The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance recognized 8 Pennsylvania coal companies with 14 different awards for their exemplary efforts in the field. 7 current sites were awarded the Keystone Mine Safety Award and 7 former sites were recognized with the Surface Coal Mine Reclamation Award at PCA’s annual Seven Springs Banquet on August 20.
Gov. Tom Corbett presented the awards. The reclamation awards went to the companies who performed above and beyond the federal and state regulations which require returning coal mining sites to environmentally sound condition with productive uses.
Pennsylvania continues to be a leader in reclamation efforts. Completed at no cost to the Commonwealth or its taxpayers, the award sites cover over 500 acres of previously abandoned mine lands.
PCA’s award-winning sites are chosen in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Active and Abandoned Mine Operations using an evaluation process based on pre-mining condition, reclamation quality, landowner satisfaction and compliance with the Commonwealth’s stringent environmental regulations. These fully restored sites return the land to natural habitats, forests and waterways.
Surface Coal Mine Reclamation Awards were given to:
-- Amerikohl Mining, Indiana County
-- Amerikohl Mining, Beaver County
-- Amerikohl Mining, Armstrong County
-- Amfire Mining Co. LLC, Clearfield County
-- Amfire Mining Co. LLC, Armstrong County
-- Coal Loaders, Inc., Somerset County
-- Robindale Energy Services Inc., Somerset County
The Keystone Mine Safety Award recognizes companies that achieved outstanding safety records in 2013. These recipients represented a variety of mine sizes and types and achieved a Nonfatal Day Lost rate below the national average meaning there were no work days lost because of an accident. Many of these mine sites clocked in over 100,000 man hours worked and one with 3,015,722 hours.
Keystone Mine Safety Awards were given to:
— Amfire Mining Co. LLC, Clearfield County
— Britt Energies Inc., Indiana County
— Coal Loaders, Inc., Westmoreland County
— CONSOL Energy Corp., Washington County
— PBS Coals, Inc., Westmoreland County
— Rosebud Mining Co., Somerset County
— Rosebud Mining Co., Beaver County
"All Pennsylvania mining companies are driven by a strong commitment to long-term environmental stewardship and job safety,” said PCA CEO John Pippy. "We applaud these companies for acting as industry leaders and being proactive in their measures to sustain a positive impact on their environment and communities.”