Back
to USMR News listing
Back
to USMR Home Page
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
–
The Elizabeth River Project, a grassroots initiative to restore
the health of the Elizabeth River, recently announced the recognition
of NORSHIPCO as a top River Star for environmental contributions
to improve the health of the Elizabeth River. The shipyard was
honored at a luncheon on November 16th, 2000. NORSHIPCO is a member
of the United States Marine Repair (USMR) family of shipyards,
America’s largest non-nuclear ship repair, modernization,
overhaul and conversion company.
The Elizabeth River Project granted "River Star" recognition
to local businesses for their environmental achievements in creating
and preserving more than 40 acres of wildlife habitat and eliminating
more than three million pounds of pollution in 1999-2000 alone.
Only a handful of organizations has earned "Model Level"
recognition since the inception of the program, and NORSHIPCO
was the only shipyard to receive this level of recognition, the
highest level possible in the River Stars Program. "Model
Level" recognition acknowledges leaders in environmental
stewardship with documented exceptional pollution prevention and
wildlife habitat results. The Ford Motor Company, Naval Station
Norfolk and NOVA Chemicals are among the other recipients of the
honor.
Patricia Katzen, special assistant to John Paul Woodley, Jr.,
Virginia's secretary of Natural Resources, said, "I sincerely
congratulate NORSHIPCO on their extraordinary voluntary efforts
on behalf of conservation and protection of the environment of
the Elizabeth River.
I do hope that NORSHIPCO will continue to lead by example and
encourage other companies to follow in their footsteps."
Katzen also added, "Secretary Woodley is looking forward
to having Al Krekich, Mike, Brad and the entire NORSHIPCO team
support Virginia Naturally 2000, Governor Gilmore's Environmental
Education Initiative."
NORSHIPCO’s environmental contributions include solving
an international challenge for shipyards involving TBT, an additive
in marine antifoulant paints. NORSHIPCO pioneered technology by
forming a business/research consortium, the Center for Advanced
Ship Repair and Maintenance (CASRM), in cooperation with Old Dominion
University and two other local shipyards. The consortium has developed
treatment technologies for removing up to 99 percent of TBT (tributyltin)
from shipyard washwater.
• Expenditures of about $2.5 million for site improvements,
including paving more than 46 acres and curbing 2.3 miles of roads
and parking lots to reduce pollution from storm water runoff.
• Development and implementation of alternative beneficial
re-uses for various waste streams, previously sent to landfills
for disposal. One of these uses pertains to spent abrasives. The
material is mixed with soil and used locally as landfill day cover
and road construction material.
• NORSHIPCO also sends paint wastes to a facility where it
is used as fuel for cement kilns.
• Employee involvement in 1998 in creating a wetland along
a 400-foot section of the Elizabeth River shoreline, lying within
the shipyard facility. This new wetland is thriving.
• Contributions over the past 18 months to the Elizabeth River
Project’s wildlife habitat enhancement efforts by adding
an additional 50,000 square feet of landscaped areas planted with
native trees and shrubbery.
• Creation of a butterfly garden by planting an area of the
shipyard with perennial plants specifically grown to attract these
colorful insects.
• Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)
training and certification in calendar year 2000 for the entire
Environmental Department and several members of the Safety Department.
• Recovery of approximately 50,000 gallons of waste oils this
past year by NORSHIPCO’s wastewater treatment plant. These
waste oils are used to power the yard’s boilers. This method
saves valuable natural resources by reducing dependency on other
sources of fuel.
• Implementation of weekly shipyard environmental awareness
training for every employee during regularly scheduled meetings.Marjorie
Mayfield, executive director of the Elizabeth River Project, stated,
"Our River Stars are truly la crème de la creme of
the environmental movement in Hampton Roads."
Jackie Kreisler (619) 557-4289
Trevor Lucey (619) 238-1000, ext. 4232
|
A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of 