Foundation Coal Mines And Load-Out Facility Receive Awards

Linthicum Heights, MD — Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc. recently announced that three of its coal mines and one load-out facility have been recognized for their exceptional attention to safety and operations. The West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training and the West Virginia Coal Association (WVCA) presented the 2006 Mountaineer Guardian Safety award to the Kingston Mine No. 1 and the Pax and Paynter Branch operations. The Mountaineer Guardian award recognizes mines that have not had a fatality, that provide superior safety programs and have had minimal safety violations.

In addition to the safety awards, the Pax load-out facility in Fayette County, West Virginia received the 2006 Reclamation award. The WVCA gave the award to the facility, which is managed and operated by Foundation affiliate, Pioneer Fuel Corporation, for its reclamation work after the construction of a new rail load-out facility. The Reclamation award recognizes the facility's dedication to minimizing environmental disturbance during construction and the creation of five new acres of wetlands complete with vegetation and wildlife.

Jim Bryja, senior vice president, eastern operations, stated, "Our philosophy is to operate our properties safely and efficiently. We take pride in the work we do before, during and after we mine and the efforts of our Kingston, Pax and Paynter Branch employees demonstrate these efforts."

Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc., through its affiliates, is a major U.S. coal producer with 14 coal mines and related facilities in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois and Wyoming. Through its subsidiaries, Foundation Coal employs approximately 3,000 people and produces approximately 72 million tons of coal annually, largely for utilities generating electricity. Foundation's corporate offices are in Linthicum Heights, MD.

SOURCE: Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc.