Versailles quarry honored with environmental award
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

The Versailles quarry of Hanson Aggregates located just south of Versailles on US 421, was the site of a celebration on Tuesday, November 30, as they were honored with a prestigious national environmental award.

NSSGA 2004 Environmental Recognition Program awarded the Versailles plant the Environmental Eagle Award, which is quite an honor in the aggregate business.

Of the nearly 200 aggregate companies in Indiana, Versailles was the only one to receive an award of this type this year and one of six of the company's nationwide plants to receive such an honor. The Silver Award is for outstanding achievement and recognizes operations that demonstrate substantial performance with specific criteria outlined.

A panel of judges that include representatives from the aggregates industry, state aggregate association executives, construction-related industry or a state/federal regulatory agency, made the decision to give Versailles the award.

Criteria included the quality and effectiveness of the operation's proactive environmental programs, degree of employee involvement in environmental programs and community environmental outreach, quality and effectiveness of the operation's pollution prevention and waste minimization program; and the extent to which the operation has implemented effective environmental control measures.

The Versailles plant, under the leadership of Neil Allen, plant manager, met all of the criteria with flying colors. The Silver Award is given to plants that achieve "better than regulatory requirements."

John Lawson, president of the Mideast Region for Hanson Aggregates, told those gathered on a windy rainy day this week, "It's the surrounding neighbors who are the real judges." He thanked those in attendance as he commended employees of the Versailles plant for going "beyond" what the law dictates for an environmentally safe plant and reaching the next level.

Howard Pugh, associate director of the Indiana Mineral Aggregates Association, addressed the crowd saying he is keenly aware of the changes the plant at Versailles has made and his association is proud to have them as a member.

Other awards the Versailles plant has received include gold status from IMAA honoring them with an Excel
lence in Mining Award and the Showplace Award from NSSGA in 1999.

Mike Neason, safety director for the Mideast Region for Hanson Aggregates, noted that the Versailles plant is to be commended for their reputation for safety with no loss time due to injuries in 12 years and no reportable injuries in the past seven years.

A berm installed along US 421, trees being planted and a new office building are just a few of the changes Versailles has seen in recent years.

Neason noted that the operation at Versailles was "an example of the right way to do this kind of business."

Other officials from Hanson Aggregates attended from Pennsylvania and North Carolina to commend the Versailles plant for the a "job well done."

Neil Allen, plant manager at Versailles was proud of the crew and noted they strive to be good stewards of the environment as they carry out day-to-day operations at the plant. The award from NSSGA was a testimony to the efforts put forth.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Employees at the Versailles Quarry of Hanson Aggregates were honored after they received a prestigious national environmental award. With the quarry in the background they are pictured from left: Jerry Johnson, Tony Martin, Dennis Sanders, Mike Meyers, Stanley Evans, Robert (Bob) Brison, Ron Sutton, Wayne Gunter, Gene Field, Chris Demaree, Neil Allen, plant manager, and Tim Christman, quality control.