U.S. coal miners sit at the crossroads of worker safety and the environment -- two major public-policy issues that pose threats to the industry as a whole, but offer opportunities for individual companies that can adapt. Increasing scrutiny of the industry's environmental and safety performance has put a premium on companies that can mine coal more safely while causing less environmental damage…A string of tragic accidents at coal mines since the beginning of 2006 has elevated the issue of mine safety…[C]ompanies such as Massey Energy and James River Coal…have been trying to switch more of their production to surface mining, which…involves the controversial technique of mountaintop mining…The other major environmental issue confronting the coal industry is global warming. [also refers to Consol Energy, Murray Energy Corp, International Coal, Peabody Energy, Arch Coal, Foundation Coal, TXU]