The trench, highwall and conventional surface mining operation, which produced about 7 million tons of coal during its lifespan from 2008 to 2010, impacted and reclaimed more than 340 acres of forest and wildlife land. Planting of a diverse mixture of hardwoods, such as oak, walnut, hickory and cypress trees, were included in the reclamation work.
“The Red Brush mine nomination focused not only on the effectiveness of the on-the-ground reclamation, but also on the long-term benefits of the reclamation to the community,” the Indiana DNR said.
The annual reclamation award is the Division of Reclamation’s highest honor for outstanding achievement in the field of surface coal mining and reclamation.
The agency presented Vigo with the award at the annual Indiana Society of Mining and Reclamation conference, held December 8-9 at the Jasper Inn and Convention Center.
It is the third state environmental award in the last four years for Evansville-based Vigo, and its sixth EMRA overall. In 2011, Vigo was awarded the 2011 Illinois Mined Land Reclamation by the Illinois DNR for work at its Friendsville mine near Mount Carmel; in 2012, Vigo was awarded the EMRA for reclamation at its Cypress Creek mine, also in Warrick County.
