ESKDALE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Kanawha County coal mining operation is scheduled to close in December, resulting in the permanent loss of approximately 109 jobs.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice dated October 7, Panther Creek Mining, LLC plans to idle its entire Samples Complex, located along Toms Fork Road in Eskdale.
The closure includes the Samples Surface Mine, Toms Fork Preparation Plant and loadout facility.
The company expects to begin layoffs on December 5, 2026, or within the following 14 days. All 109 affected employees are non-union workers, and the layoffs are expected to be permanent.
According to documents provided by the company, the layoffs will affect employees across several positions, including 28 rock truck operators, 13 surface mechanics, six drill operators, six dozer operators, six production excavator operators and several other positions.
The company notified the West Virginia Dislocated Worker Unit and Kanawha County Commission of the planned closure.
The announcement comes as another coal mine in Ashford, Boone County, is scheduled to close this weekend, resulting in the loss of 71 jobs.
Together, the two closures are expected to eliminate approximately 180 coal mining jobs in southern West Virginia.
The WARN notice did not provide a specific reason for the Samples Complex closure.
