On January 12, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright appointed Chris Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of the West Virginia Coal Association, to serve as a member of the National Coal Council (NCC). The association said that Secretary Wright’s appointment of Hamilton recognizes his decades of leadership and advocacy for coal communities, energy policy development, and job preservation within…
Read MoreAuthor: NAM Staff
Atkins tapped for National Coal Council
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has appointed Ramaco Resources Chairman and CEO Randall Atkins as a member of the re-established National Coal Council (NCC). The move allows Atkins to return to NCC service; he was the last chairman of the council in 2021 when former President Biden allowed the charter to lapse, forcing it to cease operations. “The Council’s…
Read MoreCoal’s comeback: A year of realism, renewal, and restored confidence
The following is an op-ed from the West Virginia Coal Association. It has been edited only for style and clarity. Looking back at 2025 – and forward with confidence. As the calendar turns, it is worth pausing to take stock of where we’ve been and where we’re headed. For America’s coal industry – and especially for the men and women…
Read MoreNIOSH employees get fully reinstated
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) announced January 14 that, following nine months of pressure from its members, labor allies and public health experts, all employees of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) who received layoff notices have been fully reinstated.
Read MoreEagle mine, Humboldt mill sold to Talon Metals
Canadian producer Lundin Mining has sold its Eagle nickel and copper mine and Humboldt mill outside of Marquette, Mich., to Talon Metals. The transaction potential was first announced in December. Lundin, according to the terms of the deal, will retain stock in Talon. Humboldt, which company officials have said is the only U.S. mill today that concentrates nickel ore, was…
Read MoreMt. Milligan secures approval to mine until 2035
The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) has approved an amendment to the Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine environmental assessment certificate, authorizing an extension to the mine’s life and an increase in production. The mine-life extension allows an 80-hectare expansion to the disturbance area for construction materials and an increase in production from 60,000 tonnes to 66,500 tonnes of ore per…
Read MoreFortitude Gold commences operations at County Line
Colorado-based miner Fortitude Gold has brought operations at its County Line mine in Nevada online and has made its first shipment of mineralization to the company’s strategically located Isabella Pearl gold processing facility. The company’s County Line project, its second gold mine in Nevada, is comprised of two historic open pits, the County Line Pit and the East Pit. The…
Read MoreMultotec develops hammerless screening attachment systems
Hand and finger injuries remain one of the most common safety concerns in mining, often occurring during physically demanding maintenance tasks. To help address this risk and remove potential safety hazards, Multotec has developed a range of hammer-less screening media attachment systems that significantly reduce the amount of hammer blows traditionally required when installing or removing screen media. Designed for…
Read MoreMSHA reported 33 fatalities in 2025
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported 33 mining industry fatalities for 2025. That is up from 28 in 2024. These fatalities include both employee and contractor deaths. There were also three “non-chargeable” fatalities in 2025, deaths that are determined to be unrelated to mining activity and are not included in MSHA’s fatality statistics There were four fatalities in…
Read MoreFletcher unveils scaler simulator
Underground mining equipment supplier Fletcher has released its new Fletcher Simulators High-Reach Scaler simulator. Set in an underground mining environment, the state-of-the-art simulator creates a realistic environment with authentic Fletcher controls and machine exercises developed so operators can learn real-world scaler applications in the safety of a virtual environment. The simulator provides multiple exercises, a motion system to help operators…
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