Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 20, 1995 TAG: 9509200023
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Beyer raised the idea of a November meeting at a business forum in Abingdon last week. He said he had talked about holding such a session a year ago but decided to wait to see what action the General Assembly would take on a proposal to help the coal industry through a tax credit.
The legislature enacted a credit; last week, the Virginia Coal Commission, meeting in Roanoke, agreed to recommend doubling it. That prompted Beyer to call for the summit, he said in a telephone interview this week.
Beyer said he was concerned about comments that even a doubling of the credit might not help the industry.
Since 1991, coal production and coal employment have been on the decline in Southwest Virginia, where the easiest coal has been mined over the past 100 years. Virginia Tech and University of Virginia researchers told the coal commission that doubling the credit would stabilize the Virginia coal industry for a few years, but they projected a steep decline for the industry a short time into the next century.
Beyer said the purpose of the summit would be to develop a consensus on how much coal is left in Southwest Virginia and its quality. Also, it would decide what kind of state response would be appropriate to help the coal counties.
Beyer said his proposal for such a meeting doesn't indicate a lack of confidence in the Coal Commission. The commission should be included in the meeting along with all other interested parties, he said.
The goal of a summit would be a legislative proposal for the 1996 General Assembly, Beyer said. ``I don't think we can wait another year,'' he said.
by CNB