CNX Gas Receives Prestigious Environmental Awards

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Jan. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CONSOL Energy's (NYSE: CNX) CNX Gas division was recognized last night for its environmental business practices and reclamation standards in West Virginia during the Independent Oil & Gas Association's winter meeting in Charleston, WV.

The West Virginia Operations of CNX Gas received the Oil & Gas Reclamation Award for first place in category one from the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection Office (WVDEP). The award recognizes reclamation efforts at 199 sites reclaimed in 2009-2010 through the former Dominion E&P division acquired by CONSOL.

Additionally, CNX Gas received a second award recognizing it for its reclamation of 18 coalbed methane sites in 2009-2010, including 16 sites in McDowell County, WV and two in Marshall County, WV.

"Both of these awards are indicators of our continuing commitment to not only doing things right, but also to doing them safely," said CONSOL Energy Chief Operating Officer Nick DeIuliis. "We take our environmental stewardship seriously and the fact that we have been named to receive these awards in more than one of our locations is further evidence of our commitment as a company to sound business practices and reclamation standards and the commitment of our employees as well."

CNX Gas Chief Operating Officer Randy Albert agreed.

"We are honored to be named to receive these most prestigious reclamation awards from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection," Albert said. "The awards recognize our reclamation efforts in West Virginia, and we think they also illustrate the commitment we have as a company to being good stewards of the environment. We applaud our employees in these areas for the work they do every day to demonstrate that commitment."

The category in which CNX Gas was recognized as the first place winner is the largest and most competitive category and requires companies under consideration to have more than 30 permits with mandatory scores between 98 and 99.  

Winners were divided into four categories based on the number of drilled wells in the past year.  Each company had to meet a strict criterion based on proper notification and documentation, best practices for construction, drilling, completion and reclamation.  

CNX Gas operates or has a working interest in more than 5,000 wells in West Virginia.

SOURCE CONSOL Energy Inc.