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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Bituminous coal and lignite production and mine operations-1977. Energy data report. [USA]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5657007

This report is primarily a compilation of tables and illustrations that detail various aspects of bituminous coal and lignite production and mine operations in the United States in 1977. It covers such basic sectors as production tonnages, mining methods, employment, productivity, coal preparation, values, shipments, and coalbeds mined during the year. The data are from mines that produced 1000 tons or more. All production tonnages represent marketable coal and as such exclude refuse. In 1977 bituminous coal and lignite production reached an all time high of 691.3 million tons, surpassing by almost 2 percent the previous record of 678.7 million tons in 1976. Production from underground mines totaled about 266.0 million tons, down 9.8 percent from 294.9 million tons the previous year. Surface-mined production rose 10.8 percent to 425.4 million tons from 383.8 million tons in 1976. Coal was produced in 25 States. The leading coal-producing States were Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Wyoming, and Virginia. Together, these States accounted for 74 percent of the total US coal production. The Appalachian Region continued to be the major coal producing region, accounting for 393.8 million tons or 57.0 percent of the total production. In December 1977, production declined sharply when the 1974 contract between the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the Bituminous Coal Operators Association (BCOA) expired and about 160,000 active UMWA members went on strike. By the end of 1977, all BCOA mines and about 60 percent of all other coal mines were idle because of picketing or sympathy strikes.

Research Organization:
Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA). Energy Information Administration
OSTI ID:
5657007
Report Number(s):
DOE/EIA-0118(77)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English