ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, March 29, 1997               TAG: 9703310043
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA.

WEEKLY U.S. COAL CLIMBS 3%

Virginia mines' production was up from the previous week but down from 1996.

Domestic coal production rose 3 percent to 21.5 million tons during the week ended March 22 from 20.8 million tons the week before, the Department of Energy said Friday.

The U.S. coal industry also produced 21.5 million tons in the same week last year, according to the department's Energy Information Administration.

Virginia mines produced 774,000 tons during the recent survey week, up from 651,000 tons the week before but down from 780,000 tons in the corresponding week of 1996.

Domestic coal production so far this year is 239 million tons, nearly 2 percent ahead of last year's production at this time.

The week's production accounts for bituminous and lignite coal.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

LENGTH: Short :   27 lines