FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 4, 2003)- Several western Kentucky companies, a conservation district, a university and a landowner received Environmental Excellence Awards last week. The Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet (NREPC) presented 19 such honors during the Governor’s Conference on the Environment in Lexington on Oct. 27.

The western Kentucky winners were:

• Warren County Conservation District
• Western Kentucky University
• General Motors Corp., NAO Group, Corvette Assembly Plant-Bowling Green
• Greg and Joan Ritter, Barren County
• Charolais Coal No. 1, LLC-Muhlenburg County
• Kentucky United Coal LLC-Daviess County
• Commonwealth Aluminum-Hancock County
• Forestry Best Management Practices Board

Warren County Conservation District was the recipient of this year’s Environmental Excellence Award for Soil Conservation. The district was very active in promoting the Agriculture Water Quality Act and assisting area landowners in the development of individual water quality plans. The district also leases out no-till drills, an earth pan and a tile plow to area farmers for seeding and the implementation of conservation practices

Western Kentucky University was the recipient of the Environmental Excellence Award for Energy Conservation. In the fall of 2001, WKU entered into an Energy Savings Performance Contract with the state to provide facility improvements and to save approximately $3 million in energy costs at the Bowling Green campus over the ten-year life of the contract. The work included new lighting, energy management controls, plus new heating and ventilation equipment. These energy efficient improvements took place in eight of the university’s buildings, including both libraries.

The Environmental Excellence Award for Industrial Environmental Leadership was awarded to the General Motors Corp., NAO Group, Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green for their aggressive action toward recycling, material reuse and the reduction of waste at their facility. These actions are estimated to save the plant more than $513,000 annually in energy costs, while reducing facility liability and regulatory requirements concerning universal waste. Annual savings of more than $105,000 is expected from the reduction in combination with transportation costs to have the waste material recycled, plus volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions are eliminated as well.

The Environmental Excellence Award for Soil Conservation went to Greg and Joan Ritter, who own a 240-acre cattle farm in Barren County. The Ritters developed a five-year plan to stop erosion along the waterways on their farm. Grassed waterways were constructed in four different locations, and cross-section ditches were installed to stop topsoil erosion. A waste management facility was constructed to store animal waste. By storing the waste and distributing it at appropriate times throughout the year for forage production, runoff into nearby streams and Barren River Lake is controlled to prevent water contamination.

Charolais Coal No. 1, LLC. was honored for its efforts in mining reclamation for western Kentucky. Located in Muhlenberg County, Charolais Coal’s permit consists of 71.8 acres with a post-mining land use of fish and wildlife habitat. Prior to mining activity, Charolais Coal agreed to reclaim an eight-acre slurry pond located adjacent to the permit. Approximately 35 acres have been reclaimed, and permanent reseeding will is taking place this fall.

Kentucky United Coal LLC won an award for its efforts in mining reclamation for western Kentucky. This 201.5-acre permit in Daviess County is unique because it has multiple coal seams. During the mining process a county road was temporarily relocated, mined through and replaced, and fifteen acres of prime farmland were also restored on the permit. Although the premining area had poor vegetation and deep gullies, post-mining vegetation is very good.

Commonwealth Aluminum received an award for Leadership in Pollution Prevention . The Lewisport, Kentucky plant melts scrap metal in natural gas furnaces and then processes the metal to cast ingots. It reduced the amount of natural gas burned by instituting preventive maintenance programs, monitoring and making improvements in the melting process. The company realized a 10 percent improvement in its melting process and also reduced emissions of air pollutants from the combustion process.

The Environmental Excellence Award for Forestry went to the Forestry Best Management Practices Board. The board consists mainly of farmers and woodland owners, but also includes members of the Kentucky Division of Forestry, the University of Kentucky’s Department of Forestry, and the woodland industry. To better understand the challenges loggers face during harvesting operations, the board made field visits and reviewed numerous proposed regulations for the implementation of the Master Logger and Best Management Practices for Timber Harvesting.

Environmental Excellence Awards are presented annually and nominations are solicited from citizens and businesses across the state.

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