Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • A1

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See store for details. (888) 926-CARE UnionWireless.com Deal: The Blind Guy Get a $50 gift card for $25 CLASSIFIEDS B7 COMICS B4 MARKETS B6 OBITUARIES A5 PUBLIC RECORD A6 PUZZLES B9 $1.50 Volume 123, Issue 259 A Lee Enterprises Newspaper Copyright 2016 Follow us online: facebook.com/CASTribune We can even be grateful for the lemons. The Grouch 43 25 FORECAST, A2 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2016 trib.com SALES TAX State lawmakers move forward with bill that would tax online purchases in Wyoming. CASPER THE WEST, A3 Deal: The Blind Guy Get a $50 Gift Card for $25 JENNA VONHOFE, STAR-TRIBUNE A truck hauls coal at the Eagle Butte mine near Gillette. HEATHER RICHARDS 307-266-0592, Heather.Richards@trib.com The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is accusing a coal company oper- ating in Wyoming of potential fraud by failing to disclose as much as $100 million in liabil- ities during its exit from bank- ruptcy earlier this year.

In a complaint led Nov. 16, the West Virginia regulators argued that had the $100 mil- lion cash burden been known, it might have derailed the approval of Alpha Natural re- structuring agreement, which involved the forming of a new company led by former Alpha executives, Contura Energy. Contura bought stron- gest assets, the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines in Campbell County. The West Virginia regula- tors argue that Alpha Natural Resources and Contura Energy leaders and their top lenders likely knew about the undis- closed liabilities. Alpha representatives denied the allegations, arguing in a re- buttal also led Nov.

16 that the $100 million was not included in cash ow statements provided to the court, but was listed in other documents. is hardly an indication of bad faith or misconduct that certain errors with respect to the projections may have been made during this complex pro- lawyers argued in a rebuttal claim. bears repeat- ing that the projections were never intended to be a Regulators are asking the bankruptcy judge to revoke some of the agreements made with Al- pha, Contura Energy, lenders and key leaders during restructuring agreements that essentially allowed those entities to exit bankruptcy with a clean slate and obtain permits to operate coal mines. The Appalachian state regula- tors are not seeking to dismantle the complicated restructuring agreement. However, revocation of the company and its protections could pave the way for additional legal actions against Contura, one of Wyo- largest coal companies, some experts say.

The missing $100 million came to the West Virginia attention three months after Alpha exited bankruptcy when Alpha, Contura and senior exec- utives led a settlement agree- ment, mentioning the previously Execs accused of hiding liabilities DAN CEPEDA, STAR-TRIBUNE Nancy Vanatta, 56, holds her meal voucher while standing in line behind hundreds of people waiting to get food for a full Thanksgiving Day meal on Monday morning at the Casper Faith Assembly of God in Casper. taking lemons and making ELISE SCHMELZER 307-266-0574, elise.schmelzer@trib.com For an increasing number of Casper families, a Thanksgiv- ing turkey just in an already slim budget. So hun- dreds donned jackets Monday morning and lined up outside a church hoping for a little holiday help from Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies. Sue Seager, 48, waited for a ride with her bags of donated food outside the Casper Faith Assembly of God. While her family has received assistance with Thanksgiving meals be- fore, this year was particularly di cult.

Her husband, a lifelong coal miner, recently lost almost half of his hours at work as the in- dustry shrinks. Her son, who also works in the energy sector, recently lost his job. been hard, she said. just trying to make things work Hundreds of others waited outside the church at 11 a.m., when the food bank was Record-breaking number of Casper residents receive Thanksgiving meal help at distribution LAURA HANCOCK 307-266-0581, Laura.Hancock@trib.com Democrats who will serve in the Wyoming Legislature next year chose two Laramie lawmak- ers to lead them in the Senate and House. Sen.

Chris Rothfuss will be the Senate minority oor leader. Rep. Cathy Connolly will be the House minority oor leader. I ts and incom- ing Democratic legislators met Sunday in Rawlins and selected leaders. On Saturday, Republicans caucused in Casper.

Republi- cans elected Sen. Eli Bebout of Riverton as Senate president and Rep. Steve Harshman of Casper as House speaker. In 2017, there will be just 12 Democrats in the 90-mem- ber Wyoming Legislature. The minority party will be down one seat as a result of the Nov.

8 election. Rothfuss, who has been the Democratic leader in the Sen- ate since 2013, said the party will nevertheless continue to push its agenda of in- dividual rights, worker safety, diversifying the economy and pushing the state to look at raising revenue. Oil, gas and coal are down. The commodities provide most of the state its revenues. Lawmak- ers will begin the session Jan.

10 facing a $157 million shortfall in the account that pays for general Rothfuss and Connolly to lead Dems MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press PRAY, Mont. U.S. cials on Monday blocked new min- ing claims outside Yellowstone National Park as the Obama administration races in its last days to keep industry out of nat- ural and environmentally sensi- tive areas. Mining claims on 30,370 acres north of the rst national park would be prohib- ited for at least two years while a long-term ban is considered, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said during a visit to scenic Paradise Valley. Details were obtained by The Associated Press in advance of the formal announcement.

Interior cials last week blocked new oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean and cancelled 25 oil and gas leases in western Colorado and 15 in northwest- ern Montana. Republicans and industry representatives have criti- cized the eleventh-hour actions to limit development. prom- ised to seek their reversal once Obama leaves ce and Don- ald Trump takes charge of the White House. The latest move came after a pair of gold exploration propos- als north of Yellowstone drew strong opposition from busi- ness owners, environmentalists and Montana elected cials. Local cials worry mining could hurt an economy heavily dependent on tourism and out- door recreation.

US ocials block mining claims north of Yellowstone Please see MINING, Page A11 Please see DEMOCRATS Page A11 Please see MEAL, Page A11 DAN CEPEDA, STAR-TRIBUNE Volunteer Greta eld hands out produce for a Thanksgiving meal donation at the Casper Faith Assembly of God building on Monday morning in Casper. Over 1,700 people registered for the meals, according to Casper Faith Helping Hands Community Barbara Walters. The Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies partnered with several di erent agencies to put together a one-stop program for people who a ord a full Thanksgiving meal. Rothfuss Connolly LEARNING FROM THE GREATS College football Hall of Fame coach Tom Osborne coached with Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl at Nebraska and sees his formula being used in Laramie. SPORTS, B1 Please see COAL, Page A11 STATE LEGISLATURE.