El Paso Wins BLM Award For Reclamation Efforts At Nevada Site

El Paso Corporation, operator of the nation’s largest interstate natural gas pipeline system, has been awarded the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 2008 Hardrock Mineral Environmental Award for environmental excellence in reclamation work on the Comstock Mill Site project in Storey County, NV.

The award acknowledges effective environmental stewardship, and recognizes recipients for having exceptional track records of meeting or exceeding federal, state or local reclamation requirements. The 2008 award recognizes the efforts El Paso made in implementing the principles of sustainable development, a concept adopted by the U.S. and 192 other countries, to balance environmental, economic, and social considerations in planning for mining operations.

Nominations for the award were first screened by BLM state officials, who sent the applications to BLM headquarters in Washington, DC, for final judging. A panel, including a group from outside the BLM, completed the judging.

To win the award, El Paso had to demonstrate a high level of social responsibility as set forth in the nomination form, which says: “These non-monetary awards highlight some of the finest examples of responsible mineral resource development. The awards illustrate the principles of sustainable development without compromising the needs of future generations. The awards program also helps to promote successful ideas and practices that may be implemented at various locations throughout the nation.”

BLM Director Jim Caswell adds, “These awards recognize companies and individuals who have shown exceptional dedication to partnership, stewardship, and sustainable development — to being good neighbors in a growing and changing West.”
El Paso retained MWH, of Broomfield, CO, to provide engineering and planning services for the reclamation project. MWH also won the award and accepted it along with El Paso this past fall.

El Paso first hired MWH in 2000 to assist with bringing the site’s reclamation project from a federal CERCLA-driven process to one covered by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection’s (NDEP) mine closure guidelines.

“MWH has expertise in sustainable mining and experience in responsible mine closure and reclamation,” said Dr. David Ellerbroek, vice president of MWH. He added, “Our close partnership with El Paso gave both companies the ability to achieve successful outcomes. We’re proud to share this prestigious honor from BLM with El Paso Corporation.”
Scott Pope, principal environmental representative at El Paso, said, “The collective work of El Paso and MWH allowed us to achieve exceptional results for this project and gain this highly regarded award from BLM.”
BLM Director Jim Caswell said, “Encouraging sustainable development – maintaining our high standard of living while providing for future needs – is a high priority for this agency. (The) award winners reflect that priority and will help the public lands continue to meet the demands and needs of present and future generations.”