The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance recognized the reclamation efforts of seven of its member companies at its Seven Springs Annual Banquet on August 21.

Acting Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Christopher Abruzzo presented the Reclamation Awards to the companies who performed above and beyond the federal and state regulations which require returning coal mining sites to environmentally sound condition with productive uses. 

The seven companies include:  Amerikohl Mining, Inc. of Butler, PA; Black Cat Coal, LLC of Curwensville, PA; Coal Loaders, Inc. of Ligonier, PA; Croner, Inc. and PBS Coals, Inc. of Friedens, PA; Shannopin Materials, LLC of Morgantown, WV; and Waroquier Coal Company of Clearfield, PA. 

Pennsylvania continues to be a leader in reclamation efforts. Completed at no cost to the Commonwealth or its taxpayers, the award sites cover 1,054 acres and include the reclamation of approximately 398 acres of previously abandoned mine lands.

PCA’s award-winning sites are chosen in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Active and Abandoned Mine Operations using an evaluation process based on pre-mining condition, reclamation quality, landowner satisfaction and compliance with the Commonwealth’s stringent environmental regulations.

"All Pennsylvania mining companies are driven by a strong commitment to long-term environmental stewardship of the land,” said PCA CEO John Pippy.  "We applaud their efforts not only for these award sites, but for their continual performance on a day-to-day basis as community stewards.”

This year’s awardees encompassed unique aspects to reclamation including a cooperative effort with the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center and the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) in Westmoreland County, re-establishment of productive potato cropland used primarily for potato chip producing in Somerset County, and the harvesting, growing and replanting of native sourwood tree seeds in Greene County. 

Lou Lazarro presented each company with a congressional citation award on behalf of Congressman Tim Murphy.

9/2/2013