Press Releases

Peabody Energy's Viking Mine has earned the 2008 Excellence in Mining and Reclamation Award from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The award recognizes the mine's success in reclaiming 850 acres of forest and farm land in Daviess County southeast of Montgomery, Ind.

The award praised Viking for increasing the number of valuable hardwood forest species in the area, reclaiming streams and prime farmland and providing a greater depth and quality of replaced soils than is required by post-mining land use standards. The company's soil handling and grading techniques increased tree species diversity, improved crop yields, reduced overland erosion and improved downstream water quality.

In reclaiming high-quality woodland and wildlife habitat, Viking helped to reverse the decline of oak species in the Midwest. The company planted 200,000 trees on nearly 300 acres at its Corning area from 2004 to 2008, and oak seedlings accounted for more than 50 percent of those trees. Peabody also established enhanced stream corridors for wildlife migration and habitat.

Viking worked collaboratively with community leaders on reclamation initiatives. For example, the company reconstructed two county roads on the reclaimed area to improve visibility and safety. Peabody has a long history of sustainable practices, having earned nearly two dozen awards for stewardship in the past two years.

"Viking employees should be very proud of what we have accomplished in restoring high-quality farmland and wooded areas," said Eric Ford, Peabody's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "This award underscores how committed Viking employees are to living by a core principle of our mission: 'to return mined lands to a condition that is equal to or better than we found it.'"

The Viking Mine employs approximately 134 full-time employees and produces approximately 1.6 million tons of coal annually.

Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company. Its coal products fuel approximately 10 percent of all U.S. electricity generation and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

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SOURCE: Peabody Energy