CHARLESTON -- U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., released the following statement this afternoon in response to news that Judge Robert C. Chambers has granted Fola Coal an extension that will allow miners to continue work at the Clay County site:

“This is welcome news for the community and welcome news for miners in Clay County,” said Capito, who joined Gov. Joe Manchin and Rep. Nick Rahall in visiting the Clay County mine earlier this month.

“For nearly 500 miners facing the prospect of losing their jobs, today’s ruling offers new hope and an opportunity for resolution that does not involve massive job loss. As coal remains at the forefront of the legal and regulatory debate, we must continue to stand together on behalf of our miners and our mining communities," said Capito.