On April 11, 2018, it was announced that Peabody Energy‘s coal mine near Lynnville, Indiana, called the Wild Boar Mine, had been given the 2018 National Reclamation Award for reclamation work on the Barren Fork Pit.
Receiving the award. From left: Gregory Conrad (IMCC), Beth Botsis (IMCC), Steve Weinzapfel (Indiana DNR), Jeff Flory, Donnie Hawk, Jamie Musgrove (all 3 Peabody Wild Boar Mine) and Tom Clarke (IMCC)
“This recognition and the work at Barren Fork are demonstrations of Peabody’s sustainability value in practice,” said Marc Hathhorn, Peabody’s Group Executive, Americas. “In 2017, we restored 40 percent more land than we disturbed, and Wild Boar’s reclamation efforts were a big part of that success.”
In 2017, across the U.S. and Australia, Peabody restored 5145 acres of mined lands into wildlife habitat, rangeland, hardwood forests, prime farmland, pastoral land and wetlands. In the U.S. this included 892 acres of forested area, 30 acres of wetlands and approximately eight miles of high-quality streams. In addition, Peabody planted 647,602 trees.
“We remain committed to land reclamation as an essential part of the coal mining process,” said Peabody President – Americas Kemal Williamson. “We are very proud of the recognition for the Wild Boar team as they restore lands for generations that follow.”
Wild Boar was recognized for using innovative, efficient and careful techniques to successfully reclaim the forest and wildlife area at the Barren Fork Pit. Soil replacement has been abundant at Barren Fork, and enhancement of forest areas now includes a mix of wildlife habitat including water depressions, small impoundments, and many brush and rock piles. Raptors and other wildlife are already utilizing these reclaimed areas.
Wild Boar was also honored for reclamation work at the Barren Fork Pit in 2017 with an Excellence in Mining and Reclamation Award from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Reclamation.
The Interstate Mining Compact Commission is a multi-state governmental agency representing the natural resource and related environmental protection interests of its member states. The Commission came into existence in 1970 and now includes 24 full-member states and two associate-member states.
Photos courtesy of Peabody Energy.