ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 1996               TAG: 9610010080
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-8  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA.

COAL PRODUCTION ON THE RISE

Domestic coal production rose 5 percent to 22.5 million tons during the week ended Sept. 21 from 21.4 million tons the week before, the U.S. Department of Energy said Monday.

The U.S. coal industry produced 20.7 million tons in the same week last year, according to the department's Energy Information Administration.

Virginia mines produced 752,000 tons during the Sept. 21 survey week, up from 742,000 tons the previous week and from 724,000 tons in the corresponding week of 1995.

Domestic coal production so far this year is 762 million tons, 3 percent ahead of last year's production at this time.

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

- Associated Press

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