MADISONVILLE, Ky. (11/12/15) – The Kentucky Department for Natural Resources (DNR) and the Kentucky Coal Association (KCA) jointly presented awards to local companies for exemplary mine safety or outstanding reclamation practices on coal mining operations in the Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement’s Madisonville regional area. The Mine Safety Awards were presented to surface and underground mining operations in the Madisonville District.DNR Commissioner Steve Hohmann and KCA President Bill Bissett presented the award for Excellence in Reclamation in the Madisonville Regional Area to Armstrong Coal Company Inc. (permit 892 – 0105) for its 1,218-acre surface coal mining operation located near the community of Centertown in Ohio County.The site is being successfully reclaimed by the company to multiple post mining land uses that include cropland, forestland and pastureland. The company’s outstanding mining and reclamation practices also provide for the restoration of old pre-law mining areas that were having significant off-site environmental impacts because they had not been reclaimed to today’s high standards.The awards for exceptional mine safety in the Madisonville District went to River View Coal LLC for its River View underground mine and Armstrong Coal Company Inc. for its Equality surface mining operation.The Riverview deep mine operation had an annual production in excess of 9,340,000 tons, and employs 643 miners working three shifts. They worked a total of 1,471,568 man hours during the year with 11 reportable accidents. Armstrong Coal Company’s Equality operation had an annual production of 3,909,816 tons and employs 145 miners working three shifts. They worked a total of 369,209 man hours during the year with two reportable accidents.The awards event was held at Madisonville Community and Technical College.Information provided by the Energy and Environment Cabinet