Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke recently announced the winners of the 2008 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, which includes several in Southeast Tennessee. The 14 winners were recognized for their achievements and positive impact on the state’s natural resources in an awards ceremony in Nashville in June.

“Taking care of our precious natural resources is essential to preserving Tennessee’s outdoor tradition,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “I want to express my congratulations to each of these individuals, organizations and groups whose stewardship is helping us protect Tennessee’s air, land and water.”

The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program recognizes exemplary voluntary actions that improve or protect our environment and natural resources with projects or initiatives that are not required by law or regulations. This marks the 22nd year for the awards program. Thirty-nine professionals from various public and private organizations judged more than 100 nominations to determine the award recipients.

The winner of one additional honor, the Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced at the awards ceremony in June.

“Our environment impacts everything from recreational activities to the health of our communities, and I believe it is important to recognize the people and organizations that work so hard to protect it,” said Fyke. “I am pleased to acknowledge and celebrate these Tennesseans who go above and beyond to enhance the condition of our shared environment.”

The 2008 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award winners are:

Category: Agriculture/Forestry - Robert Thompson Conservation Farm in Niota, McMinn County

Robert Thompson’s 589-acre, 200-head cattle farm in McMinn County practices conservation efforts along the Oostanaula Creek and Malone Springs in East Tennessee. These practices include extensive livestock exclusion fencing (4,685 feet), alternative water tanks (six with 6,000 feet of pipeline) and rotational grazing. These efforts have improved the health of the cattle herd and water quality. Water quality improvements stem from the reduction of sediment, which can occur when cattle travel over stream banks to reach water, as well as from the decreased amount of livestock waste reaching the stream.

Category: Aquatic Resource Preservation - Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute – Saving the Sturgeon

Tennessee River Watershed from Knoxville to Chattanooga

In 2007, Saving the Sturgeon reached several new milestones. More than 60,000 lake sturgeon were released into the Tennessee River Watershed and monitored as far south as Alabama. New partners in the sturgeon conservation effort include Knoxville Girl Scout troops, East Tennessee fishermen and Gap Creek Elementary classes. Educational efforts were expanded through these partnerships by distributing wallet-size educational cards to fishermen at time of licensing, developing a coloring book for grades K-2 about lake sturgeon conservation efforts and engaging students to help with sturgeon releases near their school. The Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute also began monitoring released sturgeon with sonic tags and using an endoscope and anesthesia vaporizer to determine gender of released fish to enhance reproductive success.

Category: Energy Leadership - Cleveland State Community College, Bradley County

Cleveland State Community College’s existing construction technology program was enhanced to include a focus on alternative and renewable energy sources, as well as the techniques and technologies for energy efficient construction. The project focuses on four areas: new curriculum, high school recruiting, workshops and seminars, and practical demonstration items. This enhanced program resulted in a new workforce development certificate, called the Zero Energy Housing Certificate; six new or revised courses; and more than 6,000 individuals exposed to energy efficient construction materials in the classroom, public meetings, presentations and seminars. So far, 122 students have completed more than 300 community college courses related to energy efficient construction at Cleveland State Community College.

Category: Hazardous Waste Reduction - Johns Manville Facility in Etowah, McMinn County

Johns Manville’s fiberglass plant in Etowah employs 250 people and supplies fiberglass for a variety of products, including residential shingles. In 2007, the Etowah plant opened a new state-of-the-art, high-speed line to produce nonwoven glass mat. The company’s new glass furnaces have abatement systems to remove particulates and sulfur dioxide from the discharge stream. Recognizing the potential reuse and waste reduction from this effective capture of original materials, the Etowah plant launched a $225,000 engineering project to reuse this captured material as part of its glass making recipe. The effective reuse of the raw material, rich in expensive batch ingredients, reduced the amount of hazardous waste generated at the site and decreased the overall cost of manufacturing. In 2006, the Etowah plant generated 840,820 pounds of this material, which was shipped off-site and disposed as a hazardous waste. Reuse began in February 2007, and that year the Etowah plant shipped only 180,720 pounds of hazardous waste for disposal – a 79 percent reduction.

For more information about the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards program, visit: www.tn.gov/environment/awards/.