Good neighbors are good business. That's the message from the Director of the Office of Surface Mining, Jeff Jarrett. Three mining companies received the good neighbor award last week in Washington D.C.

"The name of the award says it all, the Good Neighbor Award. We want to applaud companies for being good corporate citizens, for being good neighbors. They have an impact on the community."

Jarrett says many of the complaints about mines are beyond federal regulations. Such as use of roads by heavy equipment. In Farmington, Pennsylvania the Bridgeview Coal Company has used their equipment to build roads and more. Why? They live there.

"It's good for the community and it's good for us. I mean we benefit. For example we built a baseball field and our kids played on it. You know we live there, people in the community are our friends and we've just supported the activities there."

Scott Wyle is president of the coal company and a Farmington resident. After reclamation the town gained 800 acres of farmland. Ron Tull, Interior Department Radio News Service, Washington.