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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2001

DEPUTY SECRETARY GRILES ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 2001 EXCELLENCE IN SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AWARDS

WASHINGTON-- Deputy Secretary of the Interior Steve Griles today announced that coal mine operators in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming, are winners of this year's Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation Awards.

"The projects and winners of this competition are a true testament to the great strides and achievement that these dedicated men and women from coal companies have made toward stewardship and protection of the environment," Griles said. "I am grateful for your determination and for going well beyond simple compliance with the Law. I commend you for your accomplishments and the fine standards that you have set."

Interior's Office of Surface Mining (OSM), the agency responsible for regulating the environmental impacts of coal production, sponsors the awards each year. Nominations from coal mine operators were first screened by state coal mining regulatory agencies and OSM Field Offices, which forwarded state-level winners to OSM Headquarters for final judging. A panel of experts from OSM completed the final judging.

Griles, filling-in for Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, presented the awards to the winners of this year's competition at an awards ceremony luncheon today in Washington, DC.

"These winning projects reflect superb innovation and planning that have met some of the highest reclamation standards for protecting the environment," said Griles. "Through determination and strong work ethic, you are setting new examples for environmental compatibility in the production of coal while meeting the nation's energy needs."

Winners of the 2001 Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation Awards are:

Director's Award:

Black Beauty Coal Company, Indiana and Illinois Surface Mining Operations, won the prestigious OSM Director's Award for 2001. The focus of the Director's Award changes each year. This year, Black Beauty won for exemplary agricultural post-mining land use.

With about 60 percent of the acreage at these mine sites containing prime farmland, special soil handling methods were needed to meet productivity standards. Excavators and trucks were used to remove all soil. The spoil was regraded and the sub-soil and topsoil replaced. This method of soil handling decreases the potential for compaction, since minimal equipment is driven on the land. After one growing season, the soil is tilled to a depth of 24 to 30 inches with a chisel tool that further reduces compaction. The results of this process results in higher corn and bean crop yields than on non-mined lands.

National Awards:

RAG, Twentymile Coal Company Mine #1 and Eckman Park, Oak Creek, Colorado, for innovative reclamation techniques that created a diverse area of post mining grazing land. Large shrubs such as Big Sage, Woods Rose, Snowberry, and Serviceberry were planted on the reclaimed land to quickly reestablish the native environment. Numerous ponds were created for use by both cattle and wildlife. Today with the vegetation established the new wetland habitat brings added diversity.

McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corp. Burke Prep Plant & Load out Facility, Kimper, Kentucky. The Burke Prep Plant, located in eastern Kentucky cleans and loads approximately 500,000 tons of coal per year, and has a commitment to the environment that is second to none. The management prides itself on the aesthetics and efficient operation at the site. The overall appearance of the operation is outstanding. Buildings and structures are painted, repaired and maintained to the highest level of safety. The entire site is landscaped with shrubs, and trees. Grass is always cut and it's completely litter-free. As trucks are loaded and unloaded the site is swept clean and washed.

Bellaire Corporation Indian Head Mine, Beulah, North Dakota. Started in 1922, Indian Head was one of the oldest surface mines in the country. The site has been completely reclaimed as cropland native grassland for livestock grazing. The sloping topography, marginal soils, and semi-arid climate made reclamation difficult. The post-mining topography at the mine is gentler and smoother, making the area more productive for agricultural uses. Today, the land is being returned to the landowners in better condition then it was before mining began.

Kindill Mining, Inc. Mine #2, Alford Field, Petersburg, Indiana. Reclamationled to the development of Lake Woods Wildlife Management Area, a planned landscape, managed to promote fish, wildlife, and related environmental values. More than 1,200 acres have been reclaimed, and are being managed around a multi-species concept, from crickets to deer. Major elements of this wildlife area are the water impoundments, which range in size from a little more than an acre to over 45 acres. Their sizes and shapes provide a wide range of habitats and support a large variety of fish species. In addition, the water provides a rich diverse environment for plants and animals.

Glenrock Coal Company Dave Johnston Mine, Glenrock, Wyoming. Located in the Powder River Basin coalfield, the Dave Johnston Mine has been achieving successful reclamation for 35 years. With annual precipitation of only eleven inches, and the harsh Wyoming climate, reestablishing native conditions required dedication and ingenuity. The reclamation has resulted in topographic diversity, a wide range of plant species, and active efforts to reintroduce animals. The landscape is already integrated into the surrounding community, and shows how short-term the mining impact is on the land.

Penn Coal Corp., Bluewater Deep Mine No. 1, Wilsondale, West Virginia. This site received an award for reclamation of an underground mine entrance and the supporting surface facilities. Closure included backfilling the mine entrance and associated highwall. A stream that ran through a culvert under the support facilities was reconstructed to natural conditions, and the entire area revegetated with native plants. With reclamation complete the native plants provide a habitat that prevents stream erosion and enriches the wildlife and aesthetics of the area.

TXU Mining Company Monticello Mine, Mt. Pleasant, Texas. The pond and forested wetland reclamation at this mine is an aesthetic and recreational setting that will benefit the community for many years. When a final pit was being reclaimed as a pond, engineers designed a 30-acre two-tier flood plain that provides both flood storage and a forested wetland. Established wetland oaks, pecan, sweetgum, blackgum, persimmon, and red maple cover the upper tier, and baldcypress, water tupelo, and water hickory cover the depressions and wet areas. The vegetation will continue to grow and enhance the landscape.

The Coteau Properties Company Freedom Mine, Beulah, North Dakota.
Reclamation at this lignite mine site has returned the land to an agricultural use -- wheat production and livestock grazing. Shrub patches, and shelter belts are also included in the reclamation. Over 150,000 trees and shrubs have been planted to establish windbreaks and wildlife habitat. An increase in wetland acreage provides waterfowl habitat, and critical diversity for wildlife in an agricultural setting.

Triad Mining, Inc. Switz City Mine, Switz City, Indiana. When it began operation in 1991, the Switz City Mine site contained about 300 acres of abandoned spoil piles. Today, the company has eliminated the abandoned mine problems, and productivity has been restored. Wetlands were created to provide a diverse wildlife habitat. In addition to the productive agricultural land, much of the area was replanted with trees and shrubs. The diverse vegetation provides erosion control. This mining operation recovered the coal resource, eliminated abandoned mine problems, and reclaimed the land to productive use.

P & N Coal Company Urey Mine, Urey, Pennsylvania. The P & N Coal Company is a small mine operator that reclaimed over 50 acres of abandoned mine land as part of its Urey operation. The topsoil was carefully removed and saved from areas that were not previously mined. When regrading was complete, the stored topsoil was spread to a depth that would ensure long-term productivity of the entire site. With reclamation nearing completion the area has been transformed from a hazardous condition to productive farmland and wildlife habitat.

The OSM Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation awards program began in 1986 to publicly recognize outstanding active coal mine reclamation and to highlight and show recognition for exemplary reclamation techniques. A brochure announcing the 2002 program, with complete details about how to nominate a project and other awards program information is available from the OSM website at www.osmre.gov/awards.htm.