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March 30, 2008

Coal communication

Open lines of contact between companies, community vital

By Matthew Hill

West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney counsels patience, research and neighborly communication for communities affected — and served — by coal companies.

What some experience in daily life or perceive in media coverage as mining-related nuisances — coal dust, loud noise, bright lights, slow trucks and road deterioration — can often be resolved via simple communication, Raney believes.

“Most (companies) that I’m aware of have good relations with the communities. They are addressing (issues of concern) to the best extent they can,” he explained.

“I think we have situations of allegations or finger-pointing because of perception rather than whether that activity is truly creating a problem.” As an example, Raney noted the oft-repeated complaint that coal trucks create potholes in the roads they traverse.

“That’s the perception — trucks are on the road; therefore, that accounts for deterioration of the highway. Often, it’s difficult to say that they are directly related,” Raney asserted.

When it comes to coal dust, Raney observed that coal companies have worked out relationships with some communities whereby the company provides street sweeping.

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It’s all about sustaining and maintaining a relationship of mutual respect, Raney said. That frequently entails a company going above and beyond the letter of the law.

“It goes well beyond what the average call of duty is. The companies do things that are not required by regulations, but to be a good neighbor and try to treat others as they hope to be treated.”

According to Raney, state and federal laws cover a plethora of mining-related activities. When you factor in paperwork, hours worked, lighting methods, methods of coal extraction and taxes, coal companies have no fewer than 105 separate regulatory agencies and offices telling them what to do and how to do it.

Thus, if the Golden Rule doesn’t keep them in line, numerous regulations will readily accomplish that task. “You’ve got state laws that cover practically all situations. Sometimes it becomes difficult because you have to make determinations if they’re valid complaints or if they’re just lodged no matter what,” he said.

“Some will complain about anything. If people would address their complaints to the company, there’s example after example of companies working with people in surrounding areas to make sure they minimize any disturbance to people’s arrangements for living and working.”

Raney cited reduced or concealed lighting and operation of equipment during nighttime work. Companies have also worked with communities regarding coal hauling, he added, so that coal trucks interfere as little as possible with school bus schedules and peak traffic times. Blasting schedules are also advertised and scheduled appropriately.

“Those blasting schedules are on file at the courthouses. People can see what it says and look at it,” Raney explained.

“It tells you from the very, very beginning to the very, very end, ‘Here’s the way we’re going to conduct our operations.’ If there are questions, there are opportunities for hearings and discussion. Many companies will deploy representatives into the community to explain how everything works.”

- - -

The coal association represents 80 percent to 85 percent of the coal production in the Mountain State, Raney said.

In fact, he added, 99 percent of the electricity used in West Virginia is generated by coal. Thus, a positive, respectful and symbiotic relationship between coal producers and the communities in which they operate must be maintained.

“It’s the same old story — if you want a good neighbor, you’ve got to be a good neighbor,” he said.

“The companies we represent have every interest in being good neighbors. If they (the owners) don’t live in the community, they have relatives or good friends who live there. They want to maintain that relationship even from simply a human standpoint.”

— E-mail:

mhill@register-herald.com

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