Alpha Natural Resources' Affiliate Recognized for Environmental Achievements

BRISTOL, Va., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR), a leading U.S. coal supplier, is pleased to announce that Paramont Coal Company, Virginia, LLC has recently been recognized for its environmental accomplishments. The awards were presented by the Virginia Mining Association and the Division of Mined Land Reclamation at an annual dinner on Saturday, March 23rd in Norton, Va.

Paramont received two awards at the event. The Best Post-Mining Land Use award was in recognition of Paramont's reclamation efforts at the Hawk's Nest Surface Mine near Prater, Va. Paramont has reclaimed nearly 1,000 acres for beneficial land uses in Buchanan County. Homes and businesses now reside on this property. With easy access to the developing Coalfields Expressway and Poplar Gap Park, this post-mined land is rapidly developing into a growth center for the area.

The Best Active Surface Mine award was in recognition for Paramont's Red Onion Surface Mining operation located on approximately 950 acres near Pound, Va. The operation is mining an area that had previously been mined by surface and underground mining methods. Several hundred feet of abandoned highwalls were eliminated with the current mining permit. There are multiple planned post-mining land uses including farm land, commercial development and fish and wildlife habitat. The company is working closely with the landowners to achieve the post-mining land uses.

"We care about the environment and are committed to doing what is right at all of our mining operations. We pride ourselves on demonstrating how the land can bring opportunities to the region after our mining work is completed. We congratulate our employees for a job well done," said Eddie Bateman, Alpha's SVP Southern Operations.

About Alpha Natural Resources
Alpha Natural Resources is one of the largest and most regionally diversified coal suppliers in the United States. With mining operations in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wyoming, Alpha supplies metallurgical coal to the steel industry and thermal coal to generate power to customers on five continents.  Alpha is committed to being a leader in mine safety with our Running Right safety process, and an environmental steward in the communities where we operate. For more information, visit Alpha's official website at www.alphanr.com.  

SOURCE Alpha Natural Resources