Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 21:33:55 GMT Server: WebSitePro/1.1h Accept-ranges: bytes Content-type: text/html Last-modified: Wed, 20 Aug 1997 17:26:02 GMT Content-length: 6200 Environmental Principles
Environmental Principles Red & Blue Lines

Green Tree Picture Plum Creek practices stewardship that protects and enhances the environmental values of the forest while providing for economical timber growth and harvest. Plum Creek will be responsive to public expectations for water and air quality, and for wildlife and ecological diversity. Plum Creek practices forestry on sound scientific and economic principles, and is dedicated to the future growth, productivity, diversity and health of its forests.

Environmental Principles - Resources

We conduct forest management activities according to the following environmental principles:
  • Sustainable Forest Management - Manage our forests in a sustainable, socially responsible, economic manner.

  • Ecological and Structural Diversity - Enhance ecological and structural diversity where feasible and prudent by using a variety of silvicultural techniques, by retaining a diversity of vegetation and leaving trees of various sizes and species, snags, culls, and other organic debris.

  • Water Quality - Meet, and where appropriate exceed, state and federal standards to protect water quality and fisheries by using Best Management Practices for all forest management activities, including the retention of buffers along streams and wetlands.

  • Air Quality - Protect air quality by burning only when required by law for hazard abatement or when burning is an appropriate silvicultural technique to improve forest conditions or improve aesthetics in visually sensitive areas.

  • Reforestation - Ensure future forest productivity and sustained forest growth by using the most ecologically and economically appropriate reforestation methods. Ensure that reforestation has occurred in all harvest areas - within two years in the westside forests of our Cascade Region and within five years in the Rocky Mountain Region and the east slopes of the Cascade Region.

  • Soil Conservation - Maintain soil and site productivity by minimizing soil disturbance during harvest, and by recycling harvest residue for nutrient preservation.

  • Wildlife and Habitat Management - Protect and enhance wildlife species and habitat areas through judicious control of road access, harvest management and cooperation with state and federal wildlife agencies.

  • Visual Quality - Recognize and manage for aesthetic values near communities and major travel corridors by using appropriate design standards, harvest methods and tree retention.

  • Adjacent Land Management - Cooperate with neighboring landowners in addressing and minimizing potential cumulative effects of resource management activities.

  • Research and Development - Learn, experiment, innovate and respond to changing scientific knowledge, public concerns and economic conditions to optimize both financial and environmental performance.

  • Auditing- Conduct regular audits to ensure that we meet or exceed the commitments made through our environmental principles.

Environmental Principles -Manufacturing

We conduct manufacturing activities according to the following environmental principles:
  • Environmental Management - Strive to be an industry leader in managing our facilities in an environmentally, socially and economically responsible manner that meets the needs of our customers, employees, surrounding communities and owners.

  • Air, Water and Soil Quality - Meet, and where appropriate exceed, state and federal regulations to protect air, water and soil quality. Establish measurable standards and conduct regular internal and third-party audits to ensure that we meet or exceed our criteria.

  • Safe Workplace - Provide a safe and healthful work environment free of recognized hazards.

  • Wood Fiber Recovery - Identify economically viable means to enhance wood fiber recovery. Reduce, reuse or recycle wood fiber to generate minimal waste. Dispose of any waste generated in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

  • Good Neighbor - Recognize and manage our impact in the neighboring communities to ensure public health and safety by controlling noise, minimizing or preventing pollution, and maintaining aesthetic values.

  • Minimize Use of Hazardous Materials - Minimize the use of hazardous materials in the manufacturing process where possible. Identify and substitute non-hazardous materials in processes where an economical and functional substitute exists.

  • Minimize Energy Consumption - Continually examine and adopt means to maximize energy efficiency and provide internally generated energy where economically feasible.

  • Research and Development - Learn, experiment, innovate and respond to changing scientific knowledge, public concerns and economic conditions to optimize both financial and environmental performance.


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