The Patriot surface mine in the Bluegrass complex recently received the annual Interstate Mining Compact Commission National Mine Reclamation Award.

The reclamation of the site in Henderson County, Kentucky, included a large amount of acreage that is part of the Henderson County Park System, and also almost 800 acres of farmland.

"We are pleased to be recognized once again for first-rate reclamation efforts," Patriot president and chief executive officer Richard Whiting said.

Consol’s VP No. 4 minesite near Dismal, Virginia, received the 2010 Best Combination Mining Award from the Virginia Division of Mined Land Reclamation and the Virginia Mining Association.

To be eligible for the honor, a site must be recommended by a Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy inspector. The nominating individual, a now-retired Bob Bowen, called the 73-acre site “one of the best reclamation efforts” seen in his three-decade career with the VDMLR.

Consol senior vice-president of environmental strategy and regulatory affairs Katharine Fredriksen said the award was indicative of the producer’s commitment to remaining a good environmental steward.

"We understand that our business has an impact on the environment in which we operate, which is why we take seriously our charge as stewards of the environment," she said.

Manager of closed operations Charlie Bauguess said, "As the first order of business in our reclamation designs, we seek out opportunities to take our reclaimed facilities to higher post-mining land uses.

"In the VP No. 4 design, we combined an industrial post-mining use in the oil and gas industry, along with an unmanaged forestland post-mining land use, and last but not least, we were able to enhance wildlife habitat all at the same time."

The mine opened in 1971 and concluded operations in 1982. The complex’s initial permit included an underground longwall mining operation with a preparation plant and refuse disposal facility. Extensive reclamation work, including disassembly and recycling of the preparation facility, was completed on the site while the plant and minesite were regraded to create a new industrial post-mining land use.

The reclaimed site is now home to a natural gas-gathering facility and compressor station, office and shop facilities, and a storage yard.