CMA's 115th National Western Mining Conference & Exhibition (held jointly with the SME Annual Member Meeting and Exhibit in February) drew record attendance, as more than 7,202 mining professionals gathered in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center.   This bested the previous attendance at a CMA/SME joint program by more than one thousand.   

      More than 1,000 also attended the opening session February 25, where Colorado Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-5th) criticized Obama Administration proposals to curtail coal powered generation in the United States.   

Stuart Sanderson, right, introduces Congressman Doug Lamborn, left, during the Opening Session.

     Following Lamborn's presentation, a panel of industry experts discussed the growing labor and talent shortage, and the challenges in recruiting and training the next generation of miners.   "Baby Boomers are moving on and they're leaving a big gap," said Elaine Cullen, Vice President of Safety Solutions International. "Any solution to this challenge requires companies to start early to recruit future employees."

      John Egan, with Industry Info Resources, covered the opening session and Lamborn's keynote address in detail.   Click on the following links to read his articles:  

      Congressman Blasts Obama Administration Stance on Mining at SME Conference 

      LINKS TO ALL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CMA MEMBERS TO DOWNLOAD ON OUR WEB SITE - GO TO:   

http://www.coloradomining.org/nu_conferencearchivedetail.php?C_ID=17.

* You must have your member login to access these presentations.  Contact CMA if you need assistance. 

     In 2012, Colorado coal production increased in Colorado. Meanwhile, the Climax (molybdenum) Mine reopened, and the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine launched a major expansion.   Colorado ranks 9th in coal production, 4th in gold, and 1st in the production of molybdenum based on 2012 production figures, though coal production has fallen substantially in the first quarter of 2013.

      Coal to Surpass Oil as Leading Energy Source

      Demand for coal is increasing worldwide; coal is the fastest growing major fuel for electricity generation and, according to a study by Wood Mackenzie, is expected to surpass oil as the leading source of energy worldwide by 2015, according to industry presentations at the conference.   

     With 27% of the world's coal reserves, the United States is well positioned to supply export markets, as export sales continued to grow to more than 109 million tons in 2012.   The question, of course, is whether the United States will continue to harness this abundant and affordable electricity source, something that won't happen unless "industry continues working with states to protect its role in mining decisions" and prevent the federal government from usurping state powers through "sweetheart settlements" with anti-mining organizations, according to Denver lawyer Paul Seby.    

      For more information on Seby's presentation, click HERE.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES AT CMA - TWENTYMILE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER ELECTED CMA CHAIRMAN

     Jerry Nettleton, Environmental Manager, Twentymile Coal, LLC, is the new Chairman of the Colorado Mining Association (CMA).He succeeds outgoing chairman Bill Zisch, who was also elected to a three year term on the Board of Directors at the annual membership meeting February 25.

     Nettleton manages the environmental programs at the state's most productive coal mine - the Twentymile mine - located in Routt County. This underground mine - which produced about 8 million tons in 2012 - is owned by Peabody Energy, the world's largest private sector coal producer. A mining professional with over 30 years of experience in engineering, environmental compliance and permitting, Nettleton holds a Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.  

      For a complete list of officers and directors, click HERE to read the news release. 

Bill Zisch, Royal Gold, Inc. and outgoing CMA Chairman, cuts the ceremonial Chairman-elect ribbon to make Jerry Nettleton's appointment as CMA chairman official.

Jerry Nettleton awards Bill Zisch a Well Done Prazen for his year of outstanding service as CMA Chairman.

Stuart Sanderson, CMA President, addresses the Closing Awards Luncheon at his 19th National Western Conference.

     Mountain Coal Company's West Elk Mine earned top safety honors for the second consecutive year in the underground coal mine category, posting the lowest incident rate in Colorado (1.24 injuries per 200,000 man hours worked), a figure that even bested its previous mark by 27%.   Climax Molybdenum Company's Henderson Mine and Mill posted the best record among large underground metals producers, working nearly 1.5 million man hours with an incident rate of 1.34. And the Climax Mine & Mill posted a remarkable record of 1.7 million man hours worked with an incident rate of .68.             

Scott Cowman, middle left, and Jennifer Hunt, middle right accept a Coal Reclamation Award on behalf of Peabody Sage Creek Mining, LLC.  Jerry Nettleton, CMA Chairman, is on the far left and Catherine Kraeger-Rovey, who is retiring from the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board after more than twenty years of service, is on the far right.

     Click HERE for the reclamation and safety awards news releases to get the full story!

     The Colorado Mining Exhibit Foundation (2008 Prazen Award & 2007 MMSA President's Citation) will upgrade the Teacher's Corner exhibits in the mining museums in Leadville, Colorado Springs and the CSM Geology Museum plus adding a new section promoting the CMA/CSM summer teacher's course. We want to answer the question: "Now that I have learned about mining in the past, where can I get impartial, well-documented information on modern mining and reclamation?" SME's mii.org and NMA's mineralsmakelife.org are the places to start.

On a $30,000 budget, we are also planning to:

          1. Add a "Mining In America" gallery (including needed wiring and lighting) at NMHF&M (28,000 visitors/year)

          2. Add modern computers to improve the IT function and reduce staff time needed for tours and answering student group questions at WMMI (36,000 visitors/year)

          3. Add an interactive, computerized "Mineral Resource Education Center" at CSM's Geology Museum (20,000 visitors/year)

          4. Build the "Railroads & Mining: Building the West" exhibit at the Heritage Museum in Idaho Springs (50,000 visitors/year - which includes the downtown Underhill Museum)

Colorado Mining Exhibit Foundation

Guy Johnson

Exhibit Coordinator 

Phone: (303) 969 - 0365

NEW WEST MINERALS, LLC  

Tom Wiens

CEO

5567 S. Perry Park Road

Sedalia, CO 80135

Tel: 303-681-9344

Email: tom.wiens@newcapital.com

Website: www.newwestcapital.com 

New West Minerals, LLC (NWM) acquires and develops base metal and precious metal mineral resources using historic information. NWM leases or acquires resources, completes due diligence studies and creates financial, exploration, and mining models for the effective development and management of the mining assets. NWM owns significant acreage, consisting of patented and unpatented mining claims in Colorado. New West Minerals is an affiliate of New West Capital LLC, whose activities include finance, agriculture, water management, and mining.

FMH MATERIAL HANDLING 

John Faulkner

President

4105 Globeville Road

Denver, CO 80216

Tel: 303-292-5438

Website:  www.fmhsolutions.com 

FMH Material Handling Solutions offers material handling products like forklift trucks (new, used and rental), pallet jacks, loading dock equipment, shelving and pallet racks to handle all your material handling needs.

We carry the following forklift product lines: Big Joe, CAT, Clark, Crown, Doosan, Donkey, Drexel, HELI, JLG, Kalmar, Linde, Royal, Sellick and Skytrak.

FMH offers new cushion, pneumatic, electric and narrow aisle forklifts. We also have rough terrain lift trucks and trailer mounted lift trucks.

We have a large fleet of used forklifts and rental equipment for your short-term and long-term needs with capacities ranging from 3,000 lbs. to 50,000lbs. base capacities.

Other material handling equipment available to meet your needs is a large selection of forklift attachments, non-powered allied equipment, pallet jacks, industrial batteries, storage rack and shelving.

FMH can handle all your after-market needs, including replacement parts, tires and repairs for all brands of lift trucks, planned maintenance programs and safety training classes.

Our commitment to you is making your material handling needs our top priority! Our goal is to provide you with the right equipment for your application, backed by our full service capabilities. For honesty, integrity and the finest material handling products to choose from in the industry - remember our name: FMH!

SEBY LARSEN LLP 

Paul Seby

Partner

165 Madison Street

Denver, CO 80206

Tel: 303-248-3779

Email: paul.seby@sebylarsen.com 

Natural resources, energy and environmental law are the core practice areas of Seby Larsen LLP. Our attorneys have more than thirty years of experience providing clients with expert legal services. We have represented large and small natural resource development interests, state and national trade associations, manufacturing and processing businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and individuals as they deal with the myriad of environmental, regulatory, and commercial issues.

Our work focuses on achieving client goals in the areas of air and water quality, mining, wildlife and endangered species, land use, BLM and Forest Service public lands issues, wetlands, recycling and waste disposal, and underground contamination.

 Download CMA's flyer with exhibitor info HERE

SAVE THE DATE

2014 CMA 116th NATIONAL WESTERN

MINING CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

Colorado Convention Center

Denver, CO 

Join us for the premier mining event of the year!

Contact Jody Gibbs for exhibit space