VARNEY, W.Va. — More than 3,600 Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., employees, including those employed at the company’s White Flame Energy operation in Mingo County, were rewarded for their hard work and dedication to the mining industry.

Vice President Vaughn Groves made the journey from the company’s home office based in Abingdon, Va., to announce an unprecedented, multi-year package of rewards and incentives on May 1.

“We truly appreciate all that you do for our company and the mining industry of this nation,” Groves told the more than 100 miners assembled at a press conference at White Flame Energy.

Alpha’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Quillen was on hand in Cumberland, W.Va., to meet with miners there.

“We see this as a significant day, maybe the most significant in our company’s history,” he said. Employees were given ownership in the company — a grant of 25 shares of company stock.

The generosity didn’t stop there.

Company officials also promised that the miners will no longer have to contribute to health, dental and vision insurance premiums. The company is even giving employees vacation money to use in their time off with families.

Additional incentives included semi-annual bonuses for operating personnel (based on continued service to the company) and rewards for mine rescuers and trainers that include payments for participating on the “all-volunteer” teams.

The benefits package is expected to cost more than $13 million in the first year and it averages out to be worth more than three dollars per hour to the average employee.

“Alpha wants each employee to know that we value their contribution to the mining industry,” Quillen said.

Another factor in the company’s “generous” decision was rising gasoline prices.

“We have a lot of workers who have to drive long distances to reach our mines,” Quillen said.

“We appreciate what they do for the company and we intend to help them out with fuel assistance.”