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PHA Receives ISO 14001 Recertification for Environmental Management SystemBayport Container Terminal Certified On Initial ApplicationHOUSTON, March 23, 2009 -- The Port of Houston Authority's (PHA's) historic Environmental Management System (EMS) has been recertified to meet the rigorous standards of the universally recognized International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001. The independent auditing firm Det Norske Veritas confirmed the recertification, as well as the ISO 14001 certification of the port authority's state-of-the-art Bayport Container terminal, as an extension of that recertification. PHA's Central Maintenance facility at Turning Basin Terminal and its Barbours Cut Container Terminal became the first seaport facilities in the United States to earn ISO 14001 certification in 2002. Consequently, they became the first to be ISO recertified in 2005 and the first to earn a second recertification this year. Bayport, a $1.4 billion facility scheduled to be built out in phases as market demands dictate, was designed to be ISO compliant on its opening day, with some of the most innovative environmental safeguards available -- such as a "first-flush" storm water collection system and clean fuel/low emissions technology -- as part of its infrastructure. "We are extremely pleased with this latest validation of the Port of Houston Authority's commitment to responsible environmental stewardship," says PHA Chairman James T. Edmonds. "The ISO standard is a tangible, measurable means of gauging our progress in this area and each recertification is a concrete indication that we have not only met previous goals, but are committed to raising the bar and achieving more." Wade M. Battles, PHA Acting Executive Director, calls this latest environmental achievement "a testament to the collective efforts of the entire PHA team." "This could not be possible without buy-in and participation from all segments of the port authority family," says Battles, one of the architects of the original EMS program. "I was extremely pleased to see Bayport pass," says Charlie Jenkins, PHA's Director of Planning and Environment. "Bayport's environmental initiatives were implemented with the community in mind." Det Norske Veritas identified several 'noteworthy' comments during the most recent audits. They include:
-- Top management's commitment to EMS implementation was found
well-focused and very positive, based on the interview with top
management representatives.
-- EMS awareness was found high and consistent at all facilities and
levels. Interviewed personnel were well aware of the impact of their
duties, operational control and communication channels.
-- Housekeeping was well-maintained in all facilities visited.
Representatives were fully committed toward EMS implementation and
innovation as well.
Det Norske Veritas auditor Chandran Ilango, who has conducted environmental audits all over the world, was especially impressed with the cleanliness and order of the Turning Basin Central Maintenance facility. "It is an older facility with a lot of activity going on," Ilango says. "That they are able to stay on top of everything and still keep it so well maintained is extremely impressive." PHA initiated development of an EMS in 1999 through the Environmental Protection Agency's EMS pilot program. The program focuses on air and water quality improvement, waste reduction and energy efficiency. The EMS was certified as conforming to the rigorous ISO 14001 standard by Det Norske Veritas in August 2002. PHA received recertification to the revised ISO 14001 standard by Det Norske Veritas in August 2005. PHA was scheduled for recertification in September 2008, but due to Hurricane Ike, the audit was postponed until early 2009. In early 2007, the port authority implemented the EMS at the Bayport Container Terminal, with the idea of expanding the 'fence line' and becoming certified to the ISO 14001 standard in conjunction with the recertification audit at the Central Maintenance Facility and the Barbours Cut Container Terminal. Again, due to the hurricane, the scope extension audit was postponed until early 2009. In February 2009, after an audit of the facility, Det Norske Veritas certified the Bayport Container Terminal to the ISO14001:2004 standard. A copy of PHA's Environmental Stewardship Fact Sheet can be found here: http://portofhouston.com/pdf/factsheets/GR%20Fact%20Sheet_Environmental%20Stewardship_01-30-09.pdf The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 8,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in overall total tonnage. The port authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. PHA is the first port authority in the world to receive ISO 28000:2007 certification for Port Police and the perimeter security operations at both the Barbours Cut and Bayport Terminals. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
Contacts: Port of Houston Authority
Lisa Ashley-Whitlock, Communications Manager
(713) 670-2644
Cell: (832) 247-8179
lwhitlock@poha.com
Argentina M. James, Director of Public Affairs
(713) 670-2568
Cell: (713) 306-6822
ajames@poha.com
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