More Layoff Notices; This Time From Alpha

Alpha Natural Resources plans to idle two coal mines in southern West Virginia and lay off 92 workers at the end of November. The Register-Herald reports that state and Raleigh County officials received a letter on Tuesday from Alpha saying it plans to idle the Edwight Source Mine and Independence Coal Co.’s Tunnel Mine on Nov. 30 because of adverse market conditions. The Edwight mine employs 79 workers and the Tunnel Mine employs 13 workers. The layoffs are expected to be permanent. In September, Alpha announced that it planned to close a mine in southwestern Pennsylvania and three mines in Virginia in November. Alpha filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Aug. 3.