In the United States, a Mine Owners' Association (MOA), also sometimes referred to as a Mine Operators' Association or a Mine Owners' Protective Association, is the combination of individual mining companies, or groups of mining companies, into an association, established for the purpose of promoting the collective interests of the group. Such associations are sometimes referred to as MOAs, however, in some cases they may be designated by the state, district, or locale, such as the Cripple Creek District Mine Owners' Association (CCDMOA).[1]
Mine Owners' Associations were often formed for the purpose of fighting against union organizing drives, but smelter trusts and railroad syndicates were also a concern. These latter issues were complicated by the fact that some mine owners also controlled smelters and railroad lines.
- ^ It appears that there has been considerable imprecision in historical accounts when identifying Mine Owners' Associations, and groupings sometimes overlapped. Telluride, for example, had mine operators who were members of the Telluride Mining Association (TMA), and also of the state-wide Colorado Mine Operators' Association, which may also be referred to in some documents as the Colorado Mine Owners' Association. In some publications, it is unclear whether a local or state-wide organization is indicated. Likewise, the Colorado Mine Owners' Association coexisted for a time with the Colorado Mining Association. Hopefully, further research can clarify relationships and naming uncertainties.