EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.17

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) executed this 1st day of September, 2006, between CAM Mining LLC (“Employer”) and Chad Hunt (“Employee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS Employer desires to continue to employ Employee on the terms hereof, and Employee desires to accept and continue his employment on such terms; and

WHEREAS the parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement is to be effective on the date hereof (the “Effective Date”) and except as specifically provided in this Agreement, supersedes and replaces any prior terms of employment between Employer and Employee.

In consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows:

1.                                      Terms and Duties.  Commencing as of the Effective Date and continuing until August 31, 2008, unless sooner terminated as herein provided or extended by mutual agreement of the parties (the “Employment Term”), the Employer hereby employs the Employee in his current capacity or in such other position, or with such other duties, as Employer may designate during the Employment Term. The Employee agrees to devote all of his business time and his best efforts to the business of Employer as may be necessary to perform his duties in accordance with the policies and budgets established from time to time by Employer. During the Employment Term, the Employee will not have any other employment.  Employee shall be bound by, and agree to comply with, all policies, procedures, and employment conditions of Employer in effect from time to time.

2.                                      Compensation.  For Employee’s services hereunder during the Employment Term, Employee shall pay to Employee a salary at the rate of $86,220.00 per year, payable periodically

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in accordance with Employer’s usual executive payroll payment procedures; plus Employee shall participate in the Employer’s Individual Compensation Plan as set or modified from time to time by Employer.  In addition, in the event of (i) a sale by the Employer or CAM Holdings LLC of substantially all of its assets, unless such transaction results in such assets being owned or controlled by Wexford Capital LLC and/or its affiliates, either directly or indirectly, (ii) a sale of the ownership interests in CAM Holdings LLC by all entities affiliated with Wexford Capital, LLC and constituting more than a 50% interest in CAM Holdings LLC, unless such transaction results in at least 51% of such ownership interests being owned or controlled by Wexford Capital LLC and/or its affiliates, either directly or indirectly, or (iii) the completion of a public offering of ownership interests in the Employer, CAM Holdings LLC or an entity formed to own CAM Holdings LLC (a “Transaction”), Employee shall, if employed by Employer at the time of the completion of such a Transaction, be entitled to receive a one-time bonus payment of $100,000.00, payable within 30 days of completion of a Transaction, subject to any required withholding.  This bonus shall only be payable if Employee is not in default of any obligations under this Agreement and is employed by Employer at such time and if Employee reaffirms in writing his obligations under the Section 6 of this Agreement at the time of payment of such bonus.

3.                                      Automobile.  Employer shall provide Employee with the use of a 4-wheel drive vehicle suitable for the intended duties of the Employee. The cost of the vehicle to be provided shall be determined by Employer.

4.                                      Place of Employment. The Employee’s regular place of employment during the Employment Term shall be at the Employer’s operations or offices in Pike or Floyd Counties, Kentucky or at such other location as reasonably stipulated by Employer.

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5.                                      Travel; Expenses.  The Employee shall engage in such travel as may reasonably be required in connection with the performance of his duties. All reasonable travel and other expenses incurred by the Employee (in accordance with the policies and the budget of the Employer established from time to time) in carrying out his duties hereunder will be reimbursed by the Employer on presentation to it of expense accounts and appropriate documentation in accordance with the customary procedures of the Employer for reimbursement of employee expenses.

6.                                      Confidentiality; Competition.

(a)                                  The Employer possesses and will continue to possess confidential information that Employee may gain access to. For the purposes hereof, all non-public information about the business and affairs of the Employer (including, without limitation, business plans, real and personal property leases, financial, engineering and marketing information and information about costs, mining and processing methods, suppliers and customers, including such information created by Employee and confidential information of others obtained by Employer pursuant to confidentiality agreements) constitute “Employer Confidential Information.” Employee acknowledges that he will have access to and knowledge of Employer Confidential Information, and that improper use or disclosure of same by the Employee during or after the Employment Term could cause serious injury to the business of the Employer. Accordingly, the Employee agrees that he will forever keep secret and inviolate all Employer Confidential Information which comes into his possession, and that he will not use the same for his own private benefit, or directly or indirectly for the benefit of others, and that he will not disclose such Employer Confidential Information to any other person except as necessary in the proper pursuance of his duties.

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(b)                                 The Employee agrees that during the Employment Term (and for a period of three (3) months after Employee’s voluntary resignation or termination with cause) the Employee will not (whether as an officer, director, partner, proprietor, member, shareholder, investor, associate, employee, consultant, adviser, public relations or advertising representative or otherwise), directly or indirectly, be engaged in the business of coal mining, coal processing, coal loading or coal marketing within a fifty (50) air mile radius of Pikeville, Kentucky. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the Employee shall be deemed to be engaged in any business with any person for whom he shall be an employee, officer, director, owner, employer, consultant, shareholder, member or partner. During such period of non-competition and for a period of six (6) months thereafter, Employee shall not directly or indirectly solicit, interview or make any decision or recommendation to hire or to retain as a consultant or advisor or in any other capacity, any current employee of Employer, for himself, or for or to, any other person or entity.  Employee shall notify any subsequent employer of Employee of the foregoing agreement

(c)                                  The terms of this Agreement are intended to limit disclosure and competition by the Employee to the maximum extent permitted by law. If it shall be finally determined by any court of competent jurisdiction ruling on this Agreement that the scope or duration of any limitation contained in this paragraph 6 is too extensive to be legally enforceable, then the parties hereby agree that the scope and duration (not greater than that provided for herein) of such limitation shall be the maximum scope and duration which shall be legally enforceable and the Employee hereby consents to the enforcement of such limitation as so modified.

(d)                                 The Employee acknowledges that any violation by him of the provisions of this paragraph 6 could cause serious and irreparable harm and damage to the Employer. He

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further acknowledges that it might not be possible to measure such damages in money and that Employer’s remedy at law for a breach or threatened reach of the provisions of Paragraph 5 would be inadequate. Accordingly, the Employee agrees that, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by him of the provisions of this paragraph 6, the Employer may seek, in addition to any other rights or remedies, including money damages, an injunction or restraining order, restraining the Employee from doing or continuing to do or perform any acts constituting such breach or threatened breach. In the event Employer seeks an injunction or restraining order, Employee and Employer agree that Employer shall not be required to post a bond to obtain the necessary equitable relief.

7.                                      Benefits. The Employer agrees to provide to the Employee the benefits available to all salaried employees generally and as modified from time to time.

8.                                      Employee’s Representation Regarding Prior and Future Employment.  Employee hereby represents to the Employer that he has full lawful right and power to enter into this Agreement and carry out his duties hereunder, and that same will not constitute a breach of or default under any employment, confidentiality, non-competition or other agreement by which he may be bound. Further, Employee hereby represents to the Employer that he is not listed in the Office of Surface Mining’s Applicant Violator System database.  Employee further agrees to provide prompt notice to Employer of Employee’s first subsequent employment after ceasing to be an employee of Employer.

9.                                      Termination for Cause, Employment at Will or Voluntary Resignation by Employee.   If Employee shall:

(a)                                  commit an act of dishonesty against the Employer or fraud upon the Employer; or

(b)                                 breach his obligations under this Agreement and fail to cure such

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breach within five (5) days after written notice thereof, or

(c)                                  be indicted for or convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; or

(d)                                 fail or neglect to diligently perform his duties hereunder and continue in his failure after written notice;

(all such instances being deemed “for cause” under this Agreement);

then, and in any such case, the Employer may terminate the employment of the Employee “for cause” hereunder.  In the event of termination with or without cause or voluntary resignation by Employee, the Employee shall no longer have any right to any of the benefits (including future salary or bonus payments) which would otherwise have accrued after such termination.

10.                               EMPLOYMENT AT WILL.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE DEFINITION OF “FOR CAUSE” SET OUT ABOVE, THE EMPLOYER MAY TERMINATE THE EMPLOYEE’S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE EMPLOYER AT ANY TIME WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE AND EMPLOYEE SHALL BE DEEMED AN EMPLOYEE AT WILL

11.                               Successors.  The rights, benefits, duties and obligations under this Agreement shall inure to and be binding upon the Employer, its successors and assigns and upon the Employee and his legal representatives, legatees and heirs. It is specifically understood, however, that this Agreement may not be transferred or assigned by the Employee. The Employer may assign any of its rights and obligations hereunder to any subsidiary or affiliate of the Employer, or to a successor or survivor resulting from a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or stock or other corporate reorganization, on condition that the assignee shall assume all of the Employer’s obligations hereunder and it is agreed that such successor or surviving corporation shall continue to be obligated to perform the provisions of this Agreement.

12.                               Waiver of Breach.  The failure of either party to insist upon the strict

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performance of any of the terms, conditions, and provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of future compliance therewith, and said terms, conditions, and provisions shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement on the part of the Employer shall be effective for any purposes whatsoever unless such waiver is in writing by Employer’s Chairman.

13.                               Amendments.  No amendment or variations of the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be made unless the terms of such amendment are in writing and-duly executed by Employee and Employer’s Chairman.

14.                               Entire Agreement; Survival.  This Agreement constitutes the complete and entire agreement governing the terms and conditions of the employment relationship between the parties and supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings. Both Employee and Employer acknowledge and agree that there are no oral or written understandings concerning the Employee’s employment by Employer outside of this Agreement.  The terms of this Agreement shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement and the conclusion of the Employment Term.

15.                               Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including matters of law relating to the choice of law.  Employee hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including the Pike Circuit Court and hereby waives any objection to venue of any action brought in said court.

16.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement, as executed separately by the individual parties, shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one document.

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17.                               Confidential Terms.  Employee agrees to maintain as confidential the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided however Employee may disclose the terms of this agreement to his legal counsel, and accountant or tax preparer, or as may be otherwise required by law.

18.                               JURY TRIAL WAIVER.  EMPLOYEE HEREBY VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH REGARD TO ANY ACTION ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE BY THE EMPLOYER.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

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