LATEST PRESS RELEASES

January 4, 2007
NMA Salutes Bunning, Obama for Legislation Promoting Coal Liquefaction, Energy Independence
The following statement by National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz responds to the introduction in the Senate today of the “Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act of 2007.” Sponsored by Senators Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Energy to administer loan guarantees and provide other incentives for initial construction of coal-to-liquid (CTL) plants, expands tax credits for CTL plant construction and authorizes Department of Defense funding for CTL research and development:

December 6, 2006
NMA Comments on U.S. Energy, Coal Outlook
National Mining Association (NMA) president and CEO Kraig R. Naasz made the following comments upon yesterday’s release of the U.S. Energy Information Agency’s Annual Energy Outlook for 2007 (AEO2007), which concludes that “coal is projected to play a growing role” through the end of the 2030 forecast period:

December 5, 2006
NMA Applauds Mine Safety Technology and Training Commission Effort
The following statement was issued today by National Mining Association (NMA) Chairman James F. Roberts and NMA’s President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz upon the release of a comprehensive report by the Mine Safety Technology and Training Commission, which NMA established in March 2006 as an independent commission. The report was transmitted today to NMA, and the commission’s chairman, Dr. R. Larry Grayson, publicly released the commission’s findings and recommendations at a mine safety meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa., held by the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate’s Coal Mining Task Force.

November 2, 2006
Coal Industry Applauds Administration’s Climate Change Initiative
National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz made the following statement after this week's announcement by U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy Jeffrey Jarrett of a new federally funded $450 million research project designed to analyze North America’s capability for storing carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants:

October 4, 2006
NMA Kicks Off “Mine the Vote” Voter Education Drive for 2006
“Mine the Vote was a tremendous success in 2004, and the National Mining Association (NMA) is ready to surpass those achievements with our 2006 effort,” NMA President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz said today upon the re-launch of the association’s highly popular voter education and get-out-the-vote program.

September 21, 2006
Mining Industry Leader Comments on New EPA Particulate Rule
The following statement from National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz comments on the rule announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for controlling course particulate matter:

September 21, 2006
National Mining Association Elects New Officers
Washington, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today elected a new slate of officers to lead the national trade association of the U.S. mining industry.

September 21, 2006
Twenty U.S. Mines Recognized for Outstanding Safety Performance
2005 “Sentinels of Safety” Award Winners Achieve Industry Objective of Zero Injuries

September 21, 2006
U.S. Coal Mining Companies Honored for Reclamation and Environmental Stewardship
Eleven Coal Companies Win 2006 Awards from U.S. Department of the Interior

September 21, 2006
U.S. Mineral Mining Companies Win Environmental, Good Neighbor Awards
Four Mineral Mining Companies Win Department of Interior Honors for 2006

September 20, 2006
Economist Says Better Metals and Minerals Data Needed as Nation’s Import Dependency Grows
Washington, D.C. – Congress should strengthen the nation’s declining capability to collect important data on minerals and metals that are critical to our economic and national security, a mining industry economist said today at a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee.

September 15, 2006
NMA To Host Mine Safety, Environmental and Reclamation Award Ceremonies
The National Mining Association (NMA), in cooperation with three federal agencies, will host two award ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 21, to honor American coal and mineral mining companies that have demonstrated exceptional achievements in safety, environmental stewardship and community relations in 2005.

September 13, 2006
NMA Applauds Senate Committee Approval of "Good Samaritan" Bill
The following statement was released today by National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz following passage by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee of the "Cleanup of Inactive and Abandoned Mines Act" (S. 1848) that would encourage voluntary efforts to remediate pollution at abandoned hardrock mine lands.

August 1, 2006
Mining Industry Welcomes Final NEPA Task Force Recommendations
The following statement from National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz comments on the final report of the House Resources Committee Task Force on Improving and Updating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA):

July 26, 2006
U.S. Energy Security Advanced by Coal-to-Liquid Fuels Legislation
"America’s accelerating dependence on imported foreign oil can be stopped in its tracks if Congress takes bold steps to foster the deployment of technologies for converting abundant domestic coal into ultra-clean fuels. 'The American-Made Energy Freedom Act,' introduced today in the House, embraces this critical component of our overall strategy to cut America’s energy import bill and to take greater control of our economic destiny," said National Mining Association (NMA) President and Chief Executive Officer Kraig R. Naasz.

July 18, 2006
Mining Industry Hails Southern States Energy Plan
The following statement from National Mining Association (NMA) president and CEO Kraig R. Naasz compliments the Southern States Energy Board for “The American Energy Security Study,” a comprehensive plan for achieving U.S. energy independence:

July 14, 2006
Coal Industry Poised for National, Global Growth
Columbus, Ohio — Powerful forces are driving up demand for American coal, fueling a prolonged resurgence in the coal industry, said a U.S. mining industry leader today at the Ohio Coal Association’s Annual Meeting in Columbus.

July 13, 2006
Mining Companies Merit "Good Samaritan" Status to Clean Up Abandoned Mines
Washington, D.C. - A mining industry representative told a House panel today that mining companies are often the best and sometimes the only practical agents for cleaning up many abandoned mineral mines throughout the West.

June 30, 2006
House Applauded for Supporting Mining Education and Coal Fuels Incentives
The following statement was issued today by National Mining Association (NMA) president and CEO Kraig R. Naasz after the House of Representatives passed the “Deep Ocean Energy Resources (DOER) Act of 2006”:

June 22, 2006
Mining Industry Leader Applauds Senators Bunning, Obama for Coal Fuels Legislation
National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz issued the following statement at a press conference this morning to unveil the Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act of 2006, a bi-partisan bill introduced by Sens. Jim Bunning (R-Ky) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) that provides incentives to encourage investments in coal liquefaction plants for the production of coal-derived diesel and other fuels:

June 21, 2006
Coal to Liquids Technology Press Conference
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) will hold a press conference with co-sponsors of The Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act of 2006 tomorrow, June 22, at 9:30 a.m. at the Russell Senate Park.

June 15, 2006
Mining Leader Commends President for Signing Mine Safety Measure
National Mining Association (NMA) president and CEO Kraig R. Naasz issued the following statement upon President Bush’s signing into law today of the “Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act”:

June 14, 2006
Mining Industry Executive Says “Good Samaritans” Need Effective Liability Protection to Clean Up Orphan Mines
Washington, D.C.— Congress should shield “Good Samaritans,” including mining companies, from legal liability to encourage the clean up of abandoned hard rock mine sites across the western United States, a mining industry executive told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today.

June 7, 2006
Coal Industry Applauds Congress for Safety Legislation
NMA President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz issued this statement today following congressional passage of the “Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act,” which the House of Representatives approved on June 7, by a vote of 381 to 37, following unanimous approval by the Senate last month:

May 26, 2006
NMA Launches New Web Site on Coal-to-Liquid Fuels
The high price of oil, rising energy imports, and the growing competition among major oil consuming nations for the world’s remaining supplies have stimulated renewed interest in domestic alternative fuels – fuels such as liquefied coal.

May 25, 2006
Coal Community Urges House to Pass MINER Act Now
The following statement from National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz was prompted by the decision of Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) to block House passage of bipartisan mine safety legislation that was adopted unanimously by the Senate earlier this week:

May 24, 2006
NMA Praises Senate’s Timely Bipartisan Action on Mining Safety
The following statement was issued today by National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz following Senate passage of the “Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006,” for improving mining safety in the nation’s underground coal mines:

May 23, 2006
Coal Executives See Continued Record Production
Washington, D.C. More than half of U.S. coal companies responding to a National Mining Association (NMA) annual survey predict a record year for domestic coal production in 2006.

May 20, 2006
Mining Industry Urges Prompt Passage of Safety Legislation Following Kentucky Tragedy
The National Mining Association (NMA) was very saddened to learn this morning of the underground coal mine accident in Harlan, Ky. that claimed the lives of 5 miners.: