U.S. Sen. Casey demands answers regarding Cumberland Mine’s future
Iron Senergy idled the Greene County facility on March 20
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is raising concerns about the apparent plans to permanently close Cumberland Mine in Greene County, while also asking the company to communicate with its workers and devise a way to keep the facility open.
Casey, the senior Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, issued a three-page letter over the weekend addressed to Iron Senergy Owner and CEO Justin Thompson in which he demanded more transparency and listed several questions directed at the company.
“Cumberland Mine is a cornerstone of the economy in Greene County and the surrounding area. Pennsylvania miners in this region have powered our country for generations. These miners deserve transparency about their economic future, and I hope Iron Senergy will join me in doing all we can to give them that certainty,” Casey wrote in his letter dated March 30.
Iron Senergy idled the mine March 20 over concerns about elevated methane levels underground, and later said in a press release that it was unsure when the facility could safely reopen so miners could return to work. However, a week after the temporary closure, the company submitted a detailed plan to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration on March 27 in which it announced its intentions to remove equipment and seal the mine after finishing work on the current longwall panel.
That drew the ire of the United Mine Workers of America over concerns about what would happen to the 700 employees at the mine, including the 550 union workers. UMWA officials said they received no information regarding the possible closure of the mine until reviewing Iron Senergy’s plans submitted to MSHA, and claimed the company’s officials were refusing to meet with union leadership.
“The refusal by Iron Senergy to be transparent and communicate about the company’s plans does a disservice to all of the stakeholders invested in the life of the mine and, in the event of an actual closure, would have exposed the company to financial penalties under the WARN Act,” Casey wrote in his letter, citing the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act that requires advanced notice ahead of mass layoffs.
While Iron Senergy and the UMWA were trading barbs over the future of Cumberland Mine last week, it appeared there was some cooling in the tensions that may have led to a discussion behind the scenes between the two sides. State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll, wrote in a Facebook post Friday afternoon that there was some dialogue happening between the company and union officials.
“Very glad that my two friends were able to have a long conversation today regarding the very important Cumberland mine issue,” Bartolotta wrote on her personal Facebook page. “Can’t say much more… Just glad that lines of communication are now open…”
In a phone interview Monday afternoon, Bartolotta said she spoke separately to Thompson and UMWA District 2 Vice President Chuck Knisell about the situation in order to spur them into a conversation “to alleviate the real fear of these workers” about the possible closure.
“A conversation was had, which was great,” Bartolotta said about the discussion between the two parties. “That’s what I was hoping for. Get the lines of communication open.”
She’s hoping “cooler heads will prevail” to find a solution, although she was not assured that Cumberland Mine will reopen or remain open.
Neither Iron Senergy nor UMWA responded to interview requests regarding what was discussed between them on Friday.
Meanwhile, Casey is asking the company to respond to several questions about the potential closure. He also noted that nearly 100 workers attended a “rapid response” event organized by the state Department of Labor & Industry designed to help them access unemployment benefits and find new employment opportunities.
“Why did Iron Senergy submit a plan to close Cumberland Mine to MSHA and on the same day release a statement saying that reports that the mine is closing ‘are false’?” Casey wrote in the letter.
Casey said he’s been in constant contact with UMWA leaders over the past week, but his attempts to reach company officials have been unsuccessful. Casey asked the company in the letter and a subsequent press release to withdraw the closure plans submitted to MSHA and reopen the mine.
“Iron Senergy’s decision to close the mine would be a devastating blow to the miners, their families, and the economy of the surrounding communities. It would also be a cynical attempt by the company to intimidate and undermine the United Mine Workers of America, one of the most vital unions in our Commonwealth and our Nation,” Casey said in a written statement. “I am calling on the company to work with the union to safely reopen the mine.”
Iron Senergy purchased Cumberland Mine in late 2020.