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ST. LOUIS, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peabody Energy has earned a major environmental honor from the leading organization of land restoration scientists in North America.

The National Association of State Land Reclamationists presented Peabody with its Outstanding Reclamation Award in recognition of achievements at the company's Cottage Grove Mine near Equality, Ill., where Peabody re-established areas of prime farmland, highly productive cropland and wildlife habitat.

The honor recognizes companies and individuals for outstanding land restoration and successful initiatives to promote environmental stewardship. Award criteria include compliance, restoration techniques, drainage solutions, post-mining land use, innovation and long-term benefits to the surrounding community.

"Peabody's leadership in sustainable practices is core to our mission, as illustrated by the productive agricultural system established at Cottage Grove," said Eric Ford, Peabody's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "A key principle of Peabody's mission is to 'leave the land in a condition equal to or better than we found it.' Our team of engineers and environmental specialists continue to live this mission in the Midwest and around the world."

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals also recently awarded Peabody the 2010 Illinois Land Reclamation Award in the coal category for environmental achievements at Cottage Grove. The mine's program has produced excellent results, with crop yields of corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay that have exceeded local averages.  

Worldwide, Peabody has earned more than two dozen awards for safety, financial leadership, stewardship and good neighbor practices over the past two years, including major honors from the U.S. Department of the Interior for environmental excellence and community outreach at operations in Wyoming, Indiana and Illinois.

Peabody restored more than 3,700 acres companywide, planted more than 250,000 trees and recycled more than 19,000 tons of materials in 2009, while creating $15 billion in direct and implied economic benefits in communities around the world.

Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) is the world's largest private-sector coal company and a global leader in clean coal solutions. With 2009 sales of 244 million tons and $6 billion in revenues, Peabody fuels 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

SOURCE Peabody Energy