WASHINGTON, DC – June 10, 2002 -- The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has recognized outstanding industry performance with its 2002 awards for environment, safety and wildlife stewardship. The awards were presented at AF&PA's 2002 Government Affairs Conference, held May 20 - 22 in Washington, D.C. This year, the 29th Annual Environmental & Energy Achievement Awards recognized exemplary performance in the categories of Forest Management and Pollution Prevention. These awards were given to Forest Technology Group (a wholly-owned subsidiary of MeadWestvaco Corporation) and the Rayonier facility in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Wildlife Stewardship Awards were presented to those who exhibited outstanding conservation achievements concerning forest wildlife: Boise's Gary Roloff; Plum Creek Timber Company; and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The Safety Excellence Awards, based on the results of AF&PA's Annual Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Surveys, were presented: Georgia-Pacific Corporation; Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation; Weyerhaeuser Company; Rock-Tenn Company; and International Paper Company. Following are award winners in the three categories: 2002 Environmental & Energy Achievement Awards The winners of AF&PA's 2002 Environmental & Energy Achievement Awards were presented their awards at the All-Conference Luncheon on Tuesday, May 21. This year the Environmental & Energy Achievement Awards were presented in two categories. Forest Management: Forest Technology Group (a wholly-owned subsidiary of MeadWestvaco Corporation) Title of Entry: Information Technologies for Sustainable Resource Management (WebFRIS) Forest Technology Group activated WebFRIS, the online geographic information system, in 2001. This unprecedented application was developed by blending the experience of technical foresters with support from professional web developers to deliver both spatial and attribute data. This technology enables forest resource managers to more effectively integrate the demanding environmental and economic challenges they face. This has improved implementation of and compliance with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program and other forest certification programs. Pollution Prevention: Rayonier Title of Entry: Amelia River Phytoplankton Restoration Project The Amelia River Phytoplankton Restoration Project, executed by the Rayonier Mill in Fernandina Beach, Florida, was a cooperative effort on behalf of the mill, the state environmental agency and the academic community. In response to a finding by the state agency of potentially low levels of Phytoplankton in the River, Rayonier agreed to fund a study by a recognized academic expert to better define the actual condition of the Phytoplankton (the state's findings were based on limited data). The study confirmed that high ammonia levels caused the problem and also determined the amount of ammonia reduction necessary to return the Phytoplankton to a healthy condition. Rayonier changed its manufacturing processes to reduce ammonia in its discharge, and subsequent studies confirmed that the Phytoplankton population has returned to healthy levels. Thus, instead of embarking on a confrontational approach, the parties clearly defined the problem and required action, and the mill implemented that action.   2002 Wildlife Stewardship Award Winners The Wildlife Stewardship Awards recognize outstanding contributions to wildlife management in cooperation with the forest products industry on forest industry lands, as well as demonstrating AF&PA's continuing commitment to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program. The SFISM program requires participants to practice a land stewardship ethic. This ethic includes reforestation, managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products with conservation of soil, air, and water quality, wildlife and fish habitat. The awards were presented during the All-Conference Luncheon on Tuesday, May 21, 2002. Individual Achievement Category Award Boise: Gary J. Roloff, Wildlife Management Specialist Gary J. Roloff, Senior Ecological Specialist for Boise, received the Individual Achievement Award for his contributions to forest industry's and Boise's Wildlife Stewardship programs. Roloff has made a significant commitment to improvements in wildlife management, promoting the use of best science in managing industrial forest lands and ensuring that Boise's land management continues to provide and enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation. Jack Ward Thomas, Boone and Crockett Professor of Wildlife Conservation, University of Montana, and Chief Emeritus of the U.S Forest Service, commented, " I have worked closely with Gary Roloff in seeing that results of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program as related to wildlife are addressed by Boise's forest managers. I was most impressed in seeing Gary help incorporate alterations in management to benefit wildlife in a pragmatic manner than managers can accept and implement. He is adept at 'getting it done on the ground.' That is a talent to be admired and emulated." Outstanding Group Category Award Plum Creek Timber Company: Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Habitat Conservation Plan for Arkansas and Louisiana Plum Creek Timber Company initiated an effort in 1999 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for 261,000 acres of Plum Creek's timberland in southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana for the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW), a species which has been federally listed as endangered since 1973. Plum Creek's purpose in devlopeing the HCP was to create an active, progressive conservation program for the RCW on Plum Creek property while providing regulatory flexibility and predictability for management of the company's commercial forestlands. Built on strong biological science, the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Habitat Conservation Plan offers a unique and innovative approach with a significant level of public input, while addressing the dual purpose and need for both biological and business goals. This project is part of Plum Creek's commitment to sustainable forestry through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program. Outstanding Industry Cooperator Award Georgia Wildlife Resources Division of Georgia Department Natural Resources: Forestry for Wildlife Partnership The Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources receives the AF&PA Wildlife Stewardship Award for its leadership and guidance in initiating, developing, and implementing the "Forestry for Wildlife Partnership - A Partnership for Wildlife and Forestry in Georgia." The Forestry for Wildlife Partnership (FWP) is a unique state wildlife agency program that works in cooperation with corporate forestland owners to promote wildlife conservation on industry lands and to provide recognition for those efforts.The FWP is compatible with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program, building on the foundation of the SFISM program and assisting participating companies in meeting SFISM program objectives. Biologists responsible for the partnership program on behalf of the Wildlife Resources Division include Nathan Klaus, Mark Whitney, Emily Jo Williams, and Reggie Thackston. Several SFI Program Participants have achieved partnership status, including Weyerhaeuser Company, MeadWestvaco Corporation, International Paper Company, and Temple-Inland Inc. The FWP goals are: enhance wildlife conservation on corporate forestlands in Georgia; form a strong pro-active and pro-management public/private partnership; facilitate technical assistance, training, and outreach to promote the integration of forestry and wildlife management; maintain or increase opportunities for wildlife-associated recreation; and publically recognize partners for wildlife conservation achievements. 2002 Safety Excellence Awards The 2002 Safety Excellence Awards are given to member companies with the lowest total case incidence rate for the year 2001, based on work hour categories. They were presented during the All-Conference Dinner on Monday, May 20. Primary Operations: Category I (1.5 million and above work hours) Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Brunswick, GA Category II (500,000-1,499,999 work hours) Georgia-Pacific Corporation, New Augusta, MS Category III (below 500,000 work hours) Willamette Industries (Weyerhaeuser Company), Cerritos, CA Converting Operations: Category I (500,000 and above work hours) Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, Kansas City, MO Category II (250,001-499,999 work hours) International Paper Company, Fordyce, AR Category III (below 250,000 work hours) Rock-Tenn Company, Hillside, IL Wood Products Operations: Category I (500,000 and above work hours) Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Gloster, MS Category II (250,001-499,999 work hours) Weyerhaeuser Company, Magnolia, MS Category III (below 250,000 work hours) Willamette Industries (Weyerhaeuser Company), Lillie, LA Woodland Operations: Category I (500,000 and above work hours) International Paper Company, Ridgeland, MS Category II (250,001-499,999 work hours) Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Crossett, AR Recycling Collection Centers: Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, Sacramento, CA (ALL FACILITIES) AF&PA represents more than 250 companies and related associations that engage in or represent the manufacture of pulp, paper, paperboard and wood products. The forest products industry accounts for more than eight percent of total U.S. manufacturing output, employs 1.7 million people and ranks among the top ten manufacturing employers in 46 states.