Westmoreland Wins Top National Award For Mine Reclamation
Westmoreland Coal Company (Nasdaq GM: WLB) today announced that its
Western Energy Company subsidiary has been selected to receive an
Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Award from the Office of Surface
Mining for its reclamation efforts at Western Energy Company′s Colstrip
Mine in ?Colstrip, Montana. The Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Awards
are presented to coal mining companies that achieve the most exemplary
mining and reclamation in the country. Western Energy Company is the
2011 recipient of the Directors Award for exemplary use of geomorphic
reclamation techniques.
'This is the third time that Western Energy has received an Excellence
in Surface Coal Mining Award since 2005, which is a direct reflection of
the mine′s commitment to environmental stewardship,? stated Keith E.
Alessi, Chief Executive Officer. 'The Director′s award is among the
highest reclamation distinctions in the coal mining industry, and
Western Energy is extremely honored to be recognized again by the Office
of Surface Mining for its reclamation achievements.?
The company′s award entry highlighted the history of incorporating
geomorphic characteristics into reclamation designs. This process began
in cooperation with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in
the early 1990s and was refined in reclamation work completed in 1996
and 1997. It has been most recently used in final reclamation work
completed in 2004 and 2010. The goal has been to replace premining
topographic diversity and native vegetation types that would have been
lost using the standard reclamation techniques of the early 1990s.
Western Energy will receive the Directors Award for its geomorphic
reclamation techniques on October 17th during an awards
ceremony in Washington, D.C.
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