BRISTOL, Va., Jan. 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: ANR), a leading U.S. coal supplier, today announced outstanding safety performance for 2013, with 18 affiliate operations in West Virginia honored for safety achievements, including the top safety award for an underground mine. Additionally, the combined total reportable injury rate was the lowest in the company's history.

Camp Creek Mine No. 1, operated by Rockspring Development, Inc., received the Eustace E. Frederick Milestone of Safety Award signifying exemplary safety performance for an underground mine, while 12 Alpha affiliates representing 17 operations earned the Mountaineer Guardian Safety Award. All of these operations received recognition at the Mountaineer Guardian Luncheon during the 41st annual West Virginia Mining Symposium Jan. 30 in Charleston, W.Va.

Last year, 85 operations or workgroups within the Alpha organization reported no injuries, representing more than 4 million hours worked without an accident - the best Total Reportable Incident Rate (TRIR) in Alpha's history.

"These are outstanding achievements by our miners are testament to their continued focus on making safety a core value of everything we do, every day," said Allen Dupree, Alpha's senior vice president of Running Right and Safety. "Our Running Right process empowers each employee to always do the right thing, and provides them the voice, training, resources and expectations for working safely. These awards recognize their commitment to Running Right."

The following operations in West Virginia received the Mountaineer Guardian award: 



    Underground Operations
    ----------------------

     Aracoma Coal Company, Inc. 
    Brooks Run Mining
      Company, LLC 
    Kingston Mining, Inc. 
    Marfork
      Coal Company, Inc. 
    Spartan Mining Company
      
    White Buck Coal Company                      Aracoma Alma No. 1

    Cove Mountain Deep and
     Wyoming No. 2

    Kingston No. 2

    Horse Creek Eagle

    Lower War Eagle and Ruby
     Energy

    Grassy Creek No. 1 and
     Hominy Creek


    Surface Operations
    ------------------

     Alex Energy, Inc. 
    Brooks Run Mining Company,
      LLC. 
    Highland Mining Company 
    Elk Run Coal
      Company, Inc./Republic Energy 
    Simmons Fork
      Mining, Inc.                                  Edwight Surface Mine

    Seven Pines

    Reylas Surface

    Empire

    Ewing Fork No. 1 (Pax
     Surface Mine)


    Preparation Plants
    ------------------

     Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC 
    Litwar          Brooks Run Processing
      Processing Company, LLC 
    Rum Creek Coal        Plant (Erbacon)
      Sales, Inc.

    Litwar Preparation Plant

    Zigmond Processing


    Eustace E. Frederick Milestone of Safety
     Award
    ----------------------------------------


    Rockspring Development, Inc.                   Camp Creek Mine No. 1

The West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training and the West Virginia Coal Association sponsor these awards to promote safety in West Virginia coal mines and facilities. The awards are presented to selected mines and mining-related entities that meet strict safety criteria and recognize organizations with fatality-free operations, superior internal safety programs, cooperative teaming with authorities and minimal safety violations.

About Alpha Natural Resources
Alpha Natural Resources is one of the largest and most regionally diversified coal suppliers in the United States. With mining operations in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Wyoming, Alpha supplies metallurgical coal to the steel industry and thermal coal to generate power to customers on five continents. Alpha is committed to being a leader in mine safety with our Running Right safety process, and an environmental steward in the communities where its affiliates operate. For more information, visit Alpha's website (www.alphanr.com) or like Alpha's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AlphaNaturalResources).

SOURCE Alpha Natural Resources