State Mining Companies, Operations Recognized for Excellence in Safety and Reclamation

April 8, 2026 - During West Virginia Mining Symposium and Coal Show, which took place March 31-April 1 in Charleston, the West Virginia Coal Association recognized and celebrated “Exemplary Mine Safety & Environmental Excellence” achievements of mining industry operations across the state.

“West Virginia’s coal industry continues to show its resilience and commitment to excellence across the board,” West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton said. “It’s always a proud day for us when we can recognize those who excel in safety and reclamation, showing that the best and brightest in the industry are right here in West Virginia.”

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training co-sponsor this special mining awards program.

“Safety always has been and continues to be our top priority in the coal industry,” said Hamilton. “2025 was a record setting year for industry safety and our members demonstrate the highest levels of dedication to protecting our coal miners.”

Inspectors with the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training (WVOMHST) evaluate all coal operations and contractors to nominate the winners. WVOMHST Director Frank Foster presented the awards.

The 2025 Governor’s Milestones of Safety Awards presented during the event include:

Best of Class Statewide Awards

• Eustace E. Frederick Award for underground coal mines:
  • Allegheny Metallurgical, Longview Mine, Region 1
  • Core Natural Resources, Inc., ICG Beckley, LLC, Beckley Pocahontas, Region 4
• Bart B. Lay Jr. Award for surface coal mines:
  • Blackhawk Mining LLC, Rockwell Mining LLC, Glancy Surface Mine, Region 4
  • Cleveland-Cliffs Princeton Coal, Extra Energy, INC, Loop Branch Surface Mine, Region 2

Mountaineer Guardian Awards were presented to the following mining operations:

Underground Operations

·       Alliance Coal, LLC, Tunnel Ridge, LLC, Tunnel Ridge Mine, Region 1

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Aracoma Coal Company, Inc, Cedar Grove Mine 3, Region 2

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Aracoma Coal Company, Inc, Davy Branch Mine, Region 2

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources    , Aracoma Coal Company, Inc., Lynn Branch No. 2 Mine, Region 2

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources    , Kingston Mining Inc., Kingston No. 2 Mine, Region 4

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Marfork Coal Company, LLC, Glen Alum Tunnel, Region 4

·       Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Blue Creek Mining LLC, Blue Creek No. 1 Mine, Region 4

·       Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Kanawha Eagle Mining, LLC, North Eagle Mine, Region 4

·       Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Panther Creek Mining, LLC, Winchester 2, Region 4

·       Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Rockwell Mining LLC, Coal Branch No. 2, Region 4

·       Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Panther Creek Mining, LLC, American Eagle Mine, Region 4

·       Cleveland-Cliffs Princeton Coal, Twin State Mining, Inc., Mine No. 44, Region 2

·       Core Natural Resources, Inc., Mingo Logan Coal, LLC            , Mountaineer II Mine, Region 2

·       Core Natural Resources, Inc., Itmann Mining Company, Itmann # 5, Region 2

·       Core Natural Resources, Inc., Wolf Run Mining, LLC, Leer South Mine, Region 1

·       Coronado Global Resources, Inc., Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Eagle No. 1 Mine, Region 2

·       Coronado Global Resources, Inc., Greenbrier Minerals, Muddy Bridge Mine, Region 2

·       Ramaco Resources, Eagle Seam Deep Mine, Region 2

·       Ramaco Resources, No. 2 Gas, Region 2

·       Southern Minerals Inc, Raw Coal Mining Company, Inc., Sewell Mine R, Region 2

·       United Coal Company, LLC, Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC, Affinity Mine, Region 4

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources    , Elk Run Coal Company, LLC, Black Castle Stocker, Region 4

·       Appalachian Resource WV, LLC, Grapevine East Surface, Region 2

·       Appalachian Resource WV, LLC, Remining # 3 Surface, Region 2

·       Blackhawk Mining, Panther Creek Mining LLC, Sycamore South, Region 4

·       Central Coal Company    , Wyoming Eagle, LLC, Sugar Run Surface Mine No. 1, Region 2

·       Cleveland-Cliffs Princeton Coal, Extra Energy, Inc., Harmon East Surface Mine, Region 2

·       Coal-Mac, LLC, Painted Rock Surface Mine, Region 2

·       Coronado Global Resources Inc., Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Elklick Surface Mine, Region 2

·       Eagle Summit Resources, LLC, Eagle Horizon Resources, LLC, Boone North No. 2, Region 4

·       Eagle Summit Resources, LLC, Sundial Mining, LLC, Edwight Surface Mine, Region 4

·       Eagle Summit Resources, LLC, Reflectance Energy, LLC, Ned's Branch Surface Mine, Region 2

·       Eagle Summit Resources, LLC, CM Energy Operations, Coal Mountain #1 Surface, Region 2

·       Ed Coal Inc., Tom Bailey Branch Surface Mine, Region 2

·       Greenbrier Smokeless Coal Mining, LLC, Pollock Knob Surface Mine, Region 4

·       LP Mineral, LLC, Monumental Mine, Region 1

·       United Coal Company, Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC, SHM 53 P7 Contour, Region 4

Prep Plants/Loadouts:

·       Alliance Coal, Tunnel Ridge, LLC, Prep Plant, Region 1

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Bandmill Coal LLC, Rum Creek Prep Plant, Region 2

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Spartan Mining Company, LLC, Mammoth Plant & River Loadout, Region 4

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Power Mountain Contura LLC, Power Mountain Prep Plant, Region 4

·       American Consolidated Natural Resources, Inc., Marshall County Coal Resources, River Loadout, Region 1

·       Blackhawk Mining, Panther Creek Mining, LLC, Maple Eagle Plant, Region 4

·       Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Panther Creek Mining, LLC, Wet Branch Prep Plant, Region 4

·       Blackhawk Mining, LLC, Kanawha Eagle Mining LLC, South Hollow Plant, Region 4

·       Cleveland-Cliffs Princeton Coal, Prime Processing Inc, Roadfork Loadout, Region 2

·       Cleveland-Cliffs Princeton Coal, Prime Processing Inc., Eckman (Dans Branch) Loadout, Region 2

·       Cleveland-Cliffs Princeton Coal, Prime Processing Inc., Eckman Plant, Region 2

·       Core Natural Resources, Inc., Itmann Mining Company, Itmann No. 5 Plant, Region 2

·       Core Natural Resources, Inc., ICG Beckley, LLC, Beckley Pocahontas Plant, Region 4

·       Core Natural Resources, Inc., Wolf Run Mining LLC, Leer South Prep Plant, Region 1

·       Core Natural Resources, Inc., Mingo Logan Coal, LLC, Cardinal Prep Plant, Region 2

·       Coronado Global Resources Inc., Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, Saunders Prep Plant, Region 2

·       Eagle Summit Resources, LLC, Eagle Horizon Resources, LLC, Bull Creek Prep Plant, Region 4

·       Greenbrier Smokeless Coal Mining, LLC, Mountaineer Pocahontas #1 Prep plant, Region 4

·       Kanawha River Terminals, LLC, Quincy Dock, Region 4

·       Ramaco Resources, Maben Coal, LLC, Maben Processing, Region 2

·       Ramaco Resources, Elk Creek Prep Plant, Region 2

·       United Coal, LLC, Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC, Affinity Prep Plant, Region 4

·       Appalachian Aggregates, LLC, Beckley Quarry, Region 4

·       Appalachian Aggregates, LLC, Mill Point Quarry, Region 4

·       East River Aggregates, Inc., Mercer Plant, Region 2

·       Fairfax Materials, Inc., Sherr Quarry, Region 1

·       Inwood Quarry, Inc., Inwood Quarry, Region 1

·       JF Allen Co., Mashey Gap Quarry, Region 1

·       Letart Corp., Plant #1, Region 2

Independent Contractors

·       Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Marfork Coal Company, Marfork Environmental Crew, Region 4

·       Clay Trucking Inc., Various Operations, Region 4

·       Jennmar Corporation, Southern WV Division, Region 2

·       Long Run Transportation, Various Operations, Region 4

·       Preston Contractors. Inc., Region 1

·       Kanawha Stone, Region 2

·       Boyd Company, Region 4

·       J.H. Fletcher, Region 2

ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

“This year’s reclamation award winners are proof positive that the best environmentalists out there are in the coal industry,” said West Virginia Coal Association Vice President Jason Bostic. “Our members display a firm commitment to environmental protection and creative, responsible reclamation in West Virginia.”

Inspectors with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) selected the winners, and DEP’s Mining & Reclamation Director, Jonathan Rorrer, handed out the awards.

The Environmental Excellence awards presented during the event include:

The top award – the Greenlands Award for best overall environmental performance by a coal operator – went to LP Mineral, LLC, Lily Parker Mine, S200314.

Other reclamation award winners include:

Exemplary Construction Techniques Drainage Structures South:

Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Republic Energy, LLC, Workman Creek Surface Turkey Foot, S301419

Exemplary Construction Techniques Road South:

Ramaco Resources, Elk Creek Haul Road, H045600

Exemplary Construction Techniques Valley Fills South:

Ramaco Resources, Ram 3 Surface Mine, S500219

Exemplary Reclamation Of Refuse Facilities South:

Core Natural Resources, Itmann Mining Company, LP, Itmann Refuse, O001185

Exemplary Reclamation Of Surface Operations South:

Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Republic Energy, LLC,Long Ridge, S300115

Cleveland-Cliffs Princeton Coal, Mid-Vol Coal Sales, Inc., Blue Eagle Surface Mine, S303412

Exemplary Reclamation Of Underground Operations South:

Blackhawk Mining, Kanawha Eagle Mining, LLC, Coalburg 2, U601087