Nola Sizemore

Staff Writer

Lone Mountain Processing’s Darby Fork No. 1 Mine at Holmes Mill received prestigious state awards for safety and compliance performance during ceremonies held recently in Lexington.

Owned by Arch Coal Inc., the mine was recognized for the lowest rate of injury, which was zero at this mine.

“I’m very proud of our employees and what they strive to achieve every day,” said Darby Fork Mine Supt. John Bowman. “Safety is their number one priority every day.”

To win this type of award Bowman said the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing and the Kentucky Coal Association looks at the number of injuries, the way employees relate to mining inspectors, working conditions and how employees handle situations and react.

“They watch how your people do their job in the safest manner and make sure they are following all the rules and regulations,” said Bowman. “This was an award not for our staff or management, but for our miners.”

There are approximately 89 underground miners and 22 other employees who work outside the Darby Fork mine. Along with the Darby Fork mine, Thunder Ridge Surface Mine in Barbourville, and East Mac and Nellie Surface Mine in Hazard, also received awards.

“We’re extremely proud of the employees of these Kentucky operations and their strong commitment to safety,” said Charles Snavely, president of eastern operations, “It’s an outstanding record of accomplishment to achieve three top safety awards in one year.”

Arch Coal is a top five global coal producer and marketer. It’s core business is supplying cleaner-burning, low-sulfur thermal and metallurgical coal to power generators and steel manufacturers on five continents.

In 2011, Arch lead the United States coal industry in safety performance and environmental compliance among large, diversified producers. They represent 15 percent of America’s coal supply from mining complexes in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Illinois, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com