On behalf of Gov. Mark S. Schweiker, I am pleased to present the 131st consecutive edition of Pennsylvania’s Annual Report on Mining Activities. Since the first recorded mining in 1761 on Coal Hill, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvanians have worked to extract our vast mineral deposits as safely as possible. It was not until the 20th century that we realized our responsibility to preserve and protect the environment as we mine. Today, Pennsylvania is doing both – mining safely and responsibly. Pennsylvania deep mines today are the safest they have ever been. Over the last three years, Pennsylvania established a record for the fewest number of underground mining fatalities in history. For the third consecutive year, workers’ lost time due to accidents has also decreased. This milestone is a tribute to the partnership between DEP, industry, labor and federal safety authorities to implement and maintain good safety practices. Unfortunately, this record is not perfect. In 2000, three miners lost their lives on the job – one underground miner and two workers at surface operations. These accidents remind us that our work to regulate and promote sound safety programs is never done. While recognizing that it is impossible to avoid all accidents, we will continue to work with our partners to strive for new records – free of all fatalities. This past year, Pennsylvania’s mines produced more than 78 millions tons of coal and 138 million tons of industrial minerals, while maintaining a 96 percent compliance rate with environmental regulations. This is indeed a remarkable accomplishment and is a testament to DEP’s efforts to help mining facilities comply with the law through compliance assistance programs and, when necessary, enforcement actions. Our goal for the future, however, remains 100 percent compliance. While working safely and responsibly, industry also helped reclaim abandoned sites from our long mining heritage that blight our landscape and pollute our water. Through incentives to reuse these old sites, as part of the "Reclaim PA" program, industry reclaimed 1,700 acres of abandoned mine land and improved 13 miles of streams polluted by acid mine drainage. This reclamation is valued at more than $11 million and was achieved at no cost to Pennsylvania taxpayers. Many mine operators have also seized the opportunity to partner with volunteer groups through the Ridge/Schweiker "Growing Greener" program – the largest environmental investment in Pennsylvania’s history – to reclaim abandoned mines and improve watersheds impacted by mine drainage. Throughout the year, volunteers, local governments and educational institutions began projects to reclaim more than 1,500 acres and improve 257 stream miles. Pennsylvania has come a long way in the time since Coal Hill. Miners are working safer, environmental protection laws are being enforced and old problems are being cleaned up. We look forward to building on these successful efforts in the years ahead.