History of the MMS Industry Awards Program & Luncheon

Since 1983, MMS has presented awards to energy companies to recognize outstanding performance. This year marks the 10th year for our MMS-wide Industry Awards Program and Luncheon and the 25th anniversary of the Safety Award for Excellence. Offshore Minerals Management (Offshore) conceived the MMS Awards Program and Luncheon in 1999. However, many years of awards to industry, from both Offshore Minerals Management and Minerals Revenue Management (formerly the Royalty Management Program), preceded the annual awards event we hold today.

Offshore began presenting the Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE) in 1983 to recognize safe operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), by district and region, as well as nationally. Before 1999, Offshore presented the national SAFE awards at the annual National Ocean Industries Association awards luncheon.

The Secretary of the Interior established the Mineral Revenues Stewardship Award (Stewardship Award) in 1987 to commend exceptional performance by companies that report production and pay royalties for Federal and Indian minerals leases to the MMS Minerals Revenue Management (MRM). More than 1,600 companies submit reports of mineral sales and production and pay royalties for minerals that are sold or removed from these leases. Through 1999, the North American Petroleum Accounting Conference hosted the formal ceremony for the Stewardship Award winners. MRM joined the MMS-wide awards event in 2000.

Providing incentives, such as the Stewardship Award, helps MRM achieve its mission to provide timely, accurate, and cost-effective mineral revenue collection and disbursement services. In addition to overall accuracy and timeliness of payments and reports, companies receiving this award also have demonstrated noteworthy cooperation and responsiveness with the MRM in resolving reporting, compliance, and enforcement issues.

In 1999, an idea was presented to Offshore management that a more formal awards program and luncheon be held annually in Houston to honor SAFE winners. There would be a morning session to exchange information with attendees, followed by a luncheon during which the SAFE would be presented. The scope of the SAFE was expanded and Offshore added two new awards:
 

	The Corporate Leadership Award (CORLA) to honor individuals who perform an act or service that benefits the MMS mission.
	The Safe Operations and Accurate Reporting (SOAR) Award (formerly called the Corporate Citizen (CORCIT) Award) to recognize the best OCS "citizens" based on offshore operational safety and financial compliance.

The first Offshore Industry Awards Program in 1999 was tremendously successful with more than 325 people attending. Consequently, the decision was made to expand the 2000 Program to include all of MMS. The Secretary of the Interior’s Mineral Revenues Stewardship Award was incorporated into the 2000 Industry Awards Program and Luncheon. The popularity of this event has grown each year, with over 700 people attending last year’s event.

MMS is grateful for the opportunity to recognize companies and individuals that excel in their work, care about the environment and meeting their fiscal responsibilities. Award recipients at this event now include OCS lessees, operators, and contractors, as well as companies operating, reporting, and paying royalties on Onshore Federal and Indian oil, gas, and solid minerals leases. We consider it a privilege to recognize outstanding companies and individuals that share our commitment to excellence. We applaud you for a job well done, and we look forward to your attendance at these events for many years to come.