M-I receives BLM’s 2018 Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award
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GREYBULL, Wyo. – M-I, LLC., of Greybull has received the Bureau of Land Management’s 2018 Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award. The award was presented on September 27 in Washington, D.C., at a ceremony officiated by Kathy Benedetto, Senior Advisor to the Bureau of Land Management.
The award recognizes an operator’s accomplishments in meeting or exceeding federal, state or local reclamation requirements. M-I is being recognized for its continuous efforts to successfully improve its mining, permitting and reclamation process, including the creation of a “Master Mine Permit,” which serves as its reference manual for all ongoing and future permitting, mining and reclamation activities and operating procedures. M-I is also being recognized for its commitment to invasive weed control practices.
“Receiving this award is truly an honor for our company,” said Dan Close, senior geologist with M-I. “Our company’s performance reflects the commitment of the entire M-I team, including its operators, supervisors and administration. Additionally, over the years I’ve much appreciated the many BLM representatives who have diligently worked alongside our company to achieve common goals.”
Gretchen Hurley, a BLM geologist with the Cody Field Office, nominated M-I for the award.
“Over the past decade, the Cody Field Office has observed a consistent dedication and willingness by M-I to work cooperatively with both the BLM and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Land Quality Division, to achieve improvements in permitting processes, invasive weed treatment, cooperative ventures and ultimately, mined-land reclamation in the Bighorn Basin,” said Hurley.
The Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award is one of three categories of achievement under the BLM's Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program, which recognizes hardrock mining companies for advancing the use of sustainable development practices in their work.
“BLM is committed to the sustainable development of natural resources while increasing revenues to support national interests,” BLM Senior Advisor Kathy Benedetto said during the award presentation. “The companies we recognize today best exemplify these objectives, demonstrating initiative, leadership and environmental responsibility without compromising the needs of future generations.”
Nominations for BLM hardrock mineral awards were first screened by BLM state office officials, who forwarded applications to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., for final judging by a panel of mining experts, Federal or state employees, academics, and members of the public.
For more information, contact the Cody Field Office at 307-578-5900.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.