| Environmental Awards Honor Top Cement
Plants
About PCA>Environmental
Awards
Six cement plants received special recognition
by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine
for continuous environmental improvement at PCA’s Spring Board
Meeting in Vancouver, B.C., on April 26, 2004. The Third Annual Cement
Industry Environment and Energy Awards were presented by Doug Guerrero
of RMC Pacific and chair of PCA’s Government Affairs Council.
The awards recognize plants in six categories (listed
by category, company, and plant location):
Environmental Performance: Lafarge North America, Inc., Seattle,
Wash.
Land Stewardship: Lehigh Cement Company, Mason City, Iowa
Outreach: Lafarge North America, Inc., Fredonia, Kan.
Innovation: Lafarge North America, Inc., Paulding, Ohio
Energy Efficiency: Mitsubishi Cement Corp., Lucerne, Calif.
Overall Environmental Excellence: Lafarge North America, Inc., Alpena,
Mich.
Environmental Performance Award
Lafarge North America Inc. – Seattle, Wash.
Lafarge’s Seattle plant distinguished itself through exceptional
control of air emissions and stormwater runoff. Because of high
levels of rain in Seattle, the plant processes around 25 million
gallons of stormwater each year. Almost all of this is recycled
at the plant. In addition, the plant uses alternative materials
for over 30 percent of their raw feed. The plant has installed a
comprehensive environmental management system (EMS) as part of the
effort to achieve ISO-14000 certification. Finally, the plant has
been recognized for its energy efficiency efforts by the City of
Seattle. The Seattle plant was also a finalist in the Innovation
category.
Land Stewardship
Lehigh Cement Company – Mason City, Iowa
Lehigh’s Mason City plant conducted two major land stewardship
activities in 2003. The first was a remediation of their former
CKD pile. The site was engineered and covered with plants to prevent
potential leaching to a nearby wetland. The second project was the
reclamation of a pond that had previously been drained at the request
of the state. The area has been graded for the development of a
habitat featuring native prairie plants.
Outreach
Lafarge North America Inc. – Fredonia, Kan.
The Lafarge plant in Fredonia demonstrated exceptional outreach
during 2003. The plant established a community panel to discuss
the company’s plans, activities, and concerns—including
environmental issues—with community members and local government
officials. Another group, the Employee Green Team, oversees environmental
projects, enhances awareness internally and externally, conducts
wildlife inventories, and interacts with park and wildlife officials.
They also hosted an environmental exploration day and a science
camp for local students, as well as an Earth Day event for employees.
Finally, the plant’s annual open house had a strong environmental
focus.
Innovation
Lafarge North America Inc. – Paulding, Ohio
The Paulding facility has developed a process by which steel slag
is injected through a mid-kiln feeder. Once the environmental permit
has been approved for this process, it will reduce emissions of
nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide per unit of output. The
plant has already achieved NOx reductions of 11 percent through
mid-kiln injection of limestone.
Energy Efficiency
Mitsubishi Cement Corp. – Lucerne Valley, Calif.
Mitsubishi’s facility demonstrated a commitment to energy
management, planning, and efficiency that stood above the other
entries. In 2003 the plant had a full-time energy manager who tracked
usage and instilled management concerns throughout the facility.
Specific efficiency projects include the installation of highly
efficient fans and preheater exhaust ducts. The plant tracks greenhouse
gas emissions and has achieved a reduction of eight percent of these
emissions. Finally, Mitsubishi is an active participant in the EPA
ENERGY STAR program and the California Large Energy Users’
Association.
Overall Environmental Excellence
Lafarge North America Inc. – Alpena, Mich. Plant
The Lafarge plant in Alpena presented a well-rounded application
that warranted the best overall award. The plant was runner up in
the environmental performance and land stewardship categories and
was a finalist for the innovation award. In addition, they demonstrated
laudable efforts in the outreach and energy efficiency categories.
Award Categories
Environmental Performance
This category honors those facilities that take steps beyond those
contained in environmental laws, regulations, permits and requirements
to minimize their impact on the environment. Recognition for this
award is given for pollution prevention, waste minimization, distinctive
environmental controls, environmental management systems, and facility
recognition.
Land Stewardship
Efforts to protect and enhance the surrounding land through landscaping,
species protection, and remediation and rehabilitation of quarries,
wetlands, and other features are recognized in this category.
Outreach
Facilities that strive to enhance community, employee, and government
relations through communication, partnerships, voluntary efforts,
contributions, and other measures are honored in this award.
Innovation
This category recognizes the development and application of innovation
technologies and techniques relevant to environmental protection
or energy efficiency.
Energy Efficiency
This category focuses on energy planning, applications of efficient
technologies and practices, and climate change mitigation efforts.
Overall Environmental Excellence
A facility that demonstrates excellence in several or each of the
above categories is recognized with this award.
History of the Awards
In 2000, as part of its renewed environment and energy strategic
plan, the Portland Cement Association initiated a program designed
to foster continuous environmental improvement in the U.S. cement
industry. One element of the program is to recognize individual
facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental
improvement and back up this spirit with action.
PCA and Cement Americas magazine presented the first Cement Industry
Environmental Awards in 2002 to the winners for 2001. The awards
program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America.
The awards honor activities conducted during the previous calendar
year. The 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.
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