MILL CREEK — Two mining facilities in Mill Creek have announced a round of layoffs followed by “staggered layoffs” through the end of this year.

United Coal Company LLC announced that its subsidiary, Carter Roag Coal Company, has issued Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices to approximately 239 employees as a result of idling production at its Morgan Camp

deep mine operations and Starbridge Plant, both near Mill Creek, due to adverse market conditions.

Layoffs were expected to begin Friday, the announcement stated, adding “additional, staggered layoffs will occur as some employees will remain onsite through the end of the year as Carter Roag Coal Company winds down these operations.”

The layoffs are expected to be permanent, the announcement stated.

Carter Roag Coal Company has operated as a subsidiary of United Coal Company LLC since 2004, when UCC purchased permitted reserves in Randolph and Upshur counties in West Virginia.

During that time, Carter Roag Coal Company has consistently employed between 136 and 269 Employees, officials said.

The property has produced high-volatile metallurgical Sewell coal for several decades, which is vital in the steel-making process. United Coal Company LLC is based in Johnson City, Tennessee.