By Dave Wilson

June 8, 2021 - The former Blacksville No. 2 Mine in Monongalia County, West Virginia is scheduled to cease operations later this year, resulting in the layoffs of 180 workers.

Monongalia County Resources, Inc. has filed a WARN Notice with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry stating the underground mine and prep plant will be shut down in two stages in August and September. The complex along the West Virginia-Pennsylvania border is owned by American Consolidated Natural Resources, Inc. the company that took over following Murray Energy’s bankruptcy.

While most of the mine is located in Blacksville, WV, the mine and prep plant have a mailing address in Brave, Pennsylvania, necessitating the filing in the keystone state.

The mine is scheduled to shut down in two stages, from August 9 through 23 and September 7 through 21.

The layoffs will be permanent.

Murray Energy purchased the mine from Consol Energy in 2013 in a $3.5 billion deal and as many as 500 employees in 2015.