Virginia Department of Mines Minerals & Energy issued the following announcement on Sept. 23
Walker Sand & Stone, Incorporated’s Mine #1 received top honors from the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) for outstanding reclamation. The company, located in King George County, coordinated with many individual landowners to mine and properly reclaim the site. Once mining was completed in 2014, the site was returned to a natural state with rolling hills. Walker Sand & Stone, Incorporated was name the Overall Winner for the 2021 Mineral Mining Reclamation Awards. Three other mine sites also received awards for exemplary reclamation of mined land.
“Reclamation, restoration and re-purposing of land disturbed by mining is a priority for DMME and the companies operating in the Commonwealth,” said Virginia Energy Director of Mineral Mining and Gas and Oil Phil Skorupa. “Virginia Energy, the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance’s (VTCA) and the mine operators take great pride in restoring these lands into a better and more useful purpose after mining is completed.”
The Orphaned Land Advisory Committee convened on September 9, 2021 for its annual meeting and reviewed the 2021 reclamation award nominations submitted for Virginia’s mineral mining industry. The nominations recognize mining operations for their accomplishments of reclamation in two categories of mining operations, Quarry and Non-Quarry. No nominations were submitted for the Quarry category.
In addition to Walker Sand & Stone, Incorporated Quarry receiving the Overall Winner, the committee made the following Honorable Mention selections based on reclamation criteria:
Honorable Mentions – Non Quarry
T.W. White Inc. – Franklin Pit – Southampton County
USC Saltville Brine, LLC – Saltville Salt Company- Washington County
GL Howard – Rocky Mills Pit – Goochland County
Pictures and details of individual winners are available upon request. The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) is now Virginia Energy with the official name change occurring on October 1st. A new website for the agency will also be accessible on that date where more information on Virginia mineral mining industry can be found at www.energy.virginia.gov
Original source can be found here.
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