KDHE AWARDS POLLUTION PREVENTION EFFORTS
IMPLEMENTED IN KANSAS

Several Kansas businesses, industries, municipalities and individuals recently received awards from the state for making significant contributions to the prevention of pollution. The 2005 Pollution Prevention (P2) Awards were presented during the annual Kansas Environment Conference (August 23 - 25) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) sponsors the yearly awards to recognize those who are working to improve the environment by implementing pollution prevention efforts. Award applications are screened by agency staff, then submitted to an independent awards selection committee who recommends final awards to KDHE.

The following companies were selected to receive awards this year:

Cobalt Boats, Neodesha, is a manufacturer of leading world-class day boats. The company was awarded for its effort in pollution prevention. Cobalt has taken an aggressive approach to P2 by adopting new technologies, processes, and by testing and using environmentally friendly products to build high quality boats.

Columbian Chemicals Company, Ulysses, produces carbon black, which is a fine powder used as a pigment and as a reinforcing agent in rubber. The company was awarded for its efforts on implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). Through the EMS process, the company has been successful in going beyond compliance to achieve measurable emissions and waste reduction goals.

Edwards County Conservation District, Kinsley, was awarded for its efforts in recycling. The conservation district took over the recycling program in 2003 and after making improvements to the facility, has turned it into a successful recycling program.

Excel Industries, Inc., Hesston, is a leading turf equipment manufacturing company. The company was awarded for its efforts in pollution prevention by installing a state-of-the-art powder-coat paint system, which reduces air emissions and solid waste. The company was able to reduce its regulatory burden for its air permit and hazardous waste generator status.

Newton Medical Center, Newton, was awarded for its efforts in pollution prevention. A mercury spill in 1999 that resulted in a cleanup, disposal, and equipment replacement price tag of $41,500 prompted the medical center to eliminate mercury from its environment. The center also began proactively looking at other ways to reduce hazardous materials in the hospital and in its waste stream as well as opportunities to conserve natural resources.

Philips Lighting, Salina, was awarded for its efforts in technology innovation. The company recently produced its one billionth ALTO lamp at the world's largest fluorescent facility, located in Salina, Kansas. Philips pioneered a new category of low-mercury fluorescent lamps with the introduction of ALTO technology in 1995, and has since earned a reputation for significantly heightening corporate environmental awareness and helping companies implement sustainable lighting practices.

Sedgwick County Courthouse was awarded for its efforts in energy efficiency. The county courthouse was constructed in 1959 and was experiencing high energy costs and mounting repair bills from aging HVAC equipment that had outlived its useful life. Instead of simply replacing the aging units, the county chose an aggressive energy savings approach for replacing the equipment. The energy efficiency modifications made to the courthouse reduced its electricity usage by more than 2 million kwh per year and reduced natural gas usage by more than 1,500 MCFs per year.

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (WCNOC), Burlington, was awarded for its efforts in pollution prevention. WCNOC created a waste minimization plan to help the facility achieve a reduction in both the volume and toxicity of waste generated. By using techniques such as product substitution, efficient use of chemicals, improved chemical control, improved work processes, reuse, and recycling, the company was able to reduce its hazardous waste regulatory burden by dropping from an EPA Generator classification to a Kansas Generator classification.

Additional information on the projects implemented by these award-winning facilities and the P2 awards program can be found on the KDHE Web site at http://www.kdheks.gov/sbcs/p2_pollution_prevention_awards.html or by calling 1-800-357-6087.

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