ROVA Plant Operates Three Years with No Lost-Time Accidents and Receives Special Safety Honors

25.10.2010  |  Business Wire

Westmoreland Coal Company (NYSE AMEX: WLB) announced today that its
Roanoke Valley Energy Facility ('ROVA?) has achieved two major safety
milestones and has received special honors for its safety program.

On October 21, 2010, ROVA reached a three-year milestone with no
lost-time accidents. The ROVA facility has also operated over two years
without a recordable injury. The facility employs 58 full time workers.

The Company also announced that NAES Corporation, the contract operator
of the two-unit power plant, recently awarded ROVA its top honors for
safety performance for 2009, distinguishing ROVA as the best among the
98 power plants operated by NAES.

ROVA also continues its certification under the Carolina Star Program, a
cooperative effort among industry management, employees and
Occupational, Safety and Health North Carolina, a state sponsored
version of the Federal OSHA program. Only 89 out of a total of
approximately 240,000 businesses in North Carolina have earned the
Carolina Star status, and ROVA is the only power plant to have earned
this recognition. ROVA received its initial certification in 2003 and
completed the most recent three-year recertification in December 2009.
The facility proudly displays a special Carolina Star flag at the plant
entrance.

Keith E. Alessi, President and CEO of Westmoreland Coal Company
commented: 'I congratulate ROVA on achieving such exceptional safety
performance, and I thank all of the employees at ROVA and NAES for their
diligence and hard work to create and maintain a safe work environment.
We also appreciate the Carolina Star program and its initiatives to
promote effective safety programs and training. The special awards and
recognition received from NAES and the Carolina Star Program are held in
the highest regard, and serve as daily reminders of the critical
importance of safety.?

Westmoreland Coal Company is the oldest independent coal company in the
United States. 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 power operations include ownership of the
two-unit ROVA coal-fired power plant in North Carolina. For more
information, visit www.westmoreland.com.