Vought’s Nashville Facility Recognized
for Environmental Efforts
NASHVILLE, MARCH 5, 2010 – Vought Aircraft Industries’ facility here recently achieved the "Partner" level in the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3), a program administered by the state’s Department of Environment and Conservation.
The TP3 program recognizes industries and businesses that have commendable environmental compliance records and voluntarily commit to pollution prevention and waste reduction/minimization projects and activities.
To achieve "Partner" level, Vought submitted a plan proposing possible environmental projects that related to air pollution, waste reduction and recycling, energy and water conservation, and hazardous materials elimination or reduction. At least one project was required to be completed, and a success story submitted for approval by a review board.
Vought’s “Partner-level” project was the elimination of a large 500,000 gallon-capacity fuel oil storage tank. The storage tank had been at the facility for years and was used to store backup fuel for boilers in the event of a curtailment from the natural gas utility. The storage tank gathered more dust than anything: Fuel oil had not been required for many years, and sufficient propane was available onsite if natural gas supply became an issue. Wilkinson recommended to permanently remove the storage tank. It was emptied, cleaned out and demolished in May 2009. This project resulted in several environmental and financial benefits:
- Significantly reduced oil spill potential for the site.
- Eliminated a large quantity of combustible material, resulting in a safer facility and reduced risk of fires.
- Voluntarily amended the facility’s air permit to remove fuel oil as a backup fuel. Potential air emissions, particularly sulfur dioxide, were reduced by approximately 40 tons per year, and the associated annual emissions fees were reduced by approximately $1,100.
- Avoided periodic, non-destructive, tank integrity testing costs (required by EPA’s oil spill prevention planning rules). Based on current industry guidelines, integrity testing would have had to be performed every five to 10 years, at an estimated cost of up to $50,000 per inspection.
- Conserved resources by voluntarily committing to no future fuel oil use.
“State officials were very impressed by the number of benefits of our project,” said Ted Wilkinson, Vought environmental engineer. “These accomplishments reflect Vought’s policy to not only conduct business operations in a manner that is environmentally responsible, but also in a way that continually seeks opportunities to eliminate or reduce the generation of air pollutants and waste and the use of toxic or hazardous materials.”
The project was performed at no net cost to the Nashville facility, and actually resulted in $12,000 net revenue from sale of the fuel oil and scrap steel. Approximately 125,000 gallons of fuel oil and 110,000 pounds of scrap steel were recycled.
Less than 20 industrial facilities in Tennessee have reached the TP3 "Partner" level since the program was established in 2000. There are four progressive levels that can be obtained in the program: Prospect, Pledge, Partner and Performer. Vought obtained the “Prospect” level in 2003 by joining the program and the “Pledge” level in October 2008 by documenting ongoing pollution prevention projects and activities that had already been implemented.
To obtain the “Performer” level, the company must complete four additional projects (addressing all areas mentioned above), have an approved environmental management system in place, maintain commendable compliance, and conduct ongoing community involvement and mentoring activities. At least one new project must be completed annually in order to maintain this top level designation. “Performer” level members are rewarded with a TP3 flag raising ceremony.
In addition, Vought is one of only three organizations to be nominated by the state’s Office of Environmental Assistance for the annual Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards (pollution prevention category). The Governor’s award will be announced in June.
About Vought
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. (http://www.voughtaircraft.com) is one of the world's largest independent suppliers of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, the company designs and manufactures major airframe structures such as wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has annual sales of approximately $1.8 billion and about 6,000 employees in eight U.S. locations.
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