SKOKIE, Ill. – The Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine acknowledged the Lafarge North America cement plant in Ravena, N.Y., as part of the 2006 Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards. The plant received the dual honor of being a runner-up in the Outreach category that recognizes community, employee, and government relations and a finalist in the Land Stewardship area that recognizes efforts to protect and enhance land surrounding the plant and community.

Since acquiring the Ravena plant in 2001, Lafarge has been instrumental in the preservation, construction and monitoring of the nearby Dear Mountain Nature Preserve and Trail System. Lafarge formed a Wildlife Habitat Committee that includes employees, local scientists, and community members to monitor the area and often teams up with local schools for monitoring projects. Deer Mountain has provided learning opportunities for several schools and organizations throughout the years, and six new species have been identified since 2004.

In addition to its work at Deer Mountain, Lafarge developed several areas at its Ravena facilities. It is in the process of the first quarry reclamation effort at the site since the plan began operations in I962. This has included the planting of more than 4,000 trees and a variety of native grasses. The plant and its employees have also been active in efforts to remove non-native invasive plants for the area.

“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. “Companies take very seriously their responsibilities to towns where their employees and customers live. The awards program recognizes these ongoing efforts to continuously challenge manufacturing policies and procedures to minimize our environmental footprint.”

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.

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.