Chris Hamilton, senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, will speak on “Coal, Energy and Mountaintop Development” as part of West Virginia University’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Distinguished Lecture Series.

Hamilton will speak at 3 p.m. on Monday (March 28) in Room G102 of the Engineering Sciences Building. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Hamilton has nearly 40 years experience in the coal mining industry, 25 with the WVCA. He is responsible for legislative, regulatory and technical matters affecting the industry. He serves as co-chair of the West Virginia Coal Forum, a joint labor-management group designed to foster a dialogue between miners and coal operating personnel, and as co-chair of the Mountaintop Mining Coalition.

The former owner of a safety training consulting firm, Hamilton served as training director for the West Virginia Department of Mines before joining the WVCA. He has worked as an underground miner and section foreman and possesses mine foreman certifications from West Virginia and Ohio.

Additional appointments include the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, the West Virginia Board of Miner Training Education and Certification, the West Virginia Mine Safety and Technical Review Committee and the West Virginia Diesel Equipment Commission.

Hamilton earned a master’s degree in business from West Virginia University.

-WVU-

mcd/03/24/11

CONTACT: Mary C. Dillon, College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
304-293-4086; Mary.Dillon@mail.wvu.edu

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