Our firm’s two certified mineral appraisers and its associates are experienced in the appraisal of individual asset categories and of business enterprises and equity interests.  Individual asset categories include resource/reserve interests and/or the mineral estate at both undeveloped and producing properties; surface estates; timber; and plant, machinery, and equipment.  Appraisals have been conducted for a broad range of commodities, including base and precious metals, industrial rocks and minerals, coal, and oil and natural gas.  Appraisals of business enterprises includes partnerships, limited liability companies, and Subchapter S and Subchapter C corporations.  

Appraisals have been conducted for a variety of landholding companies, mineral producers, oil and natural gas producers, banks and financial organizations, law firms, government agencies, and individuals in both the U.S. and internationally. All appraisals are conducted in conformance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

STAGG’s environmental group provides comprehensive services to mining and industrial companies, state and federal agencies, landholding companies, and individuals. Staff and associates include geologists, biologists, chemists, hydrogeologists, and engineers.

Services include Phase I and II site assessments; compliance reviews, and audits; water monitoring and sampling; main drainage studies; preparation of contingency plans; characterization of waste; and identification of aquifers and studies of groundwater movement.

We offer a comprehensive range of services, from pre-project field reconnaissance through the development and implementation of major exploration programs.  STAGG has extensive experience in evaluating a variety of commodities at all levels of investigation, ranging from preliminary assessments of resource and reserve potential to detailed reserve studies conforming with public reporting requirements.  Additionally, STAGG is experienced in assessing the impact of geologic conditions on mining both in pre-development stages and during mining.  The firm has worked throughout the U.S. and internationally, with Alan Stagg, the lead professional, having more than 50 years’ experience.

Alan Stagg, the firm’s lead professional, has more than 35 years’ experience providing expert testimony, ranging from litigation and arbitration to administrative hearings.  Areas of particular expertise include resource/reserve determination, lost and sterilized reserve issues, operational and cost issues, sales and market issues, contractual issues, economic feasibility, and valuation issues.  Venues in which testimony has been provided include federal district courts, state circuit courts, administrative hearings, and arbitration panels.  Additionally, the firm has extensive experience assisting in case development and in the preparation of courtroom exhibits.

Services in this area include supply and demand studies for a variety of commodities at both local and regional levels, including the delineation of market areas, forecasts of future demand, and forecasts of pricing.  Additionally, sourcing studies have been conducted for a variety of commodities, most notably coal and a variety of industrial rocks and minerals.  Regional studies regarding such matters as leasing practices, regional competitiveness, and mineral taxation issues have also been conducted.

Mining services include mine planning and design, equipment selection and utilization, process plant evaluation and design, and the preparation of detailed cost studies and capital budgets.  These services have been provided for both surface and underground mines throughout the U.S., with these services frequently provided in the course of due diligence activities for potential investment or acquisition.  

These services include the preparation of detailed mine cost studies, the economic and financial analysis of proposed and operating mines, and the financial analysis of mining enterprises.  In conducting mine cost studies, STAGG utilizes MineCost, a proprietary spreadsheet-based mine-costing program developed by the firm for both surface and underground mines.  This mine-costing program is routinely used in evaluating proposed acquisitions, in operational analyses conducted for mine operators, in the formal appraisal of mines and mining enterprises, and in litigation and arbitration.

The firm’s experience in economic and financial analysis has been gained during due diligence investigations; operational analyses conducted for mine operators, potential lenders, and landholding companies; in litigation and arbitration; and in the appraisal of mines and mining enterprises.  The firm has two certified mineral appraisers on its staff with substantial appraisal experience in a broad range of commodities.

Natural Resource Properties

1. Retrospective appraisal of severed mineral estate in a heavy-minerals-bearing property in Dinwiddie County, Virginia; prepared for Williams Mullen on behalf of its client Clarke Royalty Company.
2. Appraisal of the coal estate in the Nance-Brown property located in Rosebud County, Montana; prepared for the U.S. Department of Justice in litigation involving alluvial valley floor exchange issues under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.
3. Appraisal of various estates in real property on approximately 3.4 million acres in Montana; prepared for PNC Capital Markets, Inc.

Intangible Assets

1. Appraisal of the oil and natural gas interests in various oil and natural gas exploration and production companies operating in the U.S.; prepared annually as a subcontractor to Valuation Research Corporation on behalf of a private equity fund not to be identified.
2. Appraisal of natural gas storage easement agreements; Medina County, Ohio; prepared for McGuireWoods, LLP on behalf of its client Columbia Gas Transmission in condemnation proceedings.

Business Enterprise and Equity

1. Appraisal of the business enterprise represented by an iron ore project in South America; prepared as a subcontractor to Valuation Research Corporation on behalf of a client not to be identified.
2. Appraisal at the date of death of the equity interest in a closely held mineral landholding company with holdings in Boone, Nicholas, and Raleigh Counties, West Virginia; prepared for Jackson Kelly, PLLC on behalf of the Estate of Patricia Ayash.
3. Appraisal of the partnership interests in Meridian Granite company at the Granite Canyon Quarry, Laramie County, Wyoming; prepared for Martin Marietta Aggregates.

Plant, Machinery, Equipment, and Inventory

1. Appraisal of coal inventory at various facilities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia; prepared for Contura Energy, Inc.
2. Appraisal of an ash handling facility at the Covington Mill in Covington, Virginia; prepared for MeadWestvaco Corporation.
3. Appraisal of the Chelyan coal preparation plant in Kanawha County, West Virginia; prepared for Virginia Power Energy Marketing, Inc.
4. Appraisal of a synthetic fuels production facility in Raleigh County, West Virginia; prepared for JPMorgan Capital Corporation.

1. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of approximately 310,000 acres of surface and 4,500,000 acres of mineral rights lying in Illinois, North Dakota, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming conducted for Great Northern Properties LP during its acquisition of Meridian Land and Minerals Company’s properties.
2. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of more than 11 million acres of various interests in the mineral estates located in 33 states conducted for Natural Resource Partners, LP during its acquisition of International Paper Company’s properties.
3. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of an estimated 7,700 acres of land lying in Bibb and Shelby Counties, Alabama, in which the surface estate was owned by United States Steel Corporation and the mineral estate was owned by RGGS Land & Minerals, Ltd. L.P, conducted for Attila Resources, Ltd.
4. PhaseI I Environmental Site Assessment of a former commercial/industrial property and facilities in Summersville, West Virginia, conducted for BEI Offices, LLC and William J. Rucker, Jr. 

1. The development and implementation of a 24-hole diamond core drilling program on an approximate 7,700-acre coal-bearing property lying in Bibb and Shelby Counties, Alabama.  This program included detailed core logging, geophysical logging and interpretation, coal sampling and comprehensive suites of analytic and petrographic testing, coal-bed desorption testing, sampling and detailed geotechnical and rock-strength testing of potential roof and bottom rock, geologic interpretation and modeling, and the preparation of a JORC-compliant mineral resource report.  Conducted for Kodiak Mining Company, LLC on behalf of Attila Resources for public reporting on the Australian Stock Exchange.
2. The development and implementation of drilling, sampling, and testing programs for proppant (frac) sand involving more than 200 bore holes at nine exploration projects comprising more than 100,000 acres of property at various locations in central, south, and west Texas. Detailed geologic mapping and tonnage estimation was conducted for several of the sites, with formal reserve studies in conformance with the 2014 SME Guide and SEC Industry Guide 7 prepared for public reporting on the New York Stock Exchange.
3. Underground geologic mapping and depositional modeling in support of longwall systems at a series of coal mines in western Pennsylvania.  Conducted for Pennsylvania Mines Corporation.
4. Detailed underground geologic mapping of a propane storage cavern under development in Wayne County, West Virginia, and an assessment of the impact of the failure to stay below key strata during construction.  Conducted for Marathon Petroleum Company LLC.
5. Regional geologic study and an assessment of the proppant (frac) sand potential of the St. Peter Formation in eastern Missouri.  Conducted for a client not to be identified.
6. Investigations into alleged damage to domestic water wells from road construction in southern West Virginia, conducted for individual landowners not to be identified.
7. Investigation of problems encountered in the drilling of water supply wells, conducted or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

1. Litigation support and expert testimony involving the condemnation of a proppant (frac) sand-bearing property in Harris County, Texas; conducted for Jeffrey C. Holverson, et ux. in support of their attorneys Johns Marrs Ellis & Hodge.  Case styled State of Texas v. Jeffrey C. Holverson, et al., to have been heard in the County Civil Court at Law No. 2, Harris County, Texas.
2. Litigation support and expert testimony involving appraised values of natural gas easements for a natural gas storage field in Medina County, Ohio, and its impact on residential property values—conducted for McGuireWoods LLP on behalf of its client Columbia Gas Transmission LLC.  Cases styled Richard Baatz, et al. v. Columbia Gas Transmission LLL, and Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC v. Brianne Booth, et al., to be heard in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.
3. Litigation support and expert testimony regarding valuation issues at a gold mining operation in Elko County, Nevada, arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duties—conducted for Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP and McDonald Carano Wilson LLP on behalf of their client Credit Suisse AG.  Case styled Credit Suisse AG v. Ferdinand Dippenaar, et al., to have been heard in the Second Judicial District Court of The State Nevada in and for The County of Washoe, Reno, Nevada.
4. Litigation support and expert testimony involving a variety of monetary claims arising from alleged lack of oversight and fiduciary responsibilities by the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the Quapaw Tribe—conducted for the U.S. Department of Justice.  Case styled Grace M. Goodeagle, et al. v. United States, to have been heard in United States Court of Federal Claims, Washington, D.C.
5. Litigation support and expert testimony concerning alleged force majeure issues regarding a coal sales contract conducted for Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation on behalf of its client Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation. Case styled Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation v. Central West Virginia Energy Company, heard in the Circuit Court of Brooke County, West Virginia.
6. Litigation support and expert testimony in a tortious interference action in Buchanan County, Virginia conducted for Buchanan Ingersoll on behalf of its client Harman Mining Corporation. Case styled Hugh M. Caperton, et al. v. A. T. Massey Coal Company, Inc., et al., heard in the Circuit Court of Boone County, Madison, West Virginia.

1. Detailed investigation and research and the preparation of report titled Coal Market Potential and Regional Competitiveness Study of Selected Coal Fields of Montana.  Conducted for the Montana Department of Commerce and the Office of the Governor, Economic Development Office.
2. Detailed investigation into coal leasing practices in the western United States, conducted for a major landholding company.
3. Detailed market analysis of the crushed stone industry in Montgomery County and surrounding counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, conducted in support of zoning hearings on behalf of the proposed development of an aggregate quarry for a client not to be identified.
4. Investigation and research and the preparation of a report titled Analysis of Assessment Methodology, Kentucky Revenue Cabinet Ad Valorem Unmined Coal Taxes, prepared for the Kentucky Coal Association.
5. Detailed investigation and research and the preparation of a report titled Decorative and Structural Stone Demand Study, Tucson Metropolitan Area and Pima, Pinal, and Cochise Counties, Arizona, conducted for a client not to be identified.
6. Detailed research and investigation and the preparation of a report titled Coal Supply Study, Central Appalachian Coal Field, prepared for a client not to be identified
7. Limestone sourcing study and economic analysis of alternative sources for a cogeneration facility in California, conducted for the facility operator, not to be identified.
8. Global sourcing study for low-ash bituminous coal meeting the specifications for the production of silicon and ferro-silicon metal, conducted for a client not to be identified.

1. Oversight of drilling programs, the preparation of SEC-compliant reserve studies, and the preparation of initial mine plans for various proppant (frac) sand properties in Texas and Oklahoma; conducted for a client not to be identified.
2. Development of a mine plan and the preparation of a pre-feasibility study for a proposed brownfield underground coal mine complex in Shelby County, Alabama, under the requirements of Australia’s JORC and Valmin Codes; conducted for Kodiak Mining Company, LLC.
3. Evaluation and benchmarking study of key operating factors for the purpose of assessing short-and long-term operational efficiency improvements for two coal mining operations in Utah and Wyoming. The study consisted of the benchmarking of similar mines for productivity, labor, safety, coal quality, costs, technology, and systems and procedures conducted for the parent company of the two mining operations.
4. The preparation of a series of comprehensive mine plans and detailed economic and financial analyses for the development of a construction aggregate quarry in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; conducted for the developer of the property.
5. Due diligence investigations of four affiliated underground mining complexes under common ownership at widely divergent locations in Central Appalachia that produced a range of metallurgical coal products for both domestic and export consumption conducted for a potential acquirer.
6. Evaluation of coal mining operations in the western U.S. that were captive to an electric generating company, including the assessment of remaining reserves, coal quality, projected cost structure, mine closure costs and timing, labor-related liabilities, and the competitive status of the mines; conducted for a potential acquirer not to be identified.

1. Pre-feasibility study for a proposed underground coal-mine complex in Bibb and Shelby Counties, Alabama, conducted in conformance with Australia’s JORC and Valmin Codes for reporting by Attila Resources Limited on the Australian Stock Exchange.
2. Economic evaluation of mining alternatives at a proposed aggregate quarry in southeast Pennsylvania; conducted for a client not to be identified.
3. Investment-related due diligence investigation and the preparation of a financial model for a proposed coal mine development project in Central Appalachia; prepared for a client not to be identified.
4. The preparation of a series of financial models for alternative financing scenarios at a proposed limestone quarry in Western Kentucky; prepared for the developer, not to be identified.
5. The preparation of a series of financial models in support of negotiations for the purchase of coal mining rights at properties located in Alberta, Canada; prepared for a client not to be identified.