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Westmoreland's ROVA Power Project Receives Carolina Star Safety Certification

Posted on: Thursday, 9 November 2006, 12:00 CST

Westmoreland Coal Company (AMEX:WLB) announced today that its Roanoke Valley independent power project ("ROVA") has received recertification under the Carolina Star Program. The Carolina Star Program is a cooperative effort among industry management, employees and Occupational, Safety and Health North Carolina, a state-sponsored version of the Federal OSHA program. Carolina Star is designed to recognize and promote effective safety and health management programs and its participants are a select group of facilities that have designed and implemented outstanding safety and health programs. In recognition of this honor, ROVA received a new Carolina Star flag to be displayed at the facility and a recertification certificate at a ceremony in Weldon, North Carolina yesterday.

The 100% owned ROVA project, which was jointly developed by Westmoreland and a utility partner, began commercial operation in the mid-1990's. It is operated by Westmoreland Power Operations, LLC. ROVA consists of two coal-fired units which employ state-of-the-art pollution control equipment that sell electricity to Dominion North Carolina Power under long-term power purchase agreements. ROVA achieved initial Carolina Star certification status in 2003.

The inspectors that evaluated ROVA noted that it has an excellent safety program with some of the highest employee involvement that they had seen among the evaluated facilities. Bob Holzwarth, Senior Vice President of Power for Westmoreland Coal Company, stated: "This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of all plant employees who run the safety committee with the support of plant management. We are very pleased that ROVA has again been recognized for its successful safety program."

Christopher K. Seglem, Westmoreland's Chairman, President and CEO, added: "Creating a safe work environment for our employees is one of our highest priorities. We congratulate our employees at ROVA for this Carolina Star recognition and for their excellent safety record."

In addition to the Carolina Star, ROVA has also received the North Carolina Department of Labor annual Safety Gold award. Employees at ROVA have worked in excess of two years without a recordable incident or a lost-time accident.

There are only 95 businesses in North Carolina with Carolina Star status out of a total of 220,000 businesses, and ROVA is the only power plant to earn this award. The Southampton and Altavista power stations in Virginia, both operated by Westmoreland Utility Operations, LLC, have received a similar Star status from that state.

Westmoreland Coal Company is the oldest independent coal company in the United States and a developer of highly clean and efficient independent power projects. The Company's coal operations include coal mining in the Powder River Basin in Montana and lignite mining operations in Montana, North Dakota and Texas. Its current power operations include ownership and operation of the two-unit ROVA coal-fired power plant in North Carolina, an interest in a natural gas-fired power plant in Colorado, and the operation of four power plants in Virginia. Westmoreland is implementing a growth strategy dedicated to meeting America's dual goals of low-cost power and a clean environment through the acquisition and development of complementary, niche opportunities in coal, power and other segments of the energy sector. For more information, visit www.westmoreland.com.

Source: Business Wire

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