MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Alpha Natural Resources has identified the eight mines it's closing in Central Appalachia.
Some 400 workers are being laid off Tuesday. Another 800 layoffs are looming as Alpha shifts its business away from U.S. power plants and toward overseas steel mills.
Spokesman Ted Pile says the affected West Virginia operations are the Alloy deep mine near Powellton, the Alloy surface mine near Boomer, the Premium highwall mine near Gilbert and the White Flame Surface Mine near Wharncliffe.
The Virginia mines are Guest Mountain deep mines No. 8 and No. 9 near Norton, and Twin Star Surface Mine near Hurley.
In Pennsylvania, Alpha will close its Dora deep mine in Jefferson County.
Most workers may eventually be rehired at other locations or by replacing contractors. Only 150 won't have such opportunities.
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