Washington, D.C.
| Contacts: | Vickie Briggs | , (202) 912-7411 | ||
| Mary Linda Ponticelli | , (202) 912-7115 |
BLM Extends Deadline for Accepting Nominations for Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is inviting nominations for the 2010 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards and has extended the filing deadline to March 19, 2010. These awards recognize solid mineral (non-coal) development operations that embody the principles of sustainable development or represent outstanding examples of reclamation or environmental stewardship.
These non-monetary awards highlight some of the finest examples of responsible mineral resource development 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.
“Sustainable development is the underpinning of this awards program,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “It meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The awards fall under five categories – the Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award, the Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award, the Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award, the Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award, and the “Fix A Shaft Today!” Award.
• The Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award recognizes efforts in environmental stewardship. This category recognizes achievements demonstrating continuous or repeated efforts to successfully meet or exceed Federal, State, or local reclamation requirements with minimal oversight.
• The Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award recognizes projects that show concern for community responsibilities and the economic benefits of mineral development. This award 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 recognizes efforts in environmental stewardship of operators with fewer than 15 employees. Similar to the Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award, this award 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 is for outstanding achievement in a particular area of sustainable development. The award 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!” (“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.
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. Detailed information on the nomination and selection processes, including the required format for nominations, appears in the brochure titled Call for Nominations: 2010 BLM Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program. The deadline for submitting nominations is extended until March 19, 2010. Nominations are to be submitted in the BLM State Office (Attention: Solid Minerals) that has jurisdiction in the State where the operation is located. Presentation of awards will take place in the fall of 2010.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.