International Coal Group's Birch River Mine Complex Wins Top Environmental Award From State of West Virginia

SCOTT DEPOT, W.Va., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- International Coal Group, Inc. today announced that its ICG Eastern subsidiary received the state of West Virginia's highest honor for environmental excellence in coal mining.

The Greenlands Award was presented to ICG Eastern's Birch River surface mine in Webster County, West Virginia, for overall outstanding environmental stewardship in its ongoing mining and reclamation efforts in 2007 by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) at the 35th West Virginia Coal Mining annual symposium on Jan. 11, 2008.

At a recent awards ceremony, the WVDEP praised the Birch River Mine Complex for taking steps above and beyond what is required by state and federal regulations to assure proper handling of overburden and elimination of pre-law environmental problems in the mining area. The complex has achieved an outstanding level of environmental protection since its development in 1992 and has consistently kept reclamation concurrent with its ongoing mining operations, according to the WVDEP.

"The Greenlands Award reflects the ongoing commitment by International Coal Group and its Birch River employees to environmental stewardship," said Ben Hatfield, President and CEO of ICG. "We at ICG are committed to complying with environmental regulations at all of our operations and to reducing the effects of our activity on the surrounding area by employing the highest standards in mining and reclamation practices."

In addition to the Birch River complex, two other ICG operations were honored by the WVDEP with mining and reclamation awards:

-- Wolf Run Mining Company's Imperial Mine in Upshur County, WV, received an award for its exemplary environmental performance in the construction of an access road that prevented water runoff from affecting a nearby stream. -- Patriot Mining Company in Preston County, WV, received an award for its outstanding reclamation efforts at a pre-existing abandoned coal refuse disposal site.

ICG is a leading producer of coal in Northern and Central Appalachia and the Illinois Basin. The Company has 12 active mining complexes, of which 11 are located in Northern and Central Appalachia and one in Central Illinois. ICG's mining operations and reserves are strategically located to serve utility, metallurgical and industrial customers throughout the Eastern United States.