The association's Green River Council chose the company's Dodge Hill underground mine for the award in a category for small mines working fewer than 500,000 man-hours annually. The operation completed 2007 with a 1.90 reportable incidence rate per 200,000 hours worked.

The Patriot surface complex, which had no reportable accidents last year, was chosen as the best operation in the sector of mines operating more than 100,000 man-hours each year.

Also having no reportable incidents for last year was the company's Grand Eagle preparation plant, which was recognised in the category of facilities that work more than 100,000 hours annually.

Last month, the company said it had entered into a joint venture agreement with a West Virginia investor group to develop certain reserves in the central Appalachian region near the Kanawha River.

Under the agreement, Patriot will lease up to 25 million tons of undeveloped reserves and will maintain a 49% interest.

In early April, Patriot announced plans to acquire Magnum Coal in a $700 million deal. The combined total proven and probable resources from the two companies amount to more than 1.9 billion tons, and the proposed transaction is expected to be completed in mid-2008.