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**News Release Contact:** Mark York (502) 564-3350

\(502\) 330-0332 (cell)

Tom Harris (859) 257-1933

Bill Kovacic (859) 260-8402

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**GOVERNOR FLETCHER, UK PRESIDENT TODD**

**SIGN REFORESTATION INITIATIVE**

***Campaign to promote planting of hardwood trees on mine lands***

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 17, 2005) -- The reforestation of coal-mined lands
using high-value hardwood trees will be promoted under an initiative
signed today by Governor Ernie Fletcher, University of Kentucky
President Lee Todd and representatives of the Kentucky coal industry.

In a ceremony at The University of Kentucky/Lexington-Fayette Urban
County Government (LFUCG) Arboretum, Governor Fletcher and Dr. Todd
became partners with six other states and their universities in the
Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) started by the
federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM). The states, their universities
and OSM are partnering in an effort to promote the planting of more
high-value hardwood trees on active and abandoned coal mines in this
region.

Governor Fletcher said the partnership fits with the goals of the
state's new, comprehensive energy strategy.

"We want to grow our economy, utilize our resources in a sustainable
manner and at the same time, protect and maintain our commitment to
environmental quality," said Governor Fletcher. "The ARRI initiative
compliments our state's energy strategy to promote progressive
reclamation practices through reforestation."

Governor Fletcher also said that more than 1 million native hardwood
trees have already been planted throughout the Kentucky coalfields in an
existing partnership with UK and others.

Dr. Todd said the program is an extension of UK's statewide mission to
improve conditions throughout the Commonwealth.

"One of the primary tenets of our land-grant mission is to conduct
research that will promote positive change throughout Kentucky," said
Todd. "Today we are seeing some of that research in action with the
ARRI. UK researchers have invested countless hours studying best
practices for planting trees on abandoned coal mines. We are excited to
partner with the state, the Office of Surface Mining and other
organizations as we work to make Kentucky a better place to live."

"Over the last 50 years of Surface Mining in Appalachia, the vast
majority of mined land was originally forest," said Brent Wahlquist,
director of OSM's Appalachian Regional Office. "It is our hope that
through this initiative, perhaps 50 to 100 years from now it can be
forest again, and be virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the
landscape."

The member states that have signed the ARRI agreement are working to
increase the planting of economically desirable trees on mine sites
through the use of Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) technology -- a
five-step reclamation process, proven by forestry research to increase
tree survival and productivity.

Reforestation provides multiple economic benefits including increased
timber value, landowner tax reduction, enhanced recreational
opportunities, jobs for the local economy and an economically viable
post-mining land use option for both the landowner and the mining
company.

Reforestation benefits Kentucky's environment through soil and water
conservation, improvement of overall water quality, carbon sequestration
and enhanced wildlife habitat.

Other states participating in the ARRI are Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.