River View mining complex is located in Union County, Kentucky. It comprises two mines: River View (Mine #1) and Henderson County (Mine #2). The mining complex is owned and operated by River View Coal LLC, a subsidiary of Alliance Resource Partners LP. River View (Mine #1) has been operational since 2009 while the Henderson County (Mine #2) is a development mine with production expected to begin in 2024/2025. As of 2023, the mining complex had a book value of $312.7M.
The River View Coal is mined from both the WKY9 and the WKY11 seams. The mining complex is the largest mine in the country currently using the continuous mining units and the room and pillar or bord and pillar mining technology. This is a traditional mining method that involves extracting coal in a horizontal plane while leaving coal pillars to support the roof. The mine has ten operating split air super sections which can be transitioned between the two mines. This plan allows for the simultaneous operation of two continuous miners. The mine’s infrastructure can support up to twelve super sections. River View Mine has two portals for transporting men and materials underground. Raw coal is transported by a belt system from the underground mine to the surface for processing and loading facilities.
In 2022, the mine had 204.7 Mt of bituminous high-sulfur thermal coal reserves. The preparation plant has a capacity of 2,700 tons of coal per hour and an average production capacity of 8.813 million tons per annum. The mine is expected to exhaust the existing coal reserve in 2056. In 2018, the mine had coal reserves estimated at 236.2 million tons and a depth of 425 feet. The same year it produced 9.75M tons and employed about 664 personnel. River View Coal is transported by Barge along Ohio River MP 843.
River View Mining Complex employs about 750 to 1000 skilled and unskilled workers from the immediate community. These include production/business managers, engineers, information technology, preparation plant operators, maintenance foremen, purchasing agents, and safety specialists. Some positions are hired based on hourly rates, such as equipment operators on the surface and underground, general laborers, dust sampling technicians, mechanics, examiners, and warehouse clerks.
File a black lung claim
Occupational exposure to coal dust is associated with pulmonary illnesses known as black lung diseases. These include Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis (CWP), emphysema, silicosis, and bronchitis. Coal mine workers are also exposed to crystalline silica dust which increases their risk of developing silicosis and COPD. The risk of developing these illnesses increases with the intensity, frequency, and duration of exposure.
Miners affected by respiratory illnesses related to coal mining can file for the black lung benefits. The black lung program provides monthly payments and medical benefits to coal miners totally disabled by pneumoconiosis or black lung disease from mining employment. The miner’s dependent survivors are also eligible for monthly benefits. Miners do not pay attorney fees as coal mine operators are responsible for compensating disabled miners and paying attorney fees for successful claimants. Stephens and Stephens LLP helps miners through the process of claiming black lung benefits. Contact Hugh Stephens, a black lung claimant attorney to help you with your black lung claim.