Arch Coal’s Leer Mining Complex Claims Greenlands Award; Brooks Run Mining Co., LLC’s Seven Pines Surface Mine Complex Receives West Virginia Society of American Foresters Reforestation Award
CHARLESTON – Arch Coal, Inc. and its Leer Mining Complex in Taylor County claimed the state’s top award for environmental stewardship –The Greenlands Award – at the West Virginia Coal Association’s 41st Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium held January 29-31st in Charleston.
Thirteen other companies were also recognized for their commitment to the environment at the Symposium, one of the nation’s top coal industry events.
In presenting The Greenlands Award to Arch Coal, West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney said, “This award is for their work to minimize adverse impacts on the regional ecosystem while considering the welfare, concerns, and issues of residents from the Tygart Valley area.”
Apogee Coal Co., LLC’s North Rum Surface Mine in Logan County took home the National Wild Turkey Federation Award for its work in restoring former surface mine land for wildlife habitat. Raney said Apogee’s work goes “above and beyond normal reclamation requirements in an effort to attract wild turkey and a variety of other wildlife species to the reclaimed sites through the development of food sources, water and areas of cover.”
Hobet Mining, LLC’s Big Horse Creek Surface Mine in Boone and Wyoming counties was awarded the Ducks Unlimited Award for reclamation. Raney said, “Hobet employees have gone above and beyond normal reclamation requirements in an effort to attract ducks and a variety of other wildlife species to the reclaimed sites. To enhance its natural attraction to ducks, several duck boxes were installed around some of the ponds to provide secure nesting sites.”
“These winners demonstrate the importance our industry places on being environmentally responsible,” Raney said. “We always say coal miners are the real environmentalists. When you look at the work that is actually done there is no doubt about the accuracy of that statement.”
The following companies received individual awards for environmental restoration:
Greenlands Award
Arch Coal, Inc. / Leer Mining Complex – Taylor County
West Virginia Society of American Foresters Reforestation Award
Brooks Run Mining Co., LLC / Seven Pines Surface Mine Complex - Webster County
Ducks Unlimited Award
Hobet Mining, LLC / Big Horse Creek Surface Mine - Boone/Lincoln County
National Wild Turkey Federation Award
Apogee Coal Co., LLC / North Rum Surface Mine - Logan County
AML North Award
Eastern Arrow – Tucker County
AML South
The Garden Ground Highwalls - Fayette County
Refuse Reclamation / Northern Region
Green Valley Coal Co. / Blue Branch Refuse Facility - Greenbrier/Nicholas County
Refuse Reclamation / Southern Region
Pocahontas Coal Co. / Affinity Refuse Facility - Raleigh County
Surface Reclamation / Southern Region
White Flame Energy, Inc. / White Flame Surface Mine #9 - Mingo County
Re-mining and Reclamation / Southern Region
Caldwell Trailblazers, LLC / Laurel Creek No. 1 Surface Mine – Raleigh County
Valley Fill Construction / Southern Region
Coal-Mac Coal Co. / Pine Creek No. 1 Surface Mine - Raleigh County
Underground Reclamation / Southern Region
Mingo Logan Coal Co. / Adkins Fork No. 2 Deep Mine - Boone/Logan County
Refuse Reclamation/ Northern Region
Green Valley Coal Co. / Adkins Fork Refuse Area - Nicholas/Greenbrier County
Surface Mine Reclamation / Southern Region
Pocahontas Coal Co. / Tommy Creek Highwall Mine No. 1 - Raleigh County
Refuse Reclamation / Northern Region
Wolf Run Mining Co. / Sentinel Complex - Barbour County
Refuse Reclamation / Northern Region
Vindex Energy Corporation / A-34 Refuse Pit - Grant/Tucker County
Good Neighbor and Community Outreach Award
Coal-Mac Coal Co. / Toms Branch Surface Mine - Mingo County
Good Neighbor and Community Outreach Award
Alpha Natural Resources / Elk Run Coal Co. - Boone County