SKOKIE, Ill.—On April 29, 2013, the CEMEX USA Brooksville South cement plant in Brooksville, Fla., received the Land Stewardship Award from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americasmagazine as part of the 2013 Cement Industry Energy and Environment Awards. The award was presented at PCA’s Spring Meeting in Chicago.
The plant was a winner in the Award’s Land Stewardship category, which recognizes efforts to protect and enhance the surrounding land.
In March 2012, CEMEX, Inc. selected its Brooksville South cement plant as the pilot quarry for a Biodiversity Action Plan study that subsequently paired the facility with the local Hernando Audubon Chapter. Together they documented the tremendous variety of bird species that populate the 10,000 acre site. This collaboration established a baseline survey for birds, evaluated a bird species conservation across CEMEX sites, and improved the potential for increasing biodiversity in the region.
Additionally, in 2012 the Brooksville South quarry received Wildlife at Work recertification by the Wildlife Habitat Council for creating, conserving, and restoring habitat. This restoration effort included CEMEX employee volunteers as well as members of the community. The plant also received Wildlife Habitat certification from the National Wildlife Federation.
“CEMEX and other cement manufactures recognize the need to protect our nation’s ecological assets and are committed to making their local communities better places to work and live,” said Greg Scott, PCA president and CEO. “Cement manufacturers strive to leave the earth they impact a better place for future generations.”
The Energy & Environmental Awards honor individual cement facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement and support this spirit with action. These plants go beyond government regulations and local laws to ensure that their processes contribute to making their communities better places to live and work. Five categories are recognized: Outreach, Environmental Performance, Land Stewardship, Innovation and Energy Efficiency. Additionally, PCA presents a special honor to a plant demonstrating excellence in multiple categories.
The award program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement Association as part of its environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. The awards honor activities conducted during the previous calendar year, and the program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America. Judges for the 2013 awards Program included representatives from U.S. EPA-ENERGY STAR, Wildlife Habitat Council, U.S. Geological Survey, World Wildlife Fund, and Cement Americas.
About PCA
Based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.
About CEMEX
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. CEMEX’s U.S. network includes 13 cement plants, 47 active cement distribution terminals, approximately 100 aggregate quarries and more than 420 ready-mix concrete plants. For more information, visit www.cemexusa.com.