UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 7, 2004
COMMISSION FILE NO.: 0-26823
ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 73-1564280
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
1717 SOUTH BOULDER AVENUE, SUITE 600, TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74119
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES AND ZIP CODE)
(918) 295-7600
(REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC has proposed a long-wall underground mine
extension (the "E-Mine") to be located primarily in Tucker County, West
Virginia, which will eventually replace the Partnership's Mettiki Coal, LLC
existing long-wall mine (the "D-Mine") located in Garrett County, Maryland. The
proposed E-mine is approximately 10 miles from Mettiki Coal's D-Mine. In order
to proceed with the development of the E-Mine, Mettiki Coal (WV) filed two
separate permit applications with the West Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection ("WVDEP") concerning on-site disposal of scalp rock and underground
mining, each requiring an associated water discharge permit. The Partnership was
notified on April 16, May 13, May 26, and June 7, 2004, that WVDEP had approved
the permits for on-site disposal of scalp rock, underground mining, water
discharge related to the operation of the scalp rock disposal facility, and
water discharge related to the operation of the underground mine, respectively.
The scalp rock permit that was issued recently by WVDEP is no longer
subject to appeal, while the underground mining permit is still subject to
appeal by a third-party intervener. Any such appeal of the underground mining
permit will be directed to the West Virginia Surface Mine Board ("SMB"), while
the two water discharge permits may be appealed to the West Virginia
Environmental Quality Board (the "EQB"). The EQB and SMB are five- and
seven-member boards, respectively, both of which typically hear appeals
regarding the issuance or denial of permits, permit conditions, or enforcement
actions within several months from the date of appeal. Decisions are normally
rendered within several weeks after an administrative hearing has been
concluded. In the event of an appeal by a third-party intervener of the WVDEP's
approval of the relevant permit applications, management believes the WVDEP's
approval of the permit applications will be upheld by the SMB and/or the EQB, as
applicable.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC,
its managing general partner
By: /s/ Joseph W. Craft III
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Joseph W. Craft III
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: June 8, 2004
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