Alpha Natural Resources laid off last week 71 workers at four mines in Kentucky and Virginia: the Tiller No. 1 mine in Tazewell County, Kentucky; the Dorchester mine in Wise County, Virginia; EMC No. 9 mine in Knott County, Kentucky; and North Fork mine in Letcher County, Kentucky.
According to local reports, Alpha has—in total—idled more than 70 mines and reduced its workforce by nearly 3,200 workers, in reaction to reduced coal production.