The notices were given to the impacted workers on January 11; all terminations from the total closure of the Winchester underground mine and Tom’s Fork preparation plant and loadout are expected to come over a two-week period beginning March 11. Other operations within Panther Creek will continue as normal.
According to local news station WSAZ, the producer also has reportedly issued notices to another 80 employees at the Hamden Coal complex, specifically the No. 2 underground mine and the Hamden prep facility in Logan and Mingo counties.
Kentucky-based Blackhawk has cited market conditions for the decision. The mine was one the company purchased in 2015 from an asset auction of bankrupt Patriot Coal, which filed for Chapter 11 protection last May.
