Bens Creek No. 1, Double Diamond and Hatfield Energy deep mines, the White Flame surface operation, and the Black Bear, Kepler, Litwar and Stirrat processing plants were each recognized for their performances.

The honors add to what has already been a very successful year for the company. Alpha also took home Mountaineer Guardian safety awards and West Virginia reclamation awards earlier this year from the West Virginia Coal Association.

Hatfield Energy deep mine and White Flame surface complex received Mountaineer Guardians. The Litwar processing plan refuse area took home the coal refuse prep plant award, and earning the underground mine reclamation honor was the Kingwood Mining Whitetail operation.

“Our employees take pride in everything they do at work,” Brooks Run South business unit president Frank Matras said.

“These recognitions are validation that hard work pays off. We are committed to ‘running right’, and that means having a safe work environment for miners and respecting the land by minimizing our impact on it.”

Last month, Alpha’s Virginia crews were also recognized for their environmental accomplishments with awards from the Virginia Mining Association and the Virginia Division of Mined Reclamation.

Among the operations awarded was Maggard Branch Coal’s Imboden mine, which won the award for the best deep mine in Virginia for 2011.

Alpha said the mine was recognized for its drainage and erosion control as well as its work aimed at minimizing dust.

Paramount Coal’s South Frank surface mine was named the best active surface mine in Virginia for 2011 for its efforts in contouring, re-grading and re-vegetation reclamation work.

The company’s Paramount Coal group also received the 10-year legacy award for its work in restoring mine property to hayland pasture.

Since its acquisition of Massey Energy last June, Alpha controls about five billion tons of reserves in central and northern Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Powder River Basin and is the second-largest reserve holder in the nation.

The company’s metallurgical coal reserve base is among the world’s largest and highest quality, with assets including about 150 coal mines and 40 preparation facilities.