Senior
Environmental Field Specialist Brent Gray examines crops grown on
previously mined land now restored to prime farmland
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An intensive, groundbreaking effort to reforest mined lands
in western Kentucky creates breathtaking results for hunters, fishermen and
outdoor adventurers alike. It’s also given Peabody Group’s Midwest
Operations distinction for tremendous industry leadership. Peabody was the first
to restore native hardwoods in the region, the first to develop planting
technology that dramatically improves tree survival, and the first mining
company to obtain release on these lands under the U.S. Office of Surface Mining’s
stringent permanent program guidelines.
In the past 50 years, Peabody’s Midwest reclamation team
has returned an unbelievable 59 million trees, including native oak, poplar, ash
and maple, to tens of thousands of acres rambling through a four-county area in
western Kentucky. Peabody’s Senior Environmental Field Specialist has
personally supervised the seeding of 67,000 acres of reclaimed land as well as
the planting of an astounding 17 million trees.
In addition to reforestation, Peabody’s many reclamation programs
include restoring prime farmland. Making sure that crop yields exceed
pre-mining harvests emphasizes Peabody’s commitment to being a
responsible energy producer and good environmental caretaker. Each year,
thousands of people enjoy and benefit from Peabody’s innovative
approach to reclamation throughout the nation.
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