MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK, Md., June 29, 2012 -- Arch Coal today announced that Vindex Energy Corporation has received the 2011 Maryland State Excellence in Reforestation Award from the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI). The award recognizes "exemplary performance using the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA)" at Vindex Energy's Carlos mine in Allegany County, near Frostburg.
Mine Superintendent Rusty Bush accepted the award on behalf of the company. This marks the third year Vindex has been selected for this honor; the company also earned Maryland State Excellence in Reforestation awards in 2008 and 2007. Vindex, which is an operating subsidiary of Arch Coal, also earned the Maryland Land Reclamation Committee's 2009 Reclamation Award for outstanding mine-reclamation accomplishments.
"We're proud to be a proven leader in mine reclamation," said Mike Moore, general manager of Vindex. "Vindex pioneered the Forestry Reclamation Approach in 2007, becoming the first mining company to utilize the reclamation practice in Maryland and setting the standard for reforestation on mined lands throughout the state."
The ARRI coalition was formed in 2004 and is supported by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining. The Maryland Department of the Environment adopted the Forestry Reclamation Approach in 2005. The approach expedites the establishment of forest habitat and encourages planting of high-value hardwood trees. More information is available at http://www.arri.osmre.gov/.
U.S.-based Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) is a top five global coal producer and marketer, with 157 million tons of coal sold in 2011. Arch is the most diversified American coal company, with active mining complexes across every major U.S. coal supply basin. Its core business is supplying cleaner-burning, low-sulfur thermal and metallurgical coal to power generators and steel manufacturers on five continents. In 2011, Arch continued to lead the U.S. coal industry in safety performance and environmental compliance among large, diversified producers.
