Burlington, Mass., July 16, 2018 – Haley & Aldrich announced today that Eric Mears, Mining Market Segment Leader, has received the Arizona Rock Products Association’s (ARPA) Mining Achievement Award. ARPA, a trade organization for Arizona-based companies that produce aggregate materials, periodically issues the Mining Achievement Award to individuals who have made significant and enduring contributions to the safety and sustainability of the rock products industry.
“Eric is a tremendous mining industry advocate and has provided herculean service to ARPA and our industry as a whole over the years,” said ARPA Executive Director Steve Trussell. “He has brought countless ideas and led initiatives that have helped take ARPA to the next level – always keeping the best interest of the aggregates industry at heart, even during its darkest time. A great organization is based on its tremendous leadership and it starts with individuals like Eric Mears.”
Mears had previously served as the Associates Chair on the ARPA Board of Directors for seven years when he became eligible for “Life Director” status in 2012. Some of his achievements while working with ARPA and the aggregates industry include, serving on a Maricopa County Flood Control subcommittee to develop lifetime Floodplain Use Permits, leading key community relations projects and aggregates protection legislation, working to revise the reclamation rules for the Arizona State Mine Inspectors Office, and testifying before the House Natural Resource Committee to promote the Aggregate Mine Land Reclamation Variance Bill. Mears has also helped improve the industry’s image by creating programs such as the Community Excellence Award, as well as his attention to workforce development and mining ethics.
“Anyone who knows Eric will agree his passion for meaningfully and thoughtfully advocating for the mining industry is contagious,” said Haley & Aldrich’s Shawn Fiore, General Manager, Energy, Industry & Mining Business Unit. “We are proud of this significant accomplishment that acknowledges Eric’s unique approach and commitment to advocate for the industry he feels so passionately about.”
Known for his innovative problem solving and consensus-building skills, Mears has nearly 30 years of experience in environmental and water resources services for the mining industry. Over his career, he has managed and coordinated complex mining projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and in the process, has successfully negotiated permits, authorizations, and entitlements with agencies at the local, state, tribal, and federal level.
Mears has also served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Mining Association and has represented the mining industry on the Arizona Geological Survey’s Geologic Mapping Advisory Committee since 2007. He was appointed to the Arizona Mining Advisory Council in 2010 as Vice Chair. He frequently participates in state and federal rulemaking on matters affecting the industry, including mining and reclamation practices, land use issues, social license, and sustainable development.
About the Arizona Rock Products Association
The Arizona Rock Products Association (ARPA) is a trade organization for Arizona-based companies that produce aggregate materials. Founded in 1957, ARPA has a primary goal of tracking key environmental, safety, transportation, and governmental affairs to educate its members on the potential impact of current issues. The association also provides a forum for technical and educational committees focused on environmental, safety, quality, and transportation issues.
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Photo courtesy of the Arizona Rock Products Association.
