2020 BLM Reclamation and Sustainable 

Mineral Development Awards Program

Call for Nominations due by March 31, 2020
Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral 

Development Awards Program

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation’s principal 

conservation agency that protects America’s natural resources 

and heritage, honors our cultures and tribal communities, and 

supplies the energy to power our future. The DOI manages more 

than 500 million acres of surface land, or about one-fifth of the 

land in the United States. The Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) is responsible for about 245 million surface acres, as 

well as more than 700 million acres of subsurface mineral 

estate. Much of this land is managed for resource protection, 

but other lands are managed for multiple-use benefits including 

mineral development.

The DOI created the Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral 

Development Awards Program to showcase some of the finest 

examples of responsible mineral resource development. The 

DOI, through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 

Enforcement (OSMRE), has presented reclamation awards to 

coal operators since the initiation of the awards program in 1986. 

In 2002, the DOI requested that the BLM institute its own annual 

awards program open to nationwide solid mineral operations 

(non-coal), without regard to land ownership.

The underpinning of the BLM awards program is sustainable 

development—development that meets the needs of the present 

generation without compromising the ability of future generations 

to meet their own needs. The five award categories are: Hardrock 

Mineral Environmental Award, Hardrock Mineral Community 

Outreach and Economic Security Award, Hardrock Mineral 

Small Operator Award, Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award, 

and Mine Legacy Steward 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. Coal operators are not eligible for recognition 

through this program but are encouraged to participate in the 

reclamation awards program managed by the OSMRE.

Cover photo: Sweet Grass County Conservation District (Montana), provided by Boulder River Watershed Association
The Hardrock Mineral

Environmental Award

highlights the component of sustainable development that 

relates to environmental stewardship. This award recognizes 

achievements demonstrating continuous or repeated efforts to 

successfully meet or exceed federal, state, or local reclamation 

requirements with minimal oversight. Candidates may qualify 

for this award if they have demonstrated outstanding efforts in 

working with the public, the DOI, or other regulators to further 

multiple-use objectives in a solid minerals area. In addition to 

high-quality reclamation, an operator may have undertaken 

extraordinary measures to reduce the footprint of the operation on 

the land, decreasing the need for reclamation. When evaluating 

nominations in this category, judges will consider the extent 

to which the operator consulted and cooperated with other 

stakeholders to determine the goals of reclamation and postmining land use. This award may be granted to operators or 

organizations that provide outstanding examples of any of 

the following:

• Adopting best practices to minimize environmental 

degradation and adapting them to local conditions 

as necessary

• Preventing pollution and minimizing noise and dust 

during operations

• Handling hazardous materials safely

• Reclaiming the land to prevent erosion and planting native 

species, targeting the same plant communities that existed 

prior to mining

• Being a leader in developing, establishing, and implementing 

good environmental practices

2019 Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award winner,

Graymont Western US Indian Creek Mine (Montana)
The Hardrock Mineral

Community Outreach and

Economic Security Award 

highlights the component of sustainable development that 

relates to concern shown for community responsibilities and 

the economic benefits of mineral development. This award 

recognizes the successful coordination of projects with local and 

regional stakeholders. Projects that contribute to the quality of 

life or demonstrate concern for the long-term health of the local 

community can be recognized in this category. When evaluating 

nominations in this category, judges will also consider any 

particularly creative ways operators or organizations incorporated 

community concerns in their development or closure plans. 

Particularly notable examples of the following kinds of activities 

may qualify a nominee for this award:

• Engaging local communities and other affected organizations 

in an open, honest, and effective consultation process for the 

entire project life

• Promoting health and safety both on and off the project site

• Investing in programs that improve the skills and productivity 

of the workforce

• Developing strategies for sustaining the local economy after 

mine closure

• Being a progressive and constructive partner in advancing 

the economic and social infrastructure of the community

The Hardrock Mineral

Small Operator Award

recognizes environmental stewardship achievements of 

operators with less than 15 employees. Like the Hardrock 

Mineral Environmental Award, this award recognizes operators 

or organizations who have demonstrated continuous or repeated 

efforts to successfully meet or exceed federal, state, or local 

reclamation requirements with minimal oversight. Candidates 

may qualify for this award if they have demonstrated outstanding 

efforts to work with the public, the DOI, or other regulators to 

further multiple-use objectives in a solid minerals area. In addition 

to high-quality reclamation, an operator may have undertaken 

extraordinary measures to reduce the footprint of the operation 

on the land, reducing the need for reclamation. When evaluating 

nominations in this category, judges will consider the extent 

to which the operator consulted and cooperated with other 

stakeholders to determine the goals of reclamation and postmining land use. For examples of activities that may merit this 

award, please see the earlier description for the Hardrock Mineral 

Environmental Award. 

2019 Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award winner,

Race Family Mining Operation (Alaska)

2019 Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach

and Economic Security Award winner,

Willow Creek Reservoir Restoration Project (Nevada)
The Hardrock Mineral

Director’s Award

will be awarded to one operator for outstanding achievement 

in a particular area of sustainable development. This award 

recognizes an operator whose dedication and commitment to 

excellence has resulted in the use of a new or innovative design 

or technique that allows or enhances successful operations in 

technically challenging conditions or in critical environmental 

settings. The nomination should include specific information about 

the innovative design or technique, as well as reasons why the 

award is merited.

The Mine Legacy

Steward Award

recognizes partnership activities that assist in addressing

hardrock abandoned mine land (AML) features across the

American West. High-use areas where accidents are occurring

include recreation areas, such as off-highway vehicle/motorcycle

lands, trails, campgrounds, and special-use permit areas.

Individuals or organizations can be nominated for this award.

Examples of activities that may be eligible for recognition with the

Mine Legacy Steward Award include one or more of the following:

 

• Efforts aimed at discovery of AML features not yet in the BLM 

AML inventory, which may also include organizing efforts to 

locate and report open AML features

• Assisting in installing warning signs, fencing, and other 

access controls at AML features

• Conducting required biological and cultural surveys in order 

to meet National Environmental Policy Act obligations

• Assisting in organizing, constructing, and installing

bat gates/grates/cupolas

• Public education and outreach about AML dangers

• Assisting in organizing and completing hard closures related 

to AML feaures

• Providing assistance to the BLM in any of the above

listed activities

In addition to any of these activities, providing funding or inkind contributions to support the activities or providing funding 

in support of mitigation should also be noted on a nomination, 

provided that the mitigation actions occur on private land.

Nominations should provide a succinct description of the 

challenges related to the nominated project or initiative,

the nominee’s achievements or contributions, and the

subsequent results. Estimated cost savings to the government 

may be included.

2019 Mine Legacy Steward Award winner,

Newmont USA Limited (Nevada)
How do I nominate an operator or 

organization for an award? 

Nominations are the beginning of the selection process. Mining 

companies, regulatory authorities, nearby landowners, and 

members of the general public may nominate operators or 

organizations for these awards. Company officials and employees 

may nominate their own operations for recognition.

Nominations must contain all of the information listed in the 

“Required Information” section of this announcement and indicate 

the award category. If a candidate is being nominated for more 

than one award category, please submit a separate nomination 

package for each award category. Nominations should be mailed 

to the BLM state office (Attention: Solid Minerals) that has 

jurisdiction of public lands in the state the operation is located. 

Nominations must be received by the appropriate BLM state office 

by March 31, 2020. State offices are listed at the end of 

the brochure.

Required Information

Each nomination should include the following:

Cover sheet containing:

• Company, organization, or person submitting nomination

• Name and location of the nominated operation or 

organization

• Award category

• Name, address, phone number, and email address (if 

available) of a contact person in the company or organization 

and of the person submitting the nomination, if different

Narrative description including:

• Brief history and background of the mining practice, 

reclamation, or community activity nominated for the award

• Description of the specific activity or practice, including 

specifics on problems, solutions, benefits, and 

unusual circumstances

• Effectiveness of the work, quantified if possible

• Transferability of the work or value of the accomplishments to 

other mining or mineral management operations

• Long-term benefits to the landowner, neighboring properties, 

and the community

• Statement summarizing why the award is deserved

Photographs: Photographs should be included if they help to 

document the success of the nominated activity. Not all nominated 

activities can be photographed, but pictures should be included if 

available. Photographs should be 8 by 10 inches or smaller and 

include a description explaining what is illustrated and a date.

Format: Please submit seven copies of each nomination on 

81⁄2- by 11-inch paper. A copy of the nomination will be provided to 

each judge. There is no limit on the number of photographs you 

can include.

Note: Supporting documentation, such as letters of recognition from regulators or

community officials, is not required but may be submitted with the nomination.

In addition, videos or DVDs highlighting the success of

the nominated activity may also be submitted.

Who is eligible for an award?

Operators or organizations in the solid mineral industries (noncoal) can be nominated for the Hardrock Mineral Environmental 

Award, Hardrock Mineral Community Outreach and Economic 

Security Award, Hardrock Mineral Small Operator Award, 

Hardrock Mineral Director’s Award, or Mine Legacy Steward 

Award. Solid mineral development includes mining for a wide 

variety of commodities including precious metals, base metals, 

industrial minerals, and construction materials. Nominees must 

clearly demonstrate a commitment to excellence. Please note 

that nominations are not limited to operations on BLM-managed 

land, even though the BLM is providing administrative support 

for this award to the DOI. In furtherance of the BLM and U.S. 

Forest Service “Service First” initiative, operators or organizations 

conducting activities on lands administered by the Forest Service 

are encouraged to apply, as are those operating on private lands.
Selection of Award Winners

Each BLM state office will review the nominations it receives, 

verify the information contained in the nomination, and 

confirm that the operation or program complies with applicable 

regulations. All nominations will be accompanied by a statement 

of findings prepared by the BLM state office and will then be 

forwarded to the BLM headquarters office for referral to a panel 

of judges. The panel of judges will consist of mining experts and 

may be state or federal employees, employees of academic 

institutions, or members of the public. Each judge will rate each 

application based on the below criteria.

The judges will tally scores and select the finalists. Judges will be 

encouraged to use their personal experience to guide them when 

evaluating the unique aspects of each application. There may 

be situations in which the criteria do not adequately capture all 

of the unique characteristics; judges may then modify the criteria 

by consensus if there is a need to do so. Judges determine the 

number of finalists that are selected. Award winners will then 

be selected from the list of finalists. There is no minimum or 

maximum number of awards that may be granted in any year, 

and there also doesn’t necessarily have to be a winner in each 

category every year.

Criteria Maximum Points

Clarity and thoroughness of the nomination 10

Effectiveness of the project or program 25

Transferability of the technique, practice, or program 20

Difficulty of the problem addressed by the project or program 20

Extent to which the project or program exceeds regulatory requirements or public expectations 25

Important Dates

Nominations for the 2020 awards program are due to BLM state offices by

March 31, 2020.
BLM State 

Office Mailing 

Addresses 

and Areas of 

Jurisdiction

BLM Alaska

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

222 West 7th Ave. #13

Anchorage, AK 99513

(907) 271-5960

Jurisdiction: Alaska

BLM Arizona

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals 

One North Central Ave.

Suite 800 

Phoenix, AZ 85004

(602) 417-9200

Jurisdiction: Arizona

BLM California 

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

2800 Cottage Way 

Suite W-1623

Sacramento, CA 95825

(916) 978-4400

Jurisdiction: California

BLM Colorado

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

2850 Youngfield St.

Lakewood, CO 80215

(303) 239-3600

Jurisdiction: Colorado

BLM Eastern States 

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

20 M St. SE

Suite 950

Washington, DC 20003

(202) 912-7700

Jurisdiction: Subsurface 

federal lands in Alabama, 

Arkansas, Connecticut, 

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 

Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, 

Maryland, Massachusetts, 

Michigan, Minnesota, 

Mississippi, Missouri, New 

Hampshire, New Jersey, New 

York, North Carolina, Ohio, 

Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 

South Carolina, Tennessee, 

Vermont, Virginia, West 

Virginia, and Wisconsin

BLM Idaho

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

1387 South Vinnell Way

Boise, ID 83709

(208) 373-4000

Jurisdiction: Idaho

BLM Montana

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

5001 Southgate Dr.

Billings, MT 59101

(406) 896-5000

Jurisdiction: Montana, North 

Dakota, and South Dakota

BLM Nevada

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

1340 Financial Blvd.

Reno, NV 89502 

(775) 861-6500

Jurisdiction: Nevada

BLM New Mexico 

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

301 Dinosaur Trail

Santa Fe, NM 87508

(505) 954-2000

Jurisdiction: Kansas, New 

Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

BLM Oregon

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

1220 S.W. 3rd Ave.

Portland, OR 97204

(503) 808-6001

Jurisdiction: Oregon and 

Washington

BLM Utah

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

440 West 200 South 

Suite 500

Salt Lake City, UT 84101

(801) 539-4001

Jurisdiction: Utah

BLM Wyoming

State Office

Attn: Solid Minerals

5353 Yellowstone Rd.

Cheyenne, WY 82009

(307) 775-6256

Jurisdiction: Wyoming and 

Nebraska

BLM/WO/GI-20/001+1115