COLUMBUS, OH -- Six Ohio companies and organizations have received awards acknowledging their outstanding accomplishments and performance in the areas of mining, drilling and reclamation, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Recognition came during an awards ceremony at ODNR's Applied Research Conference held at Ohio University on December 10.
"All of our winners have one thing in common," stated Mike Sponsler, chief of the ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management. "All are sensitive to the needs of the community, while fostering greater appreciation for the services and products provided by energy and mineral industries."
Franklin Gas and Oil of Wooster received the Oilfield Operations Award in recognition of the company's work protecting soil, surface or groundwater resources by maintaining quality production sites and consistently restoring sites to pre-drilling conditions.
Martin Marietta Materials Inc. received the Industrial Minerals Mining Reclamation Award for operations at the company's Fairborn Sand & Gravel quarry in Clark County. Continuous reclamation techniques use the soil and rock removed before mining to provide erosion control and reduce visual impact of the mining operations to the neighboring community.
The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award went to Triple A Construction of Barnesville and a team from the ODNR Abandoned Mined Land Program for their efforts to extinguish and cap burning coal refuse within the Brier Ridge Refuse Pile Emergency Project in Jefferson County.
Penn-Ohio Coal Company received the Coal Mining Reclamation Award for its use of versatile problem-solving field techniques at the Yorktown Pit in Tuscarawas County.
Lafarge Inc. Great Lakes Division Marblehead Quarry in Ottawa County was honored with the Minerals Education Public Outreach Award for its environmental stewardship and for fostering cooperation and partnerships with diverse community groups to achieve mutual understanding.
The Applied Research Conference is an annual forum sponsored by the ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management that focuses on the newest scientific information in mineral resources extraction and reclamation. The goal of the conference is to find ways that improve the restoration of land productivity and water quality in areas that have been impacted by mining and drilling operations.