Arch Coal, Inc. and its operating subsidiary Mingo Logan Coal Company were recognized by the U.S. Department of Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement) for demonstrating exemplary interaction, communication and involvement with the surrounding communities.
The 2015 Good Neighbor Award was presented to the Mountain Laurel complex for its ongoing community service efforts that included outdoor education and stewardship programs which provided outdoor experiences for community members who otherwise may not have had the opportunity, an annual Earth Day celebration with a local elementary school, the donation of Rockhouse Lake Recreation Area to the Logan County Commission, and the ongoing participation in the Spruce River Community Advisory Panel - a long-time partnership that works to improve the greater Sharples, W.Va. community. Moreover, employees continued their tradition of giving back to the community by donating volunteer time and more than $35,000 to the annual Christmas Giving Program. The donations allowed the mine to brighten the holiday season for students at eight schools in five counties, a local nursing facility and a number of underprivileged families in the area.
"It is a well-deserved honor for the employees of Mountain Laurel to be nationally recognized as good neighbors," said Paul A. Lang, Arch's president and chief operating officer. "Our operations place high priority on making a positive difference in the communities in which we live and operate, and I am extremely proud of their individual and collective efforts."
Since 1986, Arch Coal and its subsidiaries have won the coveted Director's Award three times, the National Award three times, the national Good Neighbor Award six times, as well as the Special 25th Anniversary Award.
The U.S. Department of Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is the agency responsible for regulating the environmental impacts of coal production. Nominations from coal mine operators are first judged by state mining regulatory agencies, which forward state-level winners to OSMRE Headquarters for final judging at the national level. A panel of experts from OSMRE completes the final judging. More information is available at: .
Mingo Logan Coal Company is a subsidiary of Arch Coal, Inc. Mingo Logan's Mountain Laurel complex is located in Sharples, W.Va. More than 330 people are employed at the operation.