Golf anyone? Arch Coal's Mingo Logan operations received top honors for reclamation excellence from the W.Va. Department of Environmental Protection for its efforts to turn a coal mine into an 18-hole golf course.
The David C. Callaghan Award was presented to Arch's Mingo Logan Coal Co. for its development of the new Twisted Gun public golf course in Mingo County, W.Va. This prestigious honor is awarded annually to the best reclamation in the state. West Virginia is second in the nation in coal production. The award is named for the former director of the W.Va. Department of Natural Resources and later, of the State Division of Environmental Protection.
Launched six years ago, the golf course development was integrated into the normal mining reclamation process - and paid for through contributions from Arch Coal's Mingo Logan, Premium Energy Corp., and Pocahontas Land Corp. on every ton of coal mined. Until now, the counties of Mingo, McDowell and Logan did not have an 18-hole golf course due to the great expense of course development in the region's mountainous terrain.
"The Twisted Gun golf course demonstrates that mine reclamation and economic development can go hand-in-hand," said Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal's president and CEO. "This represents a sizable investment in the future of southern West Virginia and its citizens."
"The operations at Mingo Logan demonstrate the highest standards we have come to expect from the coal industry," said Michael O. Callaghan, secretary of the W. Va. Dept. of Environmental Protection. "It is extremely evident that the people of Arch Coal recognize the responsibility they have to the communities they call home."
Additional reclamation awards given to Arch Coal in 2001 include: National Wild Turkey Federation's West Virginia Wildlife Award presented to Arch of West Virginia and WVCA Excellence in Reclamation Award presented to Arch's Coal-Mac.
Arch Coal is the nation's second largest coal producer and mines low-sulfur coal exclusively. Through its subsidiary operations in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, Arch provides the fuel for approximately six percent of the electricity generated in the United States.
edited by Sandy Smith ([email protected])