ST. LOUIS, June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peabody Energy today announced that Roy Karo, Peabody's Reclamation Manager for Colorado, has been named 2009 Reclamationist of the Year by his peers at the American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR).
During the course of his more than 30-year career in land restoration, Karo has pioneered best practices to establish thousands of acres of rangelands and pastures in a semi-arid climate in northwest Colorado.
Achieving success was particularly challenging given the region's high elevation, mountainous terrain and brief growing season. Karo collaborated with engineers, academics, regulators and erosion control experts to advance soil handling, fencing and irrigation techniques to reestablish native woody plants and aspen trees in the region. In the process, he created a model that has been widely replicated.
Under Karo's leadership, lands have been restored to a condition that is typically four times more productive for livestock grazing than native range. Restored lands also provide a haven for deer and elk, offering some of the highest densities of big game in the region. Karo led numerous initiatives through the Colorado Division of Wildlife's Ranching for Wildlife Program to successfully establish and document breeding, nesting and brood-rearing habitat for the potentially threatened Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse and various mountain bluebird species. Roy annually hosts international bird watching groups to observe the grouse.
"Roy exemplifies a key principle of Peabody's mission to 'leave the land in a condition equal to or better than we found it,'" said Eric Ford, Peabody's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "Roy is part of a broad, talented group of environmental leaders we have around the world who continually innovate to achieve superior land restoration standards while working closely with industry peers and community stakeholders."
Karo's programs have earned widespread recognition, including nearly 10 state honors since 1994 and national honors for land restoration from the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2000 and 2006. Interior also singled out the industry veteran with its "Best of the Best Award" for lifetime achievement in 2006. Karo is among nearly a dozen Peabody employees who have been individually honored by state, regional and national authorities for environmental leadership.
Worldwide, Peabody earned 16 awards for safety, stewardship and good neighbor practices last year, including honors from Australia's New South Wales Minerals Council for environmental excellence at the Metropolitan Mine and good neighbor practices at the Wilpinjong Mine. Interior also honored Peabody with the National Award for Excellence in Surface Mine Reclamation for community relations and environmental excellence at the Miller Creek Mine in Indiana.
Peabody restored more than 6,100 acres of lands, planted a quarter-of-a-million trees and injected $14 billion in direct and implied economic benefits into communities around the world this past year.
Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company, with 2008 sales of 256 million tons and $6.6 billion in revenues. Its coal products fuel 10 percent of all U.S. electricity generation and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.
CONTACT: Meg Gallagher (314) 342-7963
Peabody Energy
CONTACT: Meg Gallagher of Peabody Energy, +1-314-342-7963
Web Site: http://www.peabodyenergy.com/
