PRESS RELEASES 2001

November 28, 2001
NMA Chief Urges Support For National Minerals Policy
"A healthy functioning nation needs a flow of resources"
Las Vegas -- The National Mining Association today offered to work with the Bush administration and with Congress to update the nation's mining law and practices in ways that protect the public land and benefit the public interest.

November 6, 2001
Mining Operations Honored for Excellence in Safety
NMA, MSHA commemorate Sentinels of Safety's 75th year
WASHINGTON -- America's safest mining operations were honored today with the prestigious Sentinels of Safety award by the Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and the National Mining Association (NMA), cosponsors of the national safety program.

November 6, 2001

OSM NEWS
U. S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining
Deputy Secretary Griles Announces Winners of the 2001
Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation Awards
WASHINGTON-- Deputy Secretary of the Interior Steve Griles today announced that coal mine operators in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming, are winners of this year's Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation Awards.

November 6, 2001
Mining Organizations Honored for Excellence in Education
WASHINGTON -- Peabody Energy Corporation, Hecla Mining Company, the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota, and Joy Mining Machinery were presented the National Mining Association's Chairman's Award for Excellence in Mining Education at an awards event held today here in Washington.

October 25, 2001
The following is a statement from Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the National Mining Association on the Department of Interior's Announcement today to revise and amend the current hardrock mining surface management (3809) rules:
Washington -- "From the information released by the DOI's Bureau of Land Management today, it appears these modest revisions will bring us a step closer to achieving consistency with the balanced and scientifically-based recommendations prescribed by the National Academy of Sciences.

October 11, 2001
Mine Waste Regulation Must Remain Site-Specific, Industry Spokesperson Says
Washington -- State-imposed mine waste regulations, because they are based on the unique environmental and geological conditions at a particular mine, set more appropriate environmental standards than a one-size-fits-all classification according to Washington, D.C., attorney Steven Barringer in testimony given today in Milwaukee.

October 2, 2001
Tax Incentives in Energy Policy Represent Sound Public Policy, Industry Spokesman Says "A win for economy, consumer and environment"
Washington -- "The tax incentives included in the current energy legislation will encourage increased use of clean coal technologies which will allow coal, our nation's greatest fossil fuel resource, to play an even more important role in meeting America's electricity demands of the future," said Brett Harvey, Vice Chairman of the National Mining Association and
President and CEO of Pittsburgh-based CONSOL Energy Inc.

August 23, 2001
Mining Operations Honored for Excellence in Safety
NMA, MSHA commemorate Sentinels of Safety's 75th year
WASHINGTON -- America's safest mining operations have been awarded the prestigious Sentinels of Safety award by the Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and the National Mining Association (NMA), cosponsors of the national safety program.

August 2, 2001
Statement of Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO,
National Mining Association, on Passage of House Energy Bill, H.R. 4
"This is the right thing at the right time. It's a positive step toward averting the next national crisis -- an energy crisis -- and it gets America back on track toward the development of a comprehensive energy plan.

June 21, 2001
The following is a statement from Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the National Mining Association on the House Interior Appropriations Bill amendment prohibiting the Bush Administration's review of the hardrock mining surface management (3809) rules:
Contrary to the misinformation surrounding this debate, an increasing number of public officials are coming to understand that today's modern mines sites are deeply committed to the environment.

June 15, 2001
The following is a statement from Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the National Mining Association on the final rule published in today's Federal Register amending the financial guarantee provision of mining's surface management rules:
Washington -- "America's modern mining industry is deeply committed to the environment and wants to ensure that adequate funds are available for restoring mine lands to a condition that is both aesthetically pleasing and productive. Many of today's modern mine sites have been honored by federal agencies and environmental and wildlife groups for their achievements in reclamation and post-mining land use.

June 13, 2001
Increased Use of Coal, Uranium Needed to Meet America's Energy Needs
Industry spokesman suggests tax code changes
Washington -- "We must make changes in the federal tax laws to encourage the more efficient use of coal to provide reliable and affordable electric energy for America with reduced environmental impact," said Robert E. Murray, President and CEO of Murray Energy Corporation, in testimony given today before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.

May 22, 2001
Coal to Ease America's Energy Woes
Resources on Federal Lands Part of Short-Term Solution
Washington -- "Increasing the production and use of coal, our nation’s most abundant, reliable, and affordable energy resource, is essential to tackling America's energy shortage," said a mining industry spokesman in testimony given today before the House Subcommittee
on Energy and Mineral Resources.

May 17, 2001
Statement on the Bush Administration's National Energy Strategy
By Jack Gerard, National Mining Association President and CEO
"For too long America has been asleep at the wheel on the highway to the energy future. We have not
checked to see how empty our tank really is.

May 9, 2001
Activist Groups' Position on Mining Regulations Ignores Sound Science
Industry opponents and activist groups are criticizing the Bush Administration for its pursuit of balance between the important goals of environmental protection and responsible development of our nation's mineral resources. The misinformation campaigns of these groups clearly contradict the Congressionally-mandated National Academy of Sciences Study, Hardrock Mining of Federal Lands, and their inaccurate depiction of these issues has served only to confuse the American public.

April 26, 2001
As Demand for Coal Rises, Roadless Rule Puts Reserves Out of Reach
Impacts will hit hardest in California and other Western States
Washington -- "Millions of tons of high-quality coal and thousands of well-paying jobs are being jeopardized by the Roadless Area Conservation Rule," said a mining industry spokesman in testimony given today before the Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

April 25, 2001
Carl E. Bagge, former NCA head, dies in Florida
Carl E. Bagge, former president of the National Coal Association (NCA), died April 25, 2001, in Boynton Beach, Florida. He was 74, and a former resident of Potomac, Maryland.

April 12, 2001
Mining's TRI Numbers Represent Ordinary Dirt
Washington -- The mining industry says the majority of the materials it reports under EPA's Toxics Release Inventory consists of naturally occurring minerals and elements that exist in low concentrations in all rock and soil. The industry maintains that all the materials reported are managed and contained on-site under state and federal regulations.

April 4, 2001
Roadless Rule Locks Up Substantial Energy and Mineral Resources
"The price our country will pay has already been witnessed in California"
Washington -- "The Final Roadless Area Conservation Rule will clearly result in the loss of millions of tons of coal and phosphates," said a mining industry spokesman in testimony given today before the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee and the Forests and Forest Health Subcommittee of the House Resources Committee.

March 22, 2001
The following is a statement from Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the National Mining Association on Senator Jeff Bingaman's Energy Package introduced today:
Washington -- "The National Mining Association applauds the introduction of comprehensive energy policy legislation by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy Committee.

March 21, 2001
The following is a statement from Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the National Mining Association on the Bureau of Land Management's announcement to seek additional public input on the recently promulgated surface mining (3809) regulations:
Washington -- "This action by the BLM demonstrates its pursuit of balance between the important goals of environmental protection and responsible development of our nation’s mineral resources.

March 14, 2001
"America Must Focus – and Focus Now – On Increasing Energy Supply and the Use of Coal"
Washington -- "Demand for energy has outstripped supply. The United States must focus – and focus now – on an energy strategy that supports the expansion of our domestic energy supply," said a mining industry spokesman in testimony given today before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

March 8, 2001
NMA Challenges 'Midnight' Water Regulation
Washington--The National Mining Association petitioned a federal court here to overturn stringent new arsenic drinking water regulations issued in the final days of the Clinton administration.

March 7, 2001
"Ominous Clouds are on the Horizon" for America's Energy Supply
Vast Resources on Federal Lands Must Be Utilized, Industry Says
Washington -- The United States must better utilize its natural resources on federal lands to provide for our increasing energy needs, and can do so while simultaneously protecting the environment and the economies of these regions according to testimony given today before the House Resources Committee.

February 28, 2001
U.S. Coal Production Apparently Sets All-time Record in January
Washington--U.S. coal production in January may have set an all-time record for one month at 101.5 million tons, according to preliminary statistics of the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA).

February 26, 2001
The following is a statement from Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the National Mining Association on the introduction of the National Energy Security Act 2001
"Senator Murkowski has presented a viable starting point for a national debate on these energy issues which are so critical to American consumers and our growing national economy.

February 6, 2001
California Crisis Could Be a Dress Rehearsal for Future Worries, NMA Chief Warns
Cites Coal as Answer to America's Impending Energy Problems
Columbus, OH -- "The reliability and adequacy of the national power supply may soon be at risk – too little supply and too much requirement," warns National Mining Association President and Chief Executive Officer Jack N. Gerard. In a speech yesterday before the Ohio Society of Mining Engineers, Gerard explained the importance of coal in sound energy policy and the industry's hopes for avoiding a nation-wide energy crisis.

January 17, 2001
The following is a statement from Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the National Mining Association in response to Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt's decision to deny a permit to California's Imperial Project of Glamis Gold, Inc:
"The National Mining Association is outraged at Secretary Babbitt's abuse of authority in denying the Glamis project. Bruce Babbitt has accomplished another item on his lengthy personal wish-list of extremist, anti-mining actions. In the past 30 days alone, we have seen an unnecessary and costly rewrite of hardrock mining rules and an ill-conceived roadless plan which denies public access to over 59 million acres of public lands.

January 16, 2001
NMA Releases Coal Industry Forecast All-Time Record Levels Seen For U.S. Coal Consumption; Production to Rise in 2001
Washington-- Coal use in the United States will reach an all-time high in 2001 totaling 1.085 billion tons, 21 million tons greater than the record 1.064 billion tons used in 2000, the National Mining Association today predicted.

January 5, 2001
Clinton's "Environmental Legacy" Leaves Behind Legacy of Energy Problems
Roadless proposal denies access to known energy resources
Washington -- In a rush to implement yet another midnight regulation, the Clinton administration is turning a cold shoulder to our nation's impending energy crisis, while destroying the jobs and the economies that support America's rural western communities. The administration's roadless proposal calls for nearly a third of all the forest land owned by the federal government to be designated "off limits" to road building, economic development and public access.

January 3, 2001
NMA Seeks Mining Rules Injunction "Midnight regulation" defies standing orders from Congress, will cost America thousands of jobs
Washington -- In an attempt to curtail the continuing assault on American mining employees, families, companies and their communities, the National Mining Association today asked the District of Columbia Federal District Court to delay implementation of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) new 3809 surface mining regulations.