Alpha idles 2 Va. mines, lays off about 80 workers

BRISTOL, Va. (AP) -- Two Alpha Natural Resources Inc. mines in Virginia have been idled as part of cutbacks announced last fall.

Alpha spokesman Ted Pile tells media outlets that the company idled its Red Onion surface mine near Pound and Bluff Spur underground mine near Norton last week.

Pile says about 80 workers across the state were laid off. Some were transferred to other mining operations in southwest Virginia.

Bristol, Va.-based Alpha announced last September that it was cutting production by 16 million tons and eliminating 1,200 jobs companywide.

Chief Executive Officer Kevin Crutchfield said at the time that the shutdowns and layoffs are a necessary part of Alpha surviving what has become a difficult U.S. market.