The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has presented awards to 13 American mining companies for outstanding environmental and reclamation accomplishments in 2006. The awards were presented in conjunction with the annual fall board of directors meeting of the National Mining Association (NMA).
Three mineral mining companies won annual awards from the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for outstanding environmental and community outreach efforts, and 10 coal mining companies won annual awards from the US Office of Surface Mining (OSM) in recognition of their outstanding reclamation and sustainable development activities.
NMA President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz: “Every day mine operators work hard to set new standards for protecting the environment during mining operations, for reclaiming the land following mining and for improving the communities in which we operate.”
C. Stephen Allred, assistant secretary for land and minerals management (DOI) and Michael Nedd, assistant director, minerals, realty and resource protection (BLM) presented the agency’s 2006 Hardrock Mineral Environmental Awards for continuous and repeated efforts to successfully meet or exceed federal, state or local reclamation requirements with minimal oversight. The award winners are:
The Kennecott Nevada Copper Reclamation Project in White Pine County, Nevada.
Phelps Dodge’s Clarkdale Tailing Reclamation Project in Clarkdale, Arizona.
Allred and Assistant Director Nedd also presented the agency’s 2006 Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic Security Award to recognize extraordinary concern for community responsibilities and the economic benefits of mineral development. The award winner in this category was The Northern Nevada Partnership Group of northern Nevada
Allred was joined by Brent Walhquist, director of the office of surface mining reclamation and enforcement, who presented 10 coal mining companies with the agency’s 2006 Reclamation Awards for their innovative reclamation techniques and completed reclamation efforts that have resulted in outstanding on-the-ground performance. The winners for 2006 are:
National Award Winners
Black Beauty Coal Company, Somerville Central mine, Peabody Energy, Gibson Country, Indiana.
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., BeeVeer mine, College Mound, Montana.
Falkirk Mining Company, North American Coal Corp., Underwood, North Dakota.
Peabody Energy, Northwest Colorado Operations (Seneca mine, TwentyMile mine, Hayden Gulch mine and Terminal), Hayden, Colorado.
Peabody Coal Co, Gibralter mine, Central City, Kentucky.
Coal-Mac, Holden 22 surface mine, Arch Coal, Holden, West Virginia.
Good Neighbor Award Winners
Mingo Logan Coal Co, Mountain Laurel Complex, Arch Coal, Madison, West Virginia.
Black Beauty Coal Co, Somerville Central mine, Peabody Energy, Gibson County, Indiana.
Caballo Coal Co, Caballo mine, Peabody Energy, Gillette, Wyoming.
Director’s Award
Foundation Coal West, Belle Ayr mine, Foundation Coal Corp, Gillette, Wyoming.
To see a full description of the award winning projects, visit www.BLM.gov and www.OSM.gov
