American Energy Corporation has announced that it will idle underground mining operations at Belmont County's Century Mine for approximately two weeks.
The subsidiary of St. Clairsville-based Murray Energy sites the new EPA regulations and the increased utilisation of natural gas to generate electricity as contributing factors for the idling.
According to the company, approximately 425 hourly employees will be impacted.
American Energy will continue to sell and ship coal during this period, and service to its customers will not be interrupted.
The statement from the company reads that American Energy's Century Mine is one of the most productive underground coal mines in the United States, and the largest and most productive coal mine in the State of Ohio, directly employing over 650 workers.
Edited from sources by Joseph Green. Sources: WTRF, yourradioplace, The State Journal