DOE/EIA-0584 (2008) 

 

Annual Coal Report 

2008 

March 2010 

The U.S. Energy Information Administration 

Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric, and Alternate Fuels 

U.S. Department of Energy 

Washington, DC 20585 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

This report is available on the Web at: 

TTUUhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/acr/acr.pdf

_____________________________________________ 

This report was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical 

agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA’s data, analyses, and forecasts are independent of 

approval by any other officer or employee of the United States Government. The views in this report therefore 

should not be construed as representing those of the Department of Energy or other Federal agencies. 
ii The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Contacts 

This publication was prepared by Fred Freme under the 

direction of Thomas Leckey, Director, Coal, Nuclear, 

and Renewable Fuels Division, and William Watson, 

Analysis Team Leader, within the Energy Information 

Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. Specific 

information about the data in this report can be obtained 

from Fred Freme at (202) 586-1251, or e-mail at 

Frederick.Freme@eia.doe.gov. Other questions on coal 

statistics should be directed to the National Energy 

Information Center at (202) 586-8800 or e-mail at 

infoctr@eia.doe.gov.
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 iii

Preface 

The Annual Coal Report (ACR) provides information 

about U.S. coal production, number of mines, prices, 

productivity, employment, productive capacity, and 

recoverable reserves to a wide audience, including 

Congress, Federal and State agencies, the coal industry, 

and the general public. This report is published by the 

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to fulfill 

data collection and dissemination responsibilities as 

specified in the Federal Energy Administration Act of 

1974 (Public Law 93-275), as amended. 

This report presents annual data on coal production, 

prices, recoverable reserves, employment, productivity, 

productive capacity, consumption, and stocks. U.S. coal 

production, employment, and productivity are based on 

the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health 

Administration’s Form 7000-2, “Quarterly Mine 

Employment and Coal Production Report.” Prices, 

recoverable reserves, and productive capacity are based 

on EIA’s annual survey form, EIA-7A, “Coal Production 

Report.” 

This report is the 33PPrd annual report on coal production 

published by EIA and continues the series formerly 

included in the Minerals Yearbook published by the 

Bureau of Mines. 

The Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels 

acknowledges the cooperation of the respondents in 

supplying the information published in the Annual Coal 

Report and appreciates the valuable assistance of State 

coal mining agencies and the U.S. Department of Labor: 

Mine Safety and Health Administration. 
iv The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Contents 

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 6

Coal Production...................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Productive Capacity ............................................................................................................................................................... 31

Recoverable Reserves............................................................................................................................................................. 35

Employment ........................................................................................................................................................................... 41

Productivity ............................................................................................................................................................................ 47

Domestic Markets .................................................................................................................................................................. 55

Average Mine Sales Price ...................................................................................................................................................... 59

Average Consumer Prices ...................................................................................................................................................... 69

Glossary.................................................................................................................................................................................. 71
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 v

Tables 

1. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State and Mine Type, 2008-2007 ............................................................... 16

2. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type, 2008.......................................................... 18

3. Underground Coal Production by State and Mining Method, 2008............................................................................... 22

4. Coal Production by Coalbed Thickness and Mine Type, 2008 ...................................................................................... 23

5. Coal Production and Coalbed Thickness by Major Coalbeds and Mine Type, 2008..................................................... 24

6. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State and Coal Rank, 2008 ......................................................................... 25

7. Coal Production by State, Mine Type, and Union Status, 2008..................................................................................... 26

8. Coal Disposition by State, 2008..................................................................................................................................... 27

9. Major U.S. Coal Mines, 2008 ........................................................................................................................................ 28

10. Major U.S. Coal Producers, 2008 .................................................................................................................................. 29

11. Productive Capacity of Coal Mines by State, 2008, 2007.............................................................................................. 32

12. Capacity Utilization of Coal Mines by State, 2008, 2007.............................................................................................. 33

13. Productive Capacity and Capacity Utilization of Underground Coal Mines by State and Mining Method, 2008......... 34

14. Recoverable Coal Reserves and Average Recovery Percentage at Producing Mines by State, 2008, 2007 .................. 36

15. Recoverable Coal Reserves at Producing Mines, Estimated Recoverable Reserves, and Demonstrated Reserve 

Base by Mining Method, 2008....................................................................................................................................... 37

16. Recoverable Coal Reserves and Average Recovery Percentage at Producing Underground Coal Mines by State and 

Mining Method, 2008 .................................................................................................................................................... 38

17. Recoverable Coal Reserves and Average Recovery Percentage at Producing U.S. Mines by Mine Production 

Range and Mine Type, 2008 .......................................................................................................................................... 39

18. Average Number of Employees by State and Mine Type, 2008, 2007 .......................................................................... 42

19. Average Number of Employees at Underground and Surface Mines by State and Mine Production Range, 2008....... 43

20. Average Number of Employees at Underground and Surface Mines by State and Union Status, 2008 ........................ 45

21. Coal Mining Productivity by State and Mine Type, 2008, 2007.................................................................................... 48

22. Underground Coal Mining Productivity by State and Mining Method, 2008................................................................ 50

23. Coal Mining Productivity by State, Mine Type, and Mine Production Range, 2008..................................................... 51

24. Coal Mining Productivity by State, Mine Type, and Union Status, 2008...................................................................... 53

25. Coal Consumers in the Manufacturing and Coke Sectors, 2008.................................................................................... 56

26. U.S. Coal Consumption by End Use Sector, by Census Division and State, 2008, 2007 .............................................. 57

27. Year-End Coal Stocks by Sector, by Census Division and State, 2008, 2007 ............................................................... 58

28. Average Sales Price of Coal by State and Mine Type, 2008, 2007................................................................................ 60

29. Average Sales Price of Coal by State and Underground Mining Method, 2008............................................................ 61

30. Average Sales Price of Coal by State, County, and Number of Mines, 2008 ................................................................ 62

31. Average Sales Price of Coal by State and Coal Rank, 2008 .......................................................................................... 66

32. Average Sales Price of Coal by Mine Production Range and Mine Type, 2008............................................................ 67

33. Average Sales Price of U.S. Coal by State and Disposition, 2008................................................................................. 68

34. Average Price of Coal Delivered to End Use Sector by Census Division and State, 2008, 2007 .................................. 70
6 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Executive Summary 

Coal production in the United States in 2008 reached a 

record level of 1,171.8 million short tons according to 

data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration 

(Table ES1), an increase of 2.2 percent, or 25.2 million 

short tons above the 2007 level and 9.1 million short tons 

above the prior record level set in 2006. Although coal 

production was higher in 2008, U.S. total coal 

consumption decreased in all sectors for the year. Coal 

consumption in the electric power sector in 2008 was 

lower by 0.4 percent, while coking coal consumption 

decreased by 2.8 percent and the other industrial sector 

declined by 3.7 percent. The commercial and institutional 

sector (which prior to 2008 had been called ‘residential 

and commercial’), the smallest of all the coal-consuming 

sectors, declined by 0.6 percent in 2008. (Note: All 

percentage change calculations are done at the short-tons 

level.) Total coal stocks increased in 2008, as some 

consumers added to their stockpiles. The coal synfuel 

industry, which grew throughout most of this decade, 

disappeared from the scene due to the expiration of the 

available federal tax credits at the end of 2007. 

The decline in coal consumption during the year was the 

consequence of slowing domestic economic growth, 

particularly in the latter half of the year, combined with 

the weather in 2008, resulting in lower demand for 

electricity. Total generation in the electric power sector 

(electric utilities and independent power producers, 

including useful thermal output) in the U.S. decreased in 

2008. Coal-based generation also decreased, resulting in a 

4.6 million short ton drop in coal consumed in the electric 

power sector. Coal use in the non-electricity sector 

decreased by 3.5 percent to a level of 80.0 million short 

tons. 

Coal prices increased in 2008, driven, in large part, by the 

international markets where U.S. coal was in demand. 

Another factor that affected coal prices was the escalating 

delivery costs for users due to the growing fuel surcharges 

added by transportation companies in response to the 

unprecedented rise in oil prices experienced during the 

first half of the year. In the domestic markets in 2008, the 

electric utility price-per-short-ton increase was 14.6 

percent. Coking coal prices had the greatest increase 

domestically, climbing by 24.4 percent, while the price for 

the other industrial sector increased by 16.6 percent in 

2008. 

Production 

U.S. coal production grew in 2008 by 2.2 percent to reach 

a record level of 1,171.8 million short tons (Figure ES1 

and Table ES1), 25.2 million short tons more than the 

2007 production total. Although total U.S. coal 

production was higher in 2008, only two of the three coalproducing regions had increases in coal production while 

the other was about level. Exclusive of refuse production, 

the Appalachian and Western Regions had an increase in 

their production levels in 2008 of 3.3 percent and 2.0 

percent respectively, while the Interior Region remained 

essentially unchanged (Figure ES1 and Table ES2). In the 

amount of tons of coal produced, the increase in the 

Appalachian Region production was 12.4 million short 

tons, while the increase in Western Region production in 

2008 was 12.6 million short tons. Coal production in the 

Interior Region decreased by only 82 thousand short tons. 

Appalachian Region 

Coal production in the Appalachian Region reversed a 

two-year declining trend and ended 2008 at 390.2 million 

short tons, an increase of 3.3 percent, or 12.4 million short 

tons. The growth in 2008 in coal production in the 

Appalachian Region was primarily driven by the large 

increase in U.S. coal exports, which are predominantly 

produced in this region. International demand for 

metallurgical coal, which is primarily produced in the 

central and southern portions of the Appalachian Region, 

helped to push several of the States to higher production 

totals for the year. Four of the States in the Appalachian 

Region (Alabama, Eastern Kentucky, Ohio, and West 

Virginia) each had an increase of over a million short tons 

in 2008, more than offsetting the two States (Tennessee 

and Virginia) that had a decline in production for the year. 

West Virginia, the largest coal-producing State in the 

Appalachian Region and the second largest in the U.S., 

had an increase in total coal production of 2.8 percent in 

2008 to end the year with 157.8 million short tons of 

production, 4.3 million short tons above the 2007 level. 

Even though there were large declines in production at 

several mines in the state due to either production related 

issues or the idling or suspension of production totaling a 

combined drop of 5.1 million short tons, the increases in 

production at existing mines or the start-up of new mines 

more than offset those decreases. The idling or 

suspension of production by Massey Energy’s No. 130 

and Laurel Creek mines, Patriot Coal’s Europa mine, and 

Appalachian Fuels’ Big Creek No. 2 surface mine 

accounted for 2.7 million short tons of the decrease while 

production issues (movement of longwalls, geological 

impairments, or equipment issues) at ANR’s Alma mine, 

Patriot Coal’s Samples mine, Massey Energy’s Black 

Castle mine, and Frasure Creek’s Mine No. 7 accounted
for 2.4 million short tons of the decrease. Major increases 

in coal production of at least 0.5 million short tons in 2008 

experienced by Arch Coal’s Mountaineer II mine, Massey 

Energy’s Republic mine, Brody Mining’s Mine No. 1, 

Cleveland-Cliff’s Pinnacle mine, Eagle Creek Mining’s 

MT-11 Surface mine, Hanover Resources’ Four Mile 

Mine No. 2, and Patriot Coal’s American Eagle mine 

added over 6.7 million short tons to West Virginia’s total. 

Coal production in Ohio in 2008 increased by 3.7 million 

short tons, or 16.3 percent to end the year at 26.3 million 

short tons, the highest level in a decade. The increase in 

production was primarily a result of higher production 

levels at four mines in the State. Ohio American Energy’s 

Salt Run mine had an increase of 1.4 million short tons in 

2008, its first full year of production. Ohio Valley Coal’s 

Powhatan No. 6 mine had an increase of 1.2 million short 

tons in 2008, while Buckingham Coal’s Mine No. 6 had 

an increase of 0.6 million short tons and Oxford Mining’s 

Snyder mine had an increase of 0.5 million short tons. 

Eastern Kentucky produced 90.3 million short tons of coal 

in 2008, an increase of 3.7 percent or 3.2 million short 

tons above the 2007 level. Although there were 16 mines 

in Eastern Kentucky that had a 2008 production increase 

of at least a quarter-of-a-million short tons, there were 

also 16 mines that had a production decrease of at least a 

quarter-of-a-million short tons. The primary reason that 

total coal production in Eastern Kentucky was higher for 

the year was the fact that there were 141 mines that had 

production that were either new in 2008 or did not 

produce coal in 2007 and these mines accounted for 9.1 

million short tons, more than enough to offset the 90 

mines that had produced coal in 2007 but were either 

closed or idled for 2008. 

Coal production in Alabama in 2008 totaled 20.6 million 

short tons, 6.6 percent higher than the 2007 level. 

Although production levels decreased at several mines in 

the State, with the largest being a drop of 0.5 million short 

tons of Twin Pines Coal Company’s Mine No. 2 which 

suspended production after the first quarter of the year, 

increases in coal production by several other mines along 

with production from six new mines resulted in a coal 

production level that was just slightly below the 2005 

level. The largest portion of the 1.3 million short ton 

increase for 2008 was due to the increase in coal 

production by Drummond Company’s Shoal Creek mine, 

Figure ES1. Coal Production by Coal-Producing Region, 2008 

(Million Short Tons and Percent Change from 2007) 

Regional totals do not include refuse recovery 

U.S. Total: 1,171.8 Million Short Tons (2.2%) 

Source: Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report, 2008, DOE/EIA-0584(2008) (Washington, DC, February 2010).

The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 7
8 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table ES1. U.S. Coal Supply, Disposition, and Prices, 2007-2008 

 (Million Short Tons and Dollars per Short Ton) 

Item 2007 2008 

Production by Region 

 Appalachian 377.8 390.2 

 Interior 146.7 146.6 

 Western 621.0 633.6 

 Refuse Recovery 1.2 1.4 

Total 1,146.6 1,171.8 

Consumption by Sector 

 Electric Power 1,045.1 1,040.6 

 Coke Plants 22.7 22.1 

 Other Industrial Plants 56.6 54.4 

 Residential/Commercial 3.5 3.5 

Total 1,128.0 1,120.5 

Year-End Coal Stocks 

 Electric Power 151.2 161.6 

 Coke Plants 1.9 2.3 

 Other Industrial Plants 5.6 6.0 

 Commercial/Institutional - 0.5 

 Producers/Distributors 34.0 34.7 

Total 192.8 205.1 

Average Delivered Price 

 Electric Utilities $36.06 $41.32 

 Coke Plants $94.97 $118.09 

 Other Industrial Plants $54.42 $63.44 

 Commercial/Institutional - $86.50 

Average U.S. Open Market Mine Price $25.82 $31.25 

 

 Notes: Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding. Sum of stock changes and consumption 

may not equal production, primarily because the supply and disposition data are obtained from different surveys. 

 Sources: Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report 2008, tables 1; 26; 27; 28; and 34; DOE/EIA-0584 

(2008) (Washington, DC, February 2010). 

which produced 2.1 million short tons, 0.8 million short 

tons more than it produced in 2007. Pennsylvania 

produced 65.4 million short tons, an increase of 0.6 

percent from 2007 or 0.4 million short tons. Coal 

production in Maryland in 2008 totaled 2.9 million short 

tons, an increase of 0.6 million short tons. Tennessee, one 

of the two States in the Appalachian Region to have a 

decrease in production in 2008, produced a total of 2.3 

million short tons, down by 0.3 million short tons. Coal 

production in Virginia decreased in 2008 by 0.6 million 

short tons to a total of 24.7 million short tons, a decline of 

2.5 percent. The decrease in coal production in Virginia 

was primarily a result of the abandonment of Paramount 

Coal’s Lovers Gap No. 2 mine and Exeter Coal’s Mine 

No. 1, combined with the suspension of production at 

Arch Coal’s Pardee mine in the latter half of 2007. 

Interior Region 

Coal production in the Interior Region in 2008 was 146.6 

million short tons, comparable to the 2007 production 

level. While the total coal production for the region was 

basically unchanged, that was not the case when it came to 

the respective States’ production levels in 2008. Three of 

the four largest coal-producing States (Indiana, Western 

Kentucky, and Texas) in the region had major changes in 

their production levels in 2008 when compared to 2007. 

Texas, the largest coal-producing State in the region, had a 

decrease in coal production of 2.9 million short tons to 

end the year at 39.0 million short tons, a level not seen 

since 1983. Texas coal is lignite, the lowest rank of coal 

with the lowest amount of energy (or Btus) and the vast 

majority of the coal is used in the electric power sector, 

primarily at mine-mouth facilities. The amount of Texasproduced lignite consumed by the electric power sector in 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 9

Table ES2. U.S. Coal Production by Coal-Producing Region and State, 2007-2008 

 (Million Short Tons) 

Coal-Producing Region 

and State 2007 2008 

Appalachian Total 377.8 

 

 390.2

 Alabama 19.3 20.6 

 Kentucky, Eastern 87.1 90.3 

 Maryland 2.3 2.9 

 Ohio 22.6 26.3 

 Pennsylvania Total 65.0 65.4 

 Anthracite 1.6 1.7 

 Bituminous 63.5 63.7 

 Tennessee 2.7 2.3 

 Virginia 25.3 24.7 

 West Virginia 153.5 157.8 

 Northern 42.2 41.1 

 Southern 111.3 116.7 

Interior Total 146.7 146.6 

 Arkansas 0.1 0.1 

 Illinois 32.4 32.9 

 Indiana 35.0 35.9 

 Kansas 0.4 0.2 

 Kentucky, Western 28.2 30.1 

 Louisiana 3.1 3.8 

 Mississippi 3.5 2.8 

 Missouri 0.2 0.2 

 Oklahoma 1.6 1.5 

 Texas 41.9 39.0 

Western Total 621.0 

 

 633.6 

 Alaska 1.3 1.5 

 Arizona 8.0 8.0 

 Colorado 36.4 32.0 

 Montana 43.4 44.8 

 New Mexico 24.5 25.6 

 North Dakota 29.6 29.6 

 Utah 24.3 24.4 

 Wyoming 453.6 467.6 

Refuse Recovery 1.2 1.4 

U.S. Total 1,146.6 1,171.8

Note: Totals may not equal the sum of the components due to independent rounding. 

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-2, 

“Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 

the State dropped by 7.9 percent while the total amount of 

coal consumed in the electric power sector in Texas 

declined only slightly, by 1.3 percent. The discrepancy is 

due to the fact that the amount of subbituminous coal 

consumed for power production increased by 4.3 percent. 

Declines in coal production by three Texas mines 

accounted for most of the drop in 2008 production. The 

three mines are Luminant Mining’s Beckville Strip, 

Winfield South Strip, and Big Brown Strip down by 1.1, 

0.7, and 0.6 million short tons, respectively. 

Western Kentucky had the largest increase in coal 

production in the Interior Region in 2008, increasing by 

1.9 million short tons to reach a total of 30.1 million short 

tons. This is the fourth year in a row that Western 

Kentucky experienced growth in coal production and the 

2008 increase of 6.6 percent was primarily a result of the 
10 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

growth in production by one mine and the opening of a 

new mine in the second quarter of the year. The increase 

of 1.4 million short tons experienced by Hopkins County 

Coal’s Elk Creek mine and the opening of Armstrong 

Coal’s Midway mine which produced 0.8 million short 

tons in 2008 more than offset the production declines 

experienced by several other mines during the year. 

Indiana produced a total of 35.9 million short tons in 

2008, an increase of 2.5 percent, or 0.9 million short tons. 

Although there was a decrease of 0.5 million short tons by 

United Minerals’ Somerville East mine, an increase in 

production of 0.9 million short tons by Sunrise Coal’s 

Carlisle mine and an increase of 0.6 million short tons by 

both Gibson County Coal’s Gibson mine and Black 

Beauty Coal’s Francisco mine led to Indiana’s highest 

production level since 2001. Illinois is the other major 

coal-producing State in the Interior Region, and it had an 

increase of 1.5 percent to end the year at a total of 32.9 

million short tons. The other States in the Interior Region 

(Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and 

Oklahoma), which together produced 8.4 million short 

tons of coal, accounted for a total of 5.7 percent of the 

entire region’s production in 2008. Of these States, only 

Louisiana and Missouri had increases in their coal 

production from their prior year levels. 

Western Region 

The Western Region is the largest coal-producing region 

in the U.S., and in 2008 coal production rose by 2.0 

percent to reach a total of 633.6 million short tons, 54 

percent of total U.S. production for the year. The increase 

of 12.6 million short tons resulted in another record level 

for the region, the fifth year in a row. Although there was 

a record level of coal production in 2008, one State in the 

Western Region (Colorado) had a lower production level 

than the previous year. 

Wyoming, the largest coal-producing State in the nation, a 

position it has held for two decades, continues to dominate 

the U.S. coal production picture. In 2008, Wyoming 

produced 467.6 million short tons of coal, an increase of 

3.1 percent, or 14.1 million short tons for the year, another 

record year. Wyoming has dominated U.S. coal 

production since 1995 when it first accounted for more 

than one-quarter of total U.S. production. Examples of 

how much Wyoming dominates the U.S. coal supply 

include that for 2008, it accounted for 73.8 percent of the 

Western Region production total; was 77.4 million short 

tons more than the entire Appalachian Region; was more 

than three times the Interior Region; and was almost 40 

percent of the total U.S. coal production for the year. 

Also, if all of the coal-producing States in 2008 were 

ranked by descending total production levels, Wyoming 

produced more than the next six largest coal-producing 

States (West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Montana, 

Texas, and Indiana), besting their combined production by 

4.4 million short tons. Wyoming also produced 261.0 

million short tons more coal than the summation of the 

States ranked 8th through 25th. Although seven of the 

twenty mines in Wyoming had decreases in coal 

production in 2008, the increased production levels at the 

rest of the mines pushed the state to a new record level for 

the year. Peabody’s North Antelope Rochelle mine was 

again the largest coal mine in Wyoming and the U.S. in 

2008, producing a total of 97.6 million short tons, an 

increase of 6.1 million short tons or 6.6 percent over 2007. 

This one mine produced more coal than the combined 

total of the other coal-producing States ranked 13th 

through 25th in 2008. Although there were increases of 

over 2 million short tons experienced by three other mines 

in Wyoming, one mine, Foundation Coal’s Eagle Butte 

mine, had a decrease in production of 4.5 million short 

tons, a decline of 18.2 percent, to end the year at 20.4 

million short tons. 

In 2008, Montana, the second largest coal-producing State 

in the Western Region, produced a total of 44.8 million 

short tons, an increase of 3.2 percent. Although there 

were decreases in production at half of the six mines in 

the State, the increase in coal production of 2.2 million 

short tons at Spring Creek Coal’s Spring Creek mine more 

than offset those declines. 

Colorado, the third largest coal-producing State in the 

Western Region, was the only State in the region to have a 

decrease in coal production for 2008. Colorado ended the 

year with a total of 32.0 million short tons, a decline of 

12.0 percent, or 4.4 million short tons. Although eight of 

the twelve mines in the State had lower coal production in 

2008, the majority of the decrease in Colorado’s total 

production was accounted for by two mines. Bowie 

Resources’ Bowie No. 2 mine had a decrease of 2.6 

million short tons to end the year at 2.9 million short tons, 

and Arch Coal’s West Elk mine had a decrease of 1.0 

million short tons to end the year at 5.9 million short tons. 

Both of these are underground longwall mines and they 

experienced production problems relating to geologic 

faults that impacted production due to relocating the 

longwall mining systems. 

Total coal production in the other States in the Western 

Region (Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota, 

and Utah) had increases in their respective production 

levels in 2008. The increases ranged in percentages from a 

low of 0.1 percent in North Dakota to a high of 11.6 

percent in Alaska, while the tonnage increases ranged 

from a low of 21 thousand short tons in North Dakota to a 

high of 1.2 million short tons in New Mexico. 

Employment 

The number of employees in U.S. coal mines increased in 

2008 by 6.9 percent to a level of 86,859. Increases in the 

number of employees were experienced in both 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 11

underground and surface mining in 2008 at the national 

level. The largest increase in total employees in a State 

was in West Virginia, which had 1,985 more employees 

on the payroll in 2008, followed closely by Kentucky 

which had an increase in employees of 1,920. Although 

there was an increase in employment at the national level, 

there were six States (Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, 

Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma) that had decreases 

in the number of employees in 2008. 

Productivity 

Although there were nine States that had increases in 

productivity in 2008, it was not enough to increase 

productivity at the national level. Productivity at coal 

mines in 2008 declined by 4.9 percent to a level of 5.96 

tons per miner per hour, a level just slightly lower than the 

1997 productivity level of 6.04 tons per miner per hour. 

Declines at the national level occurred for both types of 

mining. Underground productivity dropped in 2008 by 

5.9 percent to a level of 3.15 short tons per miner per 

hour. Surface productivity decreased in 2008 by 4.3 

percent to a level of 9.82 short tons per miner per hour. 

All three coal-producing regions had declines in 

productivity in 2008, with the largest decline in the 

Appalachian Region and the smallest in the Interior 

Region. Total productivity in the Appalachian Region 

decreased by 6.0 percent in 2008 to a level of 2.91 short 

tons per miner per hour. This drop was a reflection of the 

decrease in both underground productivity in the region, 

which declined by 7.2 percent and a decrease in surface 

productivity of 4.1 percent in 2008. Total productivity in 

the Interior Region declined by 0.9 percent to a level of 

4.81 short tons per miner per hour in 2008. The primary 

reason that the decrease in total productivity in the Interior 

region was so small was due to the fact that there was 

actually an increase in underground productivity in the 

region. In 2008, underground productivity in the Interior 

Region increased by 4.6 percent to a level of 3.68 short 

tons per miner per hour, while the surface productivity 

declined by 5.6 percent to a level of 6.38 short tons per 

miner per hour. Total productivity in the Western Region 

in 2008 decreased by 2.4 percent to a level of 19.91 short 

tons per miner per hour. Productivity in underground 

mines in the Western Region dropped by 7.4 percent to 

6.23 short tons per miner per hour, while surface 

productivity decreased by 2.0 percent to a level of 25.77 

short tons per miner per hour. 

Consumption 

Total coal consumption declined slightly in 2008, 

dropping by 0.7 percent from the 2007 level. Total U.S. 

coal consumption was 1,120.5 million short tons, a 

decrease of 7.5 million short tons, with all of the coalconsuming sectors having lower consumption for the year. 

Although all sectors had declines, the electric power 

sector (electric utilities and independent power producers), 

which consumes almost 93 percent of all coal in the U.S., 

is the overriding force for determining total domestic coal 

consumption. 

Figure ES2. Electric Power Sector Consumption of Coal by Census Division, 2008 

(Million Short Tons and Percent Change from 2007) 

Source: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, “Power Plant Report” and Form EIA-923, “Power Plant 

Operations Report.” 

U.S. Total = 1,040.6 (-0.4%)
12 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

 

Coal consumption in the electric power sector decreased 

by 0.4 percent or 4.6 million short tons to end 2008 at 

1,040.6 million short tons (Figure ES2), while coal-based 

electricity generation in kilowatt hours decreased at a 

slightly higher rate of 1.5 percent, reflecting increasing 

volumes of lower Btu western coals (subbituminous and 

lignite) to generate electricity. Nationally, total generation 

in the electric power sector from all sources declined in 

2008 by 0.8 percent with losses in electricity generation 

by all sources except the hydroelectric and the petroleum 

and other sources1

 combination in the U.S. The increase 

of 3.3 percent in electricity generation by hydroelectric 

facilities in the country was a direct result of the improved 

water levels experienced across all regions during the 

year. Nuclear power generation decreased only slightly in 

2008 by less than 0.1 percent. The decrease in electric 

generation in 2008 was 1.5 percent for natural gas. 

Coal consumption in the non-electric power sector 

(comprised of the other industrial, coking coal, and the 

commercial and institutional sectors) declined in 2008. 

Coal consumption at coke plants decreased by 0.6 million 

short tons to end the year at 22.1 million short tons, a 

decline of 2.8 percent. The decline in U.S. coke 

production in 2008 was a result of the economic downturn 

in the last quarter of the year when several steel plants 

lowered production, some by more than half, in response 

to the world-wide drop in demand for their products. 

Although the real GDP grew slightly in 2008 by 0.4 

percent, the economic growth did not extend into the 

manufacturing sector, and as a result, coal consumption in 

the other industrial sector declined by 2.2 million short 

tons to end the year at 54.4 million short tons. Within the 

manufacturing economic sector of the North American 

Industry Classification System (NAICS) most of the 

manufacturing subsectors showed lower coal consumption 

for 2008. The only major coal-consuming manufacturing 

subsector to have an increase in consumption was the 

paper sector and it had only a slight increase in coal 

consumption. However, the decrease in coal consumption 

in 2008 in the other industrial sector was primarily a result 

of the large decrease in the nonmetallic mineral products 

segment, a decline of 1.1 million short tons. Also 

contributing to the overall decline in consumption for the 

other industrial sector was the decrease of 0.4 million 

short tons by the primary metal manufacturing segment. 

Coal consumption in the commercial and institutional 

sector2

 decreased slightly in 2008, ending the year at 3.5 

million short tons. 

1

 This category combines electric generation from petroleum 

liquids, petroleum coke, other gases, wood and wood wastes, 

municipal solid wastes, and agriculture products, other biomass, 

geothermal, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind and 

miscellaneous technologies into one source. 2 The sector that was titled ‘residential and commercial’ has been 

renamed as ‘commercial and institutional.’ The data for this 

Generation 

Total electricity generation in the U.S. is primarily driven 

by two factors: economic growth and weather (as 

measured by heating and cooling degree-days). Economic 

growth slowed during the first several months of the year 

and declined during the last few months resulting in the 

real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the U.S. for 2008 

increasing by only 0.4 percent for the year, down from the 

2.1 percent growth experienced in 2007. The weather was 

also a factor in the decline of total electricity generation in 

2008. Although the winter weather across a large portion 

of the country was colder than it was in 2007, it was still 

not as cold as the normal 30-year average. According to 

data from the National Weather Service Climate 

Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), heating degreedays in 2008 were 0.6 percent lower for the country as a 

whole. Also, the summer weather in 2008 was not as hot 

over most parts of the country as it was in 2007, which led 

to a decrease in cooling degree-days of 11.1 percent, 

resulting in less need for electricity to run air-conditioners 

and lower demand for generation. The result was a slight 

decrease in total generation in 2008 of 0.8 percent for the 

nation. 

Of the nine Census Divisions, coal is a minor component 

(less than 20 percent) in the fuel mix for electricity 

generation in two divisions, New England and Pacific, and 

a major component (more than 50 percent) in five 

divisions, East North Central, West North Central, South 

Atlantic, East South Central, and Mountain. In the other 

two divisions, coal is one of two main fuel sources for the 

electric power sector. In the Middle Atlantic, coal 

competes with nuclear power for dominance, while in the 

West South Central coal competes with natural gas. 

In 2008, four of the nine Census Divisions had an increase 

in total electricity generation, while five of the nine had 

increases in coal-based generation. However, only four of 

the five Census Divisions that had increased coal-based 

generation, had increases in coal consumption in 2008 

while the other remained at the same level. The decreases 

in coal consumption that occurred in the four Census 

Divisions more than offset those that had increases. The 

decline in total U.S. coal consumption for 2008 in the 

electric power sector was primarily a result of lower 

consumption in two of the Census Divisions, the South 

Atlantic and the Middle Atlantic. 

The South Atlantic Census Division usually accounts for 

about 20 percent of total U.S. electricity generation, while 

the Middle Atlantic Census Division usually accounts for 

about 10 percent of the total. Coal is the primary fuel for 

electricity generation in the South Atlantic while in the 

sector is now collected on a different survey form so exact 

comparison of 2008 to 2007 data is not applicable for this sector. 
Middle Atlantic coal competes with nuclear power for the 

largest share of total generation. In 2008 total generation 

in the South Atlantic Census Division decreased by 4.0 

percent (Table ES3) while coal-based generation 

decreased by 4.8 percent. The decline in coal-based 

electricity generation in 2008 in the South Atlantic 

resulted in a decrease in coal consumption of 6.0 million 

short tons, down 3.2 percent to end the year at 179.9 

million short tons. Nuclear generation, the only fuel 

source to increase in the South Atlantic Census Division 

in 2008, rose by only 0.9 percent. Although generation by 

natural gas declined in the South Atlantic Census Division 

in 2008, the natural gas share increased by 2.3 percent. In 

2008 total generation in the Middle Atlantic Census 

Division decreased by 1.9 percent, while both nuclear and 

hydroelectric generation increased for the year. The 

increase in the Middle Atlantic Census Division for 

hydroelectric generation was 8.7 percent while the 

increase in nuclear generation was 1.5 percent. Coalbased generation declined in 2008 by 5.6 percent and that 

resulted in a decrease in coal consumption of 2.9 million 

short tons, down 4.2 percent to end the year at 67.0 

million short tons. 

In the East South Central Census Division coal is the 

dominant fuel for generation, typically accounting for just 

under two-thirds of total generation in a year. In 2008 

total generation in the East South Central Division 

decreased slightly by 0.8 percent, while coal-based 

generation declined by 2.5 percent. Both nuclear and 

hydroelectric generation increased in the East South 

Central in 2008. The decline in coal generation in the 

division in 2008 resulted in a decrease of 1.4 million short 

tons in the East South Central Census Division to a level 

of 114.2 million short tons. 

Over half of the electricity generated in the Mountain 

Census Division is derived from coal. In 2008 total 

generation in the Mountain Census Division increased by 

3.3 percent, with increases experienced by all generation 

categories. However, coal-based generation increased the 

least, growing by 1.5 percent with the increases in the 

other sources ranging from 1.6 percent for natural gas to 

48.1 percent for petroleum and other sources, which only 

accounts for about 2.5 percent of total generation in the 

Division. Total coal consumption in the electric power 

sector in the Mountain Census Division increased in 2008, 

ending the year at 116.7 million short tons, an increase of 

1.5 million short tons. In the West South Central Census 

Division coal competes with natural gas as the primary 

source for electric power generation, both accounting for 

about 40 percent of the Division’s generation. Total 

generation in 2008 in the electric power sector in the West 

South Central Census Division grew by 1.1 percent, while 

coal-based generation grew at a higher rate of 1.4 percent. 

Declines in generation were experienced by both natural 

gas and nuclear in the division. Total coal consumption in 

2008 for the electric power sector in the West South 

Central Census Division increased by 1.3 million short 

tons, or 0.8 percent, ending the year at a total of 155.8 

million short tons. 

The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 13

In the East North Central Census Division, coal usually 

accounts for about 70 percent of total generation. Total 

generation in the division decreased in 2008 by 1.1 

percent, while coal-based generation only decreased by 

0.2 percent. The only fuel source to have a major 

decrease in generation for the division in 2008 was natural 

gas, declining by 30.0 percent. For 2008, total coal 

consumption in the East North Central Census Division 

was 238.7 million short tons, an increase in coal 

consumption of 1.6 million short tons, or 0.7 percent, 

Table ES3. Electric Power Sector Net Generation,

 2007-2008 (Million Kilowatthours) 

Census 

Division 2007 2008 

Percent 

Change 

New England 

Coal 19,791 18,574 -6.1

Total 126,059 120,414 -4.5

Middle Atlantic 

Coal 152,607 144,107 -5.6

Total 428,648 420,613 -1.9

East North 

Central 

Coal 456,905 456,001 -0.2

Total 656,142 648,598 -1.1

West North 

Central 

Coal 230,004 231,980 0.9

Total 311,406 314,219 0.9

South Atlantic 

Coal 438,823 417,623 -4.8

Total 815,153 782,576 -4.0

East South 

Central 

Coal 244,504 238,479 -2.5

Total 376,578 373,425 -0.8

West South 

Central 

Coal 229,930 233,072 1.4

Total 558,246 564,345 1.1

Mountain 

Coal 209,121 212,268 1.5

Total 363,605 375,705 3.3

Pacific 

Coal 16,706 16,733 0.2

Total 389,508 374,453 1.3

U.S. Total 

Coal 1,998,391 1,968,838 -1.5

Total 4,005,345 3,974,349 -0.8

Source: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, 

"Power Plant Report" and Form EIA-923, “Power Plant 

Operations Report.” 
making it the largest electric power coal-consuming 

division in the U.S. The dichotomy of slightly lower coalbased generation with increased coal consumption in the 

East North Central Census Division is a result of an 

increasing share of coal with lower energy content per ton 

being used by the electric generating plants in the 

division. 

14 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

In the West North Central Census Division coal is the 

dominant source for electric power generation accounting 

for about three-fourths of the Division’s generation. Total 

generation in 2008 in the electric power sector in the West 

North Central Census Division grew by 0.9 percent, while 

coal-based generation also grew by 0.9 percent. Total 

coal consumption in 2008 for the electric power sector in 

the West North Central Census Division increased by 1.8 

million short tons, or 1.2 percent, ending the year at a total 

of 149.4 million short tons. 

Coal accounts for less than one-sixth of total generation in 

the New England Census Division and in 2008 total coal 

consumption for electricity generation decreased by 0.4 

million short tons, ending the year at a total of 8.4 million 

short tons. Coal accounts for less than five percent of 

total generation in the Pacific Census Division and in 

2008 total coal consumption for electricity generation 

decreased slightly by 0.1 percent to end the year at 10.4 

million short tons. 

Coal Prices 

Domestic coal prices continued their increasing trend in 

2008 rising for the fifth consecutive year, with doubledigit percentage increases in all sectors. The majority of 

coal sold in the electric power sector is through long-term 

contracts, in conjunction with spot purchases to 

supplement the demand. Coal prices in 2008 at electric 

utilities (a subset of the electric power sector) increased 

for an eighth consecutive year, to $41.32 per short ton 

($2.07 per million Btu), an increase of 14.6 percent over 

the 2007 price. The average delivered price of coal to the 

other industrial sector increased by 16.6 percent to an 

average price of $63.44 per short ton in 2008. In 2008 the 

delivered price of coal to U.S. coke plants increased by 

24.4 percent to reach an average price of $118.09 per 

short ton. 

The average mine price of coal in 2008 increased 21.0 

percent to a level of $31.25 per short ton. The average 

price of coal from underground mines rose by 25.8 

percent to $51.35 per short ton while the average price of 

coal from surface mines increased by 16.5 percent to 

$22.35 per ton in 2008. 

Figure ES3. Share of Electric Power Sector Net 

Generation by Energy Source, 

2007 vs. 2008 

49.9

3.7

20.3

6.0

20.1

3.8

20.2

6.2

49.5

20.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nuclear Hydro Natural Gas Petroleum and

Other

Coal

Percent

2007 2008

Source: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, 

"Power Plant Report" and Form EIA-923, “Power Plant Operations 

Report.”

Coal Stocks 

Total coal stocks at the end of 2008 were 205.1 million 

short tons, an increase of 12.4 million short tons from the 

prior year. Coal stocks held by producers and distributors 

were higher by 2.1 percent, as coal producers added to 

their stocks. Industrial users, including coke plants, held a 

total of 8.3 million short tons at the end of 2008, 0.8 

million short tons above the level at the start of the year. 

Coal stocks in the electric power sector continued to 

increase in 2008. The electric power sector ended the year 

with a total of 161.6 million short tons, an increase of 10.4 

million short tons, or 6.9 percent over the 2007 level. 

Coal stocks for the commercial and institutional sector 

totaled 0.5 million short tons. [Note: No stock data is 

available for the commercial and institutional sector prior 

to 2008.] 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 15

Coal Production 
16 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 1. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State and Mine Type, 2008-2007 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

2008 2007 Percent Change Coal-Producing 

State and Region1

Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production 

Alabama..................................................... 59 20,611 49 19,327 20.4 6.6

 Underground............................................ 8 12,281 8 11,462 - 7.1

 Surface..................................................... 51 8,330 41 7,865 24.4 5.9

Alaska ........................................................ 1 1,477 1 1,324 - 11.6

 Surface..................................................... 1 1,477 1 1,324 - 11.6

Arizona ...................................................... 1 8,025 1 7,983 - 0.5

 Surface..................................................... 1 8,025 1 7,983 - 0.5

Arkansas.................................................... 2 69 2 83 - -16.3

 Underground............................................ 1 67 1 80 - -16.1

 Surface..................................................... 1 2 1 2 - -25.4

Colorado .................................................... 12 32,028 12 36,384 - -12.0

 Underground............................................ 8 24,370 8 27,610 - -11.7

 Surface..................................................... 4 7,659 4 8,774 - -12.7

Illinois ........................................................ 19 32,918 21 32,445 -9.5 1.5

 Underground............................................ 11 27,055 14 26,807 -21.4 0.9

 Surface..................................................... 8 5,863 7 5,638 14.3 4.0

Indiana....................................................... 30 35,893 27 35,003 11.1 2.5

 Underground............................................ 6 12,223 7 10,604 -14.3 15.3

 Surface..................................................... 24 23,670 20 24,399 20.0 -3.0

Kansas........................................................ 2 229 2 420 - -45.5

 Surface..................................................... 2 229 2 420 - -45.5

Kentucky Total ......................................... 469 120,323 417 115,280 12.5 4.4

 Underground............................................ 216 69,474 201 69,217 7.5 0.4

 Surface..................................................... 253 50,849 216 46,064 17.1 10.4

 Eastern...................................................... 446 90,258 394 87,068 13.2 3.7

 Underground............................................ 205 44,143 191 44,703 7.3 -1.3

 Surface..................................................... 241 46,116 203 42,365 18.7 8.9

 Western..................................................... 23 30,064 23 28,212 - 6.6

 Underground............................................ 11 25,331 10 24,513 10.0 3.3

 Surface..................................................... 12 4,733 13 3,699 -7.7 28.0

Louisiana ................................................... 2 3,843 2 3,127 - 22.9

 Surface..................................................... 2 3,843 2 3,127 - 22.9

Maryland ................................................... 21 2,860 19 2,301 10.5 24.3

 Underground............................................ 2 753 2 611 - 23.3

 Surface..................................................... 19 2,107 17 1,690 11.8 24.6

Mississippi ................................................. 1 2,842 1 3,545 - -19.9

 Surface..................................................... 1 2,842 1 3,545 - -19.9

Missouri ..................................................... 2 247 2 236 - 4.6

 Surface..................................................... 2 247 2 236 - 4.6

Montana..................................................... 6 44,786 6 43,390 - 3.2

 Underground............................................ 1 168 1 47 - 256.7

 Surface..................................................... 5 44,617 5 43,343 - 2.9

New Mexico ............................................... 5 25,645 4 24,451 25.0 4.9

 Underground............................................ 1 7,046 1 6,898 - 2.1

 Surface..................................................... 4 18,599 3 17,553 33.3 6.0

North Dakota ............................................ 4 29,627 4 29,606 - 0.1

 Surface..................................................... 4 29,627 4 29,606 - 0.1

Ohio............................................................ 48 26,251 57 22,575 -15.8 16.3

 Underground............................................ 11 17,053 13 15,793 -15.4 8.0

 Surface..................................................... 37 9,198 44 6,783 -15.9 35.6

Oklahoma .................................................. 7 1,463 9 1,648 -22.2 -11.2

 Underground............................................ 1 441 2 514 -50.0 -14.3

 Surface..................................................... 6 1,023 7 1,134 -14.3 -9.8

Pennsylvania Total ................................... 266 65,414 264 65,048 0.8 0.6

 Underground............................................ 51 53,318 50 53,544 2.0 -0.4

 Surface..................................................... 215 12,095 214 11,504 0.5 5.1

 Anthracite................................................. 66 1,701 72 1,564 -8.3 8.7

 Underground............................................ 13 241 15 224 -13.3 7.9

 Surface..................................................... 53 1,459 57 1,340 -7.0 8.9

 Bituminous ............................................... 200 63,713 192 63,484 4.2 0.4

 Underground............................................ 38 53,077 35 53,320 8.6 -0.5

 Surface..................................................... 162 10,636 157 10,164 3.2 4.6

Tennessee................................................... 23 2,333 17 2,654 35.3 -12.1

 Underground............................................ 5 789 5 892 - -11.5

 Surface..................................................... 18 1,544 12 1,763 50.0 -12.4

Texas .......................................................... 11 39,017 11 41,948 - -7.0

 Surface..................................................... 11 39,017 11 41,948 - -7.0

Utah............................................................ 9 24,365 10 24,307 -10.0 0.2

 Underground............................................ 9 24,365 10 24,307 -10.0 0.2

 

See footnotes at end of table. 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 17

Table 1. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State and Mine Type, 2008-2007 (Continued) 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

2008 2007 Percent Change Coal-Producing 

State and Region 1

Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production 

 

Virginia...................................................... 114 24,712 118 25,346 -3.4 -2.5

 Underground............................................ 65 15,806 71 15,731 -8.5 0.5

 Surface..................................................... 49 8,907 47 9,615 4.3 -7.4

West Virginia Total .................................. 301 157,778 282 153,480 6.7 2.8

 Underground............................................ 186 88,369 168 84,853 10.7 4.1

 Surface..................................................... 115 69,409 114 68,627 0.9 1.1

 Northern ................................................... 43 41,123 43 42,219 - -2.6

 Underground............................................ 22 34,109 23 36,076 -4.3 -5.4

 Surface..................................................... 21 7,013 20 6,144 5.0 14.2

 Southern ................................................... 258 116,655 239 111,260 7.9 4.8

 Underground............................................ 164 54,260 145 48,777 13.1 11.2

 Surface..................................................... 94 62,395 94 62,483 - -0.1

Wyoming.................................................... 20 467,644 20 453,568 - 3.1

 Underground............................................ 1 3,501 1 2,822 - 24.1

 Surface..................................................... 19 464,143 19 450,746 - 3.0

 

Appalachian Total .................................... 1,278 390,218 1,200 377,800 6.5 3.3

 Underground............................................ 533 232,512 508 227,588 4.9 2.2

 Surface..................................................... 745 157,705 692 150,213 7.7 5.0

 Northern ................................................... 378 135,647 383 132,144 -1.3 2.7

 Underground............................................ 86 105,234 88 106,023 -2.3 -0.7

 Surface..................................................... 292 30,413 295 26,121 -1.0 16.4

 Central ...................................................... 841 233,959 768 226,329 9.5 3.4

 Underground............................................ 439 114,997 412 110,103 6.6 4.4

 Surface..................................................... 402 118,962 356 116,227 12.9 2.4

 Southern ................................................... 59 20,611 49 19,327 20.4 6.6

 Underground............................................ 8 12,281 8 11,462 - 7.1

 Surface..................................................... 51 8,330 41 7,865 24.4 5.9

Interior Total ............................................ 99 146,586 100 146,668 -1.0 -0.1

 Underground............................................ 30 65,117 34 62,519 -11.8 4.2

 Surface..................................................... 69 81,469 66 84,149 4.5 -3.2

Illinois Basin Total.................................... 72 98,875 71 95,660 1.4 3.4

 Underground............................................ 28 64,609 31 61,924 -9.7 4.3

 Surface..................................................... 44 34,267 40 33,736 10.0 1.6

Western Total............................................ 58 633,597 58 621,012 - 2.0

 Underground............................................ 20 59,450 21 61,683 -4.8 -3.6

 Surface..................................................... 38 574,147 37 559,329 2.7 2.6

 Powder River Basin................................. 17 495,964 17 479,496 - 3.4

 Underground............................................ - - - - - -

 Surface..................................................... 17 495,964 17 479,496 - 3.4

 Uinta Region............................................. 17 55,578 19 59,815 -10.5 -7.1

 Underground............................................ 15 48,343 16 51,446 -6.3 -6.0

 Surface..................................................... 2 7,235 3 8,368 -33.3 -13.5

 

East of Miss. River.................................... 1,351 491,935 1,272 477,006 6.2 3.1

West of Miss. River................................... 84 678,467 86 668,474 -2.3 1.5

 

U.S. Subtotal.............................................. 1,435 1,170,401 1,358 1,145,480 5.7 2.2

 

Refuse Recovery........................................ 23 1,408 16 1,156 43.8 21.8

 

U.S. Total................................................... 1,458 1,171,809 1,374 1,146,635 6.1 2.2 TT

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see the Glossary. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
18 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 2. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type, 2008 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Underground Surface Total Coal-Producing 

State and County Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production 

Alabama .................................................... 8 12,281 51 8,330 59 20,611

 Bibb ......................................................... - - 1 105 1 105

 Cullman ................................................... - - 2 154 2 154

 Fayette ..................................................... 1 2,923 - - 1 2,923

 Franklin.................................................... - - 2 297 2 297

 Jackson..................................................... - - 4 331 4 331

 Jefferson................................................... 2 3,091 8 1,311 10 4,402

 Marion ..................................................... - - 1 50 1 50

 Shelby ...................................................... 2 87 4 452 6 539

 Tuscaloosa ............................................... 2 6,039 7 1,826 9 7,865

 Walker ..................................................... 1 141 19 3,190 20 3,331

 Winston.................................................... - - 3 616 3 616

Alaska ....................................................... - - 1 1,477 1 1,477

 Yukon-Koyukuk Division ....................... - - 1 1,477 1 1,477

Arizona ..................................................... - - 1 8,025 1 8,025

 Navajo...................................................... - - 1 8,025 1 8,025

Arkansas ................................................... 1 67 1 2 2 69

 Sebastian.................................................. 1 67 1 2 2 69

Colorado ................................................... 8 24,370 4 7,659 12 32,028

 Adams...................................................... - - 1 21 1 21

 Delta......................................................... 1 2,862 - - 1 2,862

 Garfield.................................................... 1 283 - - 1 283

 Gunnison.................................................. 2 10,761 - - 2 10,761

 La Plata.................................................... 2 392 - - 2 392

 Moffat ...................................................... - - 2 7,235 2 7,235

 Montrose.................................................. - - 1 403 1 403

 Rio Blanco............................................... 1 2,067 - - 1 2,067

 Routt ........................................................ 1 8,004 - - 1 8,004

Illinois ....................................................... 11 27,055 8 5,863 19 32,918

 Gallatin .................................................... - - 2 2,322 2 2,322

 Jackson..................................................... 1 196 2 1,387 3 1,582

 Macoupin................................................. 1 1,408 - - 1 1,408

 Perry......................................................... 1 1,112 3 1,118 4 2,230

 Randolph.................................................. 1 3,198 - - 1 3,198

 Saline ....................................................... 3 9,594 - - 3 9,594

 Sangamon ................................................ 1 2,261 - - 1 2,261

 Vermilion................................................. 1 1,130 - - 1 1,130

 Wabash .................................................... - - 1 1,037 1 1,037

 White ....................................................... 1 2,653 - - 1 2,653

 Williamson .............................................. 1 5,504 - - 1 5,504

Indiana ...................................................... 6 12,223 24 23,670 30 35,893

 Daviess..................................................... - - 3 3,566 3 3,566

 Dubois...................................................... - - 1 846 1 846

 Gibson...................................................... 2 5,340 4 9,398 6 14,738

 Knox ........................................................ 2 2,548 4 3,190 6 5,738

 Pike .......................................................... 1 2,365 6 1,894 7 4,259

 Sullivan.................................................... 1 1,970 1 107 2 2,077

 Vigo ......................................................... - - 2 3,805 2 3,805

 Warrick .................................................... - - 3 865 3 865

Kansas ....................................................... - - 2 229 2 229

 Bourbon ................................................... - - 1 181 1 181

 Linn.......................................................... - - 1 48 1 48

Kentucky ................................................... 216 69,474 253 50,849 469 120,323

 Bell........................................................... 5 957 19 2,403 24 3,360

 Breathitt ................................................... 2 1,052 6 969 8 2,021

 Christian................................................... - - 1 4 1 4

 Clay.......................................................... 1 4 7 242 8 246

 Daviess..................................................... - - 1 342 1 342

 Elliott ....................................................... - - 1 38 1 38

 Floyd........................................................ 26 2,058 16 3,818 42 5,876

 Harlan ...................................................... 34 7,793 25 3,128 59 10,920

 Henderson................................................ 1 1,462 2 1,358 3 2,820

 Hopkins.................................................... 4 14,175 1 80 5 14,255

 Jackson..................................................... - - 2 45 2 45

 Johnson .................................................... 2 281 8 748 10 1,028

 Knott ........................................................ 26 4,938 14 2,598 40 7,536

 Knox ........................................................ 3 80 6 363 9 443

 Laurel....................................................... - - 4 35 4 35

 Lawrence ................................................. - - 10 622 10 622

 

See footnotes at end of table. 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 19

Table 2. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type, 2008 (Continued) 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Underground Surface Total Coal-Producing 

State and County Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production 

Kentucky (continued) 

 Leslie ....................................................... 7 2,215 9 2,405 16 4,620

 Letcher..................................................... 24 4,645 15 886 39 5,531

 Magoffin .................................................. 1 16 12 3,412 13 3,427

 Martin ...................................................... 8 3,480 7 2,212 15 5,693

 Morgan..................................................... - - 2 205 2 205

 Muhlenberg.............................................. 1 2,235 6 2,142 7 4,377

 Ohio ......................................................... 1 584 1 807 2 1,391

 Owsley..................................................... - - 3 57 3 57

 Perry......................................................... 8 4,132 32 13,040 40 17,172

 Pike .......................................................... 56 12,355 41 8,659 97 21,014

 Union ....................................................... 2 4,884 - - 2 4,884

 Webster.................................................... 2 1,990 - - 2 1,990

 Whitley .................................................... 2 137 2 234 4 371

Louisiana .................................................. - - 2 3,843 2 3,843

 De Soto .................................................... - - 1 3,285 1 3,285

 Red River................................................. - - 1 559 1 559

Maryland .................................................. 2 753 19 2,107 21 2,860

 Allegany................................................... 1 431 13 1,490 14 1,920

 Garrett...................................................... 1 322 6 617 7 940

Mississippi ................................................ - - 1 2,842 1 2,842

 Choctaw................................................... - - 1 2,842 1 2,842

Missouri .................................................... - - 2 247 2 247

 Bates ........................................................ - - 2 247 2 247

Montana .................................................... 1 168 5 44,617 6 44,786

 Big Horn .................................................. - - 3 31,210 3 31,210

 Musselshell.............................................. 1 168 - - 1 168

 Richland................................................... - - 1 355 1 355

 Rosebud ................................................... - - 1 13,053 1 13,053

New Mexico .............................................. 1 7,046 4 18,599 5 25,645

 McKinley................................................. - - 3 9,693 3 9,693

 San Juan................................................... 1 7,046 1 8,906 2 15,952

North Dakota ........................................... - - 4 29,627 4 29,627

 Mclean ..................................................... - - 1 7,533 1 7,533

 Mercer...................................................... - - 2 17,589 2 17,589

 Oliver....................................................... - - 1 4,505 1 4,505

Ohio ........................................................... 11 17,053 37 9,198 48 26,251

 Belmont ................................................... 1 5,798 5 1,076 6 6,873

 Carroll...................................................... 1 110 2 39 3 149

 Columbiana.............................................. - - 4 351 4 351

 Coshocton................................................ - - 2 249 2 249

 Harrison ................................................... 1 1,536 7 1,726 8 3,262

 Jackson..................................................... - - 1 374 1 374

 Jefferson................................................... 4 923 2 1,512 6 2,435

 Lawrence ................................................. - - 1 3 1 3

 Mahoning................................................. - - 2 8 2 8

 Monroe..................................................... 1 6,844 - - 1 6,844

 Muskingum.............................................. - - 1 165 1 165

 Noble ....................................................... - - 2 791 2 791

 Perry......................................................... 2 1,418 2 648 4 2,066

 Stark......................................................... - - 2 368 2 368

 Tuscarawas .............................................. 1 425 3 1,211 4 1,636

 Vinton ...................................................... - - 1 677 1 677

Oklahoma ................................................. 1 441 6 1,023 7 1,463

 Craig ........................................................ - - 1 261 1 261

 Haskell..................................................... - - 1 169 1 169

 Le Flore.................................................... 1 441 2 423 3 864

 Okmulgee................................................. - - 1 1 1 1

 Rogers...................................................... - - 1 168 1 168

Pennsylvania ............................................ 51 53,318 215 12,095 266 65,414

 Allegheny................................................. - - 4 121 4 121

 Armstrong................................................ 8 2,873 10 831 18 3,704

 Beaver...................................................... 1 380 - - 1 380

 Bedford .................................................... - - 2 4 2 4

 Butler....................................................... - - 6 599 6 599

 Cambria ................................................... 2 872 9 408 11 1,281

 Cameron................................................... - - 1 31 1 31

 Centre....................................................... - - 1 12 1 12

 Clarion ..................................................... - - 5 448 5 448

 Clearfield ................................................. 2 1,341 46 2,914 48 4,255

 Columbia ................................................. - - 4 149 4 149

 

See footnotes at end of table. 
20 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 2. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type, 2008 (Continued) 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Underground Surface Total Coal-Producing 

State and County Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production 

Pennsylvania (continued) 

 Dauphin ................................................... 2 34 - - 2 34

 Elk............................................................ 1 220 6 307 7 527

 Fayette ..................................................... - - 12 489 12 489

 Greene...................................................... 7 41,388 1 5 8 41,393

 Huntingdon.............................................. - - 1 6 1 6

 Indiana ..................................................... 8 2,165 18 537 26 2,702

 Jefferson................................................... 1 157 11 452 12 609

 Lackawanna............................................. - - 2 22 2 22

 Luzerne .................................................... - - 7 211 7 211

 Lycoming................................................. - - 1 257 1 257

 Northumberland....................................... 3 148 5 82 8 231

 Schuylkill................................................. 8 59 35 995 43 1,054

 Somerset .................................................. 7 1,843 18 2,694 25 4,537

 Tioga........................................................ - - 1 2 1 2

 Venango................................................... - - 1 13 1 13

 Washington.............................................. 1 1,838 3 471 4 2,309

 Westmoreland.......................................... - - 5 34 5 34

Tennessee .................................................. 5 789 18 1,544 23 2,333

 Anderson.................................................. 1 37 2 148 3 185

 Campbell.................................................. 3 387 7 409 10 796

 Claiborne ................................................. 1 364 8 966 9 1,330

 Fentress.................................................... - - 1 22 1 22

Texas ......................................................... - - 11 39,017 11 39,017

 Atascosa................................................... - - 1 3,079 1 3,079

 Freestone.................................................. - - 1 3,339 1 3,339

 Harrison ................................................... - - 1 4,055 1 4,055

 Hopkins.................................................... - - 1 1,943 1 1,943

 Lee ........................................................... - - 1 3,754 1 3,754

 Leon......................................................... - - 1 6,454 1 6,454

 Panola ...................................................... - - 2 6,886 2 6,886

 Robertson................................................. - - 1 2,122 1 2,122

 Rusk......................................................... - - 1 4,655 1 4,655

 Titus......................................................... - - 1 2,730 1 2,730

Utah ........................................................... 9 24,365 - - 9 24,365

 Carbon ..................................................... 5 11,545 - - 5 11,545

 Emery....................................................... 3 5,874 - - 3 5,874

 Sevier....................................................... 1 6,946 - - 1 6,946

Virginia ..................................................... 65 15,806 49 8,907 114 24,712

 Buchanan ................................................. 23 5,596 18 2,843 41 8,439

 Dickenson ................................................ 10 1,804 5 266 15 2,070

 Lee ........................................................... 1 326 3 830 4 1,156

 Russell ..................................................... 6 952 3 181 9 1,134

 Tazewell................................................... 4 650 1 95 5 745

 Wise......................................................... 21 6,477 19 4,691 40 11,169

West Virginia ........................................... 186 88,369 115 69,409 301 157,778

 Barbour.................................................... 4 1,466 4 634 8 2,100

 Boone....................................................... 27 12,660 14 17,918 41 30,578

 Brooke ..................................................... - - 2 524 2 524

 Clay.......................................................... 1 291 1 3,310 2 3,600

 Fayette ..................................................... 9 2,578 13 4,468 22 7,046

 Greenbrier................................................ 6 626 2 434 8 1,059

 Harrison ................................................... 3 5,932 3 115 6 6,047

 Kanawha .................................................. 15 6,850 11 5,021 26 11,870

 Lincoln..................................................... 3 1,226 - - 3 1,226

 Logan....................................................... 12 7,205 14 11,336 26 18,541

 Marion ..................................................... 1 5,193 1 26 2 5,218

 Marshall................................................... 2 10,775 - - 2 10,775

 Mason ...................................................... 1 584 - - 1 584

 McDowell ................................................ 32 3,001 14 2,517 46 5,519

 Mineral..................................................... - - 2 86 2 86

 Mingo....................................................... 19 4,593 12 8,589 31 13,182

 Monongalia.............................................. 3 4,192 5 1,141 8 5,333

 Nicholas................................................... 5 1,310 6 3,087 11 4,397

 Preston ..................................................... 2 1,291 - - 2 1,291

 Raleigh..................................................... 16 5,533 3 3,098 19 8,631

 Randolph.................................................. 1 392 1 4 2 396

 Tucker...................................................... 1 2,561 - - 1 2,561

 Upshur ..................................................... 2 858 1 42 3 899

 Wayne...................................................... 3 4,063 1 1,041 4 5,104

 Webster.................................................... 3 1,452 2 4,441 5 5,893

 

See footnotes at end of table. 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 21

Table 2. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type, 2008 (Continued) 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Underground Surface Total Coal-Producing 

State and County Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production Number of Mines Production 

 Wyoming ................................................. 15 3,741 3 1,576 18 5,316

Wyoming ................................................... 1 3,501 19 464,143 20 467,644

 Campbell.................................................. - - 12 415,924 12 415,924

 Carbon ..................................................... - - 1 261 1 261

 Converse .................................................. - - 1 35,777 1 35,777

 Hot Springs.............................................. - - 1 s 1 s

 Lincoln..................................................... - - 1 4,989 1 4,989

 Sweetwater .............................................. 1 3,501 3 7,191 4 10,692

 

U.S. Subtotal.............................................. 583 357,079 852 813,322 1,435 1,170,401

 

Refuse Recovery........................................ - - - - 23 1,408

 

U.S.     Total................................................... 583 357,079 852 813,322 1,458 1,171,809

 s Value is less than 0.05 of the table metric, but value is included in any associated total. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
22 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 3. Underground Coal Production by State and Mining Method, 2008 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Coal-Producing 

State and Region1 Continuous2 Conventional and 

Other3 Longwall4 Total 

Alabama.................................................... 228 - 12,053 12,281

Arkansas ................................................... 67 - - 67

Colorado ................................................... 675 - 23,695 24,370

Illinois....................................................... 16,288 - 10,767 27,055

Indiana ...................................................... 12,223 - - 12,223

Kentucky Total ......................................... 66,155 2,291 1,027 69,474

 Eastern .................................................... 40,829 2,286 1,027 44,143

 Western................................................... 25,326 4 - 25,331

Maryland................................................... 753 - - 753

Montana.................................................... 168 - - 168

New Mexico ............................................. - - 7,046 7,046

Ohio .......................................................... 4,406 5 12,641 17,053

Oklahoma.................................................. 441 - - 441

Pennsylvania Total ................................... 10,998 53 42,267 53,318

 Anthracite ............................................... 188 53 - 241

 Bituminous ............................................. 10,810 - 42,267 53,077

Tennessee.................................................. 789 - - 789

Utah .......................................................... 229 - 24,136 24,365

Virginia..................................................... 12,252 23 3,531 15,806

West Virginia Total .................................. 49,013 788 38,568 88,369

 Northern.................................................. 6,853 8 27,249 34,109

 Southern.................................................. 42,160 780 11,320 54,260

Wyoming .................................................. - - 3,501 3,501

Appalachian Total .................................. 119,267 3,156 110,088 232,512

 Northern................................................. 23,010 67 82,157 105,234

 Central ................................................... 96,030 3,089 15,878 114,997

 Southern................................................. 228 - 12,053 12,281

Interior Total .......................................... 54,346 4 10,767 65,117

 Illinois Basin.......................................... 53,838 4 10,767 64,609

Western Total.......................................... 1,072 - 58,378 59,450

 Powder River Basin............................... - - - -

 Uinta Region.......................................... 512 - 47,831 48,343

East of Miss. River.................................. 173,105 3,161 120,855 297,121

West of Miss. River................................. 1,580 - 58,378 59,958

U.S. Total................................................. 174,685 3,161 179,233 357,079  

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see the Glossary. 

2

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by continuous mining methods. 

3

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by conventional mining methods or mines that produce coal using shortwall, scoop loading, hand loading, or other 

methods or a 50/50 percent continuous conventional split in mining methods, or mines that produce less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data. 4

 Mines that have any production from the longwall mining method. A typical longwall mining operation uses 80 percent longwall mining and 20 percent continuous mining. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 23

Table 4. Coal Production by Coalbed Thickness and Mine Type, 2008 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Coalbed Thickness 

(inches) Underground Surface Total 

< 7................................................................. - 311 311

7-12............................................................... - 3,692 3,692

13-18............................................................. 337 7,953 8,290

19-24............................................................. 1,502 17,116 18,618

25-30............................................................. 3,607 20,759 24,366

31-36............................................................. 22,367 27,501 49,868

37-42............................................................. 24,185 28,106 52,291

43-48............................................................. 34,316 21,139 55,456

49-54............................................................. 28,396 31,747 60,143

55-60............................................................. 40,644 19,644 60,288

61-66............................................................. 34,666 18,905 53,571

67-72............................................................. 62,068 12,532 74,600

73-78............................................................. 14,244 3,305 17,549

79-84............................................................. 15,243 12,439 27,682

85-90............................................................. 11,938 10,761 22,699

91-96............................................................. 3,901 8,367 12,268

97-102........................................................... 12,431 5,938 18,370

103-108......................................................... 2,689 9,213 11,902

109-114......................................................... 6,212 1,739 7,951

115-120......................................................... 3,897 11,432 15,330

> 120............................................................. 34,237 540,043 574,279

Unknown1

.................................................... 199 678 2,285

U.S. Total..................................................... 357,079 813,322 1,171,809  

1

 Includes mines with production of less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data, and refuse recovery. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
24 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 5. Coal Production and Coalbed Thickness by Major Coalbeds and Mine Type, 2008 

Production 

(thousand short tons) 

Thickness 

Coalbed ID Number (inches) 1

Coalbed Name 

Underground Surface Total Average2 Low High 

1699 Wyodak................................................ - 406,489 406,489 754 81 909

0036 Pittsburgh............................................. 80,561 5,403 85,965 71 16 108

0489 No. 9 .................................................... 37,162 8,624 45,787 61 20 75

0111 Coalburg .............................................. 7,868 24,008 31,876 71 8 169

0484 Herrin (Illinois No. 6).......................... 24,544 3,941 28,485 69 36 96

1697 Canyon................................................. - 27,968 27,968 654 332 804

1569 Beulah-Zap .......................................... - 27,550 27,550 179 135 210

1696 Anderson-Dietz 1-Dietz 2 ................... - 22,345 22,345 901 660 960

0151 Upper Elkhorn No. 3 ........................... 13,966 3,702 17,668 46 7 120

1787 Roland.................................................. - 17,245 17,245 463 353 600

0084 Lower Kittanning................................. 7,223 9,919 17,142 51 12 94

1808 Rosebud ............................................... - 16,376 16,376 255 172 276

0121 Winifrede............................................. 4,926 11,066 15,992 67 5 116

0103 Stockton-Lewiston............................... 2,938 9,700 12,638 63 12 132

0168 Lower Elkhorn..................................... 9,820 2,781 12,601 52 6 84

0135 Hazard No. 4........................................ 5,476 6,860 12,336 58 12 116

0157 Alma .................................................... 8,281 3,872 12,154 43 10 90

1488 Fruitland No. 8..................................... 7,046 4,631 11,677 147 41 193

0176 Eagle .................................................... 9,809 1,345 11,154 49 12 63

0071 Upper Freeport..................................... 6,700 3,186 9,887 51 12 84

0280 Blue Creek........................................... 8,793 470 9,263 60 8 120

0100 Hazard No. 8........................................ 1,099 7,538 8,637 43 10 84

0142 Williamson (Amburgy) ....................... 6,035 2,317 8,352 43 6 130

0483 Indiana No. 6 ....................................... - 8,147 8,147 53 16 96

1750 Wadge.................................................. 8,004 - 8,004 100 100 100

Major Coalbeds Total .................................. 250,251 635,483 885,734 435 5 960

 

Other Coalbeds ............................................. 106,630 177,160 283,790 79 4 409

 

Unknown3

...................................................... 199 678 2,285 NA NA NA

 

U.S. Total....................................................... 357,079 813,322 1,171,809 349 4 960  

1

 The coalbed ID number is a unique code assigned by EIA to each correlated coalbed or to coal-bearing geologic formations, coal groups, or coal zones. See Coalbed name 

discussion in note below. 

2

 Average thickness is the bed thickness weighted by bed production. 

3

 Includes mines with production of less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data, and refuse recovery. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 NA = Not Available. 

 Notes:  Major coalbeds for this table are the top 25 producing coalbeds. The category "Other Coalbeds" includes all coalbeds from which less than 8.0 million short tons 

were produced during the year. In some regions, coalbeds are characteristically discontinuous or uncorrelatable from one location to another, and production is identified by the 

geological formations, coal groups, or coal zones of the native rock where the coalbeds occur. These types of coalbeds are found primarily in the Rocky Mountain States and 

even in the Gulf Coast lignite belt. Coalbeds of these types are also included in "Other Coalbeds," even though production may exceed 8.0 million short tons. Totals may not 

equal sum of components due to independent rounding.  The coalbed name given is the name most commonly used in the State having the greatest production from that 

coalbed. The States having greatest production for each coalbed are Alabama (coalbed 0280), Colorado (1750); Illinois (0484); Indiana (0483); Eastern Kentucky (0100, 0135, 

0142, 0151, and 0168); Western Kentucky (0489); Montana (1696 and 1808); New Mexico (1488); North Dakota (1569); Pennsylvania (0036 and 0071); West Virginia (0084, 

0103, 0111, 0121, 0157, and 0176); and Wyoming (1697, 1699, and 1787). In some other States where these are major producing beds, the following alternative coalbed names 

are also used: 0084, No 5 (Ohio); 0111, Peach Orchard (Eastern Kentucky); 0121, Quakertown (Pennsylvania); 0135, Windrock (Tennessee); Phillips (Virginia); Chilton (West 

Virginia); 0142, Lower Splint (Virginia); 0151, Jellico (Tennessee); Taggert (Virginia); Cedar Grove (West Virginia); 0157, Elkhorn No. 1 (East Kentucky); Rich Mountain 

(Tennessee); 0168, Imboden (Virginia); No 2 Gas (West Virginia); 0176, Middle Eagle (West Virginia); 0484, No 11 (Western Kentucky); 0489, No 5 (Illinois and Indiana). 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 25

Table 6. Coal Production and Number of Mines by State and Coal Rank, 2008 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Bituminous Subbituminous Lignite Anthracite Total Coal-Producing 

State and Region1

Number of 

Mines Production Number of 

Mines Production Number of 

Mines Production Number of 

Mines Production Number of 

Mines Production 

Alabama......................................... 59 20,611 - - - - - - 59 20,611

Alaska ............................................ - - 1 1,477 - - - - 1 1,477

Arizona .......................................... 1 8,025 - - - - - - 1 8,025

Arkansas ........................................ 2 69 - - - - - - 2 69

Colorado ........................................ 9 24,773 3 7,256 - - - - 12 32,028

Illinois............................................ 19 32,918 - - - - - - 19 32,918

Indiana ........................................... 30 35,893 - - - - - - 30 35,893

Kansas............................................ 2 229 - - - - - - 2 229

Kentucky Total .............................. 469 120,323 - - - - - - 469 120,323

 Eastern ......................................... 446 90,258 - - - - - - 446 90,258

 Western........................................ 23 30,064 - - - - - - 23 30,064

Louisiana ....................................... - - - - 2 3,843 - - 2 3,843

Maryland........................................ 21 2,860 - - - - - - 21 2,860

Mississippi..................................... - - - - 1 2,842 - - 1 2,842

Missouri......................................... 2 247 - - - - - - 2 247

Montana......................................... - - 5 44,431 1 355 - - 6 44,786

New Mexico2 ................................ 1 7,046 4 18,599 - - - - 5 25,645

North Dakota ................................. - - - - 4 29,627 - - 4 29,627

Ohio ............................................... 48 26,251 - - - - - - 48 26,251

Oklahoma....................................... 7 1,463 - - - - - - 7 1,463

Pennsylvania Total ........................ 200 63,713 - - - - 66 1,701 266 65,414

 Anthracite .................................... - - - - - - 66 1,701 66 1,701

 Bituminous .................................. 200 63,713 - - - - - - 200 63,713

Tennessee....................................... 23 2,333 - - - - - - 23 2,333

Texas.............................................. - - - - 11 39,017 - - 11 39,017

Utah ............................................... 9 24,365 - - - - - - 9 24,365

Virginia.......................................... 114 24,712 - - - - - - 114 24,712

West Virginia Total ....................... 301 157,778 - - - - - - 301 157,778

 Northern....................................... 43 41,123 - - - - - - 43 41,123

 Southern....................................... 258 116,655 - - - - - - 258 116,655

Wyoming ....................................... 1 261 19 467,383 - - - - 20 467,644

Appalachian Total ....................... 1,212 388,517 - - - - 66 1,701 1,278 390,218

 Northern...................................... 312 133,947 - - - - 66 1,701 378 135,647

 Central ........................................ 841 233,959 - - - - - - 841 233,959

 Southern...................................... 59 20,611 - - - - - - 59 20,611

Interior Total ............................... 85 100,884 - - 14 45,702 - - 99 146,586

 Illinois Basin............................... 72 98,875 - - - - - - 72 98,875

Western Total............................... 22 64,470 31 539,145 5 29,982 - - 58 633,597

 Powder River Basin.................... - - 17 495,964 - - - - 17 495,964

 Uinta Region............................... 15 48,343 2 7,235 - - - - 17 55,578

East of Miss. River....................... 1,284 487,393 - - 1 2,842 66 1,701 1,351 491,935

West of Miss. River...................... 35 66,479 31 539,145 18 72,842 - - 84 678,467

U.S. Subtotal................................. 1,319 553,872 31 539,145 19 75,684 66 1,701 1,435 1,170,401

Refuse Recovery........................... 22 1,396 - - - - 1 12 23 1,408

U.S. Total...................................... 1,341 555,267 31 539,145 19 75,684 67 1,712 1,458 1,171,809  

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

2

 One Mine in New Mexico periodically produces both bituminous and subbituminous coal. When this occurs, it is double counted as a subbituminous and bituminous mine, but 

is not double counted in the total. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
26 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 7. Coal Production by State, Mine Type, and Union Status, 2008 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Union Nonunion Total Coal-Producing 

State and Region1

Underground Surface Underground Surface Underground Surface 

Alabama...................................................... 12,053 169 228 8,158 12,281 8,327

Alaska ......................................................... - 1,477 - - - 1,477

Arizona ....................................................... - 8,025 - - - 8,025

Arkansas ..................................................... - - 67 - 67 -

Colorado ..................................................... 2,067 2,723 22,303 4,935 24,370 7,659

Illinois......................................................... 5,029 - 22,026 5,863 27,055 5,863

Indiana ........................................................ - - 12,223 23,668 12,223 23,668

Kansas......................................................... - - - 229 - 229

Kentucky Total ........................................... 4,618 1,311 64,774 49,353 69,392 50,663

 Eastern ...................................................... 748 1,311 43,318 44,626 44,065 45,936

 Western..................................................... 3,870 - 21,456 4,727 25,326 4,727

Louisiana .................................................... - - - 3,843 - 3,843

Maryland..................................................... - - 753 2,083 753 2,083

Mississippi.................................................. - - - 2,842 - 2,842

Missouri...................................................... - - - 247 - 247

Montana...................................................... - 26,670 168 17,948 168 44,617

New Mexico ............................................... 7,046 11,970 - 6,629 7,046 18,599

North Dakota .............................................. - 7,528 - 22,099 - 29,627

Ohio ............................................................ 5,798 - 11,250 9,163 17,048 9,163

Oklahoma.................................................... - - 441 1,022 441 1,022

Pennsylvania Total ..................................... 21,086 682 32,207 11,086 53,293 11,768

 Anthracite ................................................. - 386 216 973 216 1,358

 Bituminous ............................................... 21,086 296 31,991 10,114 53,077 10,410

Tennessee.................................................... - - 789 1,539 789 1,539

Texas........................................................... - 23,307 - 15,709 - 39,017

Utah ............................................................ 5,874 - 18,491 - 24,365 -

Virginia....................................................... 1,189 - 14,594 8,879 15,782 8,879

West Virginia Total .................................... 31,512 8,339 56,795 61,005 88,307 69,344

 Northern.................................................... 24,688 - 9,413 6,995 34,101 6,995

 Southern.................................................... 6,824 8,339 47,381 54,011 54,205 62,350

Wyoming .................................................... 3,501 7,155 - 456,988 3,501 464,143

 

Appalachian Total .................................... 72,386 10,500 159,932 146,538 232,318 157,039

 Northern................................................... 51,572 682 53,623 29,327 105,195 30,009

 Central ..................................................... 8,760 9,650 106,081 109,054 114,842 118,703

 Southern................................................... 12,053 169 228 8,158 12,281 8,327

Interior Total ............................................ 8,899 23,307 56,213 58,150 65,112 81,458

 Illinois Basin............................................ 8,899 - 55,705 34,258 64,604 34,258

Western Total............................................ 18,488 65,548 40,962 508,598 59,450 574,147

 Powder River Basin................................. - 26,315 - 469,649 - 495,964

 Uinta Region............................................ 7,941 2,320 40,402 4,914 48,343 7,235

 

East of Miss. River.................................... 81,284 10,500 215,638 183,638 296,922 194,138

West of Miss. River................................... 18,488 88,856 41,470 529,649 59,958 618,505

 

Unknown2

.................................................. - - - - 199 678

 

U.S. Total................................................... 99,773 99,356 257,108 713,287 357,079 813,322  

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

2

 Includes mines with production of less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. Excludes refuse recovery operations. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 27

Table 8. Coal Disposition by State, 2008 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

Coal-Producing 

State Open Market Sales1 Captive Sales/Transactions 2 Total 

Alabama........................................................ 20,107 - 20,107

Alaska ........................................................... W - W

Arizona ......................................................... W - W

Arkansas ....................................................... W - W

Colorado ....................................................... 30,546 2,917 33,463

Illinois........................................................... 27,080 5,768 32,848

Indiana .......................................................... 26,151 10,680 36,831

Kansas........................................................... W - W

Kentucky Total ............................................. 114,068 5,253 119,321

 Eastern ........................................................ W W 89,278

 Western....................................................... W W 30,043

Louisiana ...................................................... W W W

Maryland....................................................... 2,929 - 2,929

Mississippi.................................................... W - W

Missouri........................................................ W - W

Montana........................................................ W W 44,272

New Mexico ................................................. W W 23,468

North Dakota ................................................ W W 29,781

Ohio .............................................................. W W 25,968

Oklahoma...................................................... 1,462 - 1,462

Pennsylvania Total ....................................... 62,862 4,079 66,941

 Anthracite ................................................... W W 1,658

 Bituminous ................................................. W W 65,283

Tennessee...................................................... 2,905 - 2,905

Texas............................................................. W W 38,998

Utah .............................................................. W W 25,833

Virginia......................................................... 15,821 7,584 23,405

West Virginia Total ...................................... 137,977 20,746 158,723

 Northern...................................................... 36,130 4,862 40,992

 Southern...................................................... 101,848 15,884 117,731

Wyoming ...................................................... 361,256 104,109 465,365

U.S. Total3 ................................................... 961,843 207,734 1,169,576  

1

 Open market sales include all coal sold on the open market to other coal companies or consumers. 2

 Captive sales transactions include all coal used by the producing company or sold to affiliated or parent companies. 3

 Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data, and refuse recovery. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report." 
28 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 9. Major U.S. Coal Mines, 2008 

Rank Mine Names/Company Mine Type State Production 

(short tons) 

1 North Antelope Rochelle Mine/Powder River Coal LLC Surface Wyoming 97,578,499

2 Black Thunder/Thunder Basin Coal Company LLC Surface Wyoming 88,584,704

3 Jacobs Ranch Mine/Jacobs Ranch Coal Company Surface Wyoming 42,145,705

4 Cordero Mine/Cordero Mining Company Surface Wyoming 40,033,283

5 Antelope Coal Mine/Antelope Coal Company Surface Wyoming 35,777,489

6 Caballo Mine/Caballo Coal Company Surface Wyoming 31,205,381

7 Belle Ayr Mine/Foundation Coal West Incorporated Surface Wyoming 28,707,982

8 Buckskin Mine/Triton Coal Company Surface Wyoming 26,076,355

9 Eagle Butte Mine/Foundation Coal West Incorporated Surface Wyoming 20,442,963

10 Rawhide Mine/Caballo Coal Company Surface Wyoming 18,418,546

11 Spring Creek Coal Company/Spring Creek Coal Company Surface Montana 17,947,506

12 Freedom Mine/The Coteau Properties Company Surface North Dakota 14,565,631

13 Rosebud Mine & Crusher/Conveyor/Western Energy Company Surface Montana 13,052,713

14 Coal Creek Mine/Thunder Basin Coal Company LLC Surface Wyoming 11,453,546

15 Enlow Fork Mine/Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company Underground Pennsylvania 11,089,475

16 Bailey Mine/Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company Underground Pennsylvania 9,996,038

17 McElroy Mine/McElroy Coal Company Underground West Virginia 9,636,827

18 Navajo Mine/BHP Navajo Coal Company Surface New Mexico 8,905,813

19 Kayenta Mine/Peabody Western Coal Company Surface Arizona 8,024,973

20 Foidel Creek Mine/Twentymile Coal Company Underground Colorado 8,004,176

21 Falkirk Mine/Falkirk Mining Company Surface North Dakota 7,532,993

22 Cumberland Mine/Cumberland Coal Resources LP Underground Pennsylvania 7,321,030

23 San Juan Mine 1/San Juan Coal Company Underground New Mexico 7,046,199

24 Sufco/Canyon Fuel Company LLC Underground Utah 6,946,075

25 Decker Mine/Decker Coal Company Surface Montana 6,871,671

26 Century Mine/American Energy Corporation Underground Ohio 6,843,898

27 Jewett Mine/Texas Westmoreland Coal Co. Surface Texas 6,453,799

28 Absaloka Mine/Westmoreland Resources Inc. Surface Montana 6,390,699

29 Emerald Mine No 1/Emerald Coal Resources LP Underground Pennsylvania 6,343,350

30 Wyodak Mine/Wyodak Resources Development Co. Surface Wyoming 6,015,890

31 West Elk Mine/Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. Underground Colorado 5,858,789

32 Powhatan No. 6 Mine/The Ohio Valley Coal Company Underground Ohio 5,797,596

33 Robinson Run No 95/Consolidation Coal Company Underground West Virginia 5,627,306

34 Blacksville No 2/Consolidation Coal Company Underground Pennsylvania 5,584,153

35 Mach #1 Mine/Mach Mining LLC Underground Illinois 5,503,665

36 Galatia Mine/The American Coal Company Underground Illinois 5,263,019

37 Dry Fork Mine/Western Fuels-Wyoming Inc Surface Wyoming 5,261,242

38 Loveridge No 22/Consolidation Coal Company Underground West Virginia 5,192,742

39 Twilight MTR Surface Mine/Progress Coal Surface West Virginia 5,167,254

40 Cardinal/Warrior Coal LLC Underground Kentucky 5,108,496

41 Beckville Strip/Luminant Mining Co. LLC Surface Texas 5,093,709

42 Kemmerer Mine/Chevron Mining Inc Surface Wyoming 4,988,841

43 Colowyo Mine/Colowyo Coal Company L P Surface Colorado 4,914,363

44 Elk Creek Mine/Oxbow Mining, LLC Underground Colorado 4,902,633

45 Dotiki Mine/Webster County Coal LLC Underground Kentucky 4,662,442

46 Oak Hill Strip/Luminant Mining Company LLC Surface Texas 4,655,079

47 Center Mine/BNI Coal Ltd Surface North Dakota 4,505,263

48 Mountaineer II Mine/Mingo Logan Coal Company Underground West Virginia 4,187,338

49 Dugout Canyon Mine/Canyon Fuel Company LLC Underground Utah 4,145,406

50 South Hallsville No 1 Mine/Sabine Mining Company Surface Texas 4,054,916

51 Elk Creek Mine/Hopkins County Coal LLC Underground Kentucky 4,033,847

 Subtotal 713,921,308

 All Other Mines 457,887,361

 U.S. Total 1,171,808,669  

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Major mines are mines that produced more than 4 million short tons in 2008. The company is the firm operating the mine. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and/or U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 

7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 29

Table 10. Major U.S. Coal Producers, 2008 

Rank Company Name Production 

(thousand short tons) 

Percent of 

Total Production 

1 Peabody Energy Corporation 200,752 17.1

2 Rio Tinto Energy America 140,818 12.0

3 Arch Coal Inc 134,017 11.4

4 Foundation Coal Corp. 69,366 5.9

5 CONSOL Energy Inc 63,806 5.4

6 Massey Energy Co 40,151 3.4

7 Patriot Coal Corp 33,317 2.8

8 NACCO Industries Inc 29,554 2.5

9 Westmoreland Coal Co 29,275 2.5

10 Peter Kiewit Sons Inc 28,198 2.4

11 Alliance Resource Operating Partners LP 26,395 2.3

12 Murray Energy Corp 26,059 2.2

13 Energy Future Holdings Corp 23,307 2.0

14 Alpha Natural Resources LLC 20,879 1.8

15 Intl Coal Group Inc (ICG) 18,340 1.6

16 BHP Billiton Ltd 15,952 1.4

17 Chevron Corp 10,976 0.9

18 PacifiCorp 10,884 0.9

19 James River Coal Co 10,583 0.9

20 Level 3 Communications 10,559 0.9

21 Trinity Coal Corp 8,859 0.8

22 Walter Industries Inc 7,471 0.6

23 Wexford Capital LLC 6,726 0.6

24 Booth Energy Group 6,621 0.6

25 TECO Energy Inc 6,327 0.5

26 Cline Group 6,088 0.5

27 Black Hills Corp 6,016 0.5

28 Energy Coal Resources Inc 5,999 0.5

29 Western Fuels Association Inc 5,261 0.4

 

 Subtotal 1,002,556 85.6

 All Other Coal Producers 169,253 14.4

 

 U.S. Total 1,171,809 100.0  

 Note:  Major coal producers are companies that produced more than 5 million short tons in 2008. A controlling company of a mine is defined as the company "controlling 

the coal, particularly the sale of the coal." Most often, but not always, this is the owner of the mine. 

 Source:  Velocity Suite, Ventyx 2009 and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration Form 7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal 

Production Report." 
30 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 31

Productive Capacity 
32 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 11. Productive Capacity of Coal Mines by State, 2008, 2007 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

2008 2007 Percent Change Coal-Producing 

State 

Underground Surface Total Underground Surface Total Underground Surface Total 

Alabama........................................ 14,754 11,146 25,901 14,870 12,511 27,381 -0.8 -10.9 -5.4

Alaska ........................................... - W W - W W - W W

Arizona ......................................... - W W - W W - W W

Arkansas ....................................... W - W W - W W - W

Colorado ....................................... W W 40,545 W W 41,369 W W -2.0

Illinois........................................... 35,100 8,028 43,129 36,813 7,826 44,639 -4.7 2.6 -3.4

Indiana .......................................... 14,123 30,784 44,907 12,219 29,171 41,390 15.6 5.5 8.5

Kansas........................................... - W W - W W - W W

Kentucky Total ............................. 88,191 63,431 151,622 86,237 59,607 145,844 2.3 6.4 4.0

 Eastern ........................................ 59,853 58,274 118,127 56,022 54,645 110,668 6.8 6.6 6.7

 Western....................................... 28,338 5,157 33,495 30,215 4,961 35,177 -6.2 3.9 -4.8

Louisiana ...................................... - W W - W W - W W

Maryland....................................... W W 2,998 W W 3,105 W W -3.4

Mississippi.................................... - W W - W W - W W

Missouri........................................ - W W - W W - W W

Montana........................................ W W 49,332 W W 47,323 W W 4.2

New Mexico ................................. W W 29,750 W W 28,250 W W 5.3

North Dakota ................................ - 32,900 32,900 - 32,900 32,900 - - -

Ohio .............................................. 18,029 21,563 39,593 18,491 15,802 34,293 -2.5 36.5 15.5

Oklahoma...................................... W W 1,899 W W 2,387 W W -20.5

Pennsylvania Total ....................... 57,851 17,576 75,427 59,130 15,890 75,020 -2.2 10.6 0.5

 Anthracite ................................... 227 2,455 2,682 W W 2,790 W W -3.8

 Bituminous ................................. 57,624 15,121 72,745 W W 72,231 W W 0.7

Tennessee...................................... 1,076 3,734 4,811 896 3,416 4,313 20.1 9.3 11.6

Texas............................................. - 40,553 40,553 - 43,066 43,066 - -5.8 -5.8

Utah .............................................. 27,042 - 27,042 28,668 - 28,668 -5.7 - -5.7

Virginia......................................... 18,629 10,394 29,023 19,827 11,256 31,083 -6.0 -7.7 -6.6

West Virginia Total ...................... 123,496 87,769 211,264 115,608 84,374 199,982 6.8 4.0 5.6

 Northern...................................... 41,200 8,194 49,394 40,853 7,446 48,299 0.8 10.0 2.3

 Southern...................................... 82,296 79,575 161,871 74,755 76,928 151,683 10.1 3.4 6.7

Wyoming ...................................... W W 501,158 W W 486,281 W W 3.1

 

U.S. Total...................................... 446,445 926,411 1,372,856 438,336 900,142 1,338,478 1.8 2.9 2.6  

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  Productive capacity is the maximum amount of coal that can be produced annually as reported by mining companies on Form EIA-7A. Excludes mines producing 

less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data and refuse recovery. Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 33

Table 12. Capacity Utilization of Coal Mines by State, 2008, 2007 

 (Percent) 

2008 2007 Coal-Producing 

State 

Underground Surface Total Underground Surface Total 

Alabama.......................................................... 83.24 74.70 79.56 77.08 62.84 70.58

Alaska ............................................................. - W W - W W

Arizona ........................................................... - W W - W W

Arkansas ......................................................... W - W W - W

Colorado ......................................................... W W 78.99 W W 87.93

Illinois............................................................. 77.08 73.03 76.33 72.82 72.04 72.68

Indiana ............................................................ 86.55 76.88 79.92 86.78 83.64 84.57

Kansas............................................................. - W W - W W

Kentucky Total ............................................... 78.68 79.87 79.18 80.14 76.94 78.83

 Eastern ......................................................... 73.62 78.83 76.19 79.61 77.16 78.40

 Western........................................................ 89.37 91.66 89.73 81.13 74.49 80.19

Louisiana ........................................................ - W W - W W

Maryland......................................................... W W 94.59 W W 73.32

Mississippi...................................................... - W W - W W

Missouri.......................................................... - W W - W W

Montana.......................................................... W W 90.79 W W 91.69

New Mexico ................................................... W W 86.20 W W 86.55

North Dakota .................................................. - 90.05 90.05 - 89.99 89.99

Ohio ................................................................ 94.55 42.49 66.20 85.41 42.75 65.75

Oklahoma........................................................ W W 77.00 W W 69.00

Pennsylvania Total ......................................... 92.12 66.96 86.26 90.49 69.94 86.14

 Anthracite .................................................... 95.19 55.32 58.70 W W 50.02

 Bituminous .................................................. 92.11 68.84 87.27 W W 87.54

Tennessee........................................................ 73.27 41.21 48.38 99.51 51.21 61.25

Texas............................................................... - 96.21 96.21 - 97.40 97.40

Utah ................................................................ 90.10 - 90.10 84.79 - 84.79

Virginia........................................................... 84.72 85.42 84.97 79.26 85.26 81.43

West Virginia Total ........................................ 71.51 79.01 74.62 73.38 81.29 76.71

 Northern....................................................... 82.77 85.37 83.20 88.28 82.37 87.37

 Southern....................................................... 65.87 78.35 72.00 65.23 81.18 73.32

Wyoming ........................................................ W W 93.31 W W 93.27

 

U.S. Total....................................................... 79.94 87.72 85.19 80.21 88.09 85.51  

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  Capacity utilization is the ratio of annual production to annual productive capacity. Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to 

provide data and refuse recovery. Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," for productive capacity, and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Form 7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report," for annual production. 
34 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Continuous1 Conventional and 

Other2 Longwall3

Table 13. Productive Capacity and Capacity Utilization of Underground Coal Mines by State and Mining 

Method, 2008 

(Thousand Short Tons) 

Total 

Coal-Producing 

State Productive 

Capacity 

Capacity 

Utilization 

Percent 

Productive 

Capacity 

Capacity 

Utilization 

Percent 

Productive 

Capacity 

Capacity 

Utilization 

Percent 

Capacity 

Utilization 

Percent 

Productive 

Capacity 

Alabama......................................... W W - - W W 14,754 83.24

Arkansas ........................................ W W - - - - W W

Colorado ........................................ W W - - W W 32,604 74.74

Illinois............................................ W W - - W W 35,100 77.08

Indiana ........................................... 14,123 86.55 - - - - 14,123 86.55

Kentucky Total .............................. 79,575 83.14 W W W W 88,191 78.68

 Eastern ......................................... W 79.69 W W W W 59,853 73.62

 Western........................................ W 89.37 - - - - 28,338 89.37

Maryland........................................ W W - - - - W W

Montana......................................... W W - - - - W W

New Mexico .................................. - - - - W W W W

Ohio ............................................... W W - - W W 18,029 94.55

Oklahoma....................................... W W - - - - W W

Pennsylvania Total ........................ 14,133 77.82 W W W W 57,851 92.12

 Anthracite .................................... W W W W - - 227 95.19

 Bituminous .................................. W W - - W W 57,624 92.11

Tennessee....................................... 1,076 73.27 - - - - 1,076 73.27

Utah ............................................... W W - - W W 27,042 90.10

Virginia.......................................... W W - - W W 18,629 84.72

West Virginia Total ....................... 74,789 W W W W 81.87 123,496 71.51

 Northern....................................... W W - - W W 41,200 82.77

 Southern....................................... W W W W W W 82,296 65.87

Wyoming ....................................... - - - - W W W W

 

U.S. Total...................................... 227,045 76.94 7,595 39.00 211,804 84.62 446,445 79.94  

1

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by continuous mining methods. 

2

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by conventional mining methods or mines that produce coal using shortwall, scoop loading, hand loading, or other 

methods or a 50/50 percent continuous conventional split in mining method. 

3

 Mines that have any production from the longwall mining method. A typical longwall mining operation uses 80 percent longwall mining and 20 percent continuous mining. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  Productive capacity is the maximum amount of coal that can be produced annually. Capacity utilization is the ratio of total production to annual productive capacity. 

Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data and recovery operations. Totals may not equal sum of components because of 

independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," for productive capacity, and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Form 7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report," for annual production. 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 35

Recoverable Reserves 
36 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

2008 2007 

Table 14. Recoverable Coal Reserves and Average Recovery Percentage at Producing Mines by State, 2008, 2007 

 (Million Short Tons) 

Coal-Producing 

State Recoverable Coal 

Reserves 

Average Recovery 

Percentage 

Recoverable Coal 

Reserves 

Average Recovery 

Percentage 

Percent Change 

Recoverable Coal 

Reserves 

Alabama................................................ 330 57.98 327 57.15 1.0

Alaska ................................................... W W W W -

Arizona ................................................. W W W W W

Arkansas ............................................... W W W W -

Colorado ............................................... 325 70.92 328 72.85 -0.9

Illinois................................................... 1,189 60.43 1,286 61.99 -7.5

Indiana .................................................. 421 69.52 401 67.58 5.1

Kansas................................................... W W W W W

Kentucky Total ..................................... 1,167 58.37 1,182 59.91 -1.3

 Eastern ................................................ 729 56.12 669 54.98 8.9

 Western............................................... 438 62.11 513 66.34 -14.6

Louisiana .............................................. W W W W W

Maryland............................................... 22 74.01 24 61.75 -9.1

Mississippi............................................ W W W W W

Missouri................................................ W W W W W

Montana................................................ 925 89.55 1,251 88.01 -26.1

New Mexico ......................................... 605 88.44 483 90.64 25.4

North Dakota ........................................ 1,225 90.60 1,252 90.64 -2.2

Ohio ...................................................... 308 69.32 333 73.00 -7.6

Oklahoma.............................................. 85 54.74 155 52.67 -45.6

Pennsylvania Total ............................... 526 71.96 532 71.69 -1.2

 Anthracite ........................................... 24 76.48 28 62.59 -13.4

 Bituminous ......................................... 502 71.74 504 72.19 -0.5

Tennessee.............................................. 10 75.05 12 79.31 -16.9

Texas..................................................... 752 90.82 737 90.04 2.0

Utah ...................................................... 212 56.97 211 57.92 0.4

Virginia................................................. 217 55.80 256 56.25 -15.4

Washington........................................... - --- -

West Virginia Total .............................. 1,908 57.24 1,828 57.49 4.4

 Northern.............................................. 338 60.50 303 61.18 11.5

 Southern.............................................. 1,570 56.54 1,525 56.76 2.9

Wyoming .............................................. 7,010 91.52 7,330 91.36 -4.4

 

U.S. Total............................................. 17,875 79.64 18,584 79.92 -3.8  

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  Recoverable reserves represent the quantity of coal that can be recovered (i.e., mined) from existing coal reserves at reporting mines. Average recovery percentage 

represents the percentage of coal that can be recovered from coal reserves at reporting mines, weighted for all mines in the reported geographic area. Excludes mines producing 

less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data and refuse recovery. Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 37

Table 15. Recoverable Coal Reserves at Producing Mines, Estimated Recoverable Reserves, and Demonstrated 

Reserve Base by Mining Method, 2008 

 (Million Short Tons) 

Underground - Minable Coal Surface - Minable Coal Total 

Coal-Resource 

State 

Recoverable 

Reserves at 

Producing 

Mines 

Estimated 

Recoverable 

Reserves 

Demonstrated

Reserve Base 

Recoverable 

Reserves at 

Producing 

Mines 

Estimated 

Recoverable

Reserves 

Demonstrated

Reserve Base 

Recoverable 

Reserves at 

Producing 

Mines 

Estimated 

Recoverable

Reserves 

Demonstrated

Reserve Base 

Alabama........................................ 279 473 938 51 2,256 3,167 330 2,729 4,106

Alaska ........................................... - 2,335 5,423 W 495 682 W 2,829 6,105

Arizona ......................................... - - - W - - W --

Arkansas ....................................... W 127 272 - 101 144 W 228 416

Colorado ....................................... W 5,916 11,273 W 3,745 4,760 325 9,661 16,033

Georgia ......................................... - 1 2 - 1 2 - 2 4

Idaho ............................................. - 2 4 - - - - 2 4

Illinois........................................... 1,146 27,876 87,757 43 10,060 16,529 1,189 37,935 104,286

Indiana .......................................... 298 3,593 8,674 123 381 651 421 3,973 9,325

Iowa .............................................. - 807 1,732 - 320 457 - 1,127 2,189

Kansas........................................... - - - W 680 971 W 680 971

Kentucky Total ............................. 923 7,194 16,631 244 7,381 12,784 1,167 14,575 29,416

 Eastern ........................................ 511 504 902 218 5,121 9,171 729 5,625 10,073

 Western....................................... 412 6,691 15,729 26 2,260 3,613 438 8,950 19,342

Louisiana ...................................... - - - W 302 408 W 302 408

Maryland....................................... W 312 569 W 39 57 22 351 627

Michigan....................................... - 55 123 - 3 5 - 59 128

Mississippi.................................... - - - W - - W --

Missouri........................................ - 689 1,479 W 3,157 4,509 W 3,846 5,988

Montana........................................ W 35,922 70,957 W 38,889 48,110 925 74,810 119,067

New Mexico ................................. W 2,782 6,114 W 4,140 5,906 605 6,922 12,020

North Carolina.............................. - 5 11 - - - - 5 11

North Dakota ................................ - - - 1,225 6,821 8,941 1,225 6,821 8,941

Ohio .............................................. 221 7,677 17,450 86 3,747 5,725 308 11,424 23,174

Oklahoma...................................... W 572 1,228 W 223 319 85 795 1,547

Oregon .......................................... - 6 15 - 2 3 - 9 17

Pennsylvania Total ....................... 424 10,538 22,900 102 1,016 4,207 526 11,554 27,107

 Anthracite ................................... W 340 3,842 W 419 3,350 24 759 7,192

 Bituminous ................................. W 10,198 19,057 W 597 857 502 10,795 19,914

South Dakota ................................ - - - - 277 366 - 277 366

Tennessee...................................... 2 277 505 8 175 258 10 451 762

Texas............................................. - - - 752 9,412 12,227 752 9,412 12,227

Utah .............................................. 212 2,441 4,979 - 212 268 212 2,652 5,246

Virginia......................................... 172 578 1,030 44 171 525 217 750 1,555

Washington................................... - 674 1,332 - 6 8 - 681 1,340

West Virginia Total ...................... 1,410 15,300 28,669 498 2,220 3,518 1,908 17,520 32,187

 Northern...................................... 318 NA NA 20 NA NA 338 NA NA

 Southern...................................... 1,092 NA NA 478 NA NA 1,570 NA NA

Wyoming ...................................... W 22,943 42,486 W 16,247 19,618 7,010 39,190 62,104

 

U.S. Total...................................... 5,819 149,095 332,553 12,057 112,477 155,124 17,875 261,573 487,678    

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 NA = Not Available. 

 Notes:  Recoverable coal reserves at producing mines represent the quantity of coal that can be recovered (i.e. mined) from existing coal reserves at reporting mines. 

EIA's estimated recoverable reserves include the coal in the demonstrated reserve base considered recoverable after excluding coal estimated to be unavailable due to land use 

restrictions or currently economically unattractive for mining, and after applying assumed mining recovery rates; see Glossary for criteria.  The effective date for the 

demonstrated reserve base, as customarily worded, is "Remaining as of January 1, 2009." These data are contemporaneous with the Recoverable Reserves at Producing Mines, 

customarily presented as of the end of the past year's mining, that is in this case, December 31, 2008.  The demonstrated reserve base includes publicly available data on coal 

mapped to measured and indicated degrees of accuracy and found at depths and in coalbed thicknesses considered technologically minable at the time of determinations; see 

Glossary for criteria.  All reserve expressions exclude silt, culm, refuse bank, slurry dam, and dredge operations.  Reserves at Producing Mines exclude mines producing less 

than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide reserves data. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report," and EIA estimates. 
38 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 16. Recoverable Coal Reserves and Average Recovery Percentage at Producing Underground Coal Mines 

by State and Mining Method, 2008 

 (Million Short Tons) 

Continuous1 Conventional and 

Other2 Longwall3 Total 

Coal-Producing 

State 

Recoverable 

Coal Reserves 

at Producing 

Mines 

Average 

Recovery 

Percentage 

Recoverable 

Coal Reserves

at Producing 

Mines 

Average 

Recovery 

Percentage 

Recoverable 

Coal Reserves

at Producing 

Mines 

Average 

Recovery 

Percentage 

Recoverable 

Coal Reserves 

at Producing 

Mines 

Average 

Recovery 

Percentage 

Alabama......................................... W W - - W W 279 52.88

Arkansas ........................................ W W - - - - W W

Colorado ........................................ W W - - W W W 68.16

Illinois............................................ W W - - W W 1,146 60.20

Indiana ........................................... 298 65.90 - - - - 298 65.90

Kentucky Total .............................. 889 53.00 W W W W 923 52.58

 Eastern ......................................... 477 46.62 W W W W 511 46.29

 Western........................................ 412 60.38 - - - - 412 60.38

Maryland........................................ W W - - - - W W

Montana......................................... W W - - - - W W

New Mexico .................................. - - - - W W W W

Ohio ............................................... W W - - W W 221 62.92

Oklahoma....................................... W W - - - - W W

Pennsylvania Total ........................ 130 60.40 W W W W 424 69.44

 Anthracite .................................... W W W W - - W W

 Bituminous .................................. W W - - W W W W

Tennessee....................................... 2 44.51 - - - - 2 44.51

Utah ............................................... W W - - W W 212 56.97

Virginia.......................................... W W - - W W 172 47.20

West Virginia Total ....................... 908 W W W W 53.22 1,410 48.52

 Northern....................................... W W - - W W 318 59.87

 Southern....................................... W W W W W W 1,092 45.21

Wyoming ....................................... - - - - W W W W

 

U.S. Total...................................... 3,048 55.01 30 47.91 2,741 61.18 5,819 57.88  

1

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by continuous mining methods. 

2

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by conventional mining methods or mines that produce coal using shortwall, scoop loading, hand loading, or other 

methods or a 50/50 percent continuous conventional split in mining method. 

3

 Mines that have any production from the longwall mining method. A typical longwall mining operation uses 80 percent longwall mining and 20 percent continuous mining. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  Recoverable coal reserves at producing mines represent the quantity of coal that can be recovered (i.e. mined) from existing coal reserves at reporting mines. 

Average recovery percentage represents the percentage of coal that can be recovered from coal reserves at reporting mines, weighted for all mines in the reported geographic 

area. Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data and refuse recovery. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 39

Table 17. Recoverable Coal Reserves and Average Recovery Percentage at Producing U.S. Mines by Mine 

Production Range and Mine Type, 2008 

 (Million Short Tons) 

Underground Surface Total Mine Production Range 

(thousand short tons) Recoverable Coal 

Reserves 

Average Recovery 

Percentage 

Recoverable Coal 

Reserves 

Average Recovery 

Percentage 

Recoverable Coal 

Reserves 

Average Recovery 

Percentage 

Over 1,000 .................................................. 3,849 60.43 11,247 90.94 15,096 83.16

500 to 1,000................................................ 619 48.33 251 85.57 870 59.06

200 to 500 ................................................... 544 47.88 317 75.09 861 57.89

100 to 200 ................................................... 522 66.94 146 80.30 668 69.85

50 to 100 ..................................................... 161 47.10 28 78.63 189 51.76

10 to 50 ....................................................... 123 46.30 69 71.08 192 55.18

 

U.S. Total................................................... 5,819 57.88 12,057 90.14 17,875 79.64  

 Note:  Recoverable coal reserves at producing mines represent the quantity of coal that can be recovered (i.e. mined) from existing coal reserves at reporting mines. 

Average recovery percentage represents the percentage of coal that can be recovered from coal reserves at reporting mines, weighted for all mines in the reported geographic 

area. Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data and refuse recovery. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
40 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 41

Employment 
42 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 18. Average Number of Employees by State and Mine Type, 2008, 2007 

2008 2007 Percent Change Coal-Producing 

State and Region1

Underground Surface Total Underground Surface Total Underground Surface Total 

Alabama........................................ 2,748 1,522 4,270 2,458 1,392 3,850 11.8 9.3 10.9

Alaska ........................................... - 104 104 - 99 99 - 5.1 5.1

Arizona ......................................... - 419 419 - 430 430 - -2.6 -2.6

Arkansas ....................................... 91 2 93 85 2 87 7.1 - 6.9

Colorado ....................................... 1,759 526 2,285 1,729 520 2,249 1.7 1.2 1.6

Illinois........................................... 2,907 461 3,368 3,488 458 3,946 -16.7 0.7 -14.6

Indiana .......................................... 1,387 1,696 3,083 1,291 1,677 2,968 7.4 1.1 3.9

Kansas........................................... - 59 59 - 65 65 - -9.2 -9.2

Kentucky Total ............................. 11,981 6,925 18,906 11,146 5,840 16,986 7.5 18.6 11.3

 Eastern ........................................ 9,239 6,424 15,663 8,661 5,445 14,106 6.7 18.0 11.0

 Western....................................... 2,742 501 3,243 2,485 395 2,880 10.3 26.8 12.6

Louisiana ...................................... - 251 251 - 239 239 - 5.0 5.0

Maryland....................................... 136 265 401 131 244 375 3.8 8.6 6.9

Mississippi.................................... - 166 166 - 177 177 - -6.2 -6.2

Missouri........................................ - 12 12 - 14 14 - -14.3 -14.3

Montana........................................ 45 990 1,035 16 970 986 181.3 2.1 5.0

New Mexico ................................. 476 969 1,445 374 982 1,356 27.3 -1.3 6.6

North Dakota ................................ - 985 985 - 975 975 - 1.0 1.0

Ohio .............................................. 1,507 1,242 2,749 1,481 1,015 2,496 1.8 22.4 10.1

Oklahoma...................................... 49 147 196 84 153 237 -41.7 -3.9 -17.3

Pennsylvania Total ....................... 5,535 2,685 8,220 5,206 2,443 7,649 6.3 9.9 7.5

 Anthracite ................................... 204 725 929 192 718 910 6.3 1.0 2.1

 Bituminous ................................. 5,331 1,960 7,291 5,014 1,725 6,739 6.3 13.6 8.2

Tennessee...................................... 230 381 611 220 346 566 4.5 10.1 8.0

Texas............................................. - 2,326 2,326 - 2,216 2,216 - 5.0 5.0

Utah .............................................. 2,070 7 2,077 2,006 6 2,012 3.2 16.7 3.2

Virginia......................................... 3,364 1,433 4,797 3,363 1,400 4,763 * 2.4 0.7

West Virginia Total ...................... 15,043 6,991 22,034 13,441 6,608 20,049 11.9 5.8 9.9

 Northern...................................... 4,213 688 4,901 3,889 651 4,540 8.3 5.7 8.0

 Southern...................................... 10,830 6,303 17,133 9,552 5,957 15,509 13.4 5.8 10.5

Wyoming ...................................... 247 6,580 6,827 204 6,179 6,383 21.1 6.5 7.0

 

Appalachian Total ....................... 37,802 20,943 58,745 34,961 18,893 53,854 8.1 10.9 9.1

 Northern..................................... 11,391 4,880 16,271 10,707 4,353 15,060 6.4 12.1 8.0

 Central ....................................... 23,663 14,541 38,204 21,793 13,145 34,938 8.6 10.6 9.3

 Southern..................................... 2,748 1,522 4,270 2,461 1,395 3,856 11.7 9.1 10.7

Interior Total ............................... 7,176 5,621 12,797 7,433 5,396 12,829 -3.5 4.2 -0.2

 Illinois Basin.............................. 7,036 2,658 9,694 7,264 2,530 9,794 -3.1 5.1 -1.0

Western Total............................... 4,597 10,580 15,177 4,329 10,161 14,490 6.2 4.1 4.7

 Powder River Basin................... 22 6,815 6,837 - 6,399 6,399 - 6.5 6.8

 Uinta Region.............................. 3,763 497 4,260 3,668 497 4,165 2.6 - 2.3

 

East of Miss. River....................... 44,838 23,767 68,605 42,225 21,600 63,825 6.2 10.0 7.5

West of Miss. River...................... 4,737 13,377 18,114 4,498 12,850 17,348 5.3 4.1 4.4

 

 

U.S. Subtotal................................. 49,575 37,144 86,719 46,723 34,450 81,173 6.1 7.8 6.8

 

Refuse Recovery........................... - - 140 - - 105 - - 33.3

 

U.S. Total...................................... 49,575 37,144 86,859 46,723 34,450 81,278 6.1 7.8 6.9  

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

 * Absolute percentage less than 0.05. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Includes all employees engaged in production, preparation, processing, development, maintenance, repair shop, or yard work at mining operations, including office 

workers. Excludes preparation plants with less than 5,000 employee hours per year, which are not required to provide data. 

 Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 43

Table 19. Average Number of Employees at Underground and Surface Mines by State and Mine Production 

Range, 2008 

Mine Production Range 

Coal-Producing (thousand short tons) 

State, Region1

, and Mine Type 1,000 and 

Greater 500 to 1,000 200 to 500 100 to 200 50 to 100 10 to 50 Less Than 10 Zero2

Total Number 

of Employees

Alabama....................................................... 2,155 506 640 526 110 204 18 111 4,270

 Underground.............................................. 2,154 411 - 26 71 18 - 68 2,748

 Surface....................................................... 1 95 640 500 39 186 18 43 1,522

Alaska .......................................................... 104 - - - - - - - 104

 Surface....................................................... 104 - - - - - - - 104

Arizona ........................................................ 419 - - - - - - - 419

 Surface....................................................... 419 - - - - - - - 419

Arkansas...................................................... - - - - 91 - 2 - 93

 Underground.............................................. - - - - 91 - - - 91

 Surface....................................................... - - - - - - 2 - 2

Colorado ...................................................... 2,152 - 102 18 - 8 - 5 2,285

 Underground.............................................. 1,662 - 74 18 - - - 5 1,759

 Surface....................................................... 490 - 28 - - 8 - - 526

Illinois .......................................................... 3,009 112 67 27 24 2 - 127 3,368

 Underground.............................................. 2,712 79 - 27 - - - 89 2,907

 Surface....................................................... 297 33 67 - 24 2 - 38 461

Indiana......................................................... 2,493 268 160 28 27 30 12 65 3,083

 Underground.............................................. 1,280 70 - 6 - - - 31 1,387

 Surface....................................................... 1,213 198 160 22 27 30 12 34 1,696

Kansas.......................................................... - - - 39 - 10 - 10 59

 Surface....................................................... - - - 39 - 10 - 10 59

Kentucky Total ........................................... 4,339 3,703 3,229 2,425 1,318 1,466 468 1,958 18,906

 Underground.............................................. 3,551 2,355 1,561 1,340 855 855 225 1,239 11,981

 Surface....................................................... 788 1,348 1,668 1,085 463 611 243 719 6,925

 Eastern....................................................... 1,841 3,404 3,107 2,367 1,277 1,466 448 1,753 15,663

 Underground.............................................. 1,131 2,260 1,513 1,329 855 855 209 1,087 9,239

 Surface....................................................... 710 1,144 1,594 1,038 422 611 239 666 6,424

 Western...................................................... 2,498 299 122 58 41 - 20 205 3,243

 Underground.............................................. 2,420 95 48 11 - - 16 152 2,742

 Surface....................................................... 78 204 74 47 41 - 4 53 501

Louisiana ..................................................... 211 40 - - - - - - 251

 Surface....................................................... 211 40 - - - - - - 251

Maryland ..................................................... - 45 183 - 59 57 11 46 401

 Underground.............................................. - - 96 - - - - 40 136

 Surface....................................................... - 45 87 - 59 57 11 6 265

Mississippi ................................................... 166 - - - - - - - 166

 Surface....................................................... 166 - - - - - - - 166

Missouri ....................................................... - - - 9 3 - - - 12

 Surface....................................................... - - - 9 3 - - - 12

Montana....................................................... 979 - 11 45 - - - - 1,035

 Underground.............................................. - - - 45 - - - - 45

 Surface....................................................... 979 - 11 - - - - - 990

New Mexico ................................................. 1,445 - - - - - - - 1,445

 Underground.............................................. 476 - - - - - - - 476

 Surface....................................................... 969 - - - - - - - 969

North Dakota .............................................. 985 - - - - - - - 985

 Surface....................................................... 985 - - - - - - - 985

Ohio.............................................................. 1,316 401 486 141 82 125 53 145 2,749

 Underground.............................................. 1,177 - 221 29 - 9 8 63 1,507

 Surface....................................................... 139 401 265 112 82 116 45 82 1,242

Oklahoma .................................................... - - 117 77 - - 2 - 196

 Underground.............................................. - - 49 - - - - - 49

 Surface....................................................... - - 68 77 - - 2 - 147

Pennsylvania Total ..................................... 3,664 793 986 835 459 448 270 765 8,220

 Underground.............................................. 3,664 586 469 255 149 64 34 314 5,535

 Surface....................................................... - 207 517 580 310 384 236 451 2,685

 Anthracite.................................................. - - 31 99 83 194 121 401 929

 Underground.............................................. - - - 47 - 40 34 83 204

 Surface....................................................... - - 31 52 83 154 87 318 725

 Bituminous ................................................ 3,664 793 955 736 376 254 149 364 7,291

 Underground.............................................. 3,664 586 469 208 149 24 - 231 5,331

 Surface....................................................... - 207 486 528 227 230 149 133 1,960

Tennessee..................................................... - - 279 72 109 73 13 65 611

 Underground.............................................. - - 114 - 50 35 - 31 230

 Surface....................................................... - - 165 72 59 38 13 34 381

Texas ............................................................ 2,326 - - - - - - - 2,326

 Surface....................................................... 2,326 - - - - - - - 2,326

Utah.............................................................. 1,594 133 182 - - - - 168 2,077

 Underground.............................................. 1,594 133 182 - - - - 161 2,070

 

See footnotes at end of table. 
44 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Mine Production Range 

(thousand short tons) 

Table 19. Average Number of Employees at Underground and Surface Mines by State and Mine Production 

Range, 2008 (Continued) 

Coal-Producing 

State, Region 1

, and Mine Type 1,000 and 

Greater 500 to 1,000 200 to 500 100 to 200 50 to 100 10 to 50 Less Than 10 Zero 2

Total Number 

of Employees

Utah (continued)

 Surface....................................................... - - - - - - - 7 7

Virginia........................................................ 779 626 1,348 627 357 365 103 592 4,797

 Underground.............................................. 779 368 852 451 238 189 49 438 3,364

 Surface....................................................... - 258 496 176 119 176 54 154 1,433

West Virginia Total .................................... 9,223 3,473 3,909 1,715 617 616 172 2,309 22,034

 Underground.............................................. 5,498 2,308 3,131 1,451 575 428 103 1,549 15,043

 Surface....................................................... 3,725 1,165 778 264 42 188 69 760 6,991

 Northern .................................................... 3,541 410 348 150 30 91 20 311 4,901

 Underground.............................................. 3,214 370 290 81 - 48 10 200 4,213

 Surface....................................................... 327 40 58 69 30 43 10 111 688

 Southern .................................................... 5,682 3,063 3,561 1,565 587 525 152 1,998 17,133

 Underground.............................................. 2,284 1,938 2,841 1,370 575 380 93 1,349 10,830

 Surface....................................................... 3,398 1,125 720 195 12 145 59 649 6,303

Wyoming...................................................... 6,768 - 13 - - - 2 44 6,827

 Underground.............................................. 225 - - - - - - 22 247

 Surface....................................................... 6,543 - 13 - - - 2 22 6,580

 

Appalachian Total ...................................... 18,978 9,248 10,938 6,283 3,070 3,354 1,088 5,786 58,745

 Underground.............................................. 14,403 5,933 6,396 3,541 1,938 1,598 403 3,590 37,802

 Surface....................................................... 4,575 3,315 4,542 2,742 1,132 1,756 685 2,196 20,943

 Northern .................................................... 8,521 1,649 2,003 1,126 630 721 354 1,267 16,271

 Underground.............................................. 8,055 956 1,076 365 149 121 52 617 11,391

 Surface....................................................... 466 693 927 761 481 600 302 650 4,880

 Central ....................................................... 8,302 7,093 8,295 4,631 2,330 2,429 716 4,408 38,204

 Underground.............................................. 4,194 4,566 5,320 3,150 1,718 1,459 351 2,905 23,663

 Surface....................................................... 4,108 2,527 2,975 1,481 612 970 365 1,503 14,541

 Southern .................................................... 2,155 506 640 526 110 204 18 111 4,270

 Underground.............................................. 2,154 411 - 26 71 18 - 68 2,748

 Surface....................................................... 1 95 640 500 39 186 18 43 1,522

Interior Total .............................................. 10,703 719 466 238 186 42 36 407 12,797

 Underground.............................................. 6,412 244 97 44 91 - 16 272 7,176

 Surface....................................................... 4,291 475 369 194 95 42 20 135 5,621

 Illinois Basin.............................................. 8,000 679 349 113 92 32 32 397 9,694

 Underground.............................................. 6,412 244 48 44 - - 16 272 7,036

 Surface....................................................... 1,588 435 301 69 92 32 16 125 2,658

Western Total.............................................. 14,446 133 308 63 - 8 2 217 15,177

 Underground.............................................. 3,957 133 256 63 - - - 188 4,597

 Surface....................................................... 10,489 - 52 - - 8 2 29 10,580

 Powder River Basin.................................. 6,793 - - - - - - 44 6,837

 Underground.............................................. - - - - - - - 22 22

 Surface....................................................... 6,793 - - - - - - 22 6,815

 Uinta Region.............................................. 3,746 133 208 - - - - 173 4,260

 Underground.............................................. 3,256 133 208 - - - - 166 3,763

 Surface....................................................... 490 - - - - - - 7 497

 

East of Miss. River...................................... 27,144 9,927 11,287 6,396 3,162 3,386 1,120 6,183 68,605

 Underground.............................................. 20,815 6,177 6,444 3,585 1,938 1,598 419 3,862 44,838

 Surface....................................................... 6,329 3,750 4,843 2,811 1,224 1,788 701 2,321 23,767

West of Miss. River..................................... 16,983 173 425 188 94 18 6 227 18,114

 Underground.............................................. 3,957 133 305 63 91 - - 188 4,737

 Surface....................................................... 13,026 40 120 125 3 18 6 39 13,377

 

Subtotal........................................................ 44,127 10,100 11,712 6,584 3,256 3,404 1,126 6,410 86,719

 Underground.............................................. 24,772 6,310 6,749 3,648 2,029 1,598 419 4,050 49,575

 Surface....................................................... 19,355 3,790 4,963 2,936 1,227 1,806 707 2,360 37,144

 

Refuse Recovery.......................................... - - 6 21 23 62 28 - 140

 

U. S. Total..................................................... 44,127 10,100 11,718 6,605 3,279 3,466 1,154 6,410 86,859

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

2

 Includes all employees at preparation plants and tipples not co-located with a mine. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Includes all employees engaged in production, preparation, processing, development, maintenance, repair shop, or yard work at mining operations, including 

office workers. Excludes preparation plants with less than 5,000 employee hours per year, which are not required to provide data. 

 Source:  U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 45

Table 20. Average Number of Employees at Underground and Surface Mines by State and Union Status, 2008 

Union2 Nonunion2

Coal-Producing 

State and Region1

Underground Surface Underground Surface 

Alabama................................................ 2,606 32 142 1,494

Alaska ................................................... - 104 - -

Arizona ................................................. - 419 - -

Arkansas ............................................... - - 91 -

Colorado ............................................... 157 198 1,602 328

Illinois................................................... 735 38 2,172 437

Indiana .................................................. - - 1,387 1,690

Kansas................................................... - - - 59

Kentucky Total ..................................... 650 150 11,095 6,545

 Eastern ................................................ 206 150 8,824 6,059

 Western............................................... 444 - 2,271 486

Louisiana .............................................. - - - 251

Maryland............................................... - - 136 254

Mississippi............................................ - - - 166

Missouri................................................ - - - 12

Montana................................................ - 770 45 220

New Mexico ......................................... 476 649 - 320

North Dakota ........................................ - 279 - 706

Ohio ...................................................... 529 12 970 1,185

Oklahoma.............................................. - - 49 145

Pennsylvania Total ............................... 2,335 345 3,166 2,120

 Anthracite ........................................... 2 279 168 361

 Bituminous ......................................... 2,333 66 2,998 1,759

Tennessee.............................................. - - 230 368

Texas..................................................... - 1,449 - 877

Utah ...................................................... 712 - 1,358 7

Virginia................................................. 390 48 2,925 1,337

West Virginia Total .............................. 4,631 991 10,309 5,951

 Northern.............................................. 2,659 - 1,544 678

 Southern.............................................. 1,972 991 8,765 5,273

Wyoming .............................................. 225 525 22 6,053

Appalachian Total .............................. 10,697 1,578 26,702 18,768

 Northern............................................. 5,523 357 5,816 4,237

 Central ............................................... 2,568 1,189 20,744 13,037

 Southern............................................. 2,606 32 142 1,494

Interior Total ...................................... 1,179 1,487 5,970 4,123

 Illinois Basin...................................... 1,179 38 5,830 2,613

Western Total...................................... 1,570 2,944 3,027 7,634

 Powder River Basin........................... - 759 22 6,056

 Uinta Region...................................... 869 170 2,894 327

East of Miss. River.............................. 11,876 1,616 32,532 21,547

West of Miss. River............................. 1,570 4,393 3,167 8,978

U.S. Total............................................. 13,446 6,009 35,699 30,525  

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

2

 Includes all employees at preparation plants and tipples not co-located with a mine. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Includes all employees engaged in production, preparation, processing, development, maintenance, repair shop, or yard work at mining operations, including office 

workers. Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons and preparation plants with less than 5,000 employee hours per year, which are not required to provide data. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
46 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 47

Productivity 
48 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 21. Coal Mining Productivity by State and Mine Type, 2008, 2007 

Number of Mining Operations2 Number of Employees3

Average Production 

per Employee 

per Hour 

(short tons)4

Coal-Producing 

State, Region1

, and 

Mine Type 

2008 2007 Percent 

Change 2008 2007 Percent 

Change 2008 2007 Percent 

Change 

Alabama........................................ 73 61 19.7 4,270 3,850 10.9 2.03 2.23 -8.7

 Underground.............................. 13 13 - 2,748 2,458 11.8 1.87 2.08 -10.0

 Surface....................................... 60 48 25.0 1,522 1,392 9.3 2.34 2.49 -6.2

Alaska ........................................... 1 1 - 104 99 5.1 6.29 5.83 7.9

 Surface....................................... 1 1 - 104 99 5.1 6.29 5.83 7.9

Arizona ......................................... 1 1 - 419 430 -2.6 8.03 7.92 1.4

 Surface....................................... 1 1 - 419 430 -2.6 8.03 7.92 1.4

Arkansas....................................... 2 2 - 93 87 6.9 0.33 0.42 -22.4

 Underground.............................. 1 1 - 91 85 7.1 0.32 0.41 -22.2

 Surface....................................... 1 1 - 2 2 - 1.37 1.65 -17.3

Colorado ....................................... 13 13 - 2,285 2,249 1.6 6.58 7.51 -12.4

 Underground.............................. 9 9 - 1,759 1,729 1.7 6.43 7.36 -12.6

 Surface....................................... 4 4 - 526 520 1.2 7.10 8.05 -11.7

Illinois ........................................... 26 29 -10.3 3,368 3,946 -14.6 4.21 3.67 14.7

 Underground.............................. 15 19 -21.1 2,907 3,488 -16.7 4.03 3.48 15.6

 Surface....................................... 11 10 10.0 461 458 0.7 5.34 4.95 7.8

Indiana.......................................... 42 44 -4.5 3,083 2,968 3.9 4.51 4.55 -1.0

 Underground.............................. 12 15 -20.0 1,387 1,291 7.4 3.40 3.18 6.9

 Surface....................................... 30 29 3.4 1,696 1,677 1.1 5.42 5.60 -3.2

Kansas........................................... 3 3 - 59 65 -9.2 2.11 3.25 -35.2

 Surface....................................... 3 3 - 59 65 -9.2 2.11 3.25 -35.2

Kentucky Total ............................ 600 554 8.3 18,906 16,986 11.3 2.82 2.97 -5.0

 Underground.............................. 281 266 5.6 11,981 11,146 7.5 2.52 2.69 -6.4

 Surface....................................... 319 288 10.8 6,925 5,840 18.6 3.39 3.53 -4.0

 Eastern........................................ 564 521 8.3 15,663 14,106 11.0 2.61 2.75 -5.1

 Underground.............................. 262 251 4.4 9,239 8,661 6.7 2.15 2.31 -6.9

 Surface....................................... 302 270 11.9 6,424 5,445 18.0 3.28 3.45 -4.8

 Western....................................... 36 33 9.1 3,243 2,880 12.6 3.76 3.96 -5.2

 Underground.............................. 19 15 26.7 2,742 2,485 10.3 3.59 3.86 -6.8

 Surface....................................... 17 18 -5.6 501 395 26.8 4.95 4.83 2.4

Louisiana ...................................... 2 2 - 251 239 5.0 7.37 6.08 21.3

 Surface....................................... 2 2 - 251 239 5.0 7.37 6.08 21.3

Maryland ...................................... 24 22 9.1 401 375 6.9 3.17 2.80 13.2

 Underground.............................. 3 4 -25.0 136 131 3.8 2.39 2.09 14.4

 Surface....................................... 21 18 16.7 265 244 8.6 3.59 3.19 12.5

Mississippi .................................... 1 1 - 166 177 -6.2 8.51 9.99 -14.8

 Surface....................................... 1 1 - 166 177 -6.2 8.51 9.99 -14.8

Missouri ........................................ 2 2 - 12 14 -14.3 9.18 6.96 31.9

 Surface....................................... 2 2 - 12 14 -14.3 9.18 6.96 31.9

Montana........................................ 6 6 - 1,035 986 5.0 20.75 22.20 -6.6

 Underground.............................. 1 1 - 45 16 181.3 1.88 1.46 29.0

 Surface....................................... 5 5 - 990 970 2.1 21.56 22.55 -4.4

New Mexico .................................. 5 6 -16.7 1,445 1,356 6.6 8.72 9.03 -3.4

 Underground.............................. 1 2 -50.0 476 374 27.3 7.14 9.11 -21.6

 Surface....................................... 4 4 - 969 982 -1.3 9.51 9.00 5.7

North Dakota ............................... 4 5 -20.0 985 975 1.0 15.50 15.70 -1.3

 Surface....................................... 4 5 -20.0 985 975 1.0 15.50 15.70 -1.3

Ohio............................................... 63 73 -13.7 2,749 2,496 10.1 4.32 4.05 6.6

 Underground.............................. 18 21 -14.3 1,507 1,481 1.8 5.00 4.76 4.9

 Surface....................................... 45 52 -13.5 1,242 1,015 22.4 3.45 3.01 14.6

Oklahoma ..................................... 7 9 -22.2 196 237 -17.3 2.88 2.78 3.5

 Underground.............................. 1 2 -50.0 49 84 -41.7 3.47 2.65 30.9

 Surface....................................... 6 7 -14.3 147 153 -3.9 2.69 2.85 -5.7

Pennsylvania Total ...................... 361 349 3.4 8,220 7,649 7.5 3.53 3.73 -5.5

 Underground.............................. 90 82 9.8 5,535 5,206 6.3 4.09 4.39 -7.0

 Surface....................................... 271 267 1.5 2,685 2,443 9.9 2.20 2.20 0.2

 Anthracite................................... 120 120 - 929 910 2.1 0.91 0.89 2.8

 Underground.............................. 32 30 6.7 204 192 6.3 0.63 0.68 -6.8

 Surface....................................... 88 90 -2.2 725 718 1.0 0.99 0.94 5.2

 Bituminous ................................. 241 229 5.2 7,291 6,739 8.2 3.82 4.05 -5.7

 Underground.............................. 58 52 11.5 5,331 5,014 6.3 4.19 4.50 -6.8

 Surface....................................... 183 177 3.4 1,960 1,725 13.6 2.65 2.67 -0.8

Tennessee...................................... 34 28 21.4 611 566 8.0 1.87 2.10 -10.9

 Underground.............................. 9 9 - 230 220 4.5 1.65 1.92 -14.1

 Surface....................................... 25 19 31.6 381 346 10.1 2.01 2.21 -8.8

Texas ............................................. 11 11 - 2,326 2,216 5.0 7.84 8.82 -11.1

 Surface....................................... 11 11 - 2,326 2,216 5.0 7.84 8.82 -11.1

Utah............................................... 16 18 -11.1 2,077 2,012 3.2 5.84 5.79 0.8

 Underground.............................. 15 17 -11.8 2,070 2,006 3.2 5.86 5.81 0.8

 

See footnotes at end of table. 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 49

Table 21. Coal Mining Productivity by State and Mine Type, 2008, 2007 (Continued) 

Number of Mining Operations 2 Number of Employees 3

Average Production 

per Employee 

per Hour 

(short tons) 4

Coal-Producing 

State, Region 1

 , 

and Mine Type 

2008 2007 Percent 

Change 2008 2007 Percent 

Change 2008 2007 Percent 

Change 

Utah (continued) 

 Surface....................................... 1 1 - 7 6 16.7 - - -

Virginia......................................... 153 160 -4.4 4,797 4,763 0.7 2.29 2.47 -7.6

 Underground.............................. 87 94 -7.4 3,364 3,363 * 2.10 2.25 -6.5

 Surface....................................... 66 66 - 1,433 1,400 2.4 2.70 2.96 -8.8

West Virginia Total ..................... 438 418 4.8 22,034 20,049 9.9 3.06 3.32 -8.0

 Underground.............................. 260 239 8.8 15,043 13,441 11.9 2.58 2.82 -8.6

 Surface....................................... 178 179 -0.6 6,991 6,608 5.8 4.00 4.25 -5.9

 Northern ..................................... 64 65 -1.5 4,901 4,540 8.0 3.68 4.08 -9.8

 Underground.............................. 33 34 -2.9 4,213 3,889 8.3 3.54 4.05 -12.6

 Surface....................................... 31 31 - 688 651 5.7 4.57 4.26 7.2

 Southern ..................................... 374 353 5.9 17,133 15,509 10.5 2.88 3.10 -7.0

 Underground.............................. 227 205 10.7 10,830 9,552 13.4 2.20 2.30 -4.4

 Surface....................................... 147 148 -0.7 6,303 5,957 5.8 3.94 4.25 -7.2

Wyoming....................................... 22 21 4.8 6,827 6,383 7.0 32.18 33.30 -3.4

 Underground.............................. 2 1 100.0 247 204 21.1 6.87 6.47 6.1

 Surface....................................... 20 20 - 6,580 6,179 6.5 33.10 34.19 -3.2

 

Appalachian Total ....................... 1,710 1,632 4.8 58,745 53,854 9.1 2.91 3.10 -6.0

 Underground.............................. 742 713 4.1 37,802 34,961 8.1 2.70 2.91 -7.2

 Surface....................................... 968 919 5.3 20,943 18,893 10.9 3.30 3.44 -4.1

 Northern ..................................... 512 509 0.6 16,271 15,060 8.0 3.70 3.87 -4.4

 Underground.............................. 144 141 2.1 11,391 10,707 6.4 3.99 4.29 -7.1

 Surface....................................... 368 368 - 4,880 4,353 12.1 2.96 2.76 7.1

 Central ........................................ 1,125 1,060 6.1 38,204 34,938 9.3 2.68 2.86 -6.2

 Underground.............................. 585 558 4.8 23,663 21,793 8.6 2.16 2.29 -5.7

 Surface....................................... 540 502 7.6 14,541 13,145 10.6 3.50 3.74 -6.4

 Southern ..................................... 73 63 15.9 4,270 3,856 10.7 2.03 2.23 -8.6

 Underground.............................. 13 14 -7.1 2,748 2,461 11.7 1.87 2.08 -9.9

 Surface....................................... 60 49 22.4 1,522 1,395 9.1 2.34 2.49 -6.0

Interior Total ............................... 132 136 -2.9 12,797 12,829 -0.2 4.81 4.85 -0.9

 Underground.............................. 48 52 -7.7 7,176 7,433 -3.5 3.68 3.52 4.6

 Surface....................................... 84 84 - 5,621 5,396 4.2 6.38 6.76 -5.6

 Illinois Basin............................... 104 106 -1.9 9,694 9,794 -1.0 4.16 4.04 2.8

 Underground.............................. 46 49 -6.1 7,036 7,264 -3.1 3.72 3.56 4.5

 Surface....................................... 58 57 1.8 2,658 2,530 5.1 5.34 5.39 -1.0

Western Total............................... 68 71 -4.2 15,177 14,490 4.7 19.91 20.40 -2.4

 Underground.............................. 28 30 -6.7 4,597 4,329 6.2 6.23 6.73 -7.4

 Surface....................................... 40 41 -2.4 10,580 10,161 4.1 25.77 26.28 -2.0

 Powder River Basin................... 19 18 5.6 6,837 6,399 6.8 33.91 35.30 -3.9

 Underground.............................. 1 - - 22 - - - - -

 Surface....................................... 18 18 - 6,815 6,399 6.5 34.00 35.30 -3.7

 Uinta Region............................... 25 28 -10.7 4,260 4,165 2.3 6.30 6.76 -6.8

 Underground.............................. 22 24 -8.3 3,763 3,668 2.6 6.20 6.60 -6.0

 Surface....................................... 3 4 -25.0 497 497 - 7.01 7.97 -12.0

 

East of Miss. River....................... 1,815 1,739 4.4 68,605 63,825 7.5 3.11 3.27 -4.8

 Underground.............................. 788 762 3.4 44,838 42,225 6.2 2.87 3.03 -5.2

 Surface....................................... 1,027 977 5.1 23,767 21,600 10.0 3.57 3.73 -4.2

West of Miss. River...................... 95 100 -5.0 18,114 17,348 4.4 17.77 18.23 -2.5

 Underground.............................. 30 33 -9.1 4,737 4,498 5.3 6.07 6.52 -6.9

 Surface....................................... 65 67 -3.0 13,377 12,850 4.1 21.85 22.36 -2.2

 

Subtotal......................................... 1,910 1,839 3.9 86,719 81,173 6.8 5.96 6.27 -4.9

 Underground.............................. 818 795 2.9 49,575 46,723 6.1 3.15 3.34 -5.9

 Surface....................................... 1,092 1,044 4.6 37,144 34,450 7.8 9.82 10.25 -4.3

 

Refuse Recovery........................... 23 20 15.0 140 105 33.3 6.78 5.77 17.4

 

U.S  . Total...................................... 1,933 1,859 4.0 86,859 81,278 6.9 5.96 6.27 -4.9

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

2

 Mining operations that consist of a mine and preparation plant or preparation plant only processing both underground and surface coal are reported as two operations. 3

 Includes all employees engaged in production, preparation, processing, development, maintenance, repair shop, or yard work at mining operations, including office 

workers. 4

 Calculated by dividing total coal production by the total labor hours worked by all employees engaged in production, preparation, processing, development, maintenance, 

repair shop, or yard work at mining operations, including office workers. 

 * Absolute percentage less than 0.05. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Excludes preparation plants with less than 5,000 employee hours per year, which are not required to provide data. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 

7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
50 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Coal-Producing 

State and Region1 Other3

Table 22. Underground Coal Mining Productivity by State and Mining Method, 2008 

 (Short Tons Produced per Employee per Hour) 

Continuous2 Conventional and Longwall4 Total 

Alabama.................................................... 0.78 - 1.92 1.87

Arkansas ................................................... 0.32 - - 0.32

Colorado ................................................... 3.00 - 6.64 6.43

Illinois....................................................... 3.70 - 4.64 4.03

Indiana ...................................................... 3.49 - - 3.49

Kentucky Total ......................................... 2.52 2.73 2.73 2.53

 Eastern .................................................... 2.12 2.73 2.73 2.16

 Western................................................... 3.60 - - 3.60

Maryland................................................... 2.39 - - 2.39

Montana.................................................... 1.88 - - 1.88

New Mexico ............................................. - - 7.14 7.14

Ohio .......................................................... 3.65 - 5.77 5.02

Oklahoma.................................................. 3.47 - - 3.47

Pennsylvania Total ................................... 2.73 0.44 4.74 4.10

 Anthracite ............................................... 0.67 0.44 - 0.63

 Bituminous ............................................. 2.89 - 4.74 4.19

Tennessee.................................................. 1.65 - - 1.65

Utah .......................................................... 1.22 - 6.07 5.85

Virginia..................................................... 1.98 - 2.91 2.13

West Virginia Total .................................. 2.19 2.41 3.36 2.58

 Northern.................................................. 2.50 - 3.99 3.56

 Southern.................................................. 2.14 2.41 2.44 2.20

Wyoming .................................................. - - 6.87 6.87

Appalachian Total .................................. 2.20 2.52 3.62 2.71

 Northern................................................. 2.78 0.44 4.58 4.00

 Central ................................................... 2.11 2.64 2.55 2.17

 Southern................................................. 0.78 - 1.92 1.87

Interior Total .......................................... 3.56 - 4.64 3.70

 Illinois Basin.......................................... 3.60 - 4.64 3.74

Western Total.......................................... 2.13 - 6.46 6.23

 Powder River Basin............................... - - - -

 Uinta Region.......................................... 2.00 - 6.34 6.20

East of Miss. River.................................. 2.51 2.52 3.69 2.88

West of Miss. River................................. 1.88 - 6.46 6.07

U.S. Total................................................. 2.50 2.52 4.29 3.16  

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

2

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by continuous mining methods. 

3

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by conventional mining methods or mines that produce coal using shortwall, scoop loading, hand loading, or other 

methods or a 50/50 percent continuous conventional split in mining method. 

4

 Mines that have any production from longwall mining method. A typical longwall mining operation uses 80 percent longwall mining and 20 percent continuous mining. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  For each State, stand alone preparation plant hours are distributed across mining methods by the proportion of production for all stand alone mines. Productivity is 

calculated by dividing total coal production by the total direct labor hours worked by all employees engaged in production, preparation, processing, development, maintenance, 

repair shop, or yard work at mining operations, including office workers. Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons of coal and preparation plants with less than 

5,000 employee hours during the year, which are not required to provide data. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 51

Table 23. Coal Mining Productivity by State, Mine Type, and Mine Production Range, 2008 

 (Short Tons Coal Produced per Employee per Hour) 

Mine Production Range 

(Thousand Short Tons) Coal-Producing 

State, Region1

, 

and Mine Type 1,000 and 

Greater 500 to 1,000 200 to 500 100 to 200 50 to 100 10 to 50 Less Than 10 

Total2

Alabama....................................................... 2.15 1.29 2.51 2.52 0.83 1.25 2.62 2.03

 Underground.............................................. 2.15 0.99 - 2.20 0.42 0.64 - 1.87

 Surface....................................................... - 2.41 2.51 2.54 1.76 1.32 2.62 2.34

Alaska .......................................................... 6.29 - - - - - - 6.29

 Surface....................................................... 6.29 - - - - - - 6.29

Arizona ........................................................ 8.03 - - - - - - 8.03

 Surface....................................................... 8.03 - - - - - - 8.03

Arkansas...................................................... - - - - 0.32 - 1.37 0.33

 Underground.............................................. - - - - 0.32 - - 0.32

 Surface....................................................... - - - - - - 1.37 1.37

Colorado ...................................................... 6.76 - 3.93 3.61 - 4.13 - 6.58

 Underground.............................................. 6.66 - 2.88 3.61 - - - 6.43

 Surface....................................................... 7.10 - 7.45 - - 4.13 - 7.10

Illinois .......................................................... 4.36 4.85 4.99 2.85 1.90 11.06 - 4.21

 Underground.............................................. 4.18 3.48 - 2.85 - - - 4.03

 Surface....................................................... 5.87 8.40 4.99 - 1.90 11.06 - 5.34

Indiana......................................................... 4.51 4.90 6.00 1.73 4.42 1.52 0.23 4.51

 Underground.............................................. 3.43 3.97 - - - - - 3.40

 Surface....................................................... 5.63 5.20 6.00 2.27 4.42 1.52 0.23 5.42

Kansas.......................................................... - - - 1.98 - 5.78 - 2.11

 Surface....................................................... - - - 1.98 - 5.78 - 2.11

Kentucky Total ........................................... 3.96 3.13 3.08 2.57 2.27 1.87 0.81 2.82

 Underground.............................................. 3.64 2.49 2.62 2.19 1.96 1.40 0.50 2.52

 Surface....................................................... 5.31 4.27 3.54 3.04 2.91 2.49 1.13 3.39

 Eastern....................................................... 3.95 3.03 3.03 2.59 2.22 1.87 0.82 2.61

 Underground.............................................. 3.12 2.49 2.60 2.21 1.96 1.40 0.52 2.15

 Surface....................................................... 5.20 4.09 3.46 3.06 2.79 2.49 1.10 3.28

 Western...................................................... 3.97 4.47 4.53 1.77 4.65 - 0.68 3.76

 Underground.............................................. 3.89 2.45 3.33 - - - 0.30 3.59

 Surface....................................................... 6.31 5.69 5.38 2.54 4.65 - 6.22 4.95

Louisiana ..................................................... 7.39 7.27 - - - - - 7.37

 Surface....................................................... 7.39 7.27 - - - - - 7.37

Maryland ..................................................... - 6.07 3.64 - 2.94 2.21 1.57 3.17

 Underground.............................................. - - 3.44 - - - - 2.39

 Surface....................................................... - 6.07 3.82 - 2.94 2.21 1.57 3.59

Mississippi ................................................... 8.51 - - - - - - 8.51

 Surface....................................................... 8.51 - - - - - - 8.51

Missouri ....................................................... - - - 8.64 11.26 - - 9.18

 Surface....................................................... - - - 8.64 11.26 - - 9.18

Montana....................................................... 21.65 - 14.55 1.88 - - - 20.75

 Underground.............................................. - - - 1.88 - - - 1.88

 Surface....................................................... 21.65 - 14.55 - - - - 21.56

New Mexico ................................................. 8.72 - - - - - - 8.72

 Underground.............................................. 7.14 - - - - - - 7.14

 Surface....................................................... 9.51 - - - - - - 9.51

North Dakota .............................................. 15.50 - - - - - - 15.50

 Surface....................................................... 15.50 - - - - - - 15.50

Ohio.............................................................. 5.48 4.06 3.63 2.94 1.80 1.92 1.53 4.32

 Underground.............................................. 5.64 - 3.33 2.62 - 2.40 1.36 5.00

 Surface....................................................... 4.25 4.06 3.89 2.98 1.80 1.83 1.56 3.45

Oklahoma .................................................... - - 3.28 2.44 - - 0.20 2.88

 Underground.............................................. - - 3.47 - - - - 3.47

 Surface....................................................... - - 3.12 2.44 - - 0.20 2.69

Pennsylvania Total ..................................... 4.84 3.37 3.47 2.08 2.37 2.12 1.22 3.53

 Underground.............................................. 4.84 3.35 3.60 1.70 1.84 1.15 0.53 4.09

 Surface....................................................... - 3.44 3.36 2.25 2.58 2.24 1.36 2.20

 Anthracite.................................................. - - 4.73 1.27 2.06 1.42 0.74 0.91

 Underground.............................................. - - - 1.38 - 1.06 0.53 0.63

 Surface....................................................... - - 4.73 1.16 2.06 1.50 0.82 0.99

 Bituminous ................................................ 4.84 3.37 3.43 2.18 2.45 2.77 1.91 3.82

 Underground.............................................. 4.84 3.35 3.60 1.77 1.84 1.61 - 4.19

 Surface....................................................... - 3.44 3.27 2.35 2.80 2.81 1.91 2.65

Tennessee..................................................... - - 2.22 1.91 2.18 1.83 0.46 1.87

 Underground.............................................. - - 2.38 - 1.51 0.71 - 1.65

 Surface....................................................... - - 2.12 1.91 2.77 3.00 0.46 2.01

Texas ............................................................ 7.84 - - - - - - 7.84

 Surface....................................................... 7.84 - - - - - - 7.84

Utah.............................................................. 6.84 4.89 1.47 - - - - 5.84

 Underground.............................................. 6.84 4.89 1.47 - - - - 5.86

 

See footnotes at end of table. 
52 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 23. Coal Mining Productivity by State, Mine Type, and Mine Production Range, 2008 (Continued) 

 (Short Tons Coal Produced per Employee per Hour) 

Mine Production Range 

(Thousand Short Tons) Coal-Producing 

State, Region 1

, 

and Mine Type 1,000 and 

Greater 500 to 1,000 200 to 500 100 to 200 50 to 100 10 to 50 Less Than 10 

Total 2

Utah (continued)

 Surface....................................................... - - - - - - - -

Virginia........................................................ 2.86 3.42 2.69 2.12 2.25 1.34 0.93 2.29

 Underground.............................................. 2.86 2.85 2.41 1.90 2.19 1.23 0.76 2.10

 Surface....................................................... - 4.14 3.13 2.57 2.34 1.48 1.13 2.70

West Virginia Total .................................... 4.13 3.13 2.87 1.97 1.71 1.26 0.87 3.06

 Underground.............................................. 3.64 2.53 2.55 1.75 1.67 0.92 1.21 2.58

 Surface....................................................... 4.82 4.24 4.00 3.21 2.11 1.91 0.68 4.00

 Northern .................................................... 4.04 3.68 3.52 3.48 2.05 1.38 1.13 3.68

 Underground.............................................. 3.87 3.05 2.82 3.21 - 0.46 1.23 3.54

 Surface....................................................... 5.75 7.99 6.37 3.86 2.05 1.99 1.09 4.57

 Southern .................................................... 4.18 3.06 2.81 1.86 1.69 1.24 0.82 2.88

 Underground.............................................. 3.34 2.44 2.52 1.68 1.67 0.97 1.21 2.20

 Surface....................................................... 4.74 4.09 3.81 3.07 2.22 1.89 0.59 3.94

Wyoming...................................................... 32.41 - 8.74 - - - 0.21 32.18

 Underground.............................................. 7.45 - - - - - - 6.87

 Surface....................................................... 33.25 - 8.74 - - - 0.21 33.10

 

Appalachian Total ...................................... 4.07 3.08 2.95 2.30 2.10 1.69 1.00 2.91

 Underground.............................................. 3.80 2.50 2.66 1.94 1.82 1.20 0.68 2.70

 Surface....................................................... 4.86 4.08 3.35 2.74 2.58 2.09 1.16 3.30

 Northern .................................................... 4.61 3.70 3.53 2.34 2.40 2.01 1.25 3.70

 Underground.............................................. 4.57 3.24 3.33 2.03 1.84 1.06 0.66 3.99

 Surface....................................................... 5.28 4.28 3.76 2.48 2.56 2.17 1.37 2.96

 Central ....................................................... 4.02 3.08 2.85 2.26 2.09 1.60 0.82 2.68

 Underground.............................................. 3.20 2.49 2.53 1.93 1.89 1.22 0.69 2.16

 Surface....................................................... 4.82 4.09 3.42 2.94 2.65 2.21 0.93 3.50

 Southern .................................................... 2.15 1.29 2.51 2.52 0.83 1.25 2.62 2.03

 Underground.............................................. 2.15 0.99 - 2.20 0.42 0.64 - 1.87

 Surface....................................................... - 2.41 2.51 2.54 1.76 1.32 2.62 2.34

Interior Total .............................................. 5.07 4.84 4.83 2.49 1.72 3.36 0.48 4.81

 Underground.............................................. 3.91 3.21 3.40 1.85 0.32 - 0.30 3.68

 Surface....................................................... 6.95 5.76 5.21 2.65 3.89 3.36 0.63 6.38

 Illinois Basin.............................................. 4.28 4.72 5.36 2.12 3.58 2.46 0.50 4.16

 Underground.............................................. 3.91 3.21 3.33 1.85 - - 0.30 3.72

 Surface....................................................... 5.70 5.65 5.66 2.41 3.58 2.46 0.77 5.34

Western Total.............................................. 20.68 4.89 3.30 2.44 - 4.13 0.21 19.91

 Underground.............................................. 6.84 4.89 1.98 2.44 - - - 6.23

 Surface....................................................... 25.91 - 9.40 - - 4.13 0.21 25.77

 Powder River Basin.................................. 34.10 - - - - - - 33.91

 Underground.............................................. - - - - - - - -

 Surface....................................................... 34.10 - - - - - - 34.00

 Uinta Region.............................................. 6.79 4.89 1.95 - - - - 6.30

 Underground.............................................. 6.75 4.89 1.95 - - - - 6.20

 Surface....................................................... 7.10 - - - - - - 7.01

 

East of Miss. River...................................... 4.15 3.19 3.03 2.30 2.14 1.69 0.99 3.11

 Underground.............................................. 3.83 2.53 2.66 1.94 1.82 1.20 0.66 2.87

 Surface....................................................... 5.15 4.24 3.49 2.73 2.64 2.09 1.15 3.57

West of Miss. River..................................... 18.73 5.57 3.30 2.64 0.60 5.15 0.39 17.77

 Underground.............................................. 6.84 4.89 2.28 2.44 0.32 - - 6.07

 Surface....................................................... 22.35 7.27 5.68 2.71 11.26 5.15 0.39 21.85

 

Subtotal........................................................ 9.23 3.22 3.04 2.31 2.08 1.70 0.98 5.96

 Underground.............................................. 4.26 2.56 2.65 1.95 1.73 1.20 0.66 3.15

 Surface....................................................... 15.94 4.27 3.54 2.73 2.66 2.11 1.14 9.82

 

Refuse Recovery.......................................... - - 22.76 12.49 6.27 2.59 0.91 6.78

 

U. S. Total..................................................... 9.23 3.22 3.04 2.34 2.12 1.72 0.98 5.96

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

2

 Includes all employees at preparation plants and tipples not co-located with a mine. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Productivity is calculated by dividing total coal production by the total labor hours worked by all employees engaged in production, preparation, processing, 

development, maintenance, repair shop, or yard work at mining operations, including office workers. Excludes preparation plants with less than 5,000 employee hours during 

the year, which are not required to provide data. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 

7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 53

Table 24. Coal Mining Productivity by State, Mine Type, and Union Status, 2008 

 (Short Tons Produced per Employee per Hour) 

Union Nonunion Coal-Producing 

State and Region1

Underground Surface Underground Surface 

Alabama................................................ 1.93 3.29 0.70 2.32

Alaska ................................................... - 6.29 - -

Arizona ................................................. - 8.03 - -

Arkansas ............................................... - - 0.32 -

Colorado ............................................... 6.09 6.59 6.46 7.43

Illinois................................................... 3.07 - 4.33 5.76

Indiana .................................................. - - 3.40 5.43

Kansas................................................... - - - 2.11

Kentucky Total ..................................... 3.01 3.32 2.50 3.41

 Eastern ................................................ 1.52 3.32 2.17 3.31

 Western............................................... 3.70 - 3.58 4.95

Louisiana .............................................. - - - 7.37

Maryland............................................... - - 2.39 3.65

Mississippi............................................ - - - 8.51

Missouri................................................ - - - 9.18

Montana................................................ - 16.59 1.88 38.91

New Mexico ......................................... 7.14 8.87 - 10.93

North Dakota ........................................ - 14.81 - 15.75

Ohio ...................................................... 4.83 - 5.09 3.51

Oklahoma.............................................. - - 3.47 2.72

Pennsylvania Total ............................... 3.80 0.90 4.32 2.46

 Anthracite ........................................... - 0.62 0.64 1.29

 Bituminous ......................................... 3.80 2.10 4.50 2.69

Tennessee.............................................. - - 1.65 2.03

Texas..................................................... - 7.50 - 8.39

Utah ...................................................... 4.44 - 6.53 -

Virginia................................................. 1.40 - 2.20 2.79

West Virginia Total .............................. 2.83 3.50 2.46 4.10

 Northern.............................................. 3.88 - 2.89 4.61

 Southern.............................................. 1.43 3.50 2.39 4.04

Wyoming .............................................. 7.45 6.96 - 35.17

Appalachian Total .............................. 2.84 2.83 2.65 3.37

 Northern............................................. 3.93 0.86 4.05 3.18

 Central ............................................... 1.43 3.36 2.26 3.54

 Southern............................................. 1.93 3.29 0.70 2.32

Interior Total ...................................... 3.31 7.32 3.75 6.08

 Illinois Basin...................................... 3.31 - 3.80 5.41

Western Total...................................... 5.93 10.67 6.39 31.51

 Powder River Basin........................... - 16.62 - 36.12

 Uinta Region...................................... 4.77 6.46 6.59 7.31

East of Miss. River.............................. 2.89 2.77 2.87 3.66

West of Miss. River............................. 5.93 9.61 6.14 27.81

U.S. Total............................................. 3.19 7.62 3.14 10.30  

1

 For a definition of coal producing regions, see Glossary. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Productivity is calculated by dividing total coal production by the total direct labor hours worked by all employees engaged in production, preparation, processing, 

development, maintenance, repair shop, or yard work at mining operations, including office workers. Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons of coal and 

preparation plants with less than 5,000 employee hours during the year, which are not required to provide data. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
54 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 55

Domestic Markets 
56 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 25. Coal Consumers in the Manufacturing and Coke Sectors, 2008 

Company Name Plant Location 

Top Ten Manufacturers

Alcoa Inc (Aluminum Company of America) (IN)

Archer Daniels Midland (IA)(IL)(MN)(ND)(NE)

Carmeuse Lime Inc (AL)(IL)(IN)(KY)(MI)(OH)(PA)

Dakota Gasification Company (ND)

Eastman Chemical Company (TN)

Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP (AL)(GA)(OK)(VA)(WI)

International Paper Co (AL)(FL)(GA)(LA)(NC)(SC)(VA)

Lafarge North America (AL)(IA)(IL)(KS)(MI)(MO)(NY)(OK)(PA)(SC)(WA)

NewPage Corporation (MD)(MI)(SC)(WI)

U. S. Steel Corp. (AL)(IN)(MI)

Other Major Manufacturers

Amalgamated Sugar Co, LLC (ID)

American Crystal Sugar Co (MN)(ND)

Ash Grove Cement Co (AR)(KS)(MT)(NE)(UT)

Blue Ridge Paper Prod Inc (NC)

Bowater Newsprint (AL)(TN)

Buzzi Unicem USA (IL)(IN)(KS)(MO)(OK)(TX)

California Portland Cement Co. (AZ)(CA)

Cargill Incorporated (AL)(GA)(IA)(MI)(NC)(NY)(OH)(TN)

Celanese Ltd (TX)

Cemex Inc (CO)(KY)(PA)(TN)

Central Power & Lime Inc (FL)

Corn Products International (IL)(NC)

Duke Energy Generating Services (VA)

E I du Pont de Nemours & Co (MS)(NC)(TN)(WV)

ESSROC Materials Inc (IN)(MD)(PA)

Eastman Kodak Company (NY)

FMC Corporation (WY)

General Chemical Corporation (WY)

Holcim (US) Inc (AL)(CO)(IA)(MD)(MI)(MS)(NY)(SC)(UT)

Kennecott Utah Copper (UT)

Lehigh Cement Co (AL)(IA)(IN)(MD)(PA)

Meadwestvaco Corporation (VA)

Mittal Steel USA (IN)

PPG Industries Inc (WV)

Searles Valley Minerals (CA)

Severstal Sparrows Point LLC (IN)(MD)

Silver Bay Power Company (MN)

Smurfit Stone Container Corp (FL)(MI)(SC)(VA)

TXI Operations, LP (TX)

Tate and Lyle Ingredients Americas Inc (IL)(IN)(TN)

Top Ten Coke Producers

AK Steel Corp (KY)(OH)

DTE Energy Services (AL)

Drummond Company Inc (MI)

Koppers Industries (PA)

Mittal Steel USA (IN)(OH)

Mountain State Carbon (WV)

Shenago Inc. (PA)

Sloss Industries Corp. (AL)

SunCoke Company (IN)(OH)(PA)

United States Steel Corporation (IL)(IN)(PA)  

 - = No data are reported. 

 Note:  Major manufactures are the top 40 coal consumers in the manufacturing sector. Major coke producers are the top 10 coal consumers in the coke plant sector. 

Manufacturers and coke producers are listed in alphabetical order. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration, Manufacturers: Form EIA-3, "Quarterly Coal Consumption and Quality Report, Manufacturing and 

Transformation/Processing Coal Plants and Commercial and Institutional Coal Users;" and, Coke Plants: Form EIA-5, "Quarterly Coal Consumption and Quality Report, Coke 

Plants." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 57

Table 26. U.S. Coal Consumption by End Use Sector, by Census Division and State, 2008, 2007 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

2008 2007 Total 

Census Division 

and State Electric 

Power1

Other 

Industrial Coke 

Commercial

and 

Institutional

Electric 

Power 1

Other 

Industrial Coke 

Commercial 

and 

Institutional 

2008 2007 Percent 

Change 

New England ........................ 8,410 W - - 8,818 197 - 36 W 9,051 W

 Connecticut......................... 2,221 - - - 1,936 - - 3 2,221 1,939 14.5

 Maine.................................. 127 W - - 136 W - 3 W W -9.4

 Massachusetts..................... 4,581 W - - 5,120 W - 24 W W -10.8

 New Hampshire.................. 1,481 - - - 1,625 - - 3 1,481 1,629 -9.1

 Rhode Island....................... - - - - - - - 2 - 2 -100.0

 Vermont.............................. - - - - - - - 1 - 1 -100.0

Middle Atlantic .................... 67,045 3,573 W W 69,995 3,645 W 852 77,648 W W

 New Jersey.......................... 4,165 - - - 4,669 - - 3 4,165 4,672 -10.8

 New York ........................... 8,885 933 W W 9,613 1,020 W 132 10,156 W W

 Pennsylvania....................... 53,995 2,640 W 200 55,712 2,625 W 717 W W -3.6

East North Central .............. 238,693 14,006 10,228 W 237,049 14,715 10,486 707 W 262,957 W

 Illinois................................. 57,368 3,614 W 206 56,488 3,673 W 162 W W 1.4

 Indiana ................................ 61,171 5,220 W 336 60,756 5,662 6,126 175 W 72,719 W

 Michigan............................. 36,476 1,660 W W 36,574 1,744 W 173 39,866 W W

 Ohio .................................... 58,953 1,830 W 238 59,452 1,874 W 142 W W -0.4

 Wisconsin ........................... 24,725 1,682 - 177 23,780 1,762 - 56 26,583 25,598 3.8

West North Central ............. 149,436 12,403 - 617 147,667 12,829 - W 162,457 W W

 Iowa .................................... 24,734 2,903 - 253 23,019 3,009 - 323 27,890 26,351 5.8

 Kansas................................. 21,616 W - - 22,780 241 - - W 23,020 W

 Minnesota ........................... 18,763 1,359 - W 19,178 1,354 - 64 W 20,596 W

 Missouri.............................. 43,711 993 - W 44,094 1,086 - 196 W 45,376 W

 Nebraska ............................. 13,360 415 - - 12,267 427 - 5 13,775 12,700 8.5

 North Dakota ...................... 24,893 W - 102 24,639 W - 262 W W 0.1

 South Dakota ...................... 2,359 W - W 1,691 W - W 2,562 1,964 30.5

South Atlantic ...................... 179,898 W W 392 185,881 W W W 191,895 198,209 -3.2

 Delaware............................. 2,391 W - - 2,462 W - 1 W W -3.5

 District of Columbia........... - - - W - - - W W W -23.4

 Florida................................. 28,077 1,073 - - 28,826 1,099 - 1 29,150 29,925 -2.6

 Georgia ............................... 39,296 1,441 - W 40,803 1,512 - 2 W 42,317 W

 Maryland............................. 11,065 1,174 - W 11,884 1,221 - 36 W 13,142 W

 North Carolina.................... 31,116 1,066 - 247 32,412 1,148 - 45 32,428 33,606 -3.5

 South Carolina.................... 16,879 1,149 - W 16,524 1,270 - s W 17,794 W

 Virginia............................... 13,368 1,991 W 74 14,913 1,941 W 83 W W -8.4

 West Virginia...................... 37,706 933 W - 38,056 1,093 W 66 W W -1.4

East South Central .............. 114,165 W W 145 115,540 W W 207 122,734 124,550 -1.5

 Alabama.............................. 35,845 1,723 W - 37,233 1,705 W 1 W W -3.5

 Kentucky............................. 42,191 1,249 W 54 41,064 1,347 W 136 W W 1.8

 Mississippi.......................... 9,497 W - - 9,895 W - - W W -4.1

 Tennessee............................ 26,632 2,938 - 91 27,348 2,993 - 71 29,661 30,413 -2.5

West South Central ............. 155,812 W - W 154,545 W - 1 158,808 W W

 Arkansas ............................. 15,678 388 - - 15,629 397 - 1 16,067 16,028 0.2

 Louisiana ............................ 16,337 W - - 15,453 W - s W W 5.7

 Oklahoma............................ 21,957 713 - - 20,547 747 - s 22,670 21,295 6.5

 Texas................................... 101,840 1,805 - W 102,916 1,868 - s W 104,784 W

Mountain .............................. 116,718 4,282 - W 115,235 4,444 - 145 W 119,824 W

 Arizona ............................... 22,658 628 - - 21,189 712 - 1 23,285 21,903 6.3

 Colorado ............................. 18,962 W - W 19,533 W - W 19,479 19,779 -1.5

 Idaho ................................... - 423 - W - 459 - 45 W 504 W

 Montana.............................. 12,012 W - W 11,929 W - W 12,113 12,041 0.6

 Nevada................................ 3,878 W - - 3,447 W - s W W 11.7

 New Mexico ....................... 15,398 W - - 15,959 W - 4 W W -3.6

 Utah .................................... 16,927 872 - - 16,593 911 - 23 17,799 17,526 1.6

 Wyoming ............................ 26,885 1,761 - W 26,585 1,738 - 59 W 28,382 W

Pacific.................................... 10,403 2,003 - W 10,412 2,123 - W W W -0.4

 Alaska ................................. 427 W - W 414 2 - W W W 9.9

 California............................ 993 1,688 - - 961 1,818 - - 2,680 2,779 -3.5

 Hawaii................................. 838 W - - 778 W - - W W 10.2

 Oregon ................................ 2,382 W - - 2,577 W - - W W -8.3

 Washington......................... 5,763 W - - 5,681 W - s W W 1.6

U.S. Total.............................. 1,040,580 54,393 22,070 3,506 1,045,141 56,615 22,715 3,526 1,120,548 1,127,998 -0.7    

1

 The electric power sector (electric utilities and independent power producers) comprises electricity-only and combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plants whose primary business 

is to sell electricity, or electricity and heat, to the public -- i.e. NAICS 22 plants 

 s Value is less than 0.05 of the table metric, but value is included in any associated total. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  Totals may not equal sum of components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, "Power Plant Report," Form EIA-923 “Power Plant Operations Report,” Form EIA-3, "Quarterly Coal 

Consumption and Quality Report, Manufacturing and Transformation/Processing Coal Plants and Commercial and Institutional Coal Users," Form EIA-5, "Quarterly Coal 

Consumption and Quality Report, Coke Plants," Form EIA-6A, "Coal Distribution Report," Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and, Form EIA-920, "Combined Heat and 

Power Plant Report." 
58 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 27. Year-End Coal Stocks by Sector, by Census Division and State, 2008, 2007 

 (Thousand Short Tons) 

2008 2007 Total 

Census Division 

and State Electric 

Power1

Other 

Industrial Coke 

Commercial

and 

Institutional

Producer 

and 

Distributor

Electric 

Power 1

Other 

Industrial Coke 

Commercial 

and 

Institutional 

Producer 

and 

Distributor

2008 2007 Percent 

Change 

New England .................. 1,047 W - - - W 39 - - - W W W

 Connecticut................... W - - - - W - - - - W W W

 Maine............................ - W - - - - W - - - W W W

 Massachusetts............... 493 W - - - 500 W - - - W W W

 New Hampshire............ W - - - - W - - - - W W W

 Rhode Island................. - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 Vermont........................ - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Middle Atlantic .............. 7,155 455 W W 2,770 5,147 389 W - 2,558 11,128 W W

 New Jersey.................... 1,151 - - - - 560 - - - - 1,151 560 105.6

 New York ..................... 1,112 276 W W - 944 226 W - - 1,420 W W

 Pennsylvania................. 4,892 179 W 42 2,770 3,643 163 W - 2,558 W W 24.6

East North Central ........ 38,885 1,743 1,294 W 3,353 39,382 1,632 1,186 - 1,556 W 43,755 W

 Illinois........................... 9,872 197 W 40 1,105 9,812 208 W - 523 W W 6.3

 Indiana .......................... 9,222 583 W 57 800 8,756 344 478 - 804 W 10,383 W

 Michigan....................... 7,674 524 W W 662 8,853 635 W - - 9,276 W W

 Ohio .............................. 7,397 122 W 29 387 7,197 110 W - 229 W W 5.5

 Wisconsin ..................... 4,721 317 - 8 399 4,764 334 - - - 5,445 5,098 6.8

West North Central ....... 29,305 1,414 - 88 1,968 26,827 1,267 - - 1,806 32,775 29,900 9.6

 Iowa .............................. 6,131 608 - 49 149 5,234 605 - - - 6,937 5,840 18.8

 Kansas........................... 4,256 W - - - 4,363 28 - - 2 W 4,393 W

 Minnesota ..................... 3,429 201 - W 114 3,278 202 - - - W 3,481 W

 Missouri........................ 9,791 146 - W 4 9,014 98 - - 2 W 9,114 W

 Nebraska ....................... 3,822 266 - - - 3,059 263 - - - 4,088 3,321 23.1

 North Dakota ................ W W - 5 1,701 W W - - 1,803 W W W

 South Dakota ................ W W - W - W W - - - W W W

South Atlantic ................ 26,853 W W 85 7,749 28,221 W W - 5,218 35,674 34,279 4.1

 Delaware....................... W W - - - W W - - - W W -6.7

 District of Columbia..... - - - W - - - - - - W - W

 Florida........................... 4,768 114 - - - 4,045 131 - - - 4,882 4,177 16.9

 Georgia ......................... 6,948 123 - W - 7,259 145 - - - W 7,403 W

 Maryland....................... W 82 - W 428 W 67 - - 168 W W W

 North Carolina.............. 4,769 97 - 31 - 5,285 73 - - - 4,896 5,358 -8.6

 South Carolina.............. 2,652 194 - W - 3,965 134 - - - W 4,099 W

 Virginia......................... 1,915 129 - 33 1,415 1,524 120 - - 854 3,492 2,499 39.7

 West Virginia................ 4,262 90 W - 5,905 4,283 73 W - 4,196 W W 20.3

East South Central ........ 14,948 W W 24 4,384 12,585 W W - 6,371 19,907 19,473 2.2

 Alabama........................ 4,537 144 W - 1,411 4,355 109 W - 929 W W 13.6

 Kentucky....................... 5,986 75 W 20 2,345 4,953 82 W - 4,587 W W -12.3

 Mississippi.................... 1,136 W - - 626 831 W - - 804 W W 8.4

 Tennessee...................... 3,288 116 - 4 2 2,447 171 - - 51 3,411 2,669 27.8

West South Central ....... 25,843 W - W 808 23,144 W - - 2,675 27,176 W W

 Arkansas ....................... 2,337 37 - - 1 2,543 60 - - - 2,375 2,603 -8.8

 Louisiana ...................... 2,266 W - - 386 2,927 W - - 575 W W -24.0

 Oklahoma...................... 4,694 267 - - - 4,186 121 - - - 4,961 4,308 15.2

 Texas............................. 16,546 192 - W 421 13,488 220 - - 2,100 W 15,808 W

Mountain ........................ 15,837 384 - W 13,514 13,631 524 - - 13,588 W 27,743 W

 Arizona ......................... 3,159 72 - - 1,037 2,707 80 - - 970 4,269 3,757 13.6

 Colorado ....................... 2,739 W - W 874 2,829 W - - 1,762 3,663 W W

 Idaho ............................. - 113 - W - - 225 - - - W 225 W

 Montana........................ W W - W 556 W W - - 719 W W W

 Nevada.......................... 872 W - - - 932 W - - - W W -7.8

 New Mexico ................. W W - - 7,658 W W - - 5,284 W W 40.5

 Utah .............................. 4,193 34 - - 1,385 3,222 42 - - 2,890 5,611 6,155 -8.8

 Wyoming ...................... 3,149 90 - W 2,003 2,572 78 - - 1,962 W 4,612 W

Pacific.............................. 1,716 252 - W 143 W 232 - - 205 W W W

 Alaska ........................... W - - W 143 W - - - 205 W W W

 California...................... W 209 - - - W 185 - - - W W W

 Hawaii........................... W W - - - W W - - - W W W

 Oregon .......................... W W - - - W W - - - W W W

 Washington................... W W - - - W W - - - W W W

U.S. Total........................ 161,589 6,007 2,331 498 34,688 151,221 5,624 1,936 - 33,977 205,113 192,757 6.4    

1

 The electric power sector (electric utilities and independent power producers) comprises electricity-only and combined-heat-and-power (CHP) plants whose primary business 

is to sell electricity, or electricity and heat, to the public -- i.e. NAICS 22 plants. 

 * Absolute percentage less than 0.05. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  Stocks data for commercial and institutional users (formerly titled residential and commercial sector) was not collected prior to 2008. Totals may not equal sum of 

components because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, "Power Plant Report," Form EIA-923 “Power Plant Operations Report,” Form EIA-3, "Quarterly Coal 

Consumption and Quality Report, Manufacturing and Transformation/Processing Coal Plants and Commercial and Institutional Coal Users," Form EIA-5, "Quarterly Coal 

Consumption and Quality Report, Coke Plants," Form EIA-7A, “Coal Production Report,” Form EIA-8A, “Coal Stocks Report,” and Form EIA-6A, "Coal Distribution Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 59

Average Mine Sales Price 
60 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 28. Average Sales Price of Coal by State and Mine Type, 2008, 2007 

 (Dollars per Short Ton) 

2008 2007 Percent Change Coal-Producing 

State 

Underground Surface Total Underground Surface Total Underground Surface Total 

Alabama........................................ 73.35 68.40 71.31 53.93 57.92 55.56 36.0 18.1 28.3

Alaska ........................................... - W W - W W - W W

Arizona ......................................... - W W - W W - W W

Arkansas ....................................... W - W W - W W - W

Colorado ....................................... W W 32.67 W W 25.99 W W 25.7

Illinois........................................... 40.28 40.39 40.30 33.36 35.00 33.64 20.7 15.4 19.8

Indiana .......................................... 40.25 32.34 34.95 35.97 27.32 29.81 11.9 18.4 17.2

Kansas........................................... - W W - W W - W W

Kentucky Total ............................. 49.84 53.41 51.32 43.83 43.25 43.60 13.7 23.5 17.7

 Eastern ........................................ 57.81 55.49 56.63 49.47 44.53 47.06 16.8 24.6 20.3

 Western....................................... 36.07 32.44 35.53 33.26 28.56 32.63 8.4 13.6 8.9

Louisiana ...................................... - W W - W W - W W

Maryland....................................... W W 42.19 W W 33.02 W W 27.8

Mississippi.................................... - W W - W W - W W

Missouri........................................ - W W - W W - W W

Montana........................................ W W 12.31 W W 11.67 W W 5.5

New Mexico ................................. W W 33.16 W W 28.27 W W 17.3

North Dakota ................................ - 12.92 12.92 - 11.43 11.43 - 13.0 13.0

Ohio .............................................. 41.91 40.43 41.40 28.32 29.53 28.67 48.0 36.9 44.4

Oklahoma...................................... W W 47.72 W W 34.80 W W 37.2

Pennsylvania Total ....................... 49.44 56.71 50.77 39.89 40.39 39.98 23.9 40.4 27.0

 Anthracite ................................... 62.07 60.55 60.76 W W 58.92 W W 3.1

 Bituminous ................................. 49.39 56.21 50.52 W W 39.57 W W 27.7

Tennessee...................................... 58.30 44.83 48.94 45.73 40.89 42.53 27.5 9.6 15.1

Texas............................................. - 18.16 18.16 - 16.53 16.53 - 9.9 9.9

Utah .............................................. 26.39 - 26.39 25.88 - 25.88 2.0 - 2.0

Virginia......................................... 90.50 74.31 84.57 57.16 52.39 55.36 58.3 41.8 52.8

West Virginia Total ...................... 64.36 54.92 60.16 49.09 46.94 48.12 31.1 17.0 25.0

 Northern...................................... 42.70 49.97 43.95 38.69 38.87 38.72 10.4 28.6 13.5

 Southern...................................... 77.96 55.47 65.80 56.92 47.78 51.73 37.0 16.1 27.2

Wyoming ...................................... W W 11.39 W W 10.33 W W 10.2

 

U.S. Total...................................... 51.35 22.35 31.25 40.82 19.18 25.82 25.8 16.5 21.0  

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  An average sales price is calculated by dividing the total free on board (f.o.b) rail/barge value of the coal sold by the total coal sold. Excludes mines producing less 

than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data. Excludes silt, culm, refuse bank, slurry dam, and dredge operations. Totals may not equal sum of components 

because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 61

Table 29. Average Sales Price of Coal by State and Underground Mining Method, 2008 

 (Dollars per Short Ton) 

Coal-Producing 

State Continuous1 Conventional and 

Other2 Longwall3 Total 

Alabama.................................................... W - W 73.35

Arkansas ................................................... W - - W

Colorado ................................................... W - W W

Illinois....................................................... W - W 40.28

Indiana ...................................................... 40.25 - - 40.25

Kentucky Total ......................................... W 50.83 W 49.84

 Eastern .................................................... 58.24 50.83 W 57.81

 Western................................................... 36.07 - - 36.07

Maryland................................................... W - - W

Montana.................................................... W - - W

New Mexico ............................................. - - W W

Ohio .......................................................... W - W 41.91

Oklahoma.................................................. W - - W

Pennsylvania Total ................................... 61.93 W W 49.44

 Anthracite ............................................... W W - 62.07

 Bituminous ............................................. W - W 49.39

Tennessee.................................................. 58.30 - - 58.30

Utah .......................................................... W - W 26.39

Virginia..................................................... W - W 90.50

West Virginia Total .................................. 72.95 W W 64.36

 Northern.................................................. 54.28 - 39.78 42.70

 Southern.................................................. 76.01 W 87.94 77.96

Wyoming .................................................. - - W W

U.S. Total................................................. 56.90 53.74 45.92 51.35  

1

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by continuous mining methods. 

2

 Mines that produce greater than 50 percent of their coal by conventional mining methods or mines that produce coal using shortwall, scoop loading, hand loading, or other 

methods or a 50/50 percent continuous conventional split in mining method. 

3

 Mines that have any production from longwall mining method. A typical longwall mining operation uses 80 percent longwall mining and 20 percent continuous mining. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  An average sales price is calculated by dividing the total free on board (f.o.b) rail/barge value of the coal sold by the total coal sold. Excludes mines producing less 

than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data. Excludes silt, culm, refuse bank, slurry dam, and dredge operations. Totals may not equal sum of components 

because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
62 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 30. Average Sales Price of Coal by State, County, and Number of Mines, 2008 

 (Thousand Short Tons, Dollars per Short Ton) 

Coal-Producing 

State and County Number of Mines Sales Average Sales Price 

Alabama....................................................... 56 20,107 71.31

 Bibb ........................................................... 1 W W

 Cullman ..................................................... 2 W W

 Fayette ....................................................... 1 W W

 Franklin...................................................... 2 W W

 Jackson....................................................... 4 W W

 Jefferson..................................................... 10 W W

 Marion ....................................................... 1 W W

 Shelby ........................................................ 6 517 76.20

 Tuscaloosa ................................................. 9 7,708 60.48

 Walker ....................................................... 17 3,293 67.08

 Winston...................................................... 3 W W

Alaska .......................................................... 1 W W

 Yukon-Koyukuk Division ......................... 1 W W

Arizona ........................................................ 1 W W

 Navajo........................................................ 1 W W

Arkansas...................................................... 1 W W

 Sebastian.................................................... 1 W W

Colorado ...................................................... 12 33,463 32.67

 Adams........................................................ 1 W W

 Delta........................................................... 1 W W

 Garfield...................................................... 1 W W

 Gunnison.................................................... 2 W W

 La Plata...................................................... 2 W W

 Moffat ........................................................ 2 W W

 Montrose.................................................... 1 W W

 Rio Blanco................................................. 1 W W

 Routt .......................................................... 1 W W

Illinois .......................................................... 19 32,848 40.30

 Gallatin ...................................................... 2 W W

 Jackson....................................................... 3 W W

 Macoupin................................................... 1 W W

 Perry........................................................... 4 W W

 Randolph.................................................... 1 W W

 Saline ......................................................... 3 W W

 Sangamon .................................................. 1 W W

 Vermilion................................................... 1 W W

 Wabash ...................................................... 1 W W

 White ......................................................... 1 W W

 Williamson ................................................ 1 W W

Indiana......................................................... 29 36,831 34.95

 Daviess....................................................... 3 W W

 Dubois........................................................ 1 W W

 Gibson........................................................ 6 15,137 34.20

 Knox .......................................................... 6 5,743 40.90

 Pike ............................................................ 6 W W

 Sullivan...................................................... 2 W W

 Vigo ........................................................... 2 W W

 Warrick ...................................................... 3 W W

Kansas.......................................................... 2 W W

 Bourbon ..................................................... 1 W W

 Linn............................................................ 1 W W

Kentucky...................................................... 409 119,321 51.32

 Bell............................................................. 23 3,342 56.47

 Breathitt ..................................................... 8 2,042 50.29

 Clay............................................................ 2 W W

 Daviess....................................................... 1 W W

 Elliott ......................................................... 1 W W

 Floyd.......................................................... 39 5,894 53.26

 Harlan ........................................................ 53 10,989 57.70

 Henderson.................................................. 3 W W

 Hopkins...................................................... 5 14,424 33.85

 Jackson....................................................... 2 W W

 Johnson ...................................................... 10 1,016 57.96

 Knott .......................................................... 35 7,082 51.51

 Knox .......................................................... 6 W W

 Laurel......................................................... 1 W W

 Lawrence ................................................... 7 603 63.94

 Leslie ......................................................... 15 4,580 55.76

See footnotes at end of table. 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 63

Coal-Producing 

State and County Number of Mines Sales 

Table 30. Average Sales Price of Coal by State, County, and Number of Mines, 2008 (Continued) 

 (Thousand Short Tons, Dollars per Short Ton) 

Average Sales Price 

Kentucky (continued) 

 Letcher....................................................... 34 5,660 58.18

 Magoffin .................................................... 12 3,438 44.59

 Martin ........................................................ 13 5,600 56.18

 Morgan....................................................... 1 W W

 Muhlenberg................................................ 6 W W

 Ohio ........................................................... 2 W W

 Owsley....................................................... 2 W W

 Perry........................................................... 33 16,928 53.61

 Pike ............................................................ 88 20,713 61.38

 Union ......................................................... 2 W W

 Webster...................................................... 1 W W

 Whitley ...................................................... 4 W W

Louisiana ..................................................... 2 W W

 De Soto ...................................................... 1 W W

 Red River................................................... 1 W W

Maryland ..................................................... 18 2,929 42.19

 Allegany..................................................... 12 1,977 37.66

 Garrett........................................................ 6 952 51.58

Mississippi ................................................... 1 W W

 Choctaw..................................................... 1 W W

Missouri ....................................................... 2 W W

 Bates .......................................................... 2 W W

Montana....................................................... 6 44,272 12.31

 Big Horn .................................................... 3 W W

 Musselshell................................................ 1 W W

 Richland..................................................... 1 W W

 Rosebud ..................................................... 1 W W

New Mexico ................................................. 5 23,468 33.16

 McKinley................................................... 3 W W

 San Juan..................................................... 2 W W

North Dakota .............................................. 4 29,781 12.92

 Mclean ....................................................... 1 W W

 Mercer........................................................ 2 W W

 Oliver......................................................... 1 W W

Ohio.............................................................. 39 25,968 41.40

 Belmont ..................................................... 6 W W

 Carroll........................................................ 3 W W

 Columbiana................................................ 3 W W

 Coshocton.................................................. 1 W W

 Harrison ..................................................... 6 W W

 Jackson....................................................... 1 W W

 Jefferson..................................................... 5 W W

 Monroe....................................................... 1 W W

 Muskingum................................................ 1 W W

 Noble ......................................................... 2 W W

 Perry........................................................... 3 W W

 Stark........................................................... 2 W W

 Tuscarawas ................................................ 4 W W

 Vinton ........................................................ 1 W W

Oklahoma .................................................... 6 1,462 47.72

 Craig .......................................................... 1 W W

 Haskell....................................................... 1 W W

 Le Flore...................................................... 3 W W

 Rogers........................................................ 1 W W

Pennsylvania ............................................... 177 66,941 50.77

 Allegheny................................................... 3 W W

 Armstrong.................................................. 17 3,808 46.86

 Beaver........................................................ 1 W W

 Butler......................................................... 4 W W

 Cambria ..................................................... 7 1,184 82.50

 Cameron..................................................... 1 W W

 Centre......................................................... 1 W W

 Clarion ....................................................... 5 W W

 Clearfield ................................................... 28 4,401 60.26

 Columbia ................................................... 2 W W

 Dauphin ..................................................... 1 W W

 Elk.............................................................. 5 522 66.20

 Fayette ....................................................... 8 W W

 Greene........................................................ 7 42,214 44.97

 Indiana ....................................................... 19 2,781 73.99

See footnotes at end of table. 
64 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 30. Average Sales Price of Coal by State, County, and Number of Mines, 2008 (Continued) 

 (Thousand Short Tons, Dollars per Short Ton) 

Coal-Producing 

State and County Number of Mines Sales Average Sales Price 

Pennsylvania (continued) 

 Jefferson..................................................... 9 574 73.34

 Lackawanna............................................... 1 W W

 Luzerne ...................................................... 4 W W

 Lycoming................................................... 1 W W

 Northumberland......................................... 3 W W

 Schuylkill................................................... 22 975 45.65

 Somerset .................................................... 22 5,200 65.99

 Venango..................................................... 1 W W

 Washington................................................ 4 W W

 Westmoreland............................................ 1 W W

Tennessee..................................................... 20 2,905 48.94

 Anderson.................................................... 3 W W

 Campbell.................................................... 7 1,268 53.72

 Claiborne ................................................... 9 1,362 42.62

 Fentress...................................................... 1 W W

Texas ............................................................ 11 38,998 18.16

 Atascosa..................................................... 1 W W

 Freestone.................................................... 1 W W

 Harrison ..................................................... 1 W W

 Hopkins...................................................... 1 W W

 Lee ............................................................. 1 W W

 Leon........................................................... 1 W W

 Panola ........................................................ 2 W W

 Robertson................................................... 1 W W

 Rusk........................................................... 1 W W

 Titus........................................................... 1 W W

Utah.............................................................. 9 25,833 26.39

 Carbon ....................................................... 5 12,339 29.59

 Emery......................................................... 3 W W

 Sevier......................................................... 1 W W

Virginia........................................................ 103 23,405 84.57

 Buchanan ................................................... 37 7,957 88.30

 Dickenson .................................................. 12 2,071 93.37

 Lee ............................................................. 3 W W

 Russell ....................................................... 9 1,119 79.42

 Tazewell..................................................... 4 W W

 Wise........................................................... 38 10,673 75.71

West Virginia .............................................. 273 158,723 60.16

 Barbour...................................................... 7 W W

 Boone......................................................... 40 30,387 58.24

 Brooke ....................................................... 2 W W

 Clay............................................................ 2 W W

 Fayette ....................................................... 18 6,779 82.31

 Greenbrier.................................................. 8 1,037 127.45

 Harrison ..................................................... 3 W W

 Kanawha .................................................... 24 11,849 67.52

 Lincoln....................................................... 3 W W

 Logan......................................................... 24 18,264 68.61

 Marion ....................................................... 2 W W

 Marshall..................................................... 2 W W

 Mason ........................................................ 1 W W

 McDowell .................................................. 39 5,671 73.21

 Mineral....................................................... 2 W W

 Mingo......................................................... 29 13,163 64.53

 Monongalia................................................ 7 W W

 Nicholas..................................................... 11 W W

 Preston ....................................................... 2 W W

 Raleigh....................................................... 18 8,558 65.36

 Randolph.................................................... 1 W W

 Tucker........................................................ 1 W W

 Upshur ....................................................... 3 W W

 Wayne........................................................ 4 W W

 Webster...................................................... 4 W W

 Wyoming ................................................... 16 7,026 69.77

Wyoming...................................................... 19 465,365 11.39

 Campbell.................................................... 12 414,987 10.87

 Carbon ....................................................... 1 W W

 Converse .................................................... 1 W W

 Lincoln....................................................... 1 W W

 Sweetwater ................................................ 4 9,411 26.48

See footnotes at end of table. 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 65

Table 30. Average Sales Price of Coal by State, County, and Number of Mines, 2008 (Continued) 

 (Thousand Short Tons, Dollars per Short Ton) 

Coal-Producing 

State and County Number of Mines Sales Average Sales Price 

U.S.     Total..................................................... 1,225 1,169,576 31.25

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  An average sales price is calculated by dividing the total free on board (f.o.b) rail/barge value of the coal sold by the total coal sold. Excludes mines producing less 

than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data. Excludes silt, culm, refuse bank, slurry dam, and dredge operations. Totals may not equal sum of components 

because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
66 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 31. Average Sales Price of Coal by State and Coal Rank, 2008 

 (Dollars per Short Ton) 

Coal-Producing 

State Bituminous Subbituminous Lignite Anthracite Total 

Alabama............................................. 71.31 - - - 71.31

Alaska ................................................ - W - - W

Arizona .............................................. W - - - W

Arkansas ............................................ W - - - W

Colorado ............................................ W W - - 32.67

Illinois................................................ 40.30 - - - 40.30

Indiana ............................................... 34.95 - - - 34.95

Kansas................................................ W - - - W

Kentucky Total .................................. 51.32 - - - 51.32

 Eastern ............................................. 56.63 - - - 56.63

 Western............................................ 35.53 - - - 35.53

Louisiana ........................................... - - W - W

Maryland............................................ 42.19 - - - 42.19

Mississippi......................................... - - W - W

Missouri............................................. W - - - W

Montana............................................. - W W - 12.31

New Mexico ...................................... W W - - 33.16

North Dakota ..................................... - - 12.92 - 12.92

Ohio ................................................... 41.40 - - - 41.40

Oklahoma........................................... 47.72 - - - 47.72

Pennsylvania Total ............................ 50.52 - - 60.76 50.77

 Anthracite ........................................ - - - 60.76 60.76

 Bituminous ...................................... 50.52 - - - 50.52

Tennessee........................................... 48.94 - - - 48.94

Texas.................................................. - - 18.16 - 18.16

Utah ................................................... 26.39 - - - 26.39

Virginia.............................................. 84.57 - - - 84.57

West Virginia Total ........................... 60.16 - - - 60.16

 Northern........................................... 43.95 - - - 43.95

 Southern........................................... 65.80 - - - 65.80

Wyoming ........................................... W W - - 11.39

 

U.S. Total........................................... 51.39 12.31 16.50 60.76 31.25  

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  An average sales price is calculated by dividing the total free on board (f.o.b) rail/barge value of the coal sold by the total coal sold. Excludes mines producing less 

than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data. Excludes silt, culm, refuse bank, slurry dam, and dredge operations. Totals may not equal sum of components 

because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 

7000-2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 67

Table 32. Average Sales Price of Coal by Mine Production Range and Mine Type, 2008 

 (Dollars per Short Ton) 

Mine Production Range 

(thousand short tons) Underground Surface Total 

Over 1,000 .................................................... 45.29 17.27 24.73

500 to 1,000.................................................. 64.34 47.96 55.95

200 to 500 ..................................................... 64.88 54.57 59.67

100 to 200 ..................................................... 69.85 60.18 64.62

50 to 100 ....................................................... 66.65 57.31 61.97

10 to 50 ......................................................... 76.23 54.24 61.38

U.S. Total..................................................... 51.35 22.35 31.25  

 Note:  An average sales price is calculated by dividing the total free on board (f.o.b) rail/barge value of the coal sold by the total coal sold. Excludes mines producing less 

than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data. Excludes silt, culm, refuse bank, slurry dam, and dredge operations. Totals may not equal sum of components 

because of independent rounding. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
68 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Table 33. Average Sales Price of U.S. Coal by State and Disposition, 2008 

 (Dollars per Short Ton) 

Coal-Producing 

State Open Market1 Captive2

Alabama......................................................................................... 71.31 -

Alaska ............................................................................................ W -

Arizona .......................................................................................... W -

Arkansas ........................................................................................ W -

Colorado ........................................................................................ 32.30 36.59

Illinois............................................................................................ 40.41 39.78

Indiana ........................................................................................... 33.37 38.81

Kansas............................................................................................ W -

Kentucky Total .............................................................................. 51.33 51.20

 Eastern ......................................................................................... 56.94 W

 Western........................................................................................ 35.59 W

Louisiana ....................................................................................... W W

Maryland........................................................................................ 42.19 -

Mississippi..................................................................................... W -

Missouri......................................................................................... W -

Montana......................................................................................... 12.40 W

New Mexico .................................................................................. 36.28 W

North Dakota ................................................................................. 13.34 W

Ohio ............................................................................................... 41.86 W

Oklahoma....................................................................................... 47.72 -

Pennsylvania Total ........................................................................ 49.65 68.13

 Anthracite .................................................................................... 52.03 W

 Bituminous .................................................................................. 49.59 W

Tennessee....................................................................................... 48.94 -

Texas.............................................................................................. W 17.41

Utah ............................................................................................... 26.91 W

Virginia.......................................................................................... 81.12 91.76

West Virginia Total ....................................................................... 59.02 67.68

 Northern....................................................................................... 43.01 50.89

 Southern....................................................................................... 64.70 72.82

Wyoming ....................................................................................... 10.62 14.05

U.S. Total...................................................................................... 32.05 27.55  

1

 Open market includes coal sold on the open market to other coal companies or consumers. 2

 Captive includes all coal used by the producing company or sold to affiliated or parent companies. 

 - = No data are reported. 

 W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure. 

 Note:  An average open market sales price is calculated by dividing the total free on board (f.o.b.) rail/barge value of the open market coal sold, by the total open market 

coal sold. An average captive market sales price is calculated by dividing the total free on board (f.o.b.) rail/barge value of the captive market coal sold, by the total captive 

market coal sold. Excludes mines producing less than 10,000 short tons, which are not required to provide data. Excludes silt, culm, refuse bank, slurry dam, and dredge 

operations. 

 Source:  Energy Information Administration Form EIA-7A, "Coal Production Report," and U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Form 7000-

2, "Quarterly Mine Employment and Coal Production Report." 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 69

Average Consumer Prices 
Table 34. Average Price of Coal Delivered to End Use Sector by Census Division and State, 2008, 2007

(Dollars per Short Ton)

Census Division

and State

2008 2007 Annual Percent Change

Electric

Power

Sector

Other

Industrial

Plants

Coke

Plants

Commercial

and

Institutional

Electric

Power

Sector

Other

Industrial

Plants

Coke

Plants

Commercial

and

Institutional

Electric

Power

Sector

Other

Industrial

Plants

Coke

Plants

Commercial

and

Institutional

New England.......................... 71.55 W - - 65.93 92.45 - - 8.5 W - -

 Connecticut........................... 64.39 - - - 60.59 - - - 6.3 - - -

 Maine ................................... 97.91 W - - 85.50 W - - 14.5 6.4 - -

 Massachusetts....................... 67.85 W - - 64.45 W - - 5.3 15.6 - -

 New Hampshire .................... 90.86 - - - 75.92 - - - 19.7 - - -

 Rhode Island......................... - - - - - - - - - - - -

 Vermont................................ - - - - - - - - - - - -

Middle Atlantic ...................... 49.98 69.76 W W 43.71 59.86 W - 14.3 16.5 24.8 -

 New Jersey ........................... 80.36 - - - 68.69 - - - 17.0 - - -

 New York ............................. 57.20 83.13 W W 54.08 72.36 W - 5.8 14.9 30.1 -

 Pennsylvania......................... 46.38 64.31 W 117.06 39.84 54.81 W - 16.4 17.3 24.5 -

East North Central ................ 37.97 67.39 122.18 W 32.43 59.04 99.2 - 17.1 14.1 23.2 -

 Illinois .................................. 27.77 39.30 W 48.72 23.60 37.49 W - 17.7 4.8 18.7 -

 Indiana.................................. 40.40 74.02 W 69.59 34.14 61.79 102.1 - 18.3 19.8 W -

 Michigan............................... 38.10 86.61 W W 33.59 74.57 W - 13.4 16.1 5.6 -

 Ohio...................................... 46.90 79.89 W 128.71 39.39 68.75 W - 19.1 16.2 33.7 -

 Wisconsin............................. 34.55 73.64 - 125.27 29.78 68.39 - - 16.0 7.7 - -

West North Central ............... 22.42 30.98 - 64.70 20.28 27.71 - - 10.6 11.8 - -

 Iowa...................................... 20.16 48.78 - 80.89 18.18 44.00 - - 10.9 10.9 - -

 Kansas.................................. 24.15 W - - 21.12 50.87 - - 14.4 W - -

 Minnesota ............................. 29.49 50.56 - W 26.56 41.58 - - 11.0 21.6 - -

 Missouri................................ 26.40 60.17 - W 23.38 47.30 - - 12.9 27.2 - -

 Nebraska............................... 15.35 42.46 - - 14.96 39.69 - - 2.6 7.0 - -

 North Dakota ........................ 14.36 W - 43.11 13.02 W - - 10.3 1.4 - -

 South Dakota ........................ 29.16 W - W 26.57 W - - 9.8 11.2 - -

South Atlantic ........................ 68.73 W W 134.49 56.98 W W - 20.6 23.2 21.5 -

 Delaware............................... 88.69 W - - 71.56 W - - 23.9 -4.5 - -

 District of Columbia ............. - - - W - - - - - - - -

 Florida .................................. 70.43 98.57 - - 61.73 82.60 - - 14.1 19.3 - -

 Georgia................................. 66.28 108.89 - W 57.09 81.24 - - 16.1 34.0 - -

 Maryland .............................. 92.08 68.96 - W 53.11 60.01 - - 73.4 14.9 - -

 North Carolina ...................... 79.81 89.79 - 121.57 67.92 77.34 - - 17.5 16.1 - -

 South Carolina ...................... 71.32 96.31 - W 58.32 79.45 - - 22.3 21.2 - -

 Virginia ................................ 67.82 89.01 W 146.52 62.11 69.95 W - 9.2 27.2 16.2 -

 West Virginia ....................... 52.44 85.55 W - 41.53 66.80 W - 26.3 28.1 24.2 -

East South Central................. 51.91 W W 111.15 43.02 W W - 20.7 25.9 30.6 -

 Alabama ............................... 57.45 80.14 W - 43.74 75.76 W - 31.3 5.8 40.8 -

 Kentucky .............................. 49.30 81.35 W 106.49 40.80 70.01 W - 20.8 16.2 10.8 -

 Mississippi............................ 55.73 W - - 50.43 W - - 10.5 8.8 - -

 Tennessee ............................. 47.11 97.45 - 114.13 42.61 67.83 - - 10.6 43.7 - -

West South Central ............... 26.24 W - W 23.88 W - - 9.9 11.7 - -

 Arkansas............................... 29.84 83.71 - - 27.95 72.43 - - 6.8 15.6 - -

 Louisiana .............................. 34.31 W - - 30.44 W - - 12.7 38.6 - -

 Oklahoma ............................. 23.11 43.66 - - 20.61 40.26 - - 12.1 8.4 - -

 Texas.................................... 25.17 60.18 - W 22.90 53.57 - - 9.9 12.4 - -

Mountain................................ 28.33 42.90 - W 25.95 41.68 - - 9.2 2.9 - -

 Arizona................................. 34.06 57.68 - - 31.19 59.21 - - 9.2 -2.6 - -

 Colorado............................... 28.78 W - W 24.59 W - - 17.0 1.1 - -

 Idaho..................................... - 49.47 - W - 41.27 - - - 19.8 - -

 Montana................................ 16.96 W - W 15.61 W - - 8.7 22.1 - -

 Nevada.................................. 46.87 W - - 41.97 W - - 11.7 11.7 - -

 New Mexico ......................... 36.59 W - - 32.87 W - - 11.3 16.2 - -

 Utah...................................... 30.20 44.47 - - 30.02 43.35 - - 0.6 2.6 - -

 Wyoming.............................. 19.79 30.88 - W 18.28 29.68 - - 8.3 4.0 - -

Pacific ..................................... 38.79 71.49 - W 34.51 66.46 - - 12.4 7.6 - -

 Alaska................................... 30.43 - - W - - - - 100.0 - - -

 California.............................. 70.02 69.20 - - 63.23 66.58 - - 10.7 3.9 - -

 Hawaii .................................. 76.42 W - - 67.09 W - - 13.9 98.0 - -

 Oregon.................................. 24.15 W - - 23.06 W - - 4.7 15.7 - -

 Washington........................... 35.85 W - - 31.42 W - - 14.1 -12.2 - -

U.S. Total................................ 40.69 63.44 118.09 86.50 35.29 54.42 95.0 - 15.3 16.6 24.4 -

s Value is less than 0.05 of the table metric, but value is included in any associated total.

- = No data are reported.

W = Data withheld to avoid disclosure.

Note: • Electric Power Sector in this report includes Electric Utilities, Independent Power Producers, and Electric Utility Combined Heat & Power plants. • Price data for commercial and 

institutional users was not collected prior to 2008.

Source: • U.S. Energy Information Administration Form EIA-923, "Power Plant Operations Report," Form EIA-3, "Quarterly Coal Consumption and Quality Report, Manufacturing and 

Transformation/Processing Coal Plants and Commercial and Institutional Coal Users," Form EIA-5, "Quarterly Coal Consumption and Quality Report, Coke Plants," and Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission FERC Form 423, "Monthly Report of Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants."
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 71

Glossary 

American Indian Coal Lease: A lease granted to a 

mining company to produce coal from American Indian 

lands in exchange for royalties and other revenues; 

obtained by direct negotiation with Indian tribal 

authorities, but subject to approval and administration by 

the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

Anthracite: The highest rank of coal; used primarily for 

residential and commercial space heating. It is a hard, 

brittle, and black lustrous coal, often referred to as hard 

coal, containing a high percentage of fixed carbon and a 

low percentage of volatile matter. The moisture content 

of fresh-mined anthracite generally is less than 15 

percent. The heat content of anthracite ranges from 22 to 

28 million Btu per short ton on a moist, mineral-matterfree basis. The heat content of anthracite coal consumed 

in the United States averages 25 million Btu per short 

ton, on the as-received basis (i.e., containing both 

inherent moisture and mineral matter). Note: Since the 

1980's, anthracite refuse or mine waste has been used for 

steam electric power generation. This fuel typically has a 

heat content of 15 million Btu per short ton or less. 

Appalachian Region: See Coal-Producing Regions. 

Area (Surface) Mining: A method used on flat terrain to 

recover coal by mining long cuts or pits successively. 

The material excavated from the cut being mined is 

deposited in the cut previously mined. 

Auger Mine: A surface mine where coal is recovered 

through the use of a large-diameter drill driven into a 

coalbed in a hillside. It usually follows contour surface 

mining, particularly when the overburden is too costly to 

excavate. 

Average Number of Employees: The arithmetic mean 

number of employees working each day at a mining 

operation. Includes maintenance, office, as well as 

production-related employees. 

Average Open Market Sales Price: The ratio of the 

total value of the open market sales of coal produced at 

the mine to the total open market sales tonnage. 

Average Production per Miner per Hour: The ratio of 

the total production at a mining operation to the total 

direct labor hours worked at the operation. 

Average Recovery Percentage: Average recovery 

percentage represents the percentage of coal that can be 

recovered from coal reserves at reporting mines, 

averaged for all mines in the reported geographic area. 

Bed, Coalbed: All the coal and partings lying between a 

roof and floor. 

Bituminous Coal: A dense coal, usually black, 

sometimes dark brown, often with well-defined bands of 

bright and dull material, used primarily as fuel in steamelectric power generation, with substantial quantities also 

used for heat and power applications in manufacturing 

and to make coke. Bituminous coal is the most abundant 

coal in active U.S. mining regions. Its moisture content 

usually is less than 20 percent. The heat content of 

bituminous coal ranges from 21 to 30 million Btu per ton 

on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis. The heat content 

of bituminous coal consumed in the United States 

averages 24 million Btu per ton, on the as-received basis 

(i.e., containing both inherent moisture and mineral 

matter). 

Capacity Utilization: Capacity utilization is computed 

by dividing production by productive capacity and 

multiplying by 100. 

Captive Coal: Coal produced and consumed by the mine 

operator, a subsidiary, or parent company (for example, 

steel companies and electric utilities). 

Census Divisions: The nine geographic divisions of the 

United States established by the Bureau of the Census, 

U.S. Department of Commerce for statistical analysis. 

The boundaries of Census divisions coincide with State 

boundaries. In some cases, the Pacific Division is 

subdivided into the Pacific Contiguous and Pacific 

Noncontiguous areas. 

Central Appalachian Region: See Coal-Producing 

Regions. 

CIF: See Cost, Insurance, Freight. 

Coal: A readily combustible black or brownish-black 

rock whose composition, including inherent moisture, 

consists of more than 50 percent by weight and more 

than 70 percent by volume of carbonaceous material. It 

is formed from plant remains that have been compacted, 

hardened, chemically altered, and metamorphosed by 

heat and pressure over geologic time. 

Coal Carbonized: The amount of coal decomposed into 

solid coke and gaseous products by heating in a coke 

oven in a limited air supply or in the absence of air. 

Coal (coke): See Coke (coal). 
72 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Coal Mining Productivity: Coal mining productivity is 

calculated by dividing total coal production by the total 

direct labor hours worked by all mine employees. 

Coal Preparation/Washing: The treatment of coal to 

reject waste. In its broadest sense, preparation is any 

processing of mined coal to prepare it for market, 

including crushing and screening or sieving the coal to 

reach a uniform size, which normally results in removal 

of some non-coal material. The term coal preparation 

most commonly refers to processing, including crushing 

and screening, passing the material through one or more 

processes to remove impurities, sizing the product, and 

loading for shipment. Many of the processes separate 

rock, clay, and other minerals from coal in a liquid 

medium; hence the term washing is widely used. In some 

cases coal passes through a drying step before loading. 

Coal-Producing Regions: A geographic classification 

of areas where coal is produced. 

Appalachian Region. Consists of Alabama, Eastern 

Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, 

Virginia, and West Virginia. 

Northern Appalachian Region. Consists of Maryland, 

Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Northern West Virginia. 

Central Appalachian Region. Consists of Eastern 

Kentucky, Virginia, Southern West Virginia, and the 

Tennessee counties of: Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, 

Cumberland, Fentress, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, 

Putnam, Roane, and Scott. 

Southern Appalachian Region: Consists of Alabama, and 

the Tennessee counties of: Bledsoe, Coffee, Franklin, 

Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, Rhea, Sequatchie, Van 

Buren, Warren, and White. 

Interior Region (with Gulf Coast). Consists of Arkansas, 

Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, 

Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Western Kentucky. 

Illinois Basin: Consists of Illinois, Indiana, and Western 

Kentucky. 

Western Region. Consists of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, 

Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, 

Washington, and Wyoming. 

Powder River Basin: Consists of the Montana counties 

of Big Horn, Custer, Powder River, Rosebud, and 

Treasure and the Wyoming counties of Campbell, 

Converse, Crook, Johnson, Natrona, Niobrara, Sheridan, 

and Weston. 

Uinta Basin: Consists of the Colorado counties of Delta, 

Garfield, Gunnison, Mesa, Moffat, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, 

Routt and the Utah counties of Carbon, Duchesne, 

Emery, Grand, Sanpete, Sevier, Uintah, Utah, and 

Wasatch. 

Coal-Producing States: The States where mined and/or 

purchased coal originates are defined as follows: 

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, 

Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky Eastern, Kentucky Western, 

Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, 

New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, 

Pennsylvania anthracite, Pennsylvania bituminous, 

Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West 

Virginia Northern, West Virginia Southern, and 

Wyoming. The following Coal-Producing States are split 

in origin of coal, as defined by: 

Kentucky, Eastern. All mines in the following counties 

in Eastern Kentucky: Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, 

Clinton, Elliot, Estill, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, 

Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, 

Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, 

Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, 

Rockcastle, Rowan, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe. 

 

Kentucky, Western. All mines in the following counties 

in Western Kentucky: Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, 

Christian, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Grayson, 

Hancock, Hart, Henderson, Hopkins, Logan, McLean, 

Muhlenberg, Ohio, Todd, Union, Warren, and Webster. 

Pennsylvania Anthracite. All mines in the following 

counties: Carbon, Columbia, Dauphin, Lackawanna, 

Lebanon, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill, 

Sullivan, and Susquehanna. All anthracite mines in 

Bradford County. 

Pennsylvania Bituminous. All mines located in the 

following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, 

Bedford, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, 

Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, 

Lycoming, Somerset, Venango, Washington, and 

Westmoreland, and all bituminous mines in Bradford 

County. 

West Virginia, Northern. All mines in the following 

counties (formerly defined as Coal-Producing Districts 1, 

3, & 6): Barbour, Brooke, Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, 

Gilmer, Grant, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lewis, 

Marion, Marshall, Mineral, Monongalia, Ohio, Pleasants, 

Preston, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tucker, 

Tyler, Upshur, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, and Wood. 

West Virginia, Southern. All mines in the following 

counties (formerly defined as Coal-Producing Districts 7 

& 8): Boone, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, 

Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 73

Mingo, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, 

Summers, Wayne, and Wyoming. 

Coal Rank: The classification of coals according to their 

degree of progressive alteration from lignite to 

anthracite. In the United States, the standard ranks of 

coal include lignite, subbituminous coal, bituminous 

coal, and anthracite and are based on fixed carbon, 

volatile matter, heating value, and agglomerating (or 

caking) properties. 

Coal Stocks: Coal quantities that are held in storage for 

future use and disposition. Note: When coal data are 

collected for a particular reporting period (month, 

quarter, or year), coal stocks are commonly measured as 

of the last day of this period. 

 Coalbed: A bed or stratum of coal. Also called a coal 

seam. 

Cogenerator: A generating facility that produces 

electricity and another form of useful thermal energy 

(such as heat or steam) used for industrial, commercial, 

heating, and cooling purposes. To receive status as a 

qualifying facility (QF) under the Public Utility 

Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), the facility must 

produce electric energy and "another form of useful 

thermal energy through the sequential use of energy," 

and meet certain ownership, operating, and efficiency 

criteria established by the Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission (FERC). (See the Code of Federal 

Regulation, Title 18, Part 292.) 

Coke (coal): A solid carbonaceous residue derived from 

low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal from which the 

volatile constituents are driven off by baking in an oven 

at temperatures as high as 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit so 

that the fixed carbon and residual ash are fused together. 

Coke is used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in 

smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. Coke from coal is 

grey, hard, and porous and has a heating value of 24.8 

million Btu per short ton. 

Coke Plants: Plants where coal is carbonized in slot or 

beehive ovens for the manufacture of coke. 

Coking Coal: Bituminous coal suitable for making coke. 

See Coke (coal). 

Continuous Mining: A form of room-and-pillar mining 

in which a continuous mining machine extracts and 

removes coal from the working face in one operation; no 

blasting is required. 

Conventional Mining: The oldest form of room-andpillar mining which consists of a series of operations that 

involve cutting the coalbed so it breaks easily when 

blasted with explosives or high-pressure air, and then 

loading the broken coal. 

Cost, Insurance, Freight (CIF): A type of sale in which 

the buyer of the product agrees to pay a unit price that 

includes the F.O.B. value of the product at the point of 

origin plus all costs of insurance and transportation. This 

type of transaction differs from a "delivered" purchase in 

that the buyer accepts the quantity as determined at the 

loading port (as certified by the Bill of Loading and 

Quality Report) rather than pay on the basis of the 

quantity and quality ascertained at the unloading port. It 

is similar to the terms of an F.O.B. sale, except that the 

seller, as a service for which he is compensated, arranges 

for transportation and insurance. 

Culm: Waste from Pennsylvania anthracite preparation 

plants, consisting of coarse rock fragments containing as 

much as 30 percent small-sized coal; sometimes defined 

as including very fine coal particles called silt. Its heat 

value ranges from 8 to 17 million Btu per short ton. 

Demonstrated Reserve Base: A collective term for the 

sum of coal in both measured and indicated resource 

categories of reliability which represents 100 percent of 

the coal in these categories in place as of a certain date. 

Includes beds of bituminous coal and anthracite 28 

inches or more thick and beds of subbituminous coal 60 

inches or more thick that occur at depths to 1 thousand 

feet. Includes beds of lignite 60 inches or more thick that 

can be surface mined. Includes also thinner and/or deeper 

beds that presently are being mined or for which there is 

evidence that they could be mined commercially at this 

time. Represents that portion of identified coal resources 

from which reserves are calculated. 

Direct Labor Hours: Direct labor hours worked by all 

mining employees at a mining operation during the year. 

Includes hours worked by those employees engaged in 

production, preparation, development, maintenance, 

repair, shop or yard work, management, office workers, 

and technical or engineering work. 

Dredge Mining: A method of recovering coal from 

rivers or streams. 

Drift Mine: An underground mine that has a horizontal 

or nearly horizontal entry driven along to a coalbed 

exposed in a hillside. 

Electric Power Sector: The electric power sector 

(electric utilities and independent power producers) 

comprises electricity-only and combined-heat-and-power 

(CHP) plants whose primary business is to sell 

electricity, or electricity and heat, to the public. 

Estimated Recoverable Reserves: See recoverable 

reserves. 
74 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

F.O.B. Rail/Barge Price: The free on board price of 

coal at the point of first sale. It excludes freight or 

shipping and insurance costs.

Federal Coal Lease: A lease granted to a mining 

company to produce coal from land owned and 

administered by the Federal Government in exchange for 

royalties and other revenues. 

Hand Loading: An underground loading method by 

which coal is removed from the working face by manual 

labor through the use of a shovel for conveyance to the 

surface. 

Illinois Basin: See Coal-Producing Regions. 

Indicated Resources: Coal for which estimates of the 

rank, quality, and quantity have been computed partly 

from sample analyses and measurements and partly from 

reasonable geologic projections. Indicated resources are 

computed partly from specified measurements and partly 

from projection of visible data for a reasonable distance 

on the basis of geologic evidence. The points of 

observation are 0.5 to 1.5 miles apart. Indicated coal is 

projected to extend as a 0.5-mile-wide belt that lies more 

than 0.25 miles from the outcrop or points of observation 

or measurement. 

Industrial Sector: The industrial sector is comprised of 

manufacturing industries which make up the largest part 

of the sector, along with mining, construction, 

agriculture, fisheries, and forestry. Establishments in the 

sector range from steel mills, to small farms, to 

companies assembling electronic components. 

Interior Region: See Coal-Producing Regions. 

Lignite: The lowest rank of coal, often referred to as 

brown coal, used almost exclusively as fuel for steamelectric power generation. It is brownish-black and has a 

high inherent moisture content, sometimes as high as 45 

percent The heat content of lignite ranges from 9 to 17 

million Btu per ton on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis. 

The heat content of lignite consumed in the United States 

averages 13 million Btu per ton, on the as-received basis 

(i.e., containing both inherent moisture and mineral 

matter). 

Longwall Mining: An automated form of underground 

coal mining characterized by high recovery and 

extraction rates, feasible only in relatively flat-lying, 

thick, and uniform coalbeds. A high-powered cutting 

machine is passed across the exposed face of coal, 

shearing away broken coal, which is continuously hauled 

away by a floor-level conveyor system. Longwall mining 

extracts all machine-minable coal between the floor and 

ceiling within a contiguous block of coal, known as a 

panel, leaving no support pillars within the panel area. 

Panel dimensions vary over time and with mining 

conditions but currently average about 900 feet wide 

(coal face width) and more than 8,000 feet long (the 

minable extent of the panel, measured in direction of 

mining). Longwall mining is done under movable roof 

supports that are advanced as the bed is cut. The roof in 

the mined-out area is allowed to fall as the mining 

advances. 

Manufacturing (except coke plants): Those industrial 

users/plants, not including coke plants, that are engaged 

in the mechanical or chemical transformation of 

materials or substances into new (i.e., finished or 

semifinished) products. Includes coal used for 

gasification/liquifaction and coal used for coal synfuels. 

Minable: Capable of being mined under current mining 

technology and environmental and legal restrictions, 

rules, and regulations. 

Mine Type: See Surface Mine and Underground Mine. 

Northern Appalachian: See Coal-Producing Regions. 

Number of Mines: The number of mines, or mines 

collocated with preparation plants or tipples, located in a 

particular geographic area (State or region). 

Number of Mining Operations: The number of mining 

operations includes preparation plants. Mining 

operations that consist of a mine and preparation plant, 

or a preparation plant only, will be counted as two 

operations if the preparation plant processes both 

underground and surface coal. 

Open Market Coal: Coal sold in the open market, i.e., 

coal sold to companies other than the reporting 

company's parent company or an operating subsidiary of 

the parent company. 

Operating Subsidiary: A company which is controlled 

through the ownership of voting stock, or a corporate 

joint venture in which a corporation is owned by a small 

group of businesses as a separate and specific business or 

project for the mutual benefit of the members of the 

group. 

Other Industrial Plant: Industrial users, not including 

coke plants, engaged in the mechanical or chemical 

transformation of materials or substances into new 

products (manufacturing); and companies engaged in the 

agriculture, mining, or construction industries. 

Parent Company: A company which solely or jointly 

owns the reporting company and which is not itself a 

subsidiary of, or owned by, another company. 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 75

Percent Utilization: The ratio of total production to 

productive capacity, times 100. 

Powder River Basin: See Coal-Producing Regions. 

Preparation Plant: A facility at which coal is crushed, 

screened, and mechanically cleaned. 

Productive Capacity: The maximum amount of coal 

that a mining operation can produce or process during a 

period with the existing mining equipment and/or 

preparation plant in place, assuming that the labor and 

materials sufficient to utilize the plant and equipment are 

available, and that the market exists for the maximum 

production. 

Recoverability: In reference to accessible coal 

resources, the condition of being physically, 

technologically, and economically minable. Recovery 

rates and recovery factors may be determined or 

estimated for coal resources without certain knowledge 

of their economic minability; therefore, the availability 

of recovery rates or factors does not predict 

recoverability. 

Recoverable Coal: Coal that is, or can be, extracted 

from a coal bed during mining. 

Recoverable Reserves at Producing Mines: The 

amount of in situ coal that can be recovered by mining 

existing reserves at mines reporting on Form EIA-7A. 

Recoverable Reserves, Estimated Recoverable 

Reserves: Reserve estimates (broad meaning) based on a 

demonstrated reserve base adjusted for assumed 

accessibility factors and recovery factors. The term is 

used by EIA to distinguish estimated recoverable 

reserves, which are derived without specific economic 

feasibility criteria by factoring (downward) from a 

demonstrated reserve base for one or more study areas or 

regions, from recoverable reserves at active mines, which 

are aggregated (upward) from reserve estimates reported 

by currently active, economically viable mines on Form 

EIA-7A. 

Recoverable Reserves of Coal: An estimate of the 

amount of coal that can be recovered (mined) from the 

accessible reserves of the demonstrated reserve base. 

Recovery Factor: The percentage of total tons of coal 

estimated to be recoverable from a given area in relation 

to the total tonnage estimated to be in the demonstrated 

reserve base. For the purpose of calculating depletion 

factors only, the estimated recovery factors for the 

demonstrated reserve base generally are 50 percent for 

underground mining methods and 80 percent for surface 

mining methods. More precise recovery factors can be 

computed by determining the total coal in place and the 

total coal recoverable in any specific locale. 

Recovery Percentage: The percentage of coal that can 

be recovered from the coal deposits at existing mines. 

Refuse Bank: A repository for waste material generated 

by the coal cleaning process. 

Refuse Recovery: A surface mine where coal is 

recovered from previously mined coal. It may also be 

known as a silt bank, culm bank, refuse bank, slurry 

dam, or dredge operation. 

Remaining (Resources/Reserves): The amount of coal 

in the ground after some mining, excluding coal in the 

ground spoiled or left in place for which later recovery is 

not feasible. 

Reserve(s): Root meaning: The amount of in-situ coal in 

a defined area that can be recovered by mining at a 

sustainable profit at the time of determination. Broad 

meaning: That portion of the demonstrated reserve base 

that is estimated to be recoverable at the time of 

determination. The reserve is derived by applying a 

recovery factor to that component of the identified 

resources of coal designated as the demonstrated reserve 

base. 

Residential and Commercial Sector: Housing units; 

wholesale and retail businesses (except coal wholesale 

dealers); health institutions (hospitals); social and 

educational institutions (schools and universities); and 

Federal, State, and local governments (military 

installations, prisons, office buildings). 

Royalties: Payments, in money or kind, of a stated share 

of production from mineral deposits, by the lessee to the 

lessor. Royalties may be an established minimum, a 

sliding-scale, or a step-scale. A step-scale royalty rate 

increases by steps as the average production on the lease 

increases. A sliding-scale royalty rate is based on 

average production and applies to all production from the 

lease. 

Run-of-mine: The raw coal recovered from a mine, prior 

to any treatment. 

Salable Coal: The shippable product of a coal mine or 

preparation plant. Depending on customer specifications, 

salable coal may be run-of-mine, crushed-and-screened 

(sized) coal, or the clean coal yield from a preparation 

plant. 

Sales Volume: The reported output from Federal and/or 

Indian lands, the basis of royalties. It is approximately 

equivalent to production, which includes coal sold, and 

coal added to stockpiles. 
76 The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 

Scoop Loading: An underground loading method by 

which coal is removed from the working face by a tractor 

unit equipped with a hydraulically operated bucket 

attached to the front; also called a front-end loader. 

Seam: A bed of coal lying between a roof and floor. 

Equivalent term to bed, commonly used by industry. 

Shaft Mine: An underground mine that reaches the 

coalbed by means of a vertical shaft. In addition to the 

passages providing entry to the coalbed, a network of 

other passages are also dug, some to provide access to 

various parts of the mine and some for ventilation. 

Short Ton: A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds. 

Shortwall Mining: A form of underground mining that 

involves the use of a continuous mining machine and 

movable roof supports to shear coal panels 150 to 200 

feet wide and more than half a mile long. Although 

similar to longwall mining, shortwall mining is generally 

more flexible because of the smaller working area. 

Productivity is lower than with longwall mining because 

the coal is hauled to the mine face by shuttle cars as 

opposed to conveyors. 

Silt: Waste from Pennsylvania anthracite preparation 

plants, consisting of coarse rock fragments containing as 

much as 30 percent small-sized coal; sometimes defined 

as including very fine coal particles called silt. Its heat 

value ranges from 8 to 17 million Btu per short ton. 

Synonymous with culm. 

Silt, Culm Refuse Bank, or Slurry Dam Mining: A 

mining operation producing coal from these sources of 

coal. (See refuse recovery.) 

Slope Mine: An underground mine in which the entry is 

driven at an angle to reach the coal deposit. 

Slurry Dam: A repository for the silt or culm from a 

preparation plant. 

Southern Appalachian: See Coal-Producing Regions. 

Stocks: The supply of coal or coke at a mine, plant, or 

utility at the end of the reporting period. 

Subbituminous Coal: A coal whose properties range 

from those of lignite to those of bituminous coal and 

used primarily as fuel for steam-electric power 

generation. It may be dull, dark brown to black, soft and 

crumbly, at the lower end of the range, to bright, jet 

black, hard, and relatively strong, at the upper end. 

Subbituminous coal contains 20 to 30 percent inherent 

moisture by weight. The heat content of 

subbituminous coal ranges from 17 to 24 million Btu per 

ton on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis. The heat 

content of subbituminous coal consumed in the United 

States averages 17 to 18 million Btu per ton, on the asreceived basis (i.e., containing both inherent moisture 

and mineral matter). 

Surface Mine: A coal mine that is usually within a few 

hundred feet of the surface. Earth and rock above or 

around the coal (overburden) is removed to expose the 

coalbed, which is then mined with surface excavation 

equipment such as draglines, power shovels, bulldozers, 

loaders, and augers. Surface mines include: area, 

contour, open-pit, strip, or auger mine. 

Tipple: A central facility used in loading coal for 

transportation by rail or truck. 

Uinta Region: See Coal-Producing Regions. 

Underground Mine: A mine where coal is produced by 

tunneling into the earth to the coalbed, which is then 

mined with underground mining equipment such as 

cutting machines and continuous, longwall, and 

shortwall mining machines. Underground mines are 

classified according to the type of opening used to reach 

the coal, i.e., drift (level tunnel), slope (inclined tunnel), 

or shaft (vertical tunnel). 

Underground Mining: The extraction of coal or its 

products from between enclosing rock strata by 

underground mining methods, such as room and pillar, 

longwall, and shortwall, or through in-situ gasification. 

Western Region: See Coal-Producing Regions. 

 
The U.S Energy Information Administration/Annual Coal Report 2008 77