Call for Nominations for 2018 Bureau of Land Management Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards

IB 2018-035
Information Bulletin

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Washington, D.C.  20240

http://www.blm.gov 

February 23, 2018

In Reply Refer To: 

3500/3600/3800(320) P 

EMS TRANSMISSION 02/26/2018

Information Bulletin No. 2018-035

To:                          All Field Office Officials

From:                     Assistant Director, Energy, Minerals and Realty Management

Subject:                  Call for Nominations for 2018 Bureau of Land Management Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards                DD: 04/30/2018; 05/30/2018

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards program, initiated in April 2003 at the request of the Department of the Interior, recognizes solid mineral operators who have made exemplary contributions to solid minerals (non-coal) development.  This Information Bulletin (IB) provides details relating to the 2018 awards program, including deadlines and guidance regarding the submission and processing of nominations. 

The purpose of the awards program is to recognize work in any of the three components of sustainable development—development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet future needs.  The five award categories are the:  

• Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award; 

• Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award; 

• Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award; 

• Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award; and

• “Fix A Shaft Today” Award.  

The awards highlight three components of sustainable mineral development: environmental health, social responsibility, and economic security.

The BLM state offices are requested to assist the Washington Office in publicizing the 2018 awards program and in receiving and processing nominations.  The deadline for submission of nominations to the BLM state offices is April 30, 2018.  Nominations are not limited to operations on BLM-managed lands.  BLM offices are encouraged to consider nominating non-coal solid minerals operations or projects for an award.   Brochures announcing the 2018 awards program in the process of being printed and distributed to state offices.  Attached is the 218 brochure which contains detailed information on the nomination process as well as descriptions of the award categories.

State offices are to receive and initially process nominations, including verifying the information that issue 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 appropriate BLM personnel.  When a nominee is not regulated by the BLM, the state office should obtain written confirmation from the applicable 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 accompanying Statement of Findings to the Washington Office, Division of Solid Minerals (WO-320), by May 30, 2018.  The documents should be sent by Federal Express to:

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management (WO-320)

20 M Street, SE

Attention: Mary Linda Ponticelli

Washington, DC  20003

If you have any questions concerning this IB, please contact Mary Linda Ponticelli, Division of Solid Minerals, at 202-912-7115 or mpontice@blm.gov or Al Elser, Acting Chief, Division of Solid Minerals at 202-912-7114.

 

Signed by:                                                         Authenticated by:

Timothy R. Spisak                                             Robert M. Williams

Acting, Assistant Director                                 Division of IT Policy and Planning,WO-870

Energy, Minerals and Realty Management

 

1 Attachment

    1 - 2018 BLM Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program brochure (8 pp)