Mountaineer Guardian History

The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training and the West Virginia Coal Association (Mining and Reclamation Association) established the Mountaineer Guardian Safety Awards Program in 1983 as a joint effort to promote safety in the coal fields of West Virginia. This special program gives recognition to mining workplaces where employees have accumulated qualifying amounts of production without experiencing a fatal accident. Mining Operations are divided into categories, based on the number of employees.

In 1997, the Mountaineer Guardian Safety program was extensively revised. The most important change was to include the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training inspection personnel in the selection process. Each inspector may nominate mines/facilities for consideration. Representatives of the sponsoring agencies review those regional nominations and selections for the awards are made from that list.

Selection Criteria:

  • Mine/facility must be fatal free for the award period.
  • Safety Program (initiatives by the company)
  • Co-operative efforts (company works with inspectors—abates violations—good faith)
  • Violation History

Beginning with the 2008 program, two mining operations are singled out for each year for special recognition, and receive the  Milestones of Safety Awards.

2022 Mountaineer Guardian Award Winners

Underground Operations

  • ACI Tygart Valley – Leer Mine – Region 1
  • Aracoma Coal Company, Inc. – Cedar Grove #2 – Region 2
  • Carter Roag Coal Company, LLC – Morgan Camp Mine – Region 1
  • Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal – Mine #39 – Region 2
  • Greenbrier Minerals, LLC – Eagle No. 1 Mine – Region 2
  • Harrison County Coal Resources – Harrison County Mine – Region 1
  • Kingston Mining, Inc. – Kingston No. 2 – Region 4
  • Knox Operating LLC – Beech Mountain Mine – Region 1
  • Marfork Coal Company, LLC – Glen Alum Tunnel Mine – Region 4
  • Mettiki Coal, LLC – Mettiki E Mine – Region 1
  • Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC – Affinity Mine – Region 4
  • Rockwell Mining, LLC – Flying Eagle Mine – Region 4
  • Spartan Mining Company, LLC – Road Fork #52 – Region 2
  • Star Services, LLC – Rane Deep Mine – Region 2
  • Ramaco Resources, LLC – No. 2 Gas – Region 2
  • Ramaco Resources, LLC – Michael Powellton – Region 2
  • Ramaco Resources, LLC – Crucible Deep Mine – Region 2

Surface Operations

  • Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal – Harmon East Surface Mine – Region 2
  • Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal – VA Point Surface Mine – Region 2
  • LP Mineral, LLC – Ralph Six – Region 1
  • Nicholas Contura, LLC – Bishop Surface – Region 4
  • Panther Creek Mining, LLC – Sycamore South – Region 4
  • Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC – Tommy Creek Highwall – Region 4

Prep Plant / Loadouts

  • ACI Tygart Valley – Leer Prep Plant – Region 1
  • Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC – No. 1 Prep Plant – Region 4
  • Carter Roag Coal Co., LLC – Star Bridge Plant – Region 1
  • Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal – Eckman Loadout – Region 2
  • Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal – Road Fork Loadout – Region 2
  • Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal – Eckman Plant – Region 2
  • Greenbrier Minerals, LLC – Saunders Prep Plant – Region 2
  • Greenbrier Minerals, LLC – Mountaineer Pocahontas 1 – Region 4
  • Kingston Processing, Inc. – Kingston Plant – Region 4
  • Marshall County Coal Resources – River Loadout – Region 1
  • Panther Creek Mining, LLC – Maple Eagle Prep Plant – Region 4
  • Panther Creek Mining, LLC – Wet Branch Plant – Region 4
  • Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC – Affinity Prep Plant – Region 4
  • Power Mountain Contura, LLC – Power Mountain Processing – Region 4
  • Ramaco Resources, LLC – Berwind Prep Plant – Region 2
  • Ramaco Resources, LLC – Elk Creek Prep Plant – Region 2
  • Wolf Run Mining, LLC – Leer South Prep Plant – Region 1

Quarries

  • Appalachian Aggregates, LLC – Kelly Mountain Quarry – Region 1
  • Appalachian Aggregates, LLC – Lewisburg Quarry – Region 4
  • Decker’s Creek Limestone Co. – Decker’s Creek Mine – Region 1
  • J. F. Allen Co. – Mashey Gap Quarry – Region 1
  • Letart Corporation – Plant No. 1 – Region 2
  • Martin Marietta Minerals, Inc. – Burning Springs Mine – Region 1
  • Rose Holdings, LLC – Philippi Quarry – Region 1

Independent Contractors

  • Anderson Excavating, LLC – Region 1
  • Boyd Company – Region 4
  • Polino Contracting, Inc. – Region 1
  • Preston Contractors, Inc. – Region 1

The Winner of the Prestigious Eustace E. Fredrick Milestone Safety Award for Underground Coal Mine

Panther Creek Mining, LLC – American Eagle Mine – Region 4

The Winner of the Prestigious Bart B. Lay Jr. Milestone Safety Award for
Surface Coal Mine

Cleveland Cliffs Princeton Coal – Blue Eagle Surface Mine – Region 2
Republic Energy, LLC – Workman Creek Surface – Region 4

Mountaineer Guardian Award Winners

SafetyAward Winners