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February 1, 2019 - The West Virginia Coal Association convened its 46th annual West Virginia Mining Symposium this week and celebrated the safety and reclamation achievements of mining industry operations across the state.
“West Virginia’s coal industry continues to show its resilience and commitment to excellence across the board,” WVCA President Bill Raney said. “It’s always a proud day for us when we can recognize those who excel in safety and reclamation, showing that the best and brightest in the industry are right here in West Virginia.”
The Symposium took place Jan. 29-30 at the newly renovated Charleston Coliseum and Conference Center in Charleston.
Safety Awards
“Safety always has been and continues to be our top priority in the coal industry,” said Coal Association Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton. “It’s always a proud day for us when we recognize those who excel in safety and demonstrate the highest levels of dedication to protecting our coal miners.”
Inspectors with the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training evaluate all coal operations and contractors to select the winners. Deputy Director Eugene White presented the awards.
The Mountaineer Guardian Safety Awards presented during the Symposium’s Tuesday luncheon are:
Statewide Awards
Eustace E. Frederick Milestone Safety Award for underground coal mines:
ACI Tygart Valley, Leer Mine
Tunnel Ridge, Tunnel Ridge Complex
Bart B. Lay Jr. Milestone Safety Award for surface coal mines:
COAL MAC, Holden #22 Complex
Vendor/Contractors
Philips Machine
Wayne/Walker Machinery
Rudd Equipment
J.H. Fletcher & Co.
Rish Equipment
Narco Equipment Rebuild
Komatsu Mining
Nelson Brothers LLC
Underground Awards
Region 1:
Ohio County Mine, Ohio County Coal Co.
Region 2:
#43 Mine, XMV Inc.
Berwind Deep Mine, Ramco Resources LLC
EDM No.1 Mine, Raw Coal Mining Co. Inc
Lower War Eagle Mine, Greenbrier Minerals LLC
Region 3:
Aracoma Alma No.1, Aracoma Coal Company LLC
Ruby Energy, Spartan Mining Co
Powellton Mine, Greenbrier Minerals LLC
Cedar Grove #2 Mine, Aracoma Coal Company LLC
Region 4:
Affinity Mine, Pocahontas Coal Co.
Kingston No.2, Kingston Mining Inc.
Beckley Pocahontas Mine, ICG Beckley LLC
Surface Awards
Region 1:
Humphrey No. 7, PL Mineral LLC
Region 2:
Coal Mtn.#1 Surface, Cornerstone Labor Serv. Inc
Eastern Ridge Surface, Extra Energy Inc.
Grey Hawk Surface, Extra Energy Inc.
Region 3:
Glancy Surface Mine, Rockwell Mining LLC
Reyla Surface Mine, Highland Mining Company
Twin Branch Surface Mine#1, South Eastern Land LLC
Toney Fork, Greenbrier Minerals LLC
Boone North #2, Raven Crest Contracting LLC
Re-Mining #3, Rhino Energy LLC
Region 4:
Republic Surface, Republic Energy LLC
Tommy Creek Highwall, Pocahontas Coal Co.
Lost Flats Surface Mine, South Fork Coal Co. LLC
Blue Knob Surface Mine, South Fork Coal Co. LLC
Independent Contractors
Region 1:
Polino Contracting
Region 3:
Ace Trucking, Inc., COAL-MAC LLC
Region 4:
Samples Mine, Webster Trucking
Preparation Plants
Region 1:
Star Bridge Plant, Carter Roag Coal Co.
Sentinel Prep Plant, Wolf Run Mining
Region 2:
Switchback Loadout, Star Services
Kepler #1 Prep Plant, Kepler Processing Co. Inc
Region 3:
Elk Lick Load Out, Greenbrier Minerals LLC
Holden #22 Prep Plant, Coal Mac LLC
Saunders Prep Plant, Greenbrier Minerals LLC
Bull Creek Prep Plant & Refuse, Raven Crest Contracting LLC
Region 4:
Mountaineer No.1 Prep Plant, Coronado Coal
Clearco Prep Plant & Loadout, South Fork Coal Co. LLC
Toms Fork Plant/Loadout, Panther Creek Mining LLC
Quarry
Region 1:
Burning Springs, Martin Marietta Materials Inc.
J.F. Allen Company, Mashey Gap Quarry
Region 4:
Beckley Quarry, Appalachian Aggregates LLC
Reclamation Awards
“This year’s reclamation award winners are proof positive that the best environmentalists out there are in the coal industry,” said WVCA Vice President Jason Bostic. “Our members display a firm commitment to environmental protection and responsible reclamation in West Virginia.”
Inspectors with the state Department of Environmental Protection selected the winners, and DEP Secretary Austin Caperton handed out the awards.
The Reclamation awards presented during the Symposium’s luncheon include:
The top award — the Greenlands Award, went to Vindex Energy LCC for its A-34 Refuse Area. The award was for the outstanding and timely overall reclamation of a 100-acre bond forfeiture site in Tucker County that included a large, open-pit, exposed highwall and a substantial water treatment obligation. At the time of its forfeiture, the site represented the single largest liability to the state’s Special Reclamation Fund. In agreement with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Vindex used the A-34 permit for the placement of mine refuse from an adjacent, active mining complex, eliminating the need to permit a new facility and allowing for the reclamation of the forfeited area.
Other reclamation award winners are:
Special Reclamation Award: Mountaineer Infrastructure, Cheyenne Coal Sales Site U-11-83 & U2009-96 –For the outstanding reclamation of a Special Reclamation site that included the demolition of coal handling equipment and preparation plant, the reclamation of a coal refuse area and the elimination of multiple sources of acid mine drainage. After land reclamation was completed and new drainage control structures were installed, water quality from the site improved dramatically, with several outlets now in compliance with effluent limitations.
AML North Reclamation Award: Stanley Industries, Morgan Highwall #46 — For the outstanding reclamation of 5,300 feet of highwall and the elimination of unstable spoil material on a pre-law mine site in close proximity to several homes. The project also required the installation of bat boxes to protect endangered species habitat and the installation of appropriate drainage control.
AML South Reclamation Award: Collins Building & Contracting, Sugarcamp Run Burning Refuse Site — For the exemplary reclamation of a pre-law coal burning coal refuse site that included the excavation, removal and stabilization of 31,932 cubic yards of material and the installation of 11,310 feet of sediment and drainage control and the revegetation of 23 acres of land to a post-reclamation land use of Wildlife Habitat.
AML Emergency Award: J.F. Allen Company, Sauls Run / Bennett Landslide — For the timely reclamation of 200 feet long and 75 feet wide sudden landslide that developed along a pre-law mining area where excavated spoil was placed in uncontrolled manner. The landslide was threatening three residences and had already damaged the foundations and driveways of several homes. The reclamation involved the excavation of 45,000 cubic yards of material and the stabilization of the area and installation of sediment and drainage control.
Drainage Control
Construction & Operation Awards:
Coal Mac, Pine Creek No. 1 Surface Mine — For the outstanding construction and operation of drainage control structures on a large surface mine, including an excellent regulatory compliance history through effective runoff management and the use of innovative preventive measures.
Mid-Vol, Cactus Ridge Surface Mine — For the exemplary reclamation of large sediment control structure and the reconstruction of a stream channel that on the newly reclaimed area that promoted rapid colonization of macroinvertebrates and fish.
Valley Fill Construction Award: Southeastern Land, Twin Branch East — For the outstanding construction of valley fills associated with a surface mine. By being innovative within the available resources, environmental impacts were kept to a minimum. This included over-stacking two existing fills to avoid impacts to jurisdictional waters and constructing an incised pond to reduce the impacts to jurisdictional waters.
Mine Construction Award- Loadout Facility: Republic Energy, Workman Creek Coal Handling Facility — For the exemplary performance and attention to environmental protection in the construction of a 55-acre coal handling facility through effective sediment control and concurrent reclamation of disturbed areas, including the elimination of 2,800 of pre-law highwall adjacent to the site.
Surface Mine Reclamation Award: Mid-Vol Coal Sales Inc., Dan’s Branch Surface Mine — For the outstanding reclamation of over two miles of pre-law highwall as part of its active mining operation and the successful implementation of a highly effective contemporaneous reclamation plan that minimized disturbed acreage on the active mining site.
Surface Mine Reclamation Award- Coal Refuse Facility: Pocahontas Coal Company — For the successful conversion of a coarse coal refuse facility to a slurry impoundment. Working with multiple state and federal agencies, the company completed the multiphase conversion process with particular attention paid to environmental protection and compliance.
Mine Construction Award: Mingo-Logan Coal LLC, Spruce No.1 Surface Mine — For the outstanding construction of a primary access, 9,000 feet long haul road for a large surface mining operation. The road was constructed in difficult topography with special attention to runoff control and avoiding impacts to jurisdictional waters.
Surface Mine Reclamation Award: JMAC Leasing, Briar Mountain Surface Mine — For the outstanding operation and reclamation of a surface mine after encountering a substantial mine fire in the coal reserves associated with the active mining area, drastically reducing the recoverable coal associated with original permit. The company continued the operation, isolating the mine fire and completed reclamation of the active areas.
Surface Mine Reclamation Awards
Highland Mining Company, Reylas Surface Mine — For the exemplary operation and reclamation of a large surface mine, including the reclamation of pre-law mining disturbance and the construction of a training area for the West Virginia Army National Guard.
Greenbrier Smokeless Coal Mining LLC, Pollock Knob Surface Mine — For the outstanding reclamation of a 575 acre surface mine in Greenbrier County that included the elimination of over three miles of pre-law highwall, with a special emphasis on returning both the active and pre-law disturbance to approximate original contour and a post-mining land use of forestry.
Underground Mine Reclamation Award: Lexington Coal Company, Laurel Creek No. 8 Mine — For the successful reclamation of an underground mine, including the installation of drainage control to address an unforeseen groundwater seep that, without innovative design and installation of control structures, could have compromised the long-term stability and reclamation of the mine.
Good Neighbor Award: Blue Creek Mining Company, Western Refuse Areas — For the outstanding operation of a surface mining permit that was later converted for the placement of coarse coal refuse, eliminating the need for new disturbance. Blue Creek Mining, in conjunction with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the federal Office of Surface Mining, hosted an Arbor Day event for local students to learn about forestry practices by planting trees on the reclaimed areas of the permit. |
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