Announcement of the Bureau of Land Management 2013 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

January 24, 2013

In Reply Refer To:

3500/3600/3800 (320) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 02/05/2013

Instruction Memorandum No. 2013-066

Expires:  09/30/2014

To:                   All Field Office Officials

From:               Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty Management

Subject:           Announcement of the Bureau of Land Management 2013 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program                               DD:  03/29/2013; 04/29/2013

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

Purpose:  The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards program, initiated in April 2003, recognizes solid mineral operators who have made exemplary contributions to solid minerals (non-coal) development.  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides information relating to the 2013 awards program, including deadlines for the submission and processing of nominations.  The five award categories are 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!” (“FAST!”) Award.  The purpose of the 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 embody 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 2013 award 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.

It should be noted that operations that are nominated are not limited to being located on BLM-administered public lands.  The awards program is open to all solid mineral (non-coal) industries or operations nationally, without regard to land ownership.  To further the BLM/United States 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 29, 2013.

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 must 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 29, 2013.  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

Timeframe:  The following is a summary of the deadlines:

March 29, 2013          Deadline for award nominations to be filed with state offices. 

                                    Note:  This date supersedes the February date listed in brochures.

April 29, 2013            Deadline for state offices to send nominations and accompanying

                                    Statement of Findings to WO-320.

                                    Note:  This date supersedes the March date listed in brochures.

Budget Impact:  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 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 2013 awards program will mark the eleventh year for the BLM’s awards program.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  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 having involvement in solid minerals management are  invited to submit nominations. 

Contact:  If you have any questions concerning the content of this IM, please contact me directly at 202-208-4201 or a member of your staff may contact Mary Linda Ponticelli, Division of Solid Minerals, at 202-912-7115 or mpontice@blm.gov or Mitchell Leverette, Chief, Division of Solid Minerals at 202-912-7113.

Signed by:                                                                   Authenticated by:

Michael Nedd                                                             Robert M. Williams

Assistant Director                                                       Division of IRM Governance,WO-560

Minerals and Realty Management

1 Attachment

    1 – 2013 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards Program (8 pp)