Press Releases

Peabody Energy Earns Safety and Environmental Honors from Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, and Colorado Mining Association

ST. LOUIS, March 5 – Peabody Energy’s Colorado operations have been recognized for innovation in safety, environmental leadership and environmental excellence by the state’s  Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety, and the Colorado Mining Association.  Key honors include:   

  • Safety Innovation Award: The Twentymile Mine was honored for five safety innovations developed this past year.  These include: 1) developing a telescoping rod that prevents ladders from tipping; 2) implementing improvements to the conveyor belt system; 3) using pilot holes for installing stopping rails; 4) designing a fire valve bracket to prevent dust accumulation and reduce maintenance; and 5) creating a system to raise and lower pulleys to eliminate falling hazards. 

Twentymile was the only operation honored for innovation and the only operation that has been honored every year for innovation since the awards have been presented. Twentymile is the state’s largest coal mine and achieved record 2012 safety performance with a 0.96 incidence rate, which is approximately one-third the average for surface and underground U.S. coal mines. 

  • Dr. James A. Pendleton Award for Reclamation:  Colorado Reclamation Manager Roy Karo was honored for a lifetime of achievement pioneering best practices for land restoration. Karo was honored for his “passionate, energetic and exceptional knowledge about mined land reclamation, for valuable participation on the Abandoned Mined Land Advisory Board” and for his commitment to “try new techniques and to continually improve upon what (he) has learned,” according to the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety.  

Over a 36-year career with Peabody in Colorado, Karo has applied land restoration practices that have resulted in diverse stands of vegetation, improved drainage control and reclaimed land that attracts a variety of wildlife including the sharp tailed grouse and large populations of elk and mule deer.  These hardy, restored lands are as much as four times more productive for livestock grazing as native range. 

Karo manages more than 50,000 acres of land holdings in addition to Peabody’s Ranching for Wildlife Program in cooperation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.  He  has earned numerous national and state awards for his efforts and was honored in 2009 as the Reclamationist of the Year by the American Society of Mining and Reclamation.  

  • Coal Reclamation Award: The Twentymile Sage Creek portal was recognized for excellence in obtaining legacy bond release, which included bond release for lands from predecessor or acquired companies. Peabody also developed a best technology practice for tracking and processing bond release, which can be transferred to other mining companies.
  • Senior Participant Award with Special Recognition:  The Twentymile Mine also was recognized for recycling more than 1 million pounds of materials including cable, scrap metal and used oil.  The mine also was recognized for creating a master plan to protect species habitat and guide future restoration practices working in conjunction with the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.   

“Our Colorado team is known for a progressive culture that prizes innovation and best practice in all facets of our activities,” said Peabody Energy – Americas President Kemal Williamson.  “I’m proud of our employees for their leadership in setting safety and environmental standards that are respected among the highest levels in the state and the industry.”

Peabody has a half-century history of operations in Colorado, and the company’s Colorado operations inject more than $790 million annually in direct and indirect economic benefits for the state. The awards were presented during the Colorado Mining Association’s 115th National Western Mining Conference and Exhibition and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration’s Annual Meeting and Exhibit.  

Peabody Energy is the world’s largest private-sector coal company and a global leader in sustainable mining and clean coal solutions. The company serves metallurgical and thermal coal customers in more than 25 countries on six continents. For further information, go to PeabodyEnergy.com and CoalCanDoThat.com. 

CONTACT:
Beth Sutton
(928) 522-7008