Dominion Energy Power Station Honored As West
Virginia Environmental Leader
WHITE SULFUR SPRINGS, W.Va. - The
West Virginia Manufacturers' Association honored Dominion Energy's Mt. Storm
Power Station Thursday as a state environmental leader for its long commitment
to improving water quality for game fish, tagging black bears, improving wildlife
habitat, creating wetlands and preserving pristine wilderness areas.
Mt. Storm was one of nine West Virginia businesses or industries
to receive the association's Business Environmental Leadership Award.
"Environmental stewardship is one of our important
roles," said Thomas F. Farrell II, chief executive officer of Dominion
Energy, the generation unit of Dominion (NYSE: D). "It is not only a key
goal for our company, but something many of our employees -- who are hunters,
fisherman and outdoor enthusiasts themselves -- have taken to heart. Many of
our successful programs would not have occurred without their ideas and volunteer
efforts.
"On behalf of Dominion Energy and the employees at Mt.
Storm, we are honored to be recognized by the association," said Farrell.
Martin L. Bowling Jr., vice president-Fossil & Hydro,
and William H. Wilkinson, senior environmental compliance coordinator at Mt.
Storm, accepted the award at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce's 66th Annual
Meeting and West Virginia Business Summit at The Greenbrier resort. Don Welsh,
Environmental Protection Agency Region III administrator, presented the award.
Mt. Storm was honored for 40 years of environmental stewardship
and a number of different environmental activities, including:
Working to improve water quality in Mt. Storm Lake and
creating both a viable fishery and a popular recreational area. Mt. Storm
Lake was once badly polluted by acidic mine runoff. In the early 1960s, the
company began voluntarily adding lime to its discharges in an effort to counter
the acid in the runoff. That effort continues today in cooperation with the
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, the company
places discarded Christmas trees and other structures into the lake to improve
fish habitat. Through these successful efforts, Mt. Storm Lake is a highly
popular fishing and recreational destination today.
Placing limestone in the major tributaries of the lake
to reintroduce native brook trout. The station worked with the West Virginia
Department of Natural Resources to place more than 900 tons of limestone in
Morgan Run, Red Sea Run, Laurel Run and the upper Stony River. The program
is being extended and expanded to include additional liming sites. The results
have been encouraging with sampling revealing either a return of native brook
trout to the streams or healthier populations.
Upgrading the spillway and dam crest. The $5 million-plus
required upgrade improved the flood safety of the dam and also allows the
station to raise the normal pool elevation of the lake by 2 feet. This increase
will help improve the operation of the power station and the fishery populations
in the lake and downstream river, and will eventually create about 10 new
acres of wetlands around the lake.
Improving the power station's 10,000-acre property, which
is home to rich populations of game and non-game species. To enhance wildlife
resources, company biologists installed 15 mallard duck nests, 20 wood duck
boxes and 15 blue bird nest boxes. A 22-acre wetland was created to compensate
for the eight acres of wetlands taken in the expansion of the station's ash
management facility.
Initiating a long-term black bear research program in
cooperation with the state. This program involves the radio tracking of scores
of wild bear trapped on the property. This cooperative program continues today
and has become a model for other areas.
Donating 460 acres of land adjacent to the Dolly Sods
Wilderness Area to the Nature Conservancy. The donated land includes the scenic
Bear Rocks landmark.
Earlier this year, West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise named Mt.
Storm one of the state's top environmental stewards. The station received the
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's environmental stewardship
award for a number of activities, including the addition of emissions control
equipment to reduce sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy,
with a production capability of more than 3 trillion British thermal units of
energy per day. Dominion also serves 3.8 million franchise natural gas and electric
customers in five states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's
Web site at www.dom.com.
