Changes

Aside from promises to improve productivity and safety, Massey's stated strategic gaols are to expand underground mining and pursue acquisitions of other coal companies. Massey states that it aims to expand underground mining operations as a response to what it describes as "an increasingly regulated environment where it has become increasingly more costly and time consuming to obtain surface mining permits." The company states that its acquisition strategy is aimed at making the company "the largest producer in Central Appalachia".<ref name="MasseyProsp"/> In March 2010, Massey entered into an agreement with the [[Cumberland Resources Corporation]] (“CRC”) and [[Powell River Resources Corporation]] for the purchase of their coal operations and associated reserves in Southwest Virginia and Eastern Kentuckyfor $960 million in cash and stocks.<ref> [http://www.resourceinvestor.com/News/2010/3/Pages/Massey-Energy-has-deal-to-buy-Cumberland-Resources-Corp.aspx "Massey Energy has deal to buy Cumberland Resources Corp,"] PR Newswire, March 16, 2010.</ref>

Massey recognizes documents state that domestic and international moves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could adversely affect the saleability of coal generally and specific grades of coal. In its March 2010 Prospectus, Massey stated that "the majority of our coal supply agreements contain provisions that allow a purchaser to terminate its contract if legislation is passed that either restricts the use or type of coal permissible at the purchaser’s plant or results in specified increases in the cost of coal or its use."<ref name="MasseyProsp"/>