Seventeen companies were recognized last Friday for excellence in mine reclamation for 2011. The awards were made at the concluding luncheon of the 39th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium at the Charleston Civic Center on February 3rd.
The awards are co-sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection. To be eligible, a mining operation must be nominated by their local state inspector.
The Greenlands Award, the state’s top environmental award, went to Coal Mac, Inc.’s Phoenix Surface Mine No. 2 in Logan County.
This year’s Duck’s Unlimited Award went to Hobet Mining’s Westridge Surface Mine in Boone County and the Woodlands/Forestry Reclamation Award went to Alpha Natural Resources for their Paynter Branch Surface Mine in Wyoming County.
Coal River Mining’s Boone County operations and Pocahontas Coal Company’s Josephine No. 2 Deep Mine each claimed Corporate Citizen and Good Neighbor Awards.
This year’s Environmental Protection and Stewardship Award went to Pinnacle Mining Company, LLC’s Maitland Mine Water Treatment System in McDowell County.
“We are proud to recognize these companies for their commitment to the stewardship of our state’s natural resources,” said West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney. “These companies have set the standard for environmental achievement. These companies go far beyond requirements of the law in order to be good stewards of state’s resources. I also want to applaud the industry as a whole for its commitment to our state’s environment.”