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Peabody Energy's North Antelope Rochelle mine (NARM), the nation's top producing operation and the company's flagship complex in the southern Powder River Basin of Wyoming, has shipped its 2 billionth ton of coal. The company said January 20 that the new marker represents more than 83 million man- hours and the loading of 17 million train cars and more than 125,000 trains. NARM met its first billion-ton milestone in 2006, 23 years after first coal was taken from the mine. Peabody officials point- ed out that, if the complex were a nation, it would place near the top 10 countries globally for coal production. "Two billion tons makes for a lot of zeroes…and a lot of low- cost, reliable electricity to power homes and businesses all across the country," President of the Americas Kemal Williamson said. "As the world's largest and most productive coal mine, North Antelope Rochelle produces nearly 15% of the coal used for generation in the United States and by itself fuels 5% of the electricity used in the United States — over eight times more than all the solar power in the country." The North Antelope mine began operating in 1983, and the Rochelle mine beginning production in late 1985. The two mines were combined in 1999, and they now employ about 1,400 people. Alpha to Idle 8 Mines, 2 Plants; Hundreds Furloughed Ahead of its plant to idle eight mining operations and two pro- cessing plants in southern West Virginia on an ongoing market slump, troubled miner Alpha Natural Resources has issues lay- o f f n o t i c e s t o a t o t a l 8 8 6 w o r k e r s . T h e m i n e s ' o p e r a t o r s , Marfork Coal, Elk Run Coal and Maxxim Shared Services, issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices on January 25. The last day for workers will be on or about March 25. Included in the idles and furloughs are Marfork's Brushy Eagle, Slip Ridge Cedar Grove, Horse Creek Eagle, Allen Powellton and Coon Cedar Grove underground mines and the Marfork processing plant, all in Raleigh County, West Virginia. About 468 employees and another 40 operational support employees will be impacted. Additionally, Elk Run's Hunter Peerless, Seng Creek and Roundbottom Powellton underground mines and the Chess pro- cessing plant, all in Boone County, West Virginia, will close, affecting approximately 363 employees plus 15 support staff. Alpha officials did not outline the closure dates for the mines and plants. "This action is the direct result of an oversupply of coal in the marketplace, coupled with dramatically reduced demand, which has driven down prices to unsustainable levels — par- ticularly for Central Appalachia coal," the company said. n e w s 4 www.coalage.com February 2016 B R E A K I N G N E W S Walter Energy to Sell Remaining U.S. Assets to Seminole Walter Energy announced it has signed an asset purchase agreement with Seminole Coal Resources LLC, ERP Compliant Coke LLC and ERP Environmental Fund Inc. (Seminole), which are all related to ERP Compliant Fuels LLC (ERP), an affiliate of Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund Inc. (VCLF), for its remaining U.S. assets. The company's Canadian and United Kingdom subsidiaries are excluded from the transaction. Seminole will acquire Walter Energy's assets in West Virginia, including the Gauley Eagle and Maple properties, as well as Walter Coke and Taft in Alabama. As part of the acquisition, Seminole will assume liabilities related to the assets it is acquiring. "The asset sale agreements we have negotiated during Walter Energy's restructuring process — first with members of our senior lender group and now with ERP and VCLF — together represent the best possi- ble outcome for Walter Energy, its creditors, employees, and other stake- holders under the very difficult circumstances we have faced in our industry," said Walt Scheller, chief executive officer. "Over the last sever- al months, we have worked hard to build a path forward for our opera- tions, while also ensuring the company's environmental obligations are appropriately addressed to the highest standards. VCLF has established a strong track record in this area, and we are very pleased to be partner- ing with them in this transaction." The agreement was filed on February 1 with the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama in connection with a proposed, court-approved sale process. On July 15, Walter Energy and its U.S. subsidiaries filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama. PJT Partners is serving as financial advisor and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP are serving as legal advisors to Walter Energy. North Antelope Rochelle Hits Shipping Milestone Unit trains cycle through the North Antelope Rochelle mine in Wyoming.