To recognize the efforts of cement producers' innovative practices, programs, and projects throughout North America, the Portland Cement Association (PCA), the Cement Association of Canada (CAC), and Cement Americas are pleased to announced the winners of the fourth annual Cement Industry Environment and Energy Awards. The 2004 Awards also honor companies for their ability to communicate their ideas to others in the industry, thus raising the profile and priority of environmental and energy-efficient programs in all industries. The program recognizes individual facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement and back up their spirit with action.

To be eligible for the 2004 contest, environmental and energy-related programs and activities must have been completed between January 2004 and December 2004. Submitting more than one project from the same firm or plant was permissible. All North American facilities were eligible.

Judges selected first place winner and runners-up in each of the contest's six categories: Environmental Performance; Land Stewardship; Outreach; Innovation; Energy Efficiency; and Overall Environmental Excellence, incorporating all entries in the first five categories.

Serving as the judges for the 2004 Cement Industry Environment and Energy Awards were: Tom Carter, PCA, Director — Environmental, Health & Safety, Regulatory Affairs; Angela Burton, CAC, Director — Government Affairs; Elizabeth Durtow, EPA, Energy Star Program; Vincent Camobreco, EPA, Climate Leaders Program; Carl Koch, Jr., EPA, Cement Sector Liaison; Garth Hawkins, PCA, Program Manager — Environment, Health & Safety; and Steven Prokopy, Cement Americas, Editor.

OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

Winner:

St. Lawrence Cement
Mississauga, Ontario Plant

The Mississauga plant was selected as the winner of the overall award, as well as the winner in the environmental performance category and the runner up for outreach, innovation, and energy efficiency. In addition, St. Lawrence has taken great strides to reduce the noise level at the plant, resulting in zero noise complaints. To do so, several pieces of state-of-the-art equipment were purchased and installed at the plant during the year specifically to reduce noise levels, but some will have the added benefit of enhancing energy efficiency and environmental performance.

Runner Up:

Cemex, Fairborn Plant (Xenia, Ohio)

Finalist:

Lafarge North America, Alpena, Mich., Plant

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

Winner:

St. Lawrence Cement
Mississauga, Ontario Plant

This facility also won the Environmental Performance award in 2002, and again excelled in this area in 2003. As the first cement plant in North America to achieve ISO 14001 certification, Mississauga has a strong environmental management system that encompasses all aspects of the plant's operations. This approach also manifests itself in the development of a sustainable environmental performance business plan and an employee awareness program.

Specific accomplishments during 2004 included achieving secondary plume opacity of zero percent; voluntarily testing their stack emissions; reducing roll-off waste 30% and waste management costs 22%; utilizing byproducts to reduce natural resource consumption; and further reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide 8% to 16% below already low levels.

These and other accomplishments were recognized by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Canada's Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry Inc., and local environmental leaders.

Runner Up:

Lafarge North America, Alpena, Mich., Plant

Finalists:

• Cemex, Fairborn Plant (Xenia, Ohio)
• Dragon Products, Thomaston, Maine, Plant
• Suwannee American Cement, Branford, Fla., Plant

LAND STEWARDSHIP

Winner:

Cemex, Fairborn Plant (Xenia, Ohio)

In 2004, this plant accomplished two major land stewardship rehabilitation projects. The Fairborn plant completed various stages of reclamation for a 200-acre limestone quarry during the year. This included a complete reclamation release of 52 acres and partial release of 150 acres that were recently vegetated. They also reclaimed several clay mining areas during the last two years. This reclaimed open space provides for wildlife habitat and promotes biodiversity.

Their second project was the demolition of their 80-year-old cement manufacturing plant. Closed in the 1990s, the plant was the source of aesthetic concerns for the neighbors. This voluntary effort proved a significant task as the building needed to be abated of asbestos. Construction rubble was segregated so that inert materials could be used to backfill an old quarry pit for reclamation purposes. Nearly 10 acres were backfilled with these materials. At the completion of the project, the plant received numerous compliments from local political and civic leaders and from the general public.

Runner Up:

Holcim (US) Inc., Dundee, Mich., Plant

Finalists:

• Lafarge North America Inc.
  Ravena, N.Y., Plant
• Lafarge Canada Inc.
  Brookfield, Nova Scotia, Plant

OUTREACH

Winner:

Lafarge North America Inc.
Tulsa, Okla., Plant

This facility's outreach program encompasses projects for wildlife habitat, educational alliances, community and environmental organizations, plant tours, community affairs, charitable sponsorships, Earth Day events, employee programs, communication, and governmental outreach.

The Tulsa outreach program places special emphasis on environmental projects, such as wildlife habitat conservation and renewal, environmental educational alliances, and Earth Day festivities. In addition, the plant environmental manager serves on a local air quality committee, and the plant has an active government affairs program that ensures their voice in their political process. Finally, the plant holds monthly plantwide meetings focused on internal communications.

Runner Up:

St. Lawrence Cement
Mississauga, Ontario, Plant

Finalist:

Lafarge North America Inc.
Alpena, Mich., Plant

INNOVATION

Winner:

Cemex, Knoxville, Tenn., Plant

In 2004, the Knoxville plant embarked upon a program to evaluate various technologies to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission levels. Plant personnel were determined to go beyond regulatory requirements to improve their NOx levels and began exploring alternative abatement methods. A water injection system was one of the technologies studied, and test results showed that they could reduce NOx emission approximately 15%. A continuous emissions monitoring system was also installed at about the same time to measure sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide in addition to NOx. Cemex finds this water injection technology effective and simple to use and install, providing highly cost-effective reductions. In addition to this emission reduction program, Cemex will continue to evaluate and test other technologies and have committed over a million dollars to this project.

Runners Up:

• St. Lawrence Cement
  Mississauga, Ontario, Plant
• Lehigh Cement Company
  Mason City, Iowa, Plant

Finalists:

• Lafarge North America Inc.
  Calera, Ala. Plant
• Dragon Products, Thomaston, Maine, Plant

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Winner:

California Portland Cement Co.
Colton, Calif., Plant

In 2004 California Portland worked closely with the EPA's Energy Star program to create a comprehensive corporate energy management program along with an energy management team. California Portland's policy strives to provide continuous improvement through some of the following actions:

• Establish baseline energy use through new and existing metering and other reporting methods.

• Set goals based on benchmarking and industry best practices.

• Perform audits to determine savings opportunities.

• Implement energy saving ideas through capital spending, maintenance, etc.

• Measure improvements.

• Continuous evaluation of the program to determine effectiveness.

• Recognize achievements.

• Provide training and awareness of energy efficiency best practices.

• Establish energy performance goals and implementation initiatives.

These strong energy planning principles are infused throughout the company, resulting in an energy consumption reduction of 4.5% from 2003 levels, which translates into savings of $842,000. These energy reductions also mean reducing the use of fuel, burned both at that the plant and at power plants to produce electricity. These reductions mean reductions in emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Runner Up:

St. Lawrence Cement
Mississauga, Ontario, Plant