For Additional Information:
John Grasser (202) 463-2651
Karen Batra (202) 463-2651

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2001

MINING OPERATIONS HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE IN SAFETY NMA, MSHA COMMEMORATE SENTINELS OF SAFETY'S 75TH YEAR

WASHINGTON -- America's safest mining operations have been awarded the prestigious Sentinels of Safety award by the Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and the National Mining Association (NMA), cosponsors of the national safety program.

"America's mines are the safest in the world and America has made mining far safer than other business and industrial occupation," said NMA President and CEO Jack N. Gerard. "We continue to see dramatic achievements in mine safety year after year, and the industry and government is committed to continuing this success."

This year's winners, representing mining operations in Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming will be honored at an awards event here in Washington on September 11, 2001.

Winners of the awards represent operations in eight industry categories that worked the most employee-hours in 2000 without suffering a lost-time injury. To qualify for the award, a mine must complete at least 30,000 employee work-hours during the year without a lost-time injury or fatality.

"We're incredibly proud of the men and women who work at these operations and we applaud their commitment to making their mines safer places to work," said Gerard. "These operations demonstrate our unwavering commitment for 'safety first."

The Sentinels of Safety awards, the oldest established award for occupational safety, were first announced 75 years ago by President Herbert Hoover. Since 1925, the program has promoted an increased commitment to mine safety and to the continuing development of effective accident prevention programs.

FIRST PLACE WINNERS

The following lists first place winners by mining category, and their injury-free employee hours:

Underground Coal: Deep Mine #21, Paramont Coal Corporation
Dante, VA - 151,753 hours

Surface Coal: Antelope Coal Mine, Antelope Coal Company
Gillette, WY - 394,735 hours.

Underground Metal: SSX Mine, AngloGold (Jerritt Canyon) Corp.
Elko, NV - 174,766 hours.

Underground Nonmetal: Cote Blanche Mine, IMC Salt, Inc.
Franklin, LA - 284,932 hours.

Open Pit: Rochester Mine, Coeur Rochester, Inc.
Lovelock, NV - 254,296 hours.

Quarry: Thornton Quarry, Material Service Corporation
Thornton, IL - 208,816 hours.

Bank or Pit: Arena Plant, Hanson Aggregates South Central
Altair, TX - 133,766 hours.

Dredge: Briggs Plant, Fordyce Company
Victoria, TX - 241,195 hours.

Other mines with exceptional safety records during 2000 include the following:

Underground Coal
Low Gap Powellton #1 Mine, Marfork Coal Company, Whitesville, WV, 148,244 hours.
Deep Mine No. 3, Pen Coal Corporation -Kiah Creek Div., Dunlow, WV, 102,490 hours.
Castle Mine, Elk Run Coal Company, Inc., Sylvester, WV, 93,245 hours.
Martwick Underground, Peabody Coal Company, Central City, KY, 92,219 hours.

Surface Coal
Eagle Butte Mine, RAG Coal West, Inc., Gillette, WY, 307,024 hours.
South Hallsville No. 1 Mine, The Sabine Mining Company, Hallsville, TX, 300,973 hours.
Coal Mac #68 Surface, Coal Mac, Inc., Williamson, WV, 275,637 hours.
Muskingum Mine, Central Ohio Coal Co., Cumberland, OH, 271,519 hours.
Underground Metal
Clinch Valley Mine, Pasminco Zinc, Inc., Thornhill, TN, 78,300 hours.
Rosebud Mine, Rosebud Mining Co., Winnemucca, NV, 73,627 hours.
Lamefoot Mine Site, Echo Bay Minerals, Inc., Republic, WA, 71,503 hours.
K-2 Mine Site, Echo Bay Minerals, Inc., Republic, WA 70,748 hours.

Underground Nonmetal
Mississippi Potash West, Mississippi Potash, Inc., Carlsbad, NM 268,891 hours.
Detroit Salt Mine, The Detroit Salt Company, Detroit, MI, 94,289.
Blue Stone Quarry, Latrobe Construction Co., Latrobe, PA, 89,030 hours.
Whitney Mine (UG), Hanson Aggregates PMA, Inc., Whitney, PA. 68,360 hours.

Open Pit
Denton-Rawhide, Kennecott Rawhide Mining Co., Fallon, NV, 235,961 hours.
Klondyke Mine, Engelhard Corp., Gordon, GA, 226,746 hours.
Montana Tunnels, Montana Tunnels Mining, Inc., Jefferson City, MT, 195,713 hours.
Florida Canyon Mine, Florida Canyon Mining, Inc., Imlay, NV, 185,821 hours.

Quarry
Palm Beach Aggregates, Inc., Palm Beach Aggregates, Inc., Loxahatchee, FL, 114,260 hours.
East Thomas Quarry & Plant, Wade Sand & Gravel Co., Inc., Birmingham, AL, 103,299 hours. Longview Operation, Dravo Lime, Inc., Saginaw, AL, 102,884, hours.
Morgan Pit, A.J. Brauer Stone Co. Jarrell, TX, 93,185 hours.

Bank or Pit
Little River Plant, Hanson Aggregates West, Ashdown, AR, 130,589 hours.
Pit & Plant #4, Capitol Aggreg., LTD, Austin, TX, 115,986 hours.
Taylor Plant, Badger Mining Corporation, Taylor, WI, 112,019 hours.
Elsinore Pit & Mill, Elsinore Ready Mix Co., Inc., Elsinore, CA, 111,372 hours.

Dredge
Rockport Plant, Mulzer Crushed Stone, Inc., Tell City, IN, 109,762 hours.
Porter Plant, Hallett Materials, Porter, TX, 105,175 hours.
EPK Clay Division, The Feldspar Corporation, Edgar, FL, 81,678 hours.
Lower Burrell Plant, Hanson Aggregates PMA, Inc., New Kensington, PA, 69,629 hours.

The U.S. mining industry produces coal, metals, building materials, and many other essential minerals that define the daily lives of 267 million Americans. The mining industry generates over $500 billion in total economic benefit each year and helps to sustain nearly 5 million U.S. jobs.