NATIONAL STONE, SAND & GRAVEL - ENVIRONMENTAL EAGLE
The Environmental Eagle Award was created in 1992 to provide national recognition for aggregate-producing companies actively contributing to the maintenance of the environment in and around their operations, as evidenced by a corporate commitment to the full use of environmental controls and systems. This award is based, in part, on the extent to which an operation meets and exceeds technical environmental and regulatory requirements. (The Eagle Award is not based on aesthetic or beautification criteria.)
1996 Powhatan Gold
1996 Fairfax Gold
1996 Augusta Silver
1997 Leesburg Gold
1997 Burlington Silver
1998 Rockville Gold
1998 Greene Gold
1998 Bealeton Gold
1999 Boscobel Gold
2000 Leesburg Platinum Winner (*New award for previous Gold winners)
2000 Boscobel 1st Runner Up Platinum
PLANTS REWARDED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Two of Luck Stone’s quarries joined an elite group of businesses last week. The Spotsylvania and Powhatan quarries were recognized by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for achieving E3 status.
Tom Faha, the Northern Virginia Regional Director for the Virginia DEQ, congratulated Luck Stone and the Spotsylvania team.
’’What you all have done is more than we could ask for, and we want to say thank you,’’ Faha said. ’’Only 20 percent of companies participating in VEEP have achieved this level.’’
Jamey Epps, Powhatan’s plant manager, described what it’s like for associates to see the fruits of their labor.
“The team is always working on many projects and trying to accommodate many regulatory guidelines and conditions,” Jamey said. “When you get the recognition from an agency outside the stone industry the team can’t help but feel that they are positively impacting their environment, community and Luck Stone.”
VEEP, the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program, recognizes facilities in the commonwealth that make a commitment to continuous environmental improvement. Luck Stone is a member of VEEP, a voluntary program run by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. There are different levels of achievement, starting at E2, an Environmental Enterprise, and once a facility implements an Environmental Management System and documents its goals for environmental improvement, the facility can be promoted to the level of E3, Exemplary Environmental Enterprise.
Spotsylvania and Powhatan quarries are the only quarries to be recognized at the E3 level.
“As the first member of the mining industry to be recognized as an Exemplary Environmental Enterprise in the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program, we are extremely proud of the Spotsylvania and Powhatan Quarries,” said Mark Williams, Environmental Manager for Luck Stone.
The Powhatan associates appreciated the recognition and started looking ahead.
“The team was excited, yet inquisitive and curious about what they needed to do to not only sustain, but improve on this accomplishment,” Jamey said.
A few achievements at the Spotsylvania and Powhatan that helped them reach the E3 level:
- Hiring a Safety, Environmental and Neighbor Specialist to focus on environmental issues
- Utilizing of a full-time water truck to control dust emissions
- Constructing and maintaining storm water dikes, ditches and basins beyond those required by permits
- Adding an equipment wash station that completely cleans and recycles wash water
- Regular training and discussion of environmental issues and practices in staff meetings
- Implementing a recycling program with a goal to recycle all on-site steel components, motor oil and filters, batteries, manganese crusher plates, tires, electronic parts, paper and aluminum. The plant has installed a used oil heater and was able to burn 2200 gallons of used oil last year rather than purchasing fuel such as kerosene
