Reclamation at Westmoreland’s Rosebud mine has been nationally recognized by the Office of Surface Mining eight times since 1991. In 2011, our Rosebud Mine received the Directors Award from the Office of Surface Mining and Enforcement ("OSM") of the U.S. Department of the Interior ("DOI") for exemplary use of geomorphic reclamation techniques in pit reclamation engineering design. The use of geomorphic techniques in final pit designs began in cooperation with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in the early 1990’s and were further expanded and refined with designs developed in 1996 and 1997. Most recently they were used in the reclamation of final pits in 2010.  These designs preserve and blended native topographic features that include several steep slopes, sandstone cliffs and rock outcrops. 

These designs have been documented to restored topographic diversity and native vegetation types that would be lost using the standard reclamation techniques being used in the early 1990’s. 

Texas Westmoreland Coal Company received the 2012 Railroad Commission of Texas Coal Mining Reclamation Award for the "Jewett Mine Stream Restoration Initiative."  This Initiative incorporates all phases of the mining process so that reclamation is a key part of coal production.  The reclamation plan as part of the overall plan is digitally transmitted to the equipment in the field performing the work to insure accurate reconstruction of the reclamation area.

Texas Westmoreland Coal Company's Jewett Mine also recently received the 2011 Railroad Commission of Texas Coal Mining Reclamation Award for its “Wilkerson Springs Creek Relocation.” Wilkerson Springs Creek is an intermittent creek that passes generally from east to west through the F mine area.  The Jewett Mine used a geomorphic natural stream design technique resulting in a more natural looking creek channel that meanders and has features such as pools and riffles that more closely resemble a natural stream channel. The Railroad Commission congratulated the Jewett Mine on its achievement and recognized Texas Westmoreland Coal Company for its innovative efforts in achieving outstanding reclamation.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS

Dakota Westmoreland Corporation
Beulah Mine

• 2009 North Dakota Public Service Commission - North Dakota Award for Excellence in Surface Coal Mining & Reclamation

Texas Westmoreland Coal Co.
Jewett Mine

• Texas Mining and Reclamation Association (TMRA)
  -  2012 Award of Excellence - Jewett Mine Stream Restoration Initiative
  -  2011 Award of Excellence - Wilkerson Springs Creek Relocation
  -  2005 Award of Excellence - Area D Special Grid Reclamation Projects
  -  2004 Award of Excellence - Varnell Cemetery Relocation
  -  2003 Award of Excellence - BWE: A Story of Adaptation, Modification and Innovation
  -  2002 Award of Excellence - Pushing the Limits - Augering the Final Highwall 
  -  2002 Award of Excellence - Sharing Our Past with Our Future Projects
  -  2001 Award of Excellence - Surface Mining and Reclamation of Abandoned Projects
  

Western Energy Company
Rosebud Mine

• U.S. Department of the Interior (OSM) “Excellence in Surface Coal Mining & Reclamation Award”
  - 2011 - Directors Award
  - 2006 - Good Neighbor Award
  - 2005 - Area A Final Reclamation Design