SKOKIE, Ill. – On March 19, 2007, the St. Marys Cement Inc., cement plant in Bowmanville, Ontario, received the Environmental Performance Award from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine as part of the 2006 Cement Industry Energy and Environment Awards.  The award was presented at PCA’s Spring Meeting in La Jolla, Calif.

The Environmental Performance award honors facilities that take steps beyond those contained in environmental laws, regulations, and permits to minimize their impact on the environment. During 2006, the Bowmanville plant instituted a state-of-the-art environmental management system and achieved impressive reductions in emissions. The new systems allowed the facility to reduce sulfur dioxide (SOx) emissions by 53 percent and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 18 percent. The reductions go far beyond regulatory reduction limits.

In addition to accepting the highest honor in the Environmental Performance category, PCA recognized the plant as a runner-up in the Land Stewardship and Energy Efficiency categories.

In June 2006, the St. Marys Bowmanville plant completed the reconfiguration of the Westside Marsh.  The project, the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Canada, included hand planting nearly 52,000 aquatic plants which resulted in the return of Osprey to the area.  In June, land ownership of 120 acres was transferred to the Central Lake Ontario Conservation agency.  This year the plant also initiated the Energy Management Conservation Committee (E=MC2).  Staffed by experts from each area of the plant, the committee developed 32 initiatives to reduce or save energy, leading to a savings of nearly $.5 million.

The Cement Industry 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 contributed to making their communities better places to live and work.  Five categories are recognized:  Outreach, Environmental Performance, Land Stewardship, Innovation, and Energy Efficiency.  Additionally a special honor was presented to plants demonstrating excellence in multiple categories.

“The cement industry is dedicated to producing a superior product while continuously challenging manufacturing policies and procedures to minimize our environmental footprint,” said Charlie T. Sunderland, PCA chair and CEO of Ash Grove Cement Company. “The awards program recognizes these ongoing efforts.”

An award presentation will take place in Bowmanville later this spring.

History of the Awards
The awards program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement Association as part of its renewed environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. PCA and Cement Americas magazine presented the first Cement Industry Environmental Awards in 2002 to the winners for 2001. 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 awards represent independent groups such as PCA, Cement Americas magazine, the Cement Association of Canada, World Resources Institute, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the World Wildlife Fund.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.

# # #