MORGANTOWN — Several laid-off and working coal miners voiced their concerns Friday to two U.S. congressmen.

U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., talked with about 10 individuals who said they had been laid off from a coal mine at some point in their career. Some of the people said they were recently laid off and are now unemployed.

McKinley and Welch asked those in attendance what their concerns were. Some of the concerns included training, having out-of-state workers, regulations being pushed too hard and insurance.

One miner suggested that money should be budgeted to supply better equipment for the mines.

Of the concerns, Steve Shoyer from Marion County told the congressmen he had problems with regulations on coal mines.

“It just blows my mind,” Shoyer said. “The EPA is just killing us.”

Another concern came from Megan Bishop, who has been laid off. Her concern is that coal mines in West Virginia are not hiring in-state workers. She said because of that, West Virginia residents laid off from the mines are now in “survivor mode.”

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