The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) and the Virginia Transportation and Construction Alliance (VTCA) has recognised mining operations for exemplary safety records and outstanding reclamation efforts during 2017.
A report by Wymt, says: “In 2017, Virginia’s mines employed 3,841 production employees and 5,427 contract employees.”
In addition, production employees worked 6,851,699 hours while contract employees worked 741,809 hours producing 68,939,408 tonnes, the report adds.
During last year, 307 mineral mines in Virginia worked without having lost a time accident.
Phil Skorupa, DMME’s director of mineral mining, says: “Our efforts combined with the VTCA, and the safety culture instilled at each of these mines works. Mine operators and employees deserve recognition for working safely and returning home safely every day without injury.”
The safety programme recognised the top eight mines with zero accidents and the highest number of production hours in their category. The mines worked for a total of 777,917 hours.
According to Wymt, the winners in each category include:
- Chantilly Crushed Stone, Inc., Chantilly Quarry, Loudoun County, 123,450 hours
• Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC., Graham Quarry, Fairfax County, 73,302 hours
• Pounding Mill Quarry Group, Bluefield Quarry, Tazwell County, 47,718 hours
• BWI Abingdon, LLC., Abingdon Quarry, Washington County, 22,722 hours
Top winners in the Open Pit category:
• Nestle Purina Petcare, Nestler Purina Mine, King William County, 471,207 hours
• Luck Stone Corporation, Caroline Sand and Gravel, Caroline County, 25,618 hours
• King William Sand and Gravel, Inc., King William Mine, King William County, 9,426 hours
• Old River Land Company, LLC., New Kent # 1 Mine, 4,474 hours
The Orphan Land Advisory Committee chose mines for their exemplary efforts in restoring land distributed by mining to an environmentally friendly and usable state after mining is finished.
Receiving honors are:
Overall Winner and Winner of Best Non-quarry Category
• Luck Stone Corporation, Caroline Sand and Gravel, Caroline County.
Best Quarry category
• Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC. , Jack Quarry, Dinwiddie County
Honorable Mentions were:
• Mountain Materials, Inc. Glade Spring # 2 Quarry, Washington County
• Bardon, Inc., Mataponi Sand and Gravel, King William County
• RT Armistead and L Hanson, Armistead Hanson Pit, James City County
