RECLAMATION SUCCESS

The Farmersburg Mine, operated by Peabody Energy’s subsidiary Black Beauty Coal Company, located near Pimento, Indiana, has operated since 1996 and produces more than 4 million tons of coal annually. The Mine has earned a National Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Award from the U.S. Department of the Interior for restoration of prime farmland. The award recognizes “the most exemplary reclamation in the country” and was presented at the U.S. Office of Surface Mining’s 27th Reclamation Excellence Awards ceremony.  

 
Hearty crops grow on lands that were mined just 18 months previously.

The Farmersburg Mine was honored for developing innovative reclamation techniques that improve crop yields. The methods include doubling the amount of rooting material and soils to restore productivity, which improves the availability of water and nutrients for deep-rooted crops. Other techniques include controlling erosion through terraces and cover crop growth, as well as using GPS technology to monitor soil fertility and pH levels for optimum conditions.

 “Our environmental team has a strong record of stewardship that continues to show leadership in innovation,” said Midwest Group Executive Daniel S. Hermann. “We are proud to demonstrate our commitment to continuous environmental improvement by leaving the land in a condition that is better than we found it.”

 
Farmers inspect a field of corn on reclaimed lands at the Farmersburg Mine

Peabody’s success in restoring farmland has been recognized by numerous excellence in reclamation awards, which include the U.S. Department of the Interior’s prestigious 2001 Director’s Award for Black Beauty’s results in Indiana and Illinois.

Peabody operations and affiliates have been recognized with more than 30 major awards for stewardship in the past five years for a range of projects including wildlife habitat restoration in West Virginia and Wyoming, reforestation in Kentucky, protection of cultural resources in Arizona and reclamation of prime farmland in Indiana and Illinois.

Last year, Peabody reclaimed nearly 6,000 acres of land and planted nearly a half million trees. The company also provided more than $50 million to a federal fund to reclaim other formerly mined lands.