Instruction Memorandum to Announce the Bureau of Land Management’s Mineral Development Awards Program
3500/3600/3800 (320) P
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Mineral Development Awards Program (formerly known as the Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program) initiated in April 2003 and recognizes solid mineral operators who have made exemplary contributions to solid minerals (non-coal) development. This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides program details, including deadlines for the submission and processing of nominations. The five award categories include: Hardrock Mineral Leadership Award, Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award, Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award, Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award, and Mine Legacy Steward Award. The purpose of the awards is to recognize work in any of the three components of sustainable development: resource management, community impact, and economic security.
Mission Related
The Department of the Interior (DOI) created the awards program to showcase some of the finest examples of responsible mineral resource development. The award winners embody an understanding of sustainable 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 BLM Headquarters in publicizing this awards program and in receiving and processing the nominations. Attachment 1 is a brochure with a detailed description of the BLM’s 2026 awards program. It includes information on the nomination and selection processes, including specific criteria for the five categories of awards, as well as information regarding the format for nominations, required number of copies, etc. For the 2026 awards program, the brochure will be available in digital format on the BLM’s website.
It should be noted that operations that are nominated are not limited to those located on BLM-administered public lands. The awards program is open to all solid mineral (non-coal) industries or operations nationally, without regard to whether the operations are located on federal lands managed by the BLM or other surface management agencies (SMAs). To further the BLM/United States Forest Service (USFS) “Service First” initiative, operators conducting activities on USFS-managed lands are encouraged to apply. As stated below, the deadline for submission of nominations to the BLM state offices is April 30, 2026.
State offices will receive and initially process nominations, including by verifying the information that is submitted with a nomination and determining if the nominee’s operations are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The compliance verification process for a mining operation should include a site visit by BLM personnel. When a nominee is operating on land managed by other SMAs, such as the USFS, the state office will obtain written confirmation from the relevant SMA that the nominee’s operations are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. After preparing a Statement of Findings for each nomination, state offices will forward all nominations and an accompanying Statement of Findings to the Acting Division Chief for the Headquarters Division of Solid Minerals (HQ-320) by May 31, 2026. Please send materials to the following address through a mail service that provides tracking and retain the tracking information for your records. The documents should be sent to:
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
1849 C Street NW, Room 5552
Attn: Indra Dahal, HQ-320 Acting Division Chief
Washington, D.C. 20240
The following is a summary of deadlines:
April 30, 2026 Award nominations to be filed with BLM state offices.
May 31, 2026 State offices to send nominations and accompanying Statement of Findings to Indra Dahal, HQ-320 Acting Division Chief
Following review of award nominations, HQ-320 will send the list of finalists to the Solicitor’s Office for review.
September 2026 Awards ceremony held in Washington D.C. (Tentative)
The anticipated budget impact of this awards program is minimal and will include some nominal costs for travel, plaques and other awards materials.
The DOI, through the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement, has presented reclamation awards to coal operations since 1986. 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 BLM awards were first given in 2003, and the 2026 awards will mark the 18th year for the program (the pandemic led to a pause of the awards program in 2020).
No manual or handbook sections are affected.
If you have any questions concerning the content of this IM, please contact Tina Roberts-Ashby at [email protected]. Your staff may also contact Indra Dahal at [email protected], Joe Larsen at [email protected], or Stuart Grange [email protected].
Coordination activities for this awards program are ongoing. The BLM Headquarters is working closely with the National Mining Association to publicize and coordinate the in-person awards program typically held in late September in Washington, D.C. Organizations involved in solid minerals management are invited to submit nominations.