Published in the High Desert Advocate in the September 27, 2018 Edition.
The Nevada Excellence in Mine Reclamation Awards for 2018 were presented on September 8, 2019, at the annual Nevada Mining Association Convention in South Lake Tahoe. Five awards were presented this year:
• Newmont Mining Corp. received an award for Concurrent Reclamation for their innovative work in reclaiming their North Area Leach Facility, Phase I-II, while continuing to operate other parts of the facility, in Eureka County.
“Winners are to be commended for their efforts to improve practices for mine reclamation, wildlife protection and habitat enhancement,” said Rich Perry, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Minerals. “By sharing their designs and successes with other mine operators, the Nevada Mining and Exploration industries continue to lead the United States in successful reclamation and environmental protection practices.”
Unanimously selected by a committee of government representatives, award winners must go “above and beyond what is mandated and be worthy examples to share with others in the industry.” The committee inspects and evaluates each nominated site in person. Along with being leaders in reclamation, honorees should also display excellence in the areas of innovation for the protection of air, off-site water quality mitigation, wildlife habitat enhancement, cultural preservation and cooperative partnerships.
For Newmont’s Leadership in Conservation Planning award, the company was commended for its work on the Conservation Framework Agreement (CFA), a private-public partnership that covers 1.5 million acres of habitat in Nevada. The CFA was developed through a deliberate and collaborative process as a tool for the implementation of Newmont’s Sagebrush Ecosystem Strategy. Its ongoing initiatives include prescribed grazing, reduction of cheat-grass, establishment of perennial grasses, reintroduction of Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, and fuel-break management.
For Newmont’s Concurrent Exploration Reclamation award, the committee lauded Newmont’s work at the Chevas and High Desert projects in Elko County. Exploration activities in both areas have been ongoing since 1992. Our on-site team has employed a strategy to construct temporary access roads, travel routes and drill pads to minimize disturbance footprint; and revegetation efforts on reclaimed roads and pads have improved habitat for local mule deer. We have also collaborated with the State of Nevada in closing abandoned mine land features in the historic Lynn Creek archaeological district, which is located within the exploration area.
Present to accept the awards were Newmont’s Jeff White, Director of Rangelands, Jerry Pfarr, Vice President of Sustainability and External Relations, and Bryan Johnson, Senior Environmental Manager of Exploration.
Other award winners on the evening were Comstock Mining for Abandoned Mine Lands Hazard Mitigation, and Kinross Gold for Concurrent Reclamation and Wildlife Habitat Restoration.
• Coeur Rochester, Inc. received an award for Cooperative Partnership in Preservation of Mining History for contributing a permanent Historic Rochester Mining District exhibit to the Marzen House Museum, and for their thirteen year involvement in the annual Lovelock Cave Days event in Pershing County.
• Lithium Nevada Corp. received an award for Exploration Project Remediation for their exceptional work in reclaiming drill pads and access roads following their Upper Basin Exploration Project in the Montana Mountains in Humboldt County.
• KGHM received an award for Leadership in Reclamation for their work in incorporating creative reclamation controls into new waste facilities, which help mitigate legacy acid mine drainage environmental issues in White Pine County.
• Kinross Gold U.S.A, Inc. has received an award for Leadership in Conservation Planning for voluntarily enrolling into the Nevada Conservation Credit System to mitigate impacts to Greater Sage-grouse and its habitats for its mine expansion at the Bald Mountain Mine in White Pine County.
“The Goal of the annual State Reclamation Awards is to encourage operators and explorers to submit sound reclamation plans, raise industry standards, and increase public awareness of the positive aspects of mining, and encourage innovation in reclamation techniques. “This year’s award winners met these goals and are to be commended for their efforts,” said Rich Perry, Administrator of the Nevada Division of Minerals. “By sharing their work with others, the Nevada Mining and Exploration industries continue to lead the Nation in successful reclamation, community partnerships, and environmental protection practices.”
This is the 27th year of the Nevada Excellence in Mine Reclamation Awards. The awards committee consists of representatives from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service and the Division of Minerals. In order to receive an award, the Committee must unanimously vote that the submission or nomination is above and beyond what is mandated, and is a worthy example to share with others in the industry. For more information about submitting an entry or nominating an entity for the award, visit the Division of Minerals web site at http://minerals.nv.gov.
