The CEO of International Coal Group, a coal company based in Putnam County, says they're being proactive when it comes to mine safety changes following the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster.

"We immediately targeted steps up in our rock dusting programs, in our compliance monitoring efforts, in belt line maintenance.  All of the kinds of things that can get you into more violation trouble," Ben Hatfield said Thursday.

New regulations are in the process of being formulated at the federal level to address the conditions that may have lead to the massive April 5th explosion at the UBB Mine that claimed the lives of 29 coal miners.

Some of the changes that come after UBB, though, are already taking effect.

In a conference call with ICG shareholders Thursday, Hatfield said the company is taking action now, instead of waiting until those new rules are finalized.

"We've added people.  We've added equipment, trying to stay ahead of the curve, if you will, on the compliance step up and I think that's paid off in several respects."

Hatfield says regulatory issues will continue to put pressure on costs and there will be more delays because of environmental concerns in the years ahead, especially when it comes to valley fill mining.

He says any changes to safety regulations will hit older mines the hardest.  ICG, Hatfield says, is fortunate in that way because the company's biggest drivers are largely newer operations.

The UBB Mine in Raleigh County is a Massey Energy mine.  ICG dealt with its own mine disaster in 2006 when 12 coal miners died at the Sago Mine in Upshur County.