News Release Archive

To the Moon and Back - Sort of, for Reclamation Drivers

Media Contact: Pat Page, (505) 324-5027, ppage@usbr.gov
Barry Wirth, bwirth@usbr.gov

For Release: April 09, 2013

Farmington, N.M. – Picture driving to the moon and back – twice – without an accident. Those safe trips totaling a million miles would equal the accomplishments of the Bureau of Reclamation's employees at the Four Corners Construction Office in Farmington, N.M. The mileage total reflects all miles driven, including to very remote locations, often in extreme weather conditions, to work on projects such as the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

The last preventable accident was September 12, 2011. Following that, Reclamation employees took the office's safety program to a whole new level. The program, in effect for 15 years, rewards employees for achieving accident-free safety records. To qualify, in addition to accident-free driving, employees must complete a number of mandatory training classes on a wide range of topics appropriate to both construction and office work.

Being that the FCCO crew is largely made up of engineers and other math-savvy people, they couldn't resist further calculating other million-mile equivalents. For example, they drove the same as 40 times around the earth; 204 round trips end-to-end on old Route 66; 10,000 round trips from Farmington to Durango; 4,065 round trips from Farmington to Gallup, and everyone's favorite – but hardest to prove – 1,117 "country waltzes" across Texas.

On a serious note, the employees have been commended by Reclamation's Regional Director Larry Walkoviak, who said, "Because of the amount of driving we do to extremely remote job locations in all kinds of weather conditions, defensive safe driving is of paramount importance. I am grateful for the extra efforts our employees have put into their tremendous safety record."

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.