New Orleans, LA served to reveal flawed emergency services programs on all quantities of government along with unsuccessful levee maintenance. Subjects who endured Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita as well as many storms in Louisiana, Mississippi, elements of Texas as well as California, have already been stated that government and their particular agencies could be reviewed and problems built could be corrected. However it remains to be observed if proper funding error will undoubtedly be followed through or if certainly lessons will undoubtedly be learned.

Similarly, the mining surge of Sago Quarry in Tallmansville, WVA, in which 12 miners missing their lives on January 2, 2006, with one surviving miner who however remains in a coma as of per week later, will undoubtedly be steeped in paperwork and months of several separate investigations, including federal and state hearings. While it would appear that owning a mining operation is fairly self-explanatory, the fact that the task in this underground mine is done 25 stories below the top of our planet, causes it to be ready for details to be significantly less than forthcoming. But probably the heritage of the catastrophe of Sago may unveil the real price of the purchase of mining operations in the 21st century, by investors with minimum fascination with the real history of mining or their true inherent risks.

The progress of mining engineering as well as the task of the United Quarry Personnel Association (UMWA) has light emitting diode the way in which for miners' security rights greatly improving the lives of miners through the U.S. The UMWA was mainly accountable for the introduction of the Federal Coal Quarry Wellness and Protection Act of 1969, known as the Coal Act, which established wellness and security standards for miners equally in underground and above-ground mines. The Business of Mines was presented with the ability to levy fines and criminal penalties on mines in violation of the law. Additionally, free chest x-rays were readily available for underground miners as well as a compensation fund.

The Coal Act was amended in 1977 in what's now known as the Federal Quarry Protection and Wellness Act, or the Quarry Act, which will be the prevailing legislation today antminer e9 for sale. The Quarry Act served strengthened the Coal Act with greater enforcement of their statutes and combined federal security and wellness regulations for many mines, coal and non-coal, under the same piece of legislation. Additionally, a brand new firm within the Team of Labor, known as the Quarry Protection and Wellness Administration (MSHA) was established with a manager appointed by the president of the U.S.