Alpha Mine closure may have consequences
Mining and other blue-collar industries have had a great impact on the United States. Coalmines and plants have upstarted towns that were once non-existent. A huge part of having mines, factories and the like is the jobs they provide.
Emerald Mine, owned by Alpha Natural Resources, has been a staple in the Waynesburg region, supplying jobs for over 300 people. The mine closes on Nov. 24 due to Alpha declaring bankruptcy. Is Waynesburg ready to let go of a mine that it has had since 1975?
290 people still work at Emerald Mine, but time is running out. United Mine Workers officials say that 140 miners have been transferred to Cumberland, so perhaps this isn’t as big of a deal as was originally thought.
The bottom line is times are changing and the money just isn’t where it always was.
Because of unfortunate circumstances higher up, everyone below must reap the consequences.
However, the natural gas industry has picked up right where Emerald Mine is leaving off in Greene County.
You can’t go five miles without seeing a gas well in this region.
Because of the industry’s heavy presence in the area, there is a good chance that this county will quickly recover from the loss of Emerald Mine.