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Interstate Mining Compact Commission
Annual Reclamation Awards Program

Introduction

Named after the late charter executive director of The Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC), the Kenes C. Bowling National Mine Reclamation Awards were established to recognize outstanding achievements in reclamation and to promote reclamation on a national level. Each year there are two awards presented: one for coal and another for noncoal minerals. From time to time the Commission also presents an award recognizing the special efforts of a small operator. Beginning in 2003, this award was renamed the Floyd G. Durham Special Recognition Award for a Small Operator, in memory of long-time friend and representative to the Compact Floyd G. Durham of Arkansas.

Competition for the awards is limited to IMCC states with each state authorized to make one nomination in each category. To be eligible, a mining company must have been actively mining / reclaiming the site during the 12-month period prior to the nomination.

Several states have previously established awards to recognize outstanding reclamation achievements within their own state. This program allows each state to incorporate existing programs into the nomination process for the IMCC awards and provides for more competition at an interstate level.

The IMCC Awards Program is intended to identify and recognize companies and individuals who maintain compliance with regulatory requirements and apply innovative techniques to reclaim land following mining activities. Through these awards, the IMCC is commending companies that have taken extra efforts to implement techniques which protect people and the environment from any adverse effects of mining, while at the same time allowing access to minerals that are vital to our nation's economy and the well-being of our society.

Scope

The IMCC Reclamation Awards are presented at the annual IMCC spring meeting and are judged on criteria outlined in the following section. The regulatory authority of each state announces the Awards Program and requests nominations be submitted to them by mid-June yearly. Each state conducts a screening process and selects one company for each category to compete for the IMCC Awards. Each state then submits their nominations to IMCC.

Criteria for Selection

Criteria to be considered in judging for the IMCC Reclamation Awards include:

Compliance: Although each regulatory authority provides minimum reclamation guidelines and permitting requirements, the ways and means in which compliance is achieved by companies can vary greatly. Thus, the degree, effort and innovation for compliance can result in financial savings to the company.

Contemporaneous Reclamation: Regulatory guidelines usually require that mining and reclamation activities occur contemporaneously. The techniques, time limits and distance limitations employed can result in substantial reclamation cost savings.

Drainage: Design, maintenance, and technologies employed can result in effective and efficient water quality treatment resulting in compliance and cost savings for the operator.

Bond Release: Preplanning for the desired post-mining land use including: vegetation planting, evaluation procedures, reporting methods. All can result in effective release of bond monies.

Innovative Practices: Creative development and application of new technologies or techniques can result in resolution of reclamation problems.

Interstate Mining Compact Commission
Past & Present National Reclamation Award Winners

Year	Coal	Non-Coal	Small Operator
2009	Peabody Energy and Black Beauty Coal Company (Indiana)	Iluka Resources, Inc. (Virginia)	None
2008	ICG Eastern, LLC (West Virginia)	The Arundel Corporation (Maryland)	None
2007	Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Missouri)	Kennecott Ridgeway Mining Company (South Carolina)	None
2006	Paramont Coal Company Virginia, LLC (Virginia)	Vulcan Materials Company (Virginia)	None
2005	Delta Mine Holding Company (Illinois)	PCS Phosphate Company, Inc. (North Carolina)	None
2004	Arch of West Virginia (West Virginia)	Chaney Enterprises Limited Partnership (Maryland)	Penn-Ohio Coal Company (Ohio)
2003	Tri State Leasing Corporation (VA)	Kyanite Mining Corporation (VA)	R and S Coal Company (AR)
2002	TXU Mining Company (TX)	(2 winners for Noncoal in 2002) Lafarge North America (MD) & Vulcan Construction Materials, LP (IL)	Signor Brothers (PA)
2001	Coteau Properties Company (ND)	Pioneer Mid-Atlantic, Inc. (PA)	ACV Power Corporation (PA)
2000	Black Beauty Coal Company (Vigo Coal Company, contractor) (IN)	Reynolds Metals Company (AR)	Porter's Concrete Service (NY)
1999	Cypress Amax Coal Company (IN)	Grace Davison, W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn. (SC)	South Alabama Materials, Inc. (AL)
1998	Drummond Company, Inc. (AL)	U.S. Vanadium Corp. (AR)	None
1997	(2 winners for Coal in 1997) Catenary Coal Company (WV) & Texas Utilities Mining Company (TX)	PCS Phosphate Company, Inc. (NC)	Wash Ridge Coal Co., Inc. (KY)
1996	United Minerals Co. (IN)	Golden Cat Division of Ralston Purina (IL)	Ben Cookson, Inc. (OH)
1995	Mid-Continental Fuels, Inc. (IL)	T.H. Kinsella, Inc. (NY)	Three Forks Mining, Inc. (VA)
1994	R & F Coal Company (OH)	Maryland Rock Industries, Inc. (MD)	Little Six Corp. (VA)
1993	Red River Coal Co., Inc. (VA)	Kyanite Mining Corp. (VA)	None
1992	R & F Coal Co. (OH)	York Building Products Co., Inc. (MD)	Bar Coal Inc. (AL)
1991	Hobet Mining, Inc. (WV)	Cherry Valley Sand & Gravel Corporation (IL)	Fowler Excavating, Inc. (IN)
1990	Vigo Coal Co., Inc. (IN)	Martin Marietta Aggregates (NC)	N/A
1989	(2 Winners for Coal in 1989) Willowbrook Mining Company (PA) & San Juan Coal Co. (NM)	Laurel Sand & Gravel (MD)	N/A
1988	Island Creek Coal Co. (WV)	Vulcan Materials Co. (NC)	N/A
1987	B & N Coal Co. (OH)	J.M. Huber Corp. (SC)	N/A

IMCC 2009 RECLAMATION AWARD WINNERS

Coal Category

Winner:
Peabody Energy and Black Beauty Coal Company - Viking Mine (Indiana)

Honorable Mention:
Texas Westmoreland Coal Company - Bobwhite Quail Release Project (Texas)

Non-Coal Category

Winner:
Iluka Resources, Inc. - Old Hickory Operation (Virginia)

IMCC 2008 RECLAMATION AWARD WINNERS

Coal Category

Winner:
ICG Eastern, LLC - Birch River Mine Complex (West Virginia)

Honorable Mention:
Rio Tinto Energy America - Jacobs Ranch Mine (Wyoming)

Non-Coal Category

Winner:
The Arundel Corporation - Greenspring Quarry (Maryland)

IMCC 2007 RECLAMATION AWARD WINNERS

Coal Category

Winner:
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. - BeeVeer Mine (Missouri)

Non-Coal Category

Winner:
Kennecott Ridgeway Mining Company - Ridgeway Gold Mine (South Carolina)

Honorable Mention:
Iluka Resources, Inc. - Old Hickory Operation (Virginia)

IMCC 2006 RECLAMATION AWARD WINNERS

Coal Category

Winner:
Paramont Coal Company Virginia, LLC - Black Bear #1 (Carrie Branch) (Virginia)

Honorable Mention:
TXU Mining Company - Oak Hill Mine (Texas)

Non-Coal Category

Winner:
Vulcan Materials Company - Curles Neck Sand and Gravel Mine (Virginia)

IMCC 2008 Award Winners Photographs

2008 Coal Award Winner
ICG Eastern, LLC
Birch River Mine Complex, West Virginia