"CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has signed a bill lauded by the struggling coal industry and called dangerous by the miners’ union.

Tomblin signed the bill Thursday changing coal mine safety and environmental standards. It passed the Republican Legislature with some Democratic support.

Proponents said coal needs more help. Diminishing seams, competition from other states and natural gas, federal regulations and lousy markets are hurting Central Appalachian coal."

The Associated Press had the story March 12, 2015. [2]