ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
OUR COMMITMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Environmental Stewardship
At Drummond Company, we believe that responsible resource management and environmental protection are fundamental to our operations and our legacy. We are committed to minimizing our environmental footprint, investing in innovative solutions, and partnering with communities to build a sustainable future.
Our Approach to Environmental Stewardship
We are proud of our accomplishments in environmental stewardship, which include:
- Responsible Mining: We adhere to rigorous environmental standards and best practices throughout our mining operations, from exploration to reclamation.
- Minimizing Impact: We continuously seek ways to reduce our environmental impact, including minimizing emissions, conserving water resources, and managing waste responsibly.
- Land Reclamation and Reforestation: We are dedicated to restoring mined lands to productive use, often exceeding regulatory requirements by creating diverse ecosystems that support wildlife and local communities.
- Innovation and Technology: We invest in cutting-edge technologies and research to develop cleaner and more efficient ways to extract and utilize resources.
- Collaboration and Transparency: We work closely with regulatory agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability in our environmental performance.
- Reclamation of over 60 mine sites: Our comprehensive reclamation efforts have transformed former mining areas into thriving ecosystems, providing habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities for communities.
- Reforestation of thousands of acres: We have planted millions of trees across our mining operations, contributing to carbon sequestration, improving air quality, and enhancing biodiversity.
- Water resource management: We implement innovative water management practices to conserve water resources, treat wastewater, and minimize the impact of our operations.
Our Stewardship Promise
As responsible corporate citizens, we are dedicated to being good stewards of the land and resources entrusted to us. Our commitment includes:
- Investing in innovation: We continue to implement technologies and practices that make our operations cleaner, safer, and more efficient.
- Restoring and renewing the land: We reclaim and reforest mined lands, often exceeding regulatory requirements, to create healthy landscapes for wildlife and communities.
- Partnering with stakeholders: We work closely with communities, regulators, and organizations to ensure our operations are transparent, responsible, and beneficial for future generations.
At Drummond Company, stewardship is not just a responsibility – it is a tradition. We are committed to leaving things better than we found them.
Our Commitment to the Environment
Drummond Company is dedicated to the highest standards of excellence. This philosophy is proven in every aspect of our business, including the measures taken to protect the environment. The greater communities with whom we share the land praise our steadfast adherence to responsible environmental management and practices.
A small sampling of some of the awards, both on a national and state level, that Drummond has received for our work in this area, is listed below:
- Excellence in Surface Mining and Reclamation from the US Department of the Interior
- ASMC Reclamation Award for Outstanding Reclamation from the State of Alabama
- ASMC John M. Cardwell Memorial Award
- IMCC Kenes C. Bowling Coal National Mine Reclamation Award
Downey Branch Mitigation Bank
Drummond Company is proud to announce the approval of the Downey Branch Mitigation Bank (DBMB) located in Walker County, Alabama. The DBMB is a privately owned Stream and Wetland Mitigation Bank owned by Drummond Company.
The 127.88 acre Downey Branch Mitigation Bank will conduct enhancement and restoration activities over 6,943 linear feet of a channelized and impacted stream resulting in improved water quality and wildlife habitat. The primary service area for stream and wetland credits generated at the DBMB is the Mulberry Fork watershed and includes portions of Cullman, Walker, Winston, Blount, Jefferson, Marshall, Tuscaloosa and Morgan counties.
The current Downey Branch is a deep channelized stream with high vertical rock banks that is no longer connected to the floodplain and has led to infrequent flooding. The reconstruction of Downey Branch will have the correct stream depth and width to reconnect to the surrounding floodplain and allow natural flooding conditions. This reconstruction will allow floodwaters to spread out on the adjacent floodplain reducing flood flow and reducing the amount of erosion.
The DBMB will establish a riparian buffer management area of 100′ on each side of intermittent streams and 200′ for perennial streams. Historically and pre-impacts, the riparian buffers were a mature Bottomland Hardwood forest. This site has several exotic species Chinese privet, Mimosa, and Japanese Honeysuckle that will be eradicated from the site. The current vegetation will be removed and receive 100% planting of Bottomland Hardwood Trees with 10-15 different species planted per acre.
Drummond Company is committed to preserving and enhancing our natural resources for future generations to enjoy and have partnered with the Freshwater Land Trust to hold the Conservation Easement. As the holder of the easement, Freshwater Land Trust will protect the property in perpetuity, consult on future projects and work with future property owners.
The DBMD has 76,650.76 potential stream credits and 1.41 wetland credits in the bank. We currently have 15,330.15 stream credits and 0.28 wetland credits available.
To learn more about the bank and available credits, contact Keith Madison.