The Alabama Mining Association announced the winners of the inaugural AMA Safety & Sustainability Awards.
The winners were announced on November 16 at the association’s first annual Safety and Sustainability Awards dinner at the Birmingham Club.
The winners were announced by members of the same panel of senior independent judges who assessed the nominations:
- Samuel Pierce,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (retired)
District Manager East - Fitzgerald washington
Labor secretary
Alabama Department of Labor - Kathy H. Love
Alabama Surface Mining Commission
Director - Lance LeFleur
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Director - Chris Blankenship
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Commissioner - Tim Gothard
Alabama Wildlife Federation
Executive Director
The unique and breathtaking prizes were hand carved from marble quarried from Alabama by renowned sculptor Craigger Browne from Yellowhammer State.
The aim of the AMA with the awards is to highlight examples of successful safety and sustainability initiatives in the mining industry and to publicly recognize the companies and individuals who have made them possible.
The winners were:
Safety Champion Award
- James Christian, 43 years old without a lost time accident
- James Lay, 43 without a lost time accident
- Billy Millwood, 42 years old without lost time
- Randy Sellers, 29 years old without lost time
- Richard Dodd, 28 years old without lost time
- Billy Dorrough, 28 without a lost time accident
- Randall Jenkins, 25 years old without lost time
Exceptional recovery award
- Drummond Company, Developing Wetlands and Endangered Turtle Habitat on Pre-Act Mined Land
Outstanding Safety and Training Initiative Award
- Bevill State Community College, Long Size Mining Training Center
Land Stewardship Award
- The warrior met coal
Mine 4 Wetland Conversion Project
Lifetime Commitment to Stewardship Award
- Dwight Hicks, (Retired) Director of Reclamation & Environmental Compliance at Drummond Company
Lifetime dedication award for safety and training
- Jeffery Minor, Safety and Compliance Engineer at Nelson Brothers
Award of Excellence in Mitigation
- Southland Resources, Mud Creek Mitigation Bank for Swann’s Crossing Mine
Outstanding Safety and Training Leadership Award
- Edward Boylen, Vice President of Security at Warrior Met Coal
Water Quality Stewardship Award
- McWane, excellent compliance with Alabama water quality standards
Wildlife Conservation Award
- Drummond Company
Walker County Wild Quail Restoration Project
President’s Award for Community Safety
- Argos Roberta cement plant
Argos Emergency Response Training Partnership with Calera Fire Department
President’s Commitment Award to the Community
- Vulcan Materials Company
Annual Quarry Crushing Race at the Dolcito Quarry in Tarrant
“These awards rightly recognize the excellence of Alabama mining professionals, who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of their colleagues and the communities in which they operate,” said Patrick Cagle, president of AMA. “Alabama’s modern mining industry puts the health and safety of our people and local communities first, and this new series of awards shines a spotlight on people and businesses who go above and beyond to reflect the core values of 21st century sustainable mining.
On behalf of WADA, I would like to congratulate this year’s award winners. We are already looking forward to honoring a new class of projects and people in 2022. ”
WADA enthusiastically leads efforts to introduce the concept of sustainable mining in the United States and is the first state association to establish a sustainable mining program. Diligently focusing on state-level sustainability efforts enables WADA to help its members set constructive goals and achieve meaningful results for the citizens of Alabama.
