Arch Coal announced at the end of January that its Appalachian operations earned a total of 10 safety and environmental awards in West Virginia, including three of the state’s top honours for mine reclamation and mine safety.
Environmental awards
Tygart Valley's Leer mine received West Virginia's top environmental achievement. The West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) presented the new Leer mine with the 2013 Greenlands Award for the industry's best overall environmental design and construction.
The West Virginia DEP also presented four statewide environmental awards for showing exemplary construction and innovative drainage techniques to Arch Coal's Mingo Logan Coal Company and its Mountain Laurel mining complex, Coal-Mac's Pine Branch mine and Vindex Energy. Wolf Run's Sentinel mine was awarded a West Virginia Reclamation Award for its outstanding coal refuse reclamation techniques.
Arch's Coal-Mac, Inc. was selected for the 2013 West Virginia Good Neighbor Award for its exceptional performance in community outreach and good neighbor practices.
Safety awards
In addition to earning six state environmental awards, Arch subsidiaries garnered four West Virginia safety awards.
Coal-Mac's Holden 22 mine earned the 2013 Bart B. Lay, Jr. Milestones of Safety Award for achieving the best safety performance among West Virginia surface coal mines in 2013.
Mountain Laurel's Mountaineer II mine earned the 2013 Eustace E. Frederick Milestones of Safety Award for achieving the best safety performance among large underground coal mines in West Virginia.
Two other Arch subsidiary operations and facilities achieved West Virginia Mountaineer Guardian Awards for exemplary safety records achieved during calendar year 2013: Mountain Laurel's Cardinal preparation plant and the Sentinel mine.
Arch Coal’s COO, Paul Lang, commented: "Year after year, our West Virginia miners continue to prove themselves as leaders in safety and environmental care. It's an honour and a privilege to be recognised statewide by government regulators and industry peers for our deep commitment to responsible practices."
Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward