Carl E. Campbell, commissioner of the Department for Natural Resources, presented a 2009 Commissioner’s Award of Excellence in Reclamation to Patriot Coal Co. for outstanding reclamation work on their surface facility (permit No. 851-0040) located in Henderson County near the community of Hebbardsville.

     The site is a 1,013 acre surface mine operation that began in 2006. Patriot Coal has achieved phase I, II and III bond release on five of the seven increments bonded. At the time the permit was transferred to Patriot Coal, there were two un-reclaimed open pits, along with several hundred acres of barren spoil and reclaimed land with rills and gullies. As a result of Patriot Coal’s reclamation efforts, the post mining land uses of cropland, pastureland and fish and wildlife habitat have been achieved. The post-mining land use was agreed to by the coal company and the landowners prior to mining.

     The Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement (DMRE) inspectors Charlie Troutman and Robert Lacy from the Madisonville Regional Office nominated this site because of the company’s exceptional work and their commitment to the environment. The reclamation of this site promises long term benefits in that the landowners can now use the lands, especially those areas previously mined and with substandard earth and soil.

     Dave Webb, Vice President of Operations, Rick Lam, mine superintendent and James Ellis, mine manager accepted the award for Patriot Coal. In presenting the award, Commissioner Campbell expressed his sincere appreciation for the company’s outstanding reclamation work. Campbell added, "Many people have contributed to the success of this mining and reclamation effort. Among them are Patriot Coal, Grand Eagle Mining, Coleman Brothers, Kentucky DMRE, the federal Office of Surface Mining and the Henderson County government. "

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