ST. LOUIS, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI)
today announced that Mountain Coal Company's West Elk Mine was recognized with
three state awards for its outstanding efforts in environmental, health and
safety practices in 2004.
The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) and the Colorado
Mining Association (CMA) presented West Elk with the awards at CMA's 107th
National Western Mining Conference & Exhibition at the Hyatt Regency in
Denver.
West Elk Mine was honored for outstanding land reclamation in two separate
projects over the past three years. West Elk has operated for more than five
years without a state environmental violation.
West Elk also was recognized for its outstanding contributions to
Colorado's Pollution Prevention Program, including the development of an
outstanding environmental, health, and safety plan for all employees.
Additionally, West Elk was honored for improvements in underground mine
safety attributed to an extensive safety training program. In 2004, West
Elk's safety performance was more than 70 percent better than the coal
industry's national average based on lost-time incident rates.
"Our objective is to protect our employees and the environment while
providing clean-burning, low-sulfur coal to America," said Arch Western
Bituminous Group's President Gene DiClaudio. "The men and women at West Elk
are to be congratulated for earning three significant awards for their
tremendous efforts in safety and reclamation practices."
Mountain Coal Company's West Elk Mine is located in Somerset, Colo. West
Elk is one of the most efficient underground coal mines in the United States,
with a production rate of 6.5 million tons per year and an average
productivity rate of 90 tons per employee-shift. Roughly 400 people are
employed at West Elk.
Arch Coal is the nation's second largest coal producer and mines low-
sulfur coal exclusively. Through its subsidiary operations in West Virginia,
Kentucky, Virginia, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, Arch provides the fuel for
approximately 7 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.
More information is available at http://www.archcoal.com .
SOURCE Arch Coal, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.archcoal.com
CONTACT:
Kim Link, External Affairs of Arch Coal,
Inc., +1-314-994-2936
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