Earning the Bart B Lay Milestones of Safety Award for its safety efforts over the past calendar year was the crew of Elk Run Coal’s Republic Energy complex. Elk Run was a former affiliate of Massey Energy and is now controlled by Alpha Natural Resources.

McElroy Coal’s McElroy operation in northern West Virginia was honored with the Eustace Frederick Milestones of Safety Award.

McElroy, which consistently ranks among the nation’s most productive mines, is controlled by Consol Energy.

Mountaineer Guardian awards were also bestowed to underground operations, surface pits and preparation facilities in four regions of West Virginia, with more than 30 properties earning honors.

In Region 1, underground operations receiving the top honors included Dana Mining’s Arco No. 1 mine, Carter Roag’s Pleasant Hill operation and Consol Energy’s Loveridge complex.

Preparation plants in the region included McElroy’s Ireland loadout, Carter Roag’s Star Bridge plant and Wolf Run Mining’s Sentinel Prep.

In Region 2, Brooks Run Cucumber operation earned a Mountaineer Guardian award, as did Cliffs Logan County Coal’s Lower War Eagle, RS Mining Caretta No. 3 and Resurrection Coal’s No. 2.

Extra Energy Red Hawk earned the award in the surface operations division, and Litwar Processing’s Litwar preparation facility was the prep winner for the region.

Taking home the region’s independent contractor award was B&J Trucking.

Underground operations recognized for their achievements in Region 3 included Mingo Logan’s Mountaineer II mine, Coal River’s Fork Creek No 1, Rockhouse Creek Development No. 8 operation and CK Coal’s Mine No. 5.

Surface operations earning the award were Phoenix Coal-Mac Mining’s Holden No. 22, Highland Mining’s Reylas, Coal River’s No. 6, White Flame Energy’s Superior mine and Peg Fork, owned by Consol of Kentucky.

Four preparation facilities in Region 3 earned Mountaineer Guardians, including Eastern Associated Rock Lick Siding, Apogee Coal’s Franco plant and loadout, Mingo Logan Coal’s Cardinal plant and the Phoenix Coal-Mac No. 22 facility.

Finally, in Region 4, there were five winners in underground operations. These included White Buck Coal’s Grassy reek No. 1 mine, Mammoth Coal’s Slabcamp, Pocahontas Coal Josephine No. 3, the white Buck Hominy Creek operation and Brooks Run Mining’s Saylor B complex.

Taking home surface awards were Simmons Fork Mining’s Ewing Work No. 1, Pocahontas Coal’s Tommy Creek Mine South and Revelation Energy’s S7.

Region 4’s preparation plant winner was Coal Clean Wet Branch preparation plant.

All of the honors were handed out Thursday during a special celebratory luncheon for crews at the Charleston Civic Center held in conjunction with the WVCA conference event.