5/23/2003

Blankenship Says New Law Will Cost Jobs 

Staff
Charleston

HEAR COMMENTS WITH MASSEY ENERGY CEO DON BLANKENSHIP BY CLICKING "LIVE AUDIO" ICON ABOVE.

The CEO of the largest coal producer in West Virginia predicts the overweight coal truck law will cost jobs in the coalfields.

Massey Energy Chief Executive Officer Don Blankenship spoke to the Charleston Lions Club Thursday. He told reporters after the luncheon that Massey is preparing for the new coal truck law.

Blankenship predicts trucking jobs will be lost because Massey will, in some cases, avoid trucking coal by using belt lines. He says the new law puts the company's Sprouse Creek operation in Mingo County at "extreme risk." Blankenship also is not convinced the new law will have a dramatic effect on safety.

Blankenship admits the new law improves the current situation but still falls short of way he believes would be in the best interest of the state. Blankenship says the new law should allow up to 140,000 pounds per coal truck. He says the federal government allows a similar weight limit.

Blankenship told the Lions Club he is concerned about the overall attitude the nation has toward the mining of coal. He says he's not sure everyone realizes the path the nation is on. Blankenship says it means more dependance on foreign energy which will result in higher utility bills and fewer jobs.

Blankenship also briefly spoke about the Massey shareholders meeting from earlier this week where his severance package was up for discussion. The shareholders voted to have more control over the package. UMWA President Cecil Roberts supported the action.

Blankenship the change doesn't bother him. He says the vote was entirely acceptable and it the severance package wasn't an issue to him to begin with.

Massey's CEO also said the company's large summer picnic will be held in Logan instead of Charleston this year. Blankenship says an ongoing legal challenge is keep the picnic away from the capital city.