American Gilsonite Company Receives 2026 Mine Legacy Steward Award
October 14, 2026
The reclamation work completed at our Cowboy Mine in Utah has earned us the 2026 Mine Legacy Steward Award from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The award was presented during the 2026 Mining Excellence Awards ceremony, hosted by the National Mining Association (NMA) at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., on October 1, 2026.
The Mine Legacy Steward Award is part of the BLM’s annual Mineral Development Awards, which recognize mining operators for outstanding contributions to responsible mineral development. Specifically, the award recognizes partnership efforts to address abandoned hardrock mine features across the American West.
RESTORING HISTORIC MINING AREAS AT COWBOY MINE
Responsible mining means more than meeting today’s operational requirements. It also means addressing the impacts of historic mining activity and helping protect the land for the future.
Our reclamation efforts at the Cowboy Mine focused on deteriorating historic mine shaft closures along a 1,500-foot vein structure. These abandoned mine features required extensive work to improve safety and prevent unauthorized access.
The project involved excavating to bedrock, installing a continuous series of concrete caps, covering the caps with overburden and reseeding the surrounding area. These improvements substantially strengthened access controls and closures for hazardous abandoned mine features while helping restore the affected landscape.
The work exceeded applicable federal, state and local reclamation requirements, demonstrating our continued commitment to responsible mining and environmental stewardship.
RECOGNIZING THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORK
The 2026 Mine Legacy Steward Award recognizes the effort and attention required to address legacy mining disturbances and improve the safety of historic mine sites.
This recognition reflects our commitment to responsible resource management and the importance of protecting the environment in the communities where we operate.
“Projects like this take a lot of planning, hard work and attention to detail. Our team put in the effort to make these historic mine areas safer, and it’s rewarding to see that work recognized,” said Mike Kelsey, General Manager of our Bonanza Operations. “This award belongs to everyone who helped make the project happen.”
Representing us at the ceremony were Mike Kelsey, Gregg Galecki, former Operations Support Manager, and Ashley Reimann, Head of Sales & Marketing.
We appreciate the BLM’s recognition of our reclamation efforts and thank the National Mining Association for hosting the event and bringing together organizations committed to advancing responsible mining practices.
A CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE MINING
For more than 140 years, American Gilsonite Company has mined and processed genuine Gilsonite® uintaite from Utah’s Uinta Basin. Throughout our history, safety, environmental responsibility and operational performance have remained central to how we do business.
The Cowboy Mine reclamation project is another example of that commitment in action. By addressing historic mining disturbances and improving site safety, we’re helping protect the land while supporting responsible mineral development.
Receiving the 2026 Mine Legacy Steward Award reinforces the importance of these efforts and our continued dedication to responsible mining and land stewardship.
Learn more about American Gilsonite Company’s commitment to Health, Safety & Environment.
Photo credit: National Mining Association