UMWA Local Union

McElroy Mine was born in 1968, branching off Ireland Mine in Moundsville. Ireland Mine mined toward 1 south, dump area, Fish Creek bottom, slope, motor barn and 1 north areas. McElroy lies from the Ohio River to Cameron, WV. McElroy employs 816 UMWA employees and 176 salary employees. Labor costs estimated at 67 million. McElroy liberates approxima... tely 14 million cubic feet of methane in a 24 hour period. December 11, 1970: Seals to Ireland Mine completed. Mine was shut down in 1984 and reopened in July 1987. On June 13, 1997, Alvin Schneid hauled the last 40 car trip of coal after Louie Straight loaded them and Buck Lightner dumped them. July 24, 2004: Underground bunker was put in service. July 10, 2006: Some crews moved to Grapevine Portal. October 18, 2008: Move from Blakes Ridge Portal to Cameron Portal. October 2013: CONSOL Energy announces that McElroy is among 5 UMWA mines for sale. December 5, 2013: Robert Murray of Murray Energy Corporation buys the five mines for 3.2 billion dollars. Included in the sale are the river loadout (UMWA Local Union 1110) and the river division. Mr Murray renames McElroy Mine to Murray American Energy Corporation, Marshall County Coal Company, Marshall County Mine. McElroy currently has 12 active air shafts, 2 slope and 10 surface ventilation fans. The Pittsburgh No. 8 coal seam from the bottom of the coal slope and 5 North mains drops 250 feet in elevation. The overburden ranges from 200 feet thick towards the river to 1200 feet thick towards Cameron. Cameron portal shaft is 948 feet deep, grapevine portal shaft is 1114 feet deep, Blakes Ridge shaft is 951 feet deep and Fish Creek Shaft is 212 feet deep. McElroy Mine has produced since 1990, 150 million tons of clean coal. The mine has 2 longwall units and 6 continuous miner units. The coal is sent to the preparation plant were it is cleaned and then sent to river to be loaded into barges for shipment. The mine has approximately 27 miles of belt.Read More