Longview, Texas, June 21, 2012 - The Texas Operations of Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE: EMN) has received the 2012 "Sustained Excellence in Caring for Texas" award from the Texas Chemical Council (TCC.) Eastman was the only 2012 Sustained recipient among TCC member facilities with more than 500 employees.
The Caring for Texas Award Program promotes continuous improvement in safety, community awareness, emergency response, and pollution prevention. The “Sustained” level recognizes sustained performance over three years with high performing scores each year, including one year of receiving “Excellence” (highest score for that group.) Eastman also achieved this level of recognition in 2008.
“It’s a very special honor for Texas Operations to be recognized a second time for sustained performance over a multiyear period in the areas of safety, community awareness, pollution prevention, and emergency response," said Mark Bogle, vice president and general manager of the site. “This recognition highlights our continual efforts to protect the people who live and work here and reflects outstanding performance by our employees who make Texas Operations a great place to work.”
Texas Operations’ accomplishments during 2011 include:
- Monetary support of United Way and other non-profit agencies, in addition to employee volunteer support
- Workforce development activities by 13 High School Partnership Teams with the 13 surrounding school districts
- Recertification of Voluntary Protection Program Star Status for exemplary safety performance, first earned in 1994
- Annual emergency drill with internal emergency response program for continual improvement of response capabilities
- Reduction of fuel usage and carbon dioxide emissions from a cracking plant furnace
- Sponsorship of Texas Envirothon® environmental education competition
- Annual North East Texas Fire Training School at the site’s fire training grounds was conducted for the 40th year. Over 300 local and municipal firefighters participated.
- On-site 200-acre Nature and Wildlife Habitat Center was visited by over 400 people
- Implementation of an enhanced waste management tracking system
- Active Community Advisory Board since 1990
- Voluntary participation in the 5-county North East Texas Air Care organization
- Continued participation in a third-party certified Responsible Care Management System that drives good environmental, safety and security performance