Westmoreland′s Beulah Mine Wins Lignite Energy Council Safety Award
Westmoreland Coal Company (NYSE AMEX: WLB) announced today that Dakota
Westmoreland Corporation′s Beulah Mine has received the Lignite Energy
Council′s Safety Excellence Award for the mine or plant with the lowest
accident incident rate in the lignite industry. The Beulah Mine had an
exceptional safety record in 2010, completing the entire year without
any lost-time accidents. As of December 31, 2010, the Beulah Mine had
worked 667 days without a lost-time accident and continues to build on
that record having worked 770 days without an accident resulting in
lost-time. The mine also completed 2010 without an MSHA reportable.
Dakota Westmoreland′s accident rate of 0.00 compares to the U.S. surface
mining industry average of 1.11 for 2010 as reported by the Mine Safety
Health Administration.
'The lignite users and producers in this region believe that the
efficient production of a low-cost, reliable energy source cannot be
achieved without serious attention to the health and safety of their
employees,? said John Dwyer, president of the Lignite Energy Council.
'Dakota Westmoreland′s Beulah Mine has made a commitment to safe
operations above and beyond what is required by state and federal
regulations,? Dwyer said. 'Dakota Westmoreland is truly dedicated to the
safety of its employees, and has performed exceptionally to earn this
award.?
The Beulah Mine is a 9,000-acre surface mining complex located 75 miles
northwest of Bismarck, North Dakota. Coal from the mine supplies the
fuel requirements for the adjacent 427 MW Coyote Generating Station and
the two-unit 115 MW Heskett Station, located 74 miles away. The mine
produces approximately 3.0 million tons of lignite a year.
Westmoreland Coal Company is the oldest independent coal company in the
United States. The Company′s coal operations include coal mining in the
Powder River Basin in Montana and lignite mining operations in Montana,
North Dakota and Texas. Its power operations include ownership of the
two-unit ROVA coal-fired power plant in North Carolina. For more
information, visit www.westmoreland.com.
Westmoreland Coal Company
Kevin Paprzycki, 719-442-2600