The Virginia Coal Mine Safety Board and Department of Miners, Minerals and Energy gave top honors to the Big Laurel Mine No 1. That operation worked 174,000 man-hours last year in the large underground mine category.
Dickenson-Russell Coal’s Roaring Fork No 4 operation, which logged 80,500 hours, took home an award in the small underground mine division.
Receiving four honors was Paramount Coal for safety at the Deep Mine No 35 (144,700 hours) in large underground mines, Lovers Gap/Butcher Knife surface complex (40,600 hours) among small surface mines, 88 Strip (153,200 hours) in the large surface mine category and Red Onion surface mine (126,000 hours) within large surface mines in the state.
Finally, Alpha’s Bluff Spur Coal Mine No 1 was recognized among large underground mines. Crews there worked about 137,000 hours lost-time accident free.
All seven operations are legacy Alpha operations.
“We are proud of the continued commitment to safety shown at all of our operations,” Virginia operations business unit president Allen Dupree said.
“These awards help validate all of the hard work our miners do every day.”
The 2011 Virginia Coal Mine Safety Awards were presented last week at each of the individual mine sites.
Alpha, which bought Massey Energy in June 2011, controls about five billion tons of reserves in central and northern Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Powder River Basin.
It is the nation’s second largest reserve holder.
Alpha’s met coal reserve base is among the world’s largest and highest quality, with assets including about 150 coal mines and 40 preparation facilities.
