CalPortland Company’s DuPont aggregate plant in DuPont, Wash., has received the highest “Gold Award” from the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) for its superior performance in environmental stewardship.

The awards program recognizes aggregates operations throughout the United States and Canada for their extraordinary commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and community involvement.

“CalPortland makes environmental leadership as well as energy efficiency vital elements of our core culture,” CEO Allen Hamblen said in a written statement. “This award acknowledges the contributions that are continually being made by every CalPortland employee.”

NSSGA President and CEO Joy Wilson commented noted: “Despite the continuing economic challenges this year, the responses from our member companies represent exemplary efforts of their employees on behalf of the aggregates industry. We are so pleased to be able to recognize these operations whose achievements in the fields of safety, environment and community relations remind us of the important role the aggregates industry plays in ensuring a greater quality of life in America.”

CalPortland is a major producer of sand and gravel in the U.S. and the primary source of construction aggregates for the Puget Sound region.

The state-of-the-art DuPont aggregate facility is a model of clean, efficient and environmentally conscious mining that meets or surpasses all environmental standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

Ninety-eight percent of material from the mine is used locally, from Everett to Olympia. Access to waterborne transportation allows 80 percent of material from DuPont to be shipped by barge. Each barge carries the equivalent of 150 to 200 truck and trailer loads of material, reducing the number of vehicles on the road. Transporting sand and gravel by barge lowers the region’s carbon output and reduces the economic and environmental cost of traffic congestion and other related road user costs.

The Environmental Excellence Awards program was created in 1992 to provide national recognition for aggregate producers who meet and surpass technical, environmental and regulatory requirements.