WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations for the 2015 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards. The deadline to submit nominations is April 22.
“The BLM awards program showcases sustainable development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” said Michael Nedd, BLM Assistant Director for Energy, Minerals and Realty Management.
“These awards exemplify what the new legacy of mining has become in the West,” Nedd said. “They highlight responsible mineral development that protects and restores the environment while meeting modern needs for these raw materials.”
These nonmonetary awards highlight some of the finest examples of responsible mineral resource development, the BLM’s press release stated, and illustrate the principles of sustainable development without compromising the needs of future generations. The awards program also helps to promote successful ideas and practices that may be implemented at various locations throughout the nation.
The awards fall under five categories:
- Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award
- Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award
- Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award
- Hardrock Mineral Directors Award
- Fix A Shaft Today! Award
The Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award
This award recognizes projects that show concern for community responsibilities and the economic benefits of mineral development. It recognizes successful coordination of projects with local and regional stakeholders. Projects that contribute to quality of life or show concern for a community’s long-term health are also eligible.
The Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award
This award recognizes efforts in environmental stewardship of operators with fewer than 15 employees. It recognizes achievements demonstrating continuous or repeated efforts to successfully meet or exceed federal, state or local reclamation requirements with minimal oversight.
The Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award
This award is for outstanding achievement in a particular area of sustainable development. It will recognize an operator whose dedication and commitment to excellence has resulted in the use of a new or innovative design or technique that allows or enhances successful operations in technically challenging conditions or in critical environmental settings.
The Fix A Shaft Today! Award
This award, also called the FAST! Award, recognizes active participation in the FAST! Campaign, which is a partnership initiative aimed at eradicating unsafe abandoned mine land features, especially open mine shafts.
Submit nominations
Nominations are to be submitted to the BLM State Office (Attention: Solid Minerals) that has jurisdiction in the state where the operation is located. It is anticipated that the presentation of the awards will take place in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2015.
Mining companies, regulatory authorities, geologists, and members of the public may nominate operators or organizations in the non-coal solid minerals industries for an award. Nominations need not be limited to operations on land managed by the BLM.
Submitted by the BLM
Resources
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