ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, December 17, 1996             TAG: 9612170037
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-6  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA.

COAL PRODUCTION TOPS 1 BILLION TONS

Domestic coal production this year has surpassed 1 billion tons for only the fourth time ever, according to industry estimates released Monday.

Production for the week ended Dec. 7, the latest available, was 21.5 million tons, pushing the year's total past 1 billion tons.

Virginia mines produced 650,000 tons during the week of Dec. 7, up from 498,000 tons the previous week but down from 670,000 tons during the corresponding week in 1995.

The U.S. coal industry produced 20 million tons in the same week last year, the agency said.

- Associated Press

LENGTH: Short :   24 lines