Awards for Safety Excellence go to 18 Alpha Natural Resources Affiliate Operations in West Virginia

85 Operations across Company Record No Reportable Injuries in 2013

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Jan 31, 2014, 03:51 ET

BRISTOL, Va., Jan. 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ANR), a leading U.S. coal supplier, today announced outstanding safety performance for 2013, with 18 affiliate operations in West Virginia honored for safety achievements, including the top safety award for an underground mine. Additionally, the combined total reportable injury rate was the lowest in the company's history.

Camp Creek Mine No. 1, operated by Rockspring Development, Inc., received the Eustace E. Frederick Milestone of Safety Award signifying exemplary safety performance for an underground mine, while 12 Alpha affiliates representing 17 operations earned the Mountaineer Guardian Safety Award. All of these operations received recognition at the Mountaineer Guardian Luncheon during the 41st annual West Virginia Mining Symposium Jan. 30 in Charleston, W.Va.

Last year, 85 operations or workgroups within the Alpha organization reported no injuries, representing more than 4 million hours worked without an accident – the best Total Reportable Incident Rate (TRIR) in Alpha's history.

"These are outstanding achievements by our miners are testament to their continued focus on making safety a core value of everything we do, every day," said Allen Dupree, Alpha's senior vice president of Running Right and Safety. "Our Running Right process empowers each employee to always do the right thing, and provides them the voice, training, resources and expectations for working safely. These awards recognize their commitment to Running Right."

The following operations in West Virginia received the Mountaineer Guardian award:

Underground Operations
Aracoma Coal Company, Inc. Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC Kingston Mining, Inc. Marfork Coal Company, Inc. Spartan Mining Company White Buck Coal Company	Aracoma Alma No. 1
	Cove Mountain Deep and Wyoming No. 2
	Kingston No. 2
	Horse Creek Eagle
	Lower War Eagle and Ruby Energy
	Grassy Creek No. 1 and Hominy Creek

Surface Operations
Alex Energy, Inc. Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC. Highland Mining Company Elk Run Coal Company, Inc./Republic Energy Simmons Fork Mining, Inc.	Edwight Surface Mine
	Seven Pines
	Reylas Surface
	Empire
	Ewing Fork No. 1 (Pax Surface Mine)

Preparation Plants
Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC Litwar Processing Company, LLC Rum Creek Coal Sales, Inc.	Brooks Run Processing Plant (Erbacon)
	Litwar Preparation Plant
	Zigmond Processing

Eustace E. Frederick Milestone of Safety Award
Rockspring Development, Inc.	Camp Creek Mine No. 1

The West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training and the West Virginia Coal Association sponsor these awards to promote safety in West Virginia coal mines and facilities. The awards are presented to selected mines and mining-related entities that meet strict safety criteria and recognize organizations with fatality-free operations, superior internal safety programs, cooperative teaming with authorities and minimal safety violations.

About Alpha Natural Resources
Alpha Natural Resources is one of the largest and most regionally diversified coal suppliers in the United States. With mining operations in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wyoming, Alpha supplies metallurgical coal to the steel industry and thermal coal to generate power to customers on five continents. Alpha is committed to being a leader in mine safety with our Running Right safety process, and an environmental steward in the communities where its affiliates operate. For more information, visit Alpha's website (www.alphanr.com) or like Alpha's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AlphaNaturalResources).

SOURCE Alpha Natural Resources