“We would like to congratulate Pocahontas Coal Company and the other companies who were recognized for their hard work and responsible reclamation,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “Each of these companies goes far beyond what is required to restore former mine lands. We always say coal miners are the real environmentalists. They don’t just talk about doing something…they go out and do it. They do it because this is their home. We are proud to represent these companies and the 63,000 coal mining families who live and work here in West Virginia.”
In making the award, Jason Bostic, vice president for the West Virginia Coal Association, said, “Pocahontas Coal showed exemplary performance in reclamation of a refuse facility. For achieving environmental compliance and incorporating community involvement in the restoration of a pre-law refuse area into an aesthetically pleasing facility with their “Green Project” challenge to all of its operations.”
Also announced at the WV Mining Symposium, Consol’s Turkey Gap Refuse Impoundment in Mercer County claimed the state’s top award for environmental stewardship, the Greenlands Award, while Coal-Mac’s New Ridge East Surface Mine in Mingo County took home the Turkey Habitat Award for its work in restoring former surface mine land for wildlife habitat. Several other companies were also recognized for their commitment to the environment at the Symposium, one of the nation’s top coal industry events.
“These winners and the other companies and projects that are being recognized show the importance our industry places on being environmentally responsible,” Bostic said. “Our companies are at the cutting edge of the science of environmental reclamation, recognized the world over for their work.”
The following companies also took home individual awards for environmental restoration at the Symposium:
- ·Deep Mine Reclamation South Award: Consol Coal Co.’s Itmann #3 Mine (Wyoming Co.).
- ·Refuse Reclamation North Award: Wolf Run Mining Co.’s Reed Hollow Refuse (Upshur Co.).
- ·Surface Mine Reclamation North Award: Ten-A Coal Co.’s Koon Surface Mine (Marion Co.).
- ·Drainage and Sediment Control South Award: Met Resources, LLC’s McComas Surface Mine #1 (Mercer Co.).
- ·Refuse Reclamation North Award: Kanawha Energy Co.’s Jackson Hollow Refuse (Barbour Co.).
- ·Pool Dewatering Project Award: Mingo-Logan Coal Co.’s Mountain Laurel Complex (Boone & Logan Co’s.).
- ·Drainage and Sediment Control Award: Apogee Coal Co.’s Guyan Surface Mine (Logan Co.).
- ·Haulroad Construction South Award: Met Resources, LLC’s McComas Haulroad (Mercer Co.).
- ·AML North Award: Collins Building & Contracting (Tucker Co.)
- ·AML South Award: Eastern Arrow, Sugar Branch Burning Refuse (Logan Co.)