|
 |
|
|
|
2004 Environmental Excellence Awards |
|
|
|
Written On: November/December 2004 |
|
|
|
The Association of Washington Business presented six Washington companies with Environmental Excellence Awards at the 2004 Environmental Conference. Three more firms were also recognized with Certificates of Continuous Improvement for their efforts in promoting and improving a cleaner environment.
“Over the years, we’ve recognized those businesses, large and small, who have gone beyond what is required by law to improve our environment,” AWB President Don Brunell said. “Each year it is encouraging for me to see different companies across our state doing good things to improve our state’s quality of life.”
The judging requires extensive reviews of the nominations submitted. “We have a great panel of experts who review the nominations, check with the regulating agencies, and do everything in their power to insure our awards represent environmental excellence,” Brunell said.
“I also believe there are thousands of other businesses in Washington also doing everything they can to comply with environmental standards and be good neighbors and community citizens. That accounts for the varying number of nominations each year.”
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Everett
Environmental Innovator
An extraordinary partnership was formed when Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.’s Everett Mill joined with the cities of Everett and Marysville to reduce or eliminate regional municipal discharges to the Snohomish River and the mill’s discharge to Everett’s Inner Harbor. Rather than waiting for regulatory requirements, K-C designed and built the $20 million Port Gardner Outfall Replacement Project on time and on budget, nearly a decade before it otherwise would have come on line. The centerpiece of a $50 million cooperative water quality improvement program by K-C and the cities, the project improves water quality, protects wetlands and salmon habitat, enables millions of gallons of water conservation, and, in cooperation with the Port of Everett, restored a natural beach and enhanced public shoreline access — while saving both the mill and the cities’ ratepayers millions of dollars.
McGregor Company, Colfax
Environmental Innovator
The McGregor Company, headquartered in Colfax, is a fertilizer and farm supply firm being recognized for its innovation in farming industry. It led the way in development of equipment that enabled direct seeding and other soil conserving technologies that help growers prevent soil erosion on steeply sloped land. McGregor was a leader in the development of reduced tillage fertilizer equipment in recycling and secondary containment. It was also the first company in Washington to provide a technologically advanced leak- and rust-proof piping system that could withstand the pressure and chemicals used by farmers. McGregor has also joined several environmental organizations, including PNDSA and NRCS, to ensure that new environmental programs are valuable to farmers in Washington.
NW Pipeline Corporation
Land & Wildlife Conservation
The Evergreen Expansion Project, constructed by NW Pipeline in 2003, involved installation of almost 28 miles of large diameter natural gas pipeline. The project required crossing 26 streams and impacted 23 acres of wetland habitat. Throughout the project, NW Pipeline was proactive and up-front about their commitment to natural resource protection and mitigation obligations. The company used a series of specialized construction methods to avoid impacts where possible and addressed unavoidable impacts with meaningful compensatory mitigations in the affected areas. NW assigned a specialized crew focused solely on implementation of Best Management Practices and environmental compliance inspections, resulting in very thorough environmental quality assurance during construction.
Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle
Pollution Prevention and Cleanup
Todd Pacific Shipyards is a commercial and military vessel construction, repair and maintenance facility recognized for their efforts in the prevention and cleanup of pollution in the manufacturing industry. Todd has systematically evaluated and implemented several environmental improvements designed to improve the marine environment of Puget Sound. Todd has engineered many changes geared towards waste minimization and stormwater pollution prevention. Todd has significantly reduced the amount of waste product by initiating two voluntary programs that are a key in environmental protection. These programs reduce the amount of grit and solvents used by the company. These pollution prevention actions set the stage for the comprehensive cleanup of contaminated offshore marine sediments that Todd is underway with currently.
Georgia-Pacific, Camas
Education
With the Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Local 5, Georgia-Pacific in Camas has created the Union Environmental Representative. The Union Environmental Representative serves as a workplace contact for job-related environmental issues and raises environmental awareness among mill employees to educate the community about GP’s response to environmental issues. The purpose of the Union Environmental Representative is to be an advocate for the environment and to serve as a liaison between the company and the community as well as the union workforce. Because of its initial success, other GP mills around the country are already using this program as a model.
Vulcan, Inc., Seattle
Livable Communities
Vulcan Inc., a major real estate development firm, has earned recognition for its pioneering use of Green Building and its commitment to environmentally sustainable development in redeveloping Seattle’s South Lake Union area to redevelop Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. Vulcan’s vision for South Lake Union is to foster an entire neighborhood that embraces sustainability on all fronts and promotes the social and economic health of the larger community. The company is partnering with the community to create a vibrant, connected neighborhood that blends new housing with retail, office, biotech research space, open space, public transportation, culture and education.
Cadman, Inc., North Bend
Certificate of Continuous Improvement
Water Quality
Canyon Creek Cabinet Co., Monroe
Certificate of Continuous Improvement
Resource Conservation
Nucor Steel Seattle, Inc., Seattle
Certificate of Continuous Improvement
Resource Conservation
2004 Environmental Conference Sponsors
Premier Sponsor
Preston Gates & Ellis LLP
Major Sponsor
Marten Law Group PLLC
Supporting Sponsors
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Washington State China Relations Council
Contributing Sponsors
Washington Dept. of Ecology
Cairncross & Hempelmann GeoEngineers, Inc.
|
|
|
|
