ATLANTA, Georgia. February 10, 1998 -- Four Georgia-Pacific Corp. manufacturing facilities have been recognized in the 1996-1997 Chemical Division Vice President’s Environmental Achievement Awards. The plants earned the awards based on a point system in a variety of categories focusing on each facility’s efforts in the areas of environmental performance as well as community involvement.
“We have long said that we want to be considered an environmental role model for others in our industry,” said Jim Taylor, vice president - Chemical Division. “This awards program allows our plants to demonstrate their commitment to preserving and protecting the environment and our communities.”
Based on total points earned, the top plants are: Albany, Ore.; Conway, N.C.; Ukiah, Calif.; and Healing Springs, N.C.
According to Taylor, the awards program’s point system is based on plant activities that support compliance goals and corporate or divisional goals, such as the Chemical Manufacturers Association’s Responsible Care® program. Examples include permit and regulatory compliance, spill response, employee training, environmental documentation, local emergency planning groups, recycling activities and community outreach efforts.
This program represents the third year that the Chemical Division has recognized its plants for environmental accomplishments. Plants were able to obtain points in 22 categories that included activities such as emissions reductions, environmental awareness training, spill prevention improvements, being involved in local community environmental activities, recycling and self auditing. The categories were designed to recognize plants that excel in environmental compliance and in supporting corporate and division environmental goals.
Georgia-Pacific is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of building products, pulp and paper. The company also manages more than six million acres of forestland in North America. Georgia-Pacific’s Chemical Division is a market leader in chemical products for the building products and pulp and paper industries as well as other industrial manufacturing processes.
A summary of the Georgia-Pacific Chemical Division’s winning facilities follows:
Albany, Oregon
The Albany resin plant excelled in almost all categories of the environmental award program. In terms of spill response training, the plant conducted two drills during 1997 that involved participation by outside response groups, while most plants just had one such drill. Personnel at Albany also identified and implemented 25 physical or procedural changes to improve spill prevention; identified 37 different potential waste streams that they recycle; and generated 52 ideas, of which 39 were implemented, to help improve the environmental performance of the plant as well as all other Georgia-Pacific chemical operations. The Albany plant began operations in 1972 and currently has 42 employees who produce formaldehyde and resins for the wood products industry.
Conway, North Carolina
The Conway plant, which ranked second, also performed well in all categories. In spill response training, Conway personnel held 12 different table top spill exercises in conjunction with spill response training, plus one drill with external responders. It also identified and implemented 35 physical or procedural improvements for spill prevention improvement, which was highest of any plant. The plant also scored high in recycling with 22 potential waste streams identified as being recycled. The plant, which opened in 1959, and its 100 employees produce formaldehyde and liquid and powder resins that are used in abrasives, doors, furniture, siding, particleboard, plywood, oriented strand board and other products.
Ukiah, California
For the third consecutive year, the Ukiah resin plant ranked among the top three plants across the Chemical Division, and is the only plant to be recognized in all three years the division has presented environmental awards. This year in particular, Ukiah personnel excelled in communicating with the community, including employee presentations at 11 different public settings including the local college, local elementary schools, Rotary Club, and at the town’s July 4th and Arbor Day celebrations. Since 1975, it has been making resins used in particleboard, hardboard, wood laminating, insulation, glass windings on pipes and for paper saturation. The plant employs 22 people.
Healing Springs, North Carolina
Healing Springs is a prime example that a facility doesn’t have to be large to have a sound environmental program and to be involved in the community. One category in which it led the Georgia-Pacific Chemical Division was in the lowest amount of solid waste produced per million pounds of product produced. During the award period, the plant averaged only two pounds of solid waste per one million pounds of formaldehyde produced. Also, even though a small plant, it still held a response drill with local responders, made presentations concerning the environment in two public forums and actively recycled waste streams. The facility began operations in 1972 and produces formaldehyde that is used primarily to make resins for the building products industry.
