6/2/2003

Coal Industry Prepares for Worker's Comp Bill

Staff
Charleston

The West Virginia Coal Industry is among those standing to take a big hit if the Workers Comp program doesn't stabilize. Coal Association President Bill Raney says they are willing to step up and pay more to help shore up the system, but fears it will be difficult to absorb.

"We're hopeful of a quick reaction and a quick result." says Raney. "Fifteen percent is dramatic and it's going to be difficult to absorb that, if in fact you can absorb it."

Most coal companies are self-insured. The Workers Comp Performance Council recently approved a 15-percent hike in rates on the self-insured companies to help stop the financial bleeding in the system. That decision follows an earlier vote that also raises the premiums on smaller companies by 15-percent. Even some members of the Performance Council fear it could lead to layoffs. Raney is hopeful that won't have to happen in the coal industry.

Labor leaders says the bulk of the problems now associated with the Workers Comp system can be blamed directly on the coal industry. A number of companies have gone for years without paying their premiums. Labor tried to force collection of those back premiums through a lawsuit, but a large part of the debt was forgiven. Raney believes the industry has addressed that internally.

"We've been through the lawsuit and we think that's behind us as an industry. We certainly hope that it is."

Raney says the coal industry, by virtue of those historical problems, now has more regulation than any other to insure it's paying it's due to the comp program.

"We can't get permits or do any kind of activity in the coal industry if you owe the Workers Comp system money."

The legislature is slated to gather in special session in June to address a bill aimed at comprehensive Workers Comp reform.

Coal Trucks Ruining Turnpike

6/2/2003

Staff
Charleston

There's been a constant debate over coal trucks traveling secondary roads in the state but not much has been mentioned about the Turnpike, until now.

Greg Barr with the Turnpike Authority says there's growing concern over the coal trucks traveling the road near Cheylan and Sharon. He says the trucks are heavy and are causing damage to the roads. Barr says the dust from the loads is also starting to coat the roadways and the medians.

Coal trucks do not have to pay tolls when traveling the Turnpike, which according to Barr causes some problems. He says unlike other state roads, they're not funded by any state funds. The Turnpike operates strictly on toll revenues. Barr says he'd like to see some sort of policy implemented where the trucks do have to pay tolls.

The legislature is finalizing plans to designate coal-hauling roads in the state. Barr says right now they're waiting to see how that pans out. He says the new 120,000-pound weight-limit may cause some problems on federal highways where the weight-limit is still 80,000 pounds. Barr says they'd like to find a way to get a chunk of the permit fees the PSC is charging for traveling those roads.