BLM Announces Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Award Winners for 2016
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LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The Bureau of Land Management today recognized three hardrock mineral companies for advancing the use of sustainable development practices in their work. The awards were presented at a ceremony in Las Vegas by BLM Assistant Director Michael D. (Mike) Nedd, who oversees the agency’s energy, minerals, and realty management programs.
The BLM’s 2016 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards went to companies in three different categories of achievement:
- Baker Hughes Argenta Mine, Battle Mountain, Nevada, winner of the Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award, which recognizes an operator’s accomplishments in meeting or exceeding Federal, state, or local reclamation requirements;
- Kinross Kettle River-Buckhorn Mine and Mill’s Social Closure Plan, Republic, Washington, winner of the Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award, which highlights concern for community responsibilities and includes such actions as preparing communities for the social and economic impacts after mine closure; and
- Jubilee Mine, Prospect Creek, Alaska, winner of the Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award, which acknowledges environmental stewardship successes of operators with less than 15 employees.
“Each of today’s award recipients has demonstrated outstanding initiative, leadership, and environmental responsibility in the hardrock mining industry,” Assistant Director Nedd said. “I congratulate these companies for showing how to meet the mineral needs of today’s society without compromising the needs of future generations.”
Sustainable development is a concept adopted by the United States and 192 other countries to balance environmental, economic, and social concerns in planning for mining operations.
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.
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.