Massey Energy says it has idled a West Virginia surface coal mine and is laying off 300 people.
Television station WSAZ reports Massey is blaming market conditions for the decision to stop producing coal at its Black Castle mine Thursday.
Government records show production at the Boone County mine dropped 16 percent to 3.1 million tons last year, from 3.7 million tons in 2007.
In February, Richmond, Va.-based Massey said 95 percent of the coal it plans to produce this year had been sold.
Massey, the No. 4 U.S. producer by revenue, is the latest big coal company to cut production. St. Louis-based Patriot Coal, Peabody Energy and others have made cuts due to the anemic economy.
Massey operates mines in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.
Sources: Daily Press, WSAZ-TV
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