The Alabama Mining Association has announced the winners of the inaugural AMA Safety & Sustainability Awards.
Award winners were announced on Nov. 16 at the association’s first annual Safety and Sustainability Awards Dinner at The Club in Birmingham.
The winners were announced by members of the same panel of high-profile, independent judges that graded the award applications:
- Samuel Pierce,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (Retired)
Eastern District Manager - Fitzgerald Washington
Labor Secretary
Alabama Dept. 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 stunning, one-of-a-kind awards were hand carved from Alabama-mined marble by famed sculptor, Craigger Browne, a native of the Yellowhammer State.
AMA’s goal 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 that made them possible.
Award winners were as follows:
Champion of Safety Award
- James Christian, 43 years without a lost time accident
- James Lay, 43 years without a lost time accident
- Billy Millwood, 42 years without a lost time accident
- Randy Sellers, 29 years without a lost time accident
- Richard Dodd, 28 years without a lost time accident
- Billy Dorrough, 28 years without a lost time accident
- Randall Jenkins, 25 years without a lost time accident
Exceptional Reclamation Award
- Drummond Company, Development of Wetlands and Endangered Turtle Habitat on Pre-law Mined Land
Exceptional Safety and Training Initiative Award
- Bevill State Community College, Longwall Mining Training Center
Land Stewardship Award
- 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 to Safety and Training Award
- Jeffery Minor, Safety and Compliance Engineer at Nelson Brothers
Mitigation Excellence Award
- Southland Resources, Mud Creek Mitigation Bank for Swann’s Crossing Mine
Outstanding Safety and Training Leadership Award
- Edward Boylen, Vice President of Safety at Warrior Met Coal
Water Quality Stewardship Award
- McWane, Excellent Compliance with Alabama’s Water Quality Standards
Wildlife Conservation Award
- Drummond Company
Wild Quail Restoration Project in Walker County
President’s Community Safety Award
- Argos Roberta Cement Plant
Argos Emergency Response Training Partnership with the Calera Fire Department
President’s Commitment to Community Award
- Vulcan Materials Company
Annual Quarry Crusher Run at the Dolcito Quarry in Tarrant
“These awards rightfully 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 places the health and safety of our people and local communities first, and this new award series highlights individuals and companies who go above-and-beyond to reflect the core values of sustainable, 21st century mining.
On behalf of AMA, I’d like to congratulate this year’s winners. We are already looking forward to honoring a new class of projects and people in 2022.”
AMA is enthusiastically leading the effort to bring the concept of sustainable mining to the United States and is the first state association to establish a sustainable mining program. Focusing diligently on sustainability efforts at the state level allows AMA to help its members set constructive goals and achieve outcomes that are meaningful to the citizens of Alabama.
