Fola’s No. 1 operation received the 2006 Mountaineer Guardian award for safety after producing more than 7 million tons in the last two years without a lost time accident.

Twenty-three other awards were given at the event, attended by nearly 800 people. All were for exemplary examples of safety at both surface and underground mines as well as preparation facilities.

The remaining winners included:

Brooks Run Preparation Plant

Brooks Run Seven Pines

Catenary Samples

Eastern Associated’s Federal No. 2

Coal-Mac Holden No. 22

Hobet Mining’s Westridge

HWM Truck Lines (contractor)

Kingston Mining’s Glen Alum

Litwar Processing

Magnum Coal’s Fanco plant

Mingo Logan’s Mountain Laurel

Newton Energy’s Coalburg No. 1

Pocahontas Coal’s Josephine No. 3

Patriot Rail and River Terminal

Powellton Coal Bridge Fork

Premium Energy’s No. 3

Rockhouse Creek No. 7

Simmons Fork Ewing Fork

Simmons Fork Paynter Branch

Valley Mining Crosscreek

White Flame Energy No. 10

Reclamation awards were also given at the luncheon, with the top honour earned by Mongo Logan for the development of the Mountain Laurel operation. Others receiving awards included Kiah Creek No. 1 (Argus Energy), Ruffner (Apogee), Miracle Mountain (Black Wolf), Phoenix No. 1 (Coal-Mac), Holden No. 22 (Coal-Mac), Oakmont (D&L), Federal No. 2 (Eastern Associated), O’Brien Fork No. 1 (ICG Eastern), Albright preparation facility (Kingwood), Potomac (Laurel Run), Road Fork No. 2 (Mid-Vol), Pax Loadout (Pioneer Fuel), Mashey Gap (JF Allen), Groundbreakers and J&B Excavating.

The Mountaineer Guardian and reclamation honours are presented annually at the WVCA’s symposium in Charleston in January.