The FRA technique is a federal regulation-supported procedure for post-mining replanting and environmental rehabilitation which Vindex has championed with three wins of the annual Maryland State Excellence in Reforestation award.

Vindex general manager Mike Moore said the miner was proud to be a proven leader of mine reclamation.

“Vindex pioneered the forestry reclamation approach in 2007, becoming the first mining company to utilize the reclamation practice in Maryland and setting the standard for reforestation on mined lands throughout the state,” he said.

The Maryland Department of the Environment adopted the forestry reclamation approach in 2005.

The approach expedites the establishment of forest habitat and encourages planting of high-value hardwood trees.

FRA is based on forestry research and scientific studies from the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, US Forest Service, the US Geological Survey and universities in Illinois, Indiana and the Appalachian coal-producing states.

Carlos is located in Maryland’s Allegany County near the town of Frostburg and produced 300,000 tons of bituminous coal in 2010.

Vindex operates three surface mines in Allegany County, including Carlos, Jackson Mountain and the Island mine.