Reylas Surface Mine Receives U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permit

JULIAN, W.Va., March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Massey Energy Company (NYSE: MEE) announced today that its Highland Mining Company subsidiary has received a permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers to begin operation of Highland's new Reylas Surface Mine in Logan County, West Virginia.

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The mine will directly employ 103 local residents for approximately 6 years and will produce approximately 1 million clean tons of coal per year. At this production level, approximately $5 million in taxes are expected to be generated for use in Logan County over the life of the operation.

When mining is finished, Highland will use the reclaimed area to create a 235-acre housing site that will be available for local residents affected by emergencies, such as flooding.  The site will have paved roads, public water and electric and sewage systems and will be ready for temporary housing in the event of an emergency. This planned post mining land use is part of the Logan County Land Use Master Plan.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to both provide good paying jobs in Logan County and to create a one-of-a-kind site that will help local residents affected by flooding and other emergencies," said Mike Snelling, Massey's Vice President of Surface Mining.  "We appreciate the help and leadership supplied by Governor Tomblin, former Governor Manchin and many Logan County officials in helping to move the project forward."  

Highland first applied for the Corps permit in August 2007.  Highland received a surface mining permit from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection in 2008.

Massey Energy Company, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, is the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia and is included in the S&P 500 Index.  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:  Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. Any forward-looking statements are also subject to a number of assumptions regarding, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions. These assumptions are based on facts and conditions as they exist at the time such statements are made as well as predictions as to future facts and conditions, the accurate prediction of which may be difficult and involve the assessment of circumstances or events beyond the Company's control. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements unless required by securities law, and the Company cautions the reader to not rely on them unduly. Caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements including disclosures that use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "will," and similar words or statements that are subject to risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors potentially contributing to such differences include, among others: the Company's cash flows, results of operation or financial condition; the successful completion of acquisition, disposition or financing transactions;  the impact of the Upper Big Branch mine explosion and the effect thereof on our business; our ability to successfully integrate the operations we acquire, including as a result of the acquisition of Cumberland; governmental policies, laws, regulatory actions and court decisions affecting the coal industry or our customers' coal usage; legal and administrative proceedings, settlements, investigations and claims and the availability of insurance coverage related thereto; inherent risks of coal mining beyond our control, including weather and geologic conditions or catastrophic weather-related damage; inherent complexities make it more difficult and costly to mine in Central Appalachia than in other parts of the United States; our production capabilities to meet market expectations and customer requirements; our ability to obtain coal from brokerage sources or contract miners in accordance with their contracts; our ability to obtain and renew permits necessary for our existing and planned operations in a timely manner; the cost and availability of transportation for our produced coal; our ability to expand our mining capacity; our ability to manage production costs, including labor costs; adjustments made in price, volume or terms to existing coal supply agreements; the worldwide market demand for coal, electricity and steel; environmental concerns related to coal mining and combustion and the cost and perceived benefits of alternative sources of energy such as natural gas and nuclear energy; competition among coal and other energy producers, in the United States and internationally; our ability to timely obtain necessary supplies and equipment; our reliance upon and relationships with our customers and suppliers; the creditworthiness of our customers and suppliers; our ability to attract, train and retain a skilled workforce to meet replacement or expansion needs; our assumptions and projections concerning economically recoverable coal reserve estimates; our failure to enter into anticipated new contracts; future economic or capital market conditions; foreign currency fluctuations; the availability and costs of credit, surety bonds and letters of credit that we require; the lack of insurance against all potential operating risks; our assumptions and projections regarding pension and other post-retirement benefit liabilities; our interpretation and application of accounting literature related to mining specific issues; our assumptions concerning economically recoverable coal reserve estimates, and the successful implementation of our strategic plans and objectives for future operations and expansion or consolidation.

Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in press releases and Massey's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Massey's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which was filed on March 1, 2011 and subsequently filed interim reports.  Massey's filings are available either publicly, on the Investor Relations page of Massey's website, www.masseyenergyco.com , or upon request from Massey's Investor Relations Department: (866) 814-6512 (toll free).  For further information, please visit Massey's website at www.masseyenergyco.com.

SOURCE Massey Energy Company