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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—The West Elk Mine in Somerset has laid off 61 coal miners.
The layoffs this week at the western Colorado mine follow the recent release of about 40 contract employees.
The St. Louis-based Arch Coal, which owns Mountain Coal Co., the mine’s owner, says U.S. coal markets have gone through “an unprecedented contraction” in recent months.
Arch Coal spokeswoman Kim Link says employees received severance packages based on length of service.
The West Elk Mine had 417 full-time employees before this week’s reductions. The mine produced 5.3 million tons of coal last year.
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Information from: The Daily Sentinel,
