The operation in Price, Utah was the company's safest last year with a 2.02 incident rate. The mine had just three recordable accidents in 2007 and one lost-time accident.

 

Emery also marked another safety milestone in October 2007, it said – 14 continuous months with zero accidents.

 

“Emery has proven that 'absolute zero' is more than just an expression at Consol Energy, it is a reality at Emery mine," Consol coal group president Peter Lilly said during a ceremony to honour the group.

 

“What was accomplished last year cannot be forgotten, but must be imitated this year and in the future.

 

“At Consol Energy, we are continually renewing and re-establishing our commitment to working safely every day, and eliminating all accidents, company wide."

 

The room and pillar Emery mine produced about 1 million tons in 2007 with a payroll of about 150 workers.

 

In related Consol news, the operator announced earlier this week that full production levels have been resumed at its Buchanan mine in southern Virginia. The mine was evacuated and idled last July following a series of roof falls in mined-out sections that damaged a portion of the mine's ventilation controls.