Pennsylvania – Coal companies – Layoffs blame on Obama administration

Pointing their fingers in part at regulations the Obama administration has imposed on their industry, two coal companies announced layoffs Friday.

Pennsylvania’s PBS Coals Inc. and the affiliated RoxCoal Inc. announced that they would idle some of their deep and surface mines, laying off 225 employees in the process.

“Both the foreign and domestic coal markets remain soft due to weak economic growth and activity,” PBS Coals president and CEO D. Lynn Shanks explained in a statement. “Additionally, the escalating costs and uncertainty generated by recently advanced EPA regulations and interpretations have created a challenging business climate for the entire coal industry.”…

via Coal companies announce layoffs, blame Obama administration | The Daily Caller.

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Somerset Co. coal company announces major layoffs

A major blow for hundreds of coal miners in Somerset County came Friday as PBS Coals Inc. laid off 225 workers and idled five mine sites.

Several workers who got the notices called 6 News Friday morning. 6 News reporter Maria Miller talked to some them. One told her when he got to work early Friday morning he was told not to get dressed. He said it was about an hour later that supervisors pulled the workers into a room and broke the news. He said everyone knew something was up, but they had no idea it was going to be so severe.

“We waited as long as we could to take these actions and respond,” said Lori J. Mason, manger of government affairs at PBS Coals Inc. “Because we’re doing this we’re going to be very well situated when the market rebounds.”

PBS Coals Inc. and it’s affiliate, RoxCoal Inc., are owned by Severstal Resources, a company out of Moscow, Russia. PBS is located solely in Somerset County and operates 10 mines and two cleaning facilities…

via Somerset Co. coal company announces major layoffs | www.wjactv.com.