Mining group recognizes safety

Seven mining operations have been recognized with Mine Safety Achievement Awards from the Nevada Mining Association.

First-place awards went to:

* Small mine, open pit: Couer Rochester Inc.

* Medium mine, open pit: Barrick Gold North America, Ruby Hill Mine.

* Large mine, open pit: Kinross Gold Corp., Round Mountain Gold.

* Open pit, non-metal: EP Minerals, Colado Mine.

* Medium underground metal mine: Newmont Mining Corp., Deep Post Mine.

* Large underground metal mine: Barrick Gold, Meikle Mine.

* Contractor: J.S. Redpath, Goldstrike Mine-Storm, Barrick Gold.

Individual awards included:

* General manager: Joseph Dick of Barrick's Cortez Mine.

* Mine manager or superintendent: John Hebert of Barrick's Goldstrike Mine, Phil Walker of Newmont and Mark Evatz of Newmont's Phoenix Mine.

* General supervisor and middle management: Charlie Beatty of Barrick's Cortez Mine, Mike Lester of Newmont's Twin Creeks and Don Weeks of Kinross Gold's Round Mountain Gold.

* Supervisor: Wayne Maita of Couer Rochester Inc., Farrel Rose of Goldcorp's Marigold Mining, Robert Flowers of Newmont's Twin Creeks Mine.

* Trainer: Mike Runner of Barrick's Goldstrike Mine, Galen Hop of Newmont's South Area Mine and Myer Ellsworth of Great Basin Gold's Sandvik Mining.

* Safety professional: Tom Bassie of Barrick's Goldstrike Mine, Richard Wagner of Couer Rochester Inc. and Dayne Heese of Newmont's Twin Creeks Mine.

* Non-supervisory trainer: Jason Mayne of Newmonth's Leeville Mine and Ken Taylor of the Gold Corp's Marigold Mining.

* Non-supervisor: Louis Deleon of Barrick's Goldstrike Mine, Chesney Carney of Newmont and Randy Billows of Newmont's Phoenix Mine.

* Outstanding career in safety: Richard Tucker of Newmont and Bob Stephenson of Barrick's Ruby Hill Mine.