A Merger Agreement Between Two Virginia Coal Companies Has Been Given The Green Light. Shareholders From Alpha Natural Resources, Based In Abingdon And Massey Energy Company, Headquartered In Richmond Met Wednesday In Kingsport, And Decided To Join Forces To Become The Third Largest Producer Of High-Priced Metallergic Coal In The World And The Dominant U.S. Producer Of The Specialty Product Used By Steelmakers. Alpha Wants To Purchase Massey For 7.1 Billion Dollars.