Barton B. Lay Milestones of Safety Award 2012 (Surface Mines)

Fola Coal Company, LLC, Surface Mine No. 1

Eustace E. Frederick Milestones of Safety Award (Underground Mines)

Consolidation Coal Company, Robinson Run No. 95

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 3^rd.

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.

Greenlands Award 2011

Phoenix Surface Mine No. 3, Coal-Mac, Inc. Located in Logan County, WV, Coal-Mac, Inc.'s Phoenix No. 3 Surface Mine is leading the way in exploring innovative downstream uses for former surface mine property.

The Ducks Unlimited Award 2011

Hobet Mining, LLC, Westridge Surface Mine. Located in Boone County, WV, for overall excellence in environmental stewardship, reclamation and wildlife habitat development.

The Woodlands/Forestry Reclamation Award  2011

Alpha Natural Resources, Paynter Branch Surface Mine, in Wyoming County fpr overall excellence in environmental stewardship, reclamation and wildlife habitat development.

The Coal Seam has finished two new episodes this month. The first, featuring Governor Tomblin and Department of Revenue Deputy Commissioner Mark Muchow is currently airing. In this episode, the Governor discusses his legislative agenda. Muchow then summarizes the current state budget, the status of coal severance collections for the current fiscal year and what he anticipates for the future.

In the second episode, which should air in March, host Chris Hamilton and guest Jason Parsons, president of Remember the Miners discuss the group and its mission.

The Coal Seam is produced monthly at the studios of the State Library Commission in Charleston. The show airs on the state Library Commission network and on your local cable system.

The 2011 edition of Coal Facts is now available at the offices of the West Virginia Coal Association and online at the West Virginia Coal Association website (www.wvcoal.com) and the Friends of Coal website (www.friendsofcoal.org).

The annual publication features an overview of key coal production, employment, distribution, consumption and tax data for both West Virginia and the nation. It also features articles on reclamation and restoration of former mined land, post-mine land use, overviews of the history of coal in our state and the permitting process. Hard copies can be obtained at the WV Coal Association offices in Charleston.