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90 years of stewardship
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation recognizes Alcoa's Tennessee Operations in Alcoa, Tennessee (USA) for nearly a century of community leadership and a recent record-breaking conservation grant.
Article reprinted with permission from the Tennessee Conservationist.
Leading by Example
by Ernie Blankenship
ALCOA’s Tennessee Operations has existed in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains for more than 90 years. In 1910, ALCOA brought land in the Smoky Mountains to begin construction of hydroelectric dams that would power its aluminum smelting facility.
Today, Tennessee Operations “Leading By Example” is dedicated to the production of high quality molten metal and aluminum sheet for beverage cans. The world’s largest producer of aluminum sheet for beverage cans is located 15 miles south of Knoxville. Tennessee Operations employs 1,900 East Tennesseans and occupies 1,600 acres with 125 under roof.
ALCOA is part of the fabric of the community. Just as community values of family, work and honesty are woven into ALCOA – Tennessee Operations, the company’s values are woven into the community. As a worldwide manufacturer, Alcoa Inc. comprises 25 business units, 142,000 employees, 350-plus operating locations in 37 countries and more than $22 billion in revenues.
Integrity is a core value of ALCOA Inc. To Alcoans integrity means honesty, forthrightness, reliability, and concern. These values are expressed daily in relationships with the United Steelworkers of America Local 309, vendors, suppliers, customers, and communities.
From my perspective, these values have positioned ALCOA as an excellent environmental and conservation steward. On June 28, TDEC’s 2002 Natural Heritage Conservation Award was presented to ALCOA officials in recognition of the ALCOA Foundation grant made to Tremont Institute of $250,000 – the largest single monetary corporate foundation gift to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To be used for environmental education, the Tremont grant has since been matched by the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains. ALCOA Inc. has also been a generous supporter of The Tennessee Conservationist as the sole corporate member of the “Commissioner’s Council.”
In terms of environmental compliance capably overseen by Environmental Manager Dale Huddleston, ALCOA Tennessee Operations, other awards have been received. Since 1994, the Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association has repeatedly recognized Tennessee Operations wastewater facilities with Operational Excellence Awards. As an industry leader, Tennessee Operations now awaits its Title V air permit that will recognize aggressive adherence to EPA standards for cleaner air.
Indicative of it “leadership by example” role, Tennessee Operations maintains an intranet Web system to communicate environmental, health and safety (EHS) information. It is used to communicate corporate standards, performance statistics, audit protocols, and to share information with other ALCOA locations throughout the world. A striking feature is “emergency response procedures” and location detail for ALCOA responders.
Tennessee Operations Vice-President and General Manager Joe Haniford leads an aggressive team toward relentless pursuit of excellence in everything they do – everyday. The State of Tennessee is indeed fortunate to have manufacturers such as ALCOA Inc. (a Fortune 50 member company) as part of its “blue-chip” employer base.
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