 In addition to ensuring that mines are reclaimed as America's coal energy is produced, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 also provides for reclamation at sites abandoned before the act. These awards honor the accomplishments of state regulatory officials and their contractors whose efforts have eliminated safety and environmental hazards returning the land to a useful purpose. Reviewed by state and office of surface mining reclamation and enforcement officials and selected by an academy style of voting, the awards reflect the combined judgment of experts with years of experience. Careful evaluation goes into every nomination and only the finest examples are put forward. This year there are three regional and two national awards. The Appalachian Regional Award, the Fishing Run Restoration and Maudmine Reclamation Project, South Fayette Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation. A remnant of 19th and early 20th century mining, this site included an open portal a partially sealed mine opening 1500 feet of dangerous high wall and numerous dilapidated coal preparation loadout structures. An open mine portal captured all of the flow from the upper portion of a clean water stream called Fishing Run and channeled it through an abandoned mine to discharge acid mine drainage into a major stream. Fill material from the project site and nearby areas were used to eliminate the high walls. The open mine portal and partially sealed mine opening are permanently closed and Fishing Run now has a natural stream bed designed using geomorphic principles while its banks are lined with trees. The Mid Continent Regional Award, Log Creek Church AML sites 920-40, Pike and Warwick Counties Indiana for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Reclamation. Over 100 years of surface mining left dangerous vertical high walls and a devastated landscape within yards of a mid 18th century church and a heavily traveled county road. Acid mine drainage from exposed sites was extensive and complicated by the use of coal and coal waste to construct haul roads. At Log Creek Church over 70 acres of acid-producing waste has been sequestered. Forested wetlands are established and using geomorphic modeling sustainable stream channels and drainage areas are in place. While 4,000 feet of high wall had been replaced with natural slopes. The Western Regional Award Cottonwood Wash Reclamation Project San Juan County Utah for the Utah Division of Oil Gas and Mining Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program. An archaeologically rich area inhabited for 3,000 years and extensively mined for vanadium and uranium in the 20th century this site was littered with radioactive waste and open mines that threaten public safety. At Cottonwood Wash cooperative partnering between agencies maximized both funding and expertise to reclaim 264 acres and bring the land back to productive use. 73 miles of mine exploration roads have been reclaimed. 213 ad-hits were sealed and 66 shafts were safeguarded. The National Award Category 2, Yankee Buchanich Coal Reclamation Project, Colfax County, New Mexico, New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department Mining and Minerals Division Abandoned Mine Land Program. Mines sporadically since the early 1800s and as recently as 1971 this site contains substantial amounts of coal waste dumped down steep slopes partially collapsed ad-hits and streams near gob piles. The coal waste was severely eroded polluting both ephemeral and perennial waterways. Coal waste trash and old mining equipment including vehicles had been dumped into an ephemeral stream. Mixing gob with native soil and adding lime, gypsum, wood waste and compost to support native vegetation has reclaimed much of the area to a point where the landscape conforms to undisturbed areas. Streams are geomorphically reshaped to a natural state and historic buildings from the mining era have been preserved. The National Award Peanut Mine Reclamation Project, Crested Butte Gunnison County, Colorado. Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety inactive mine reclamation program. Complicated by the presence of remaining anthracite along with coal waste and hard rock mine and mill waste reclamation at this site shows how community involvement, innovative partnering between public, private and government groups and careful planning combined to produce exemplary reclamation. At this previously impaired and once dangerous site 16 acres of mine and mill waste are now reclaimed adding three new acres of wetlands. The area is currently used as a park-like open space for hiking, bicycling and other forms of outdoor recreation. This completes the Excellence in Abandoned Mine Reclamation Awards. All of the entries showed a commitment to safety and the environment and each demonstrated extraordinary skill in overcoming the difficulties presented in abandoned mine land reclamation. We thank you and we congratulate all of this year's entries for a job well done.