Appalachia Operations
Our Appalachian Mining Operations include nine active mining complexes in West Virginia.
Corridor G
The Corridor G mining complex consists of two company-operated surface mines, Job 21 and Hill Fork, located in southern West Virginia. Coal is sourced from the Kittanning, Stockton and Coalburg seams. Corridor G utilizes dragline and truck-and-shovel/loader mining. Coal produced at Job 21 is transferred by belt to the on-site preparation plant and loadout facility. After processing, the coal is transported to customers by CSX rail. We idled the Hill Fork mine in the second quarter of 2012. Coal produced at the Corridor G mining complex is sold on the thermal market. Certain employees at the Corridor G mining complex are represented by the UMWA.
Kanawha Eagle
The Kanawha Eagle mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and is currently sourced by one underground mine, Peerless, using continuous mining methods. The Peerless mine was opened in early 2012 and is a company-operated mine. In the first half of 2012, we closed three mines at our Kanawha Eagle mining complex. Processed coal can be sold either on the metallurgical or thermal markets and is transported via CSX rail directly to the customer or trucked to a loading facility on the Kanawha River where the coal can be loaded on barges or Norfolk Southern rail. Coal is produced from the Peerless seam. The employees at the Kanawha Eagle complex are not represented by a union.
Logan County
The Logan County mining complex consists of one company-operated surface mine, Guyan, located in southern West Virginia. Coal from this complex is sold on the thermal market. The Guyan mine utilizes the truck-and-shovel/loader mining method. Coal produced at this complex is transferred by truck to its on-site preparation plant and loadout facility. Coal is principally transported from the loadout facility to customers by CSX rail. Coal at Logan County is sourced from the Kittanning, Stockton and Coalburg seams. Certain employees at the Logan County complex are represented by the UMWA.
Midland Trail
The Midland Trail mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and consists of two underground mines, one company-operated, Blue Creek No. 1, and one contractor-operated. Coal at the Midland Trail mining complex is produced from the Stockton seam. The complex utilizes continuous mining methods. Coal produced at the Midland Trail complex is sold on the thermal market and is loaded onto trucks for transportation to a loading facility on the Kanawha River where the coal can be loaded on barges or Norfolk Southern rail. The employees at the company-operated mine are not represented by a union. In 2012, the Campbell’s Creek and Blue Creek mining operations were combined into the Midland Trail complex, and the Campbell’s Creek mines were closed in the first half of 2012.
Paint Creek
The Paint Creek mining complex consists of one surface mine and one underground mine located in southern West Virginia. Both mines are company-operated. The surface mine, Samples, utilizes truck-and-shovel/loader and highwall mining methods, while the underground mine, Winchester, utilizes the continuous mining method. Coal from Samples is sourced from the 5-Block, Stockton and Coalburg seams. The Winchester mine operates in the Hernshaw seam. After processing, coal is transported from the on-site preparation plant and loadout facility to customers by CSX rail. Coal can also be trucked approximately 14 miles to the Kanawha River where the coal can be loaded on barges or Norfolk Southern rail. Coal from this complex is sold on both the metallurgical and thermal markets. The employees at the Paint Creek complex are not represented by a union.
Panther
The Panther mining complex consists of one company-operated underground mine, Panther, located in southern West Virginia. Coal is produced utilizing the longwall mining and continuous mining methods. All coal is processed at an on-site preparation plant and then transported via truck to a CSX loading facility or to a facility on the Kanawha River where the coal can be loaded on barges or Norfolk Southern rail. Coal produced at the Panther complex is sold into the metallurgical market; however, thermal coal can also be processed and sold at this operation. Coal at the Panther mining complex is produced from the Eagle seam. The employees at the Panther complex are not represented by a union.
Rocklick
The Rocklick mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and is sourced by three company-operated underground mines, Black Oak, Gateway Eagle, and Farley Eagle. In 2012, we reduced metallurgical coal production at our Rocklick mining complex in response to further weakened demand. Coal at the Rocklick mining complex is produced utilizing continuous mining methods. Rocklick has the capability to transport coal on both the CSX and the Norfolk Southern railroads. Metallurgical coal at the Black Oak mine is produced from the No. 2 Gas seam. The Gateway Eagle mine opened in 2011 and produces metallurgical coal from the Eagle seam. The Farley Eagle mine produces metallurgical coal from the Eagle seam. Thermal coal can also be processed and sold at this operation. Certain employees at the Rocklick mining complex are represented by the UMWA.
Wells
The Wells mining complex is located in southern West Virginia and is sourced by two company-operated underground mines, Black Stallion and Campbell’s Creek No. 10. In 2012, we reduced metallurgical coal production at our Wells mining complex in response to further weakened demand. Coal is produced utilizing continuous mining methods. Coal currently produced at the Wells mining complex is sold on the metallurgical market and is transported to customers via CSX rail. Thermal coal can also be processed and sold at this operation. Coal is sourced from the Eagle and No. 2 Gas seams. Certain employees at the company-operated facilities of the Wells mining complex are represented by the UMWA.
Federal
The Federal mining complex is located in northern West Virginia and is sourced by one company-operated underground mine, Federal No. 2, utilizing longwall and continuous mining methods. All coal produced at Federal is sold on the thermal market and is transported to customers via the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads or via barges on the Ohio River. Coal is produced from the Pittsburgh seam. Certain employees at the Federal mining complex are represented by the UMWA.
