By JIM ROSS
The State Journal
BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. — A mine in Marion County has idled almost all its workers.
Enough workers are on hand at the Federal No. 2 mine to prevent the mine from flooding and to keep it ready to reopen, but “it’s a minimal, skeletal crew,” said Phil Smith, communications director for the United Mine Workers of America.
The mine is owned by ERP Compliant Fuels, which did not reply to a request for comment.
In an article in September, Platts.com quoted ERP CEO Ken McCoy as saying the mine had encountered roof falls and other geological issues as it reached reserves in the active part of the mine. One more panel remained to be mined, McCoy said.
“The reserves at that mine were getting pretty thin, so I guess they decided to not mine that last panel,” Smith said Monday.
Federal No. 2 is the only mine owned by ERP, so workers do not have another mine to transfer to, Smith said.
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