News

Corpus Christi, TX, USA – The Port of Corpus Christi, the fourth largest port in the U.S. in total tonnage and an environmental leader in Texas’s Coastal Bend, has earned the 2018 Texas Environmental Excellence Award (TEEA) in Pollution Prevention, presented by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TEEA is an annual awards program that honors achievements in environmental preservation and protection and is considered the state’s highest environmental honor.

According to TCEQ Chairman Brian Shaw, Port Corpus Christi demonstrated a genuine commitment to environmental stewardship by adopting a progressive environmental policy, and setting targets for improvement each year.

“The Port of Corpus Christi is guided by principals,” Shaw said. “They not only set standards for themselves, but also for their partners, setting examples as forward-thinking environmental stewards in the industry, and in the community.”

Environmental leadership by Port Corpus Christi commissioners has been integral to winning the 2018 Pollution Prevention award; a recently approved environmental policy identified five key precepts to consider when evaluating new developments and operations: air quality, water quality, soils and sediments, wildlife habitat, and environmental sustainability. The Port’s environmental stewardship efforts focus on improvements and proactive measures related to these precepts, and the TEEA awards committee cites the implementation of the Port’s strategic plan to ensure operations and activities are environmentally sustainable and resilient.

TEEA also noted several milestones Port Corpus Christi has achieved in finding balance between the environment, community, and the economy, from dredge material reuse, to its impressive green energy utilization. Cited among the most impressive, however, “is its strong educational, training, and outreach components.” Read more from the TEEA here.

“Environmental stewardship is an effort that we must undertake to be successful, and this prestigious recognition is a culmination of the diligent efforts and willingness of our Port employees and our stakeholders to continually reduce the environmental footprint of our operations,” said Sarah Garza, Port Corpus Christi Director of Environmental Planning and Compliance. “Prioritizing our improvements and each year committing to continually improve has brought us to this point and will sustain our operations in the future.”

Other categories in the prestigious environmental awards are Education, Civic/Community, Innovative Operations/Management, Individual, Youth, Agriculture, and Water Conservation. These diverse award categories provide citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations an opportunity to obtain the state’s highest environmental honor and be recognized for environmental projects.

Since 1993, the TEEA has honored over 250 successful environmental projects and efforts. By honoring these winners, the TCEQ hopes to encourage others to initiate like-minded projects and reinforce a spirit of environmental stewardship.

 About Port Corpus Christi

As the leading U.S. crude oil export port and a major economic engine of Texas and the nation, Port Corpus Christi is the 4th largest port in the United States in total tonnage.  Strategically located on the western Gulf of Mexico with a 36 mile, 47 foot (MLLW) deep channel, Port Corpus Christi is a major gateway to international and domestic maritime commerce.  The Port has excellent railroad and highway network connectivity via three North American Class-1 railroads and two major interstate highways. With an outstanding staff overseen by its seven-member commission, Port Corpus Christi is “Moving America’s Energy.” http://www.portcorpuschristi.com/

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Click for PDF download – 2018 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards – 3-2018