BRISTOL, Va., June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR), a leading U.S. coal supplier, today announced that four of its affiliate operations received the Holmes Safety Award from the state of West Virginia for their safety accomplishments. Special recognition was also given to four employees for their efforts and achievements in mine safety and community work, including Gary Frampton of East Bank, W.Va., who won the state's top individual honor as 2013 Coal Safety Leader.

Allen Dupree, senior vice president of Running Right and Safety, said, "I am tremendously proud of our employees for their commitment to Running Right through safe and responsible operating practices. These awards demonstrate our ongoing dedication to fostering a culture of vigilance and maintaining safety as a core value."

The following operations were nominated by state regional inspectors and awarded a Holmes Safety Award by the state of West Virginia:



    Underground Mines                        Surface Mines

    50-75 Employees                          36-49 Employees

    --Cedar Grove No. 1, Aracoma Coal         --Tower Mountain Surface
     Co.                                      Mine, Bandmill Coal Corp.
    ---------------------------------        -------------------------


    Preparation Plants

    50-75 Employees                          75+ Employees

    --Plant and River Loadout, Mammoth        --Republic Energy Mine,
     Coal Co.                                 Republic Energy
    ----------------------------------       ------------------------

Additionally, the West Virginia State Council granted special recognition to employees of Alpha and affiliates for their efforts in mine safety and the community. Award recipients included: 



    2013 Director's Special
     Recognition Awards              2013 Coal Safety Leader in West Virginia

    --Jeff Ellis, Alpha Natural
     Resources Southwest Region      -- Gary Frampton, Alpha Natural Resources
    ---------------------------      -----------------------------------------

    --Chuck Barton, Brooks Run South
     - Horse Creek Mine              Running Right Leadership Academy
    --------------------------------

    --Henry Ruiz, Coal River Surface
     - Twilight Mine
    --------------------------------

Recipients were recognized at the 31(st) Annual Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association West Virginia State Council Meeting held June 6-8 in Daniels, W.Va.

About Alpha Natural Resources
Alpha Natural Resources is one of the largest and most regionally diversified coal suppliers in the United States. With affiliate 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 we operate. For more information, visit Alpha's official website (www.alphanr.com).

SOURCE Alpha Natural Resources