Associated Press Published

Alpha Closes McDowell County Mine

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Alpha Natural Resources has idled an underground coal mine in southern West Virginia.

Alpha spokesman Steve Hawkins said the shutdown of the Brooks Run South Mining Cucumber operation is considered to be permanent.

Hawkins said the mine’s 36 workers were notified of the decision on Monday.
 
He attributed the decision to an oversupply of metallurgical coal and a drop in prices. Metallurgical coal is used to produce steel.
 

Hawkins said the mine wasn’t part of layoff warning notices issued by the Bristol, Virginia-based company in July.

 
WVVA-TV first reported the mine’s shutdown.