It’s just been confirmed that C.A. Phillips, director of the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, plans to retire effective Dec. 31.

C.A. has been director of the agency since August 2011, and had served as acting director for nearly a year before that. He spent nearly a dozen years with the agency, starting in 2001 under the administration of then-Gov. Bob Wise.  A native of McDowell County, C.A. worked in and around the mining industry since 1969. He was a miner and a fireboss for the Olga Coal Co., and went on to work as a safety representative for the United Mine Workers of America.

We’re waiting for word now on Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s plans for a replacement.