Where From Here?

This Is Not Over

This topic lends itself to biased interviews, and un-returned calls.

I plan on continuing this research by calling Jody Spiller.

She is the head of the company that Verso has audit their logging sites

I’m going to ask…

1. How often are these logging sites audited?

2. What things are looked for during an audit?

3.What happens if the sites are found lacking?

Then…

I also plan on calling Ken, who is the head of sustainability at the mill in Jay Maine.

1. What were the practices of the company before it became ‘sustainable’?

2. How much does it cost to be sustainable?

3. How have the environmental impacts been changed since being declared sustainable?

Next….

How can we ensure the quality of water and the environment near mills such as the one in Jay, Maine?

 

 

What do you think? Please post your comments below!

Verso: Good Fight

Verso returned my call on 20-Feb-2015.

(Photo credit to www.oneims.net)

First let’s hear how Verso describes sustainability: 

(From notes with Neil Aldridge, Verso Headquarters TN.)

• It’s more than the environment, it’s the notion that we dwell in and live in this place, and we are responsible for the people in the community that we work, and owe it to them to make it a safe and clean place.

• Make life as good as it can be, and continue to improve quality of life for the community and the workers

Sounds good Verso, keep talking:

The consumer and customer:

• Focused on what we are using, and pulling our resources together to understand and minimize the financial impact, as well as the environmental impact

From a social point of view: The plan is to minimize the harm to the environment!

(Verso Paper Mill in Jay Maine, photo credit to fineartamerica.com)

Customers are concerned with the classic environmental aspects:

Air quality

Water

Solid Waste

Green house gases

 Verso’s Plan on Addressing these Issues:

• Plan on monitoring these aspects, and target these for improvement, and plan to all together improve the performance of the company.
• Maine has very sustainable forestry regulations where the forests need to be regenerated which helps cause minimal amount of harm.

Seem to be doing great Verso: Stay tuned for more.

Approaching the Companies (The fight Begins)

When trying to call Verso Company, each time I have called, it has gone straight to an answering machine, Hopefully I will contact them to ask them these questions…….

• What are some Federal regulations in place?
• What are some Local Regulations? (Specifically Maine)
• How much does it cost to keep the equipment and supplies up to regulation code?
• I have heard you have a sustainable practice, what are some practices that make it sustainable?
• How often are the sites inspected?
• Where are the cut sites?
• How many acres do you cut a year on average?
• How much profit comes in a year?
• What is a mill workers average yearly salary?