CONSOL mine closes
By PATSY STODDARD
Emery County Progress editor
CONSOL Energy Inc. closed down its Emery County mining operations completely on Dec. 17.
The shutdown has idled 135 hourly and 36 salaried workers. The company had explained that market conditions forced the closure when it announced its intentions last October.
The Nielson Construction coal haul trucks will continue to haul until the coal at the mine has been taken to the rail. Then it is expected the coal haul drivers will be sent to another coal haul, but not all the drivers are expected to keep their jobs.
Some of the coal miners have indicated they will seek employment out of state or try to get on at other mines in Carbon and Emery counties. The Rhino Energy company is opening the former Bear Canyon mine and is expected to begin production next week.
It is unknown at this time if any of the CONSOL miners can pick up employment at the Huntington Canyon mine.
Some of the miners who are close to retirement age have indicated they will continue with the company at one of its mines back east until they are able to retire. Many will leave homes in Emery and Ferron vacant while they work out of state.
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