EMS TRANSMISSION 09/21/2006

Instruction Memorandum No. 2006-236

Expires: 09/30/2007 

 

To:                   All Field Officials

 

From:               Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty & Resource Protection

 

Subject:           Announcement of the Bureau of Land Management 2007 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program – Nominations Due DD:  03/20/2007

 

Program Areas: Locatable Minerals (3800), Mineral Materials (3600), and Solid Leasable Minerals (3500).

 

Purpose: In April 2003, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) launched a new awards program to recognize mine operators who have made exemplary contributions to solid minerals (non-coal) development.  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) is to provide information relating to the 2007 awards program, including the deadline for submission of nominations as well as other deadlines. The four award categories are: The Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award, The Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award, The Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award, and The Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award. The purpose of all four categories of awards is to recognize work in any of the three components of sustainable development: environmental health, social responsibility, and economic security.

 

Policy/Action: The Department of the Interior (DOI) created the Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program to showcase some of the finest examples of responsible mineral resource development. The award winners will illustrate our understanding of sustainable development—development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

 

The BLM State Offices are requested to assist the Washington Office in publicizing this award program and in receiving and processing the nominations. Attachment 1 is a detailed description of the BLM’s 2007 award program that may be distributed to the public. It includes information on the nomination and selection processes, including specific criteria for the fourcategories of awards, as well as information regarding the format for nominations, required number of copies, etc. Please ensure that this attachment is posted in the public room. It should be noted that operations are not limited to public lands administered by the BLM. The awards program is open to all solid mineral (non-coal) operations nationally, without regard to land ownership. In furtherance of the BLM/U.S. Forest Service “Service First” initiative, operators conducting activities on Forest Service lands are encouraged to apply.  As stated in the attachment, the deadline for submission of nominations to the BLM State Offices is March 20, 2007. By October 30, 2006, please email to Mary Linda Ponticelli at Mary_Ponticelli@blm.gov the name of the BLM State Office contact for the awards program.

 

State Offices are to receive and initially process nominations, including verifying the information that is submitted with a nomination and determining if the nominee is in compliance with all applicable regulations.  The compliance verification process for a mining operation should include a site visit by the BLM personnel.  When a nominee is not regulated by the BLM, the State Office will need to obtain written confirmation from the regulator that the nominee is in compliance. After preparing a Statement of Findings for each nomination, State Offices are requested to forward all nominations and an accompanying Statement of Findings to the Washington Office, Division of Solid Minerals (WO-320) by April 20, 2007. The documents should be sent by Federal Express to:

 

                            U.S. Department of the Interior

                            Bureau of Land Management (WO-320)

                            Mail Stop 501 LS, 1620 L Street, N.W.

                            Attention: Mary Linda Ponticelli

                           Washington, D.C. 20036

 

Timeframe: The following is a summary of the pertinent deadlines related to the guidance set forth in this IM, which is effective immediately:

 

    October 30, 2006   -  Name of State Office coordinator to be submitted to WO-320  

   March 20, 2007     -   Deadline for award nominations to be filed with State Offices

    April 20, 2007       -  Deadline for State Office nominations and accompanying Statement of Findings to WO-320

                        

Budget Impacts: The anticipated budget impact of this award program to the field is minimal. 

 

Background: The DOI through the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement, has presented reclamation awards to coal operators for the past eighteen years. 

In 2002, the Department requested that the BLM institute its own awards program and that the program be open to solid mineral (non-coal) operations nationally without regard to land ownership. The 2007 awards program will mark the fifth year for the BLM’s awards program.

 

Manual/Handbook Sections Effected: No manual or handbook sections are affected.

                                                                                                                                   

Coordination: Coordination activities for this award program are ongoing. The BLM Washington Office is working closely with the National Mining Association to publicize and coordinate the awards program. Organizations with an interest in solid minerals management will also be notified of the BLM’s 2007 award program and invited to submit nominations. 

 

Contact: Please address any questions related to this Instruction Memorandum to Mary Linda Ponticelli, Division of Solid Minerals (WO-320) at
(202) 452-5083.

 

 

1 Attachment

       1 – Award Program Description (8 pp)