CONSOL Energy Earns Center for Sustainable Shale Development Certification; Releases Fourth Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

PITTSBURGH, April 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Consol Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX) today announced certification of its operational practices by the Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD).  The certification, independently validated by Bureau Veritas, confirms CONSOL's compliance with all 15 CSSD performance standards related to environmental stewardship of air and water.  These performance standards have been designed to exceed the regulatory minimums established by state and federal regulatory bodies.

CONSOL Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Nick DeIuliis commented, "Our core values of safety and environmental compliance are the foundation of our business model and part of our DNA as a company.  We constantly strive to push the envelope in terms of innovation, and to go above and beyond the regulatory baseline that governs our operations.  This CSSD certification is clear recognition of that commitment, and of our commitment to being a good neighbor and true partner in the communities where we live and work." 

The company also released its fourth annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which details execution against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and outlines activities and new initiatives undertaken during the past year toward the company's comprehensive corporate responsibility goals.

"Our fourth annual report continues to build on goals and objectives aimed at our commitment to responsible business practices across all operational and support functions within the Company.  Our commitment to these concepts is reinforced by the belief that such practices are not only the right thing to do, but that they also provide CONSOL Energy and our customers with competitive advantages in today's global marketplace," said Katharine Fredriksen, CONSOL Energy Senior Vice President of Environmental Strategy and Regulatory Affairs.   

Following are key highlights included in the 2014 report:

Safety:  The Company's 'Positively CONSOL' initiative was introduced across all operational personnel as well as corporate support staff. Positively CONSOL is strengthening the Absolute ZERO safety culture and focusing attention on behaviors that drive decision-making and discretionary effort throughout the Company's corporate culture, making CONSOL a safer, more efficient operator.  The Company also realized continuous improvement in safety performance—the overall recordable incident rate for 2014 was 1.62, down from 1.72 in 2013—a notable accomplishment given that an increase of over 30% was realized in natural gas production during the year.

Environmental:  CONSOL completed a record year in terms of environmental compliance and achieved a year-on-year improvement in compliance metrics by 6 percent, while also achieving a 56 percent reduction in violations since reporting began in 2011.  The Company also earned certification through its partnership with the Center for Sustainable Shale Development—recognition of CONSOL's operational commitment to going above and beyond what is required by law to protect the environment which speaks directly to the excellence that its core values have woven throughout the fabric of the entire company.

Community:  In 2014, CONSOL invested nearly $5 million in the communities within its operating regions, reaffirming the Company's commitment to employee volunteerism and community engagement in the areas where its employees live and work.

To learn more, please visit CONSOL Energy's 2014 corporate responsibility website at, www.consolenergy.com/2014CRR 

CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX) is a Pittsburgh-based producer of natural gas and coal. The company is one of the largest independent natural gas exploration, development and production companies, with operations centered in the major shale formations of the Appalachian basin. CONSOL Energy deploys an organic growth strategy focused on rapidly developing its resource base. As of December 31, 2014, CONSOL Energy had 6.8 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves. The company's premium coals are sold to electricity generators and steel makers, both domestically and internationally.  CONSOL Energy is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Equity Index and the Fortune 500. Additional information can be found at www.consolenergy.com.

Cautionary Statements

Various statements in this release, including those that express a belief, expectation or intention, may be considered forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Exchange Act) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning the timing and success of specific projects and our future production, revenues, income and capital spending.  When we use the words "believe," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "estimate," "plan," "predict," "project," or their negatives, or other similar expressions, the statements which include those words are usually forward-looking statements. When we describe strategy that involves risks or uncertainties, we are making forward-looking statements.  The forward-looking statements in this press release, if any, speak only as of the date of this press release; we disclaim any obligation to update these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks, contingencies and uncertainties relate to, among other matters, the factors discussed in the 2014 Form 10-K under "Risk Factors," as updated by any subsequent Form 10-Qs, which are on file at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE Consol Energy Inc.