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	July 24, 2002 Sims honors unsung Earth Heroes for summer 2002 King County Executive Ron Sims and King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, a longtime environmental advocate, today honored Birmingham Steel, Peter Hurley, and the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust as Earth Heroes for summer 2002. Sims and Phillips honored the invaluable contributions these heroes have made in protecting King County’s environment. Launched in May of 2000, the King County Earth Legacy Initiative celebrates the importance of protecting and enhancing our natural environment. The Initiative outlines a number of innovative programs that are working hard to maintain the rich integrity of our region, as well as our high quality of life. Executive Sims and King County Councilmembers Dow Constantine and Larry Phillips, gathered to recognize King County's Earth Heroes for their ongoing efforts to preserve this region's natural environment. » Enlarged view "Our summer Earth Heroes have given unselfishly to the cause of environmental protection for the residents of this county," said Sims. “Birmingham Steel, Peter Hurley and the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust prove that you can make a major impact on our environment with innovation, commitment and a sound vision,” said Sims. “I am pleased to honor and recognize such outstanding innovators and risk-takers who are working to maintain our environmental legacy.” Phillips commented, “Birmingham Steel, Peter Hurley, and the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust have each independently contributed to protecting the legacy of natural resources of our region. Their varied contributions, including recycling, wise transportation options, and preserving habitat, protect the legacy of King County’s natural resources. It is the private citizens and businesses who step up to the plate to protect the environment that can effect the most dramatic change. King County salutes these innovative groups and individuals; their work ensures that King County continues to be a great place to live.” Birmingham Steel - Seattle Division is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly steel mills in the world. It is the only recycling plant of its kind in the state that produces new steel from scrap metal thereby diverting a significant volume of waste that would end up in landfills. More than 676,000 tons of junk cars, discarded appliances, confiscated firearms, food, paint and similar items were recycled at Birmingham Steel last year. Additionally, the company uses storm water and groundwater infiltration and recycles it back into the production line as a way to reduce dependence on fresh water supplies, reducing city water use by 35 percent. Working with Seattle City Light on energy conservation projects, the plant has reduced its electricity needs by 12 percent over the last 24 months and reduced water consumption by 35 percent over the last 18 months. Since 1991, the company has invested more than $145 million in plant upgrades, landscaping, noise reduction, and air pollution control to make the facility more suitable to the neighborhood and to this region. The operation draws worldwide industry interest for its environmental performance and has received numerous awards for its outstanding record including the state Governor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Control and the prestigious Association of Washington Businesses Award of the Decade for Environmental Excellence in 2001. Under the local direction and vision of Eddie Lehner, General Manager, and Bart Kale, Environmental Manager, Birmingham Steel - Seattle Division continues to maintain its position as an environmental leader in the field. Peter Hurley has been actively involved in transportation, growth management, and environmental issues for many years and on many levels. Since 2000, he has been Executive Director of Transportation Choices Coalition, a non-profit organization working in coalition with businesses, public agencies, and citizen groups to advocate for transportation alternatives beyond driving alone. Through this work, Hurley has promoted a balanced transportation system that offers affordable choices to inspire a vision of a healthy environment, vibrant communities, and an efficient, effective transportation system for the people of this region. With an effective style of cooperation, communication, and smarts, it is no surprise that Hurley is highly sought after to balance the push for highway expansion and development. Over the years, Hurley has worked on many transportation and environmental fronts. In past positions, Hurley has been a Snohomish County Councilmember, championing growth management, environmental protection, and smart transportation; Executive Director of the Washington Environmental Council; and Coordinator for Northwest Earth Institute. He has served on the Transportation Choices Coalition, Washington Environmental Council, Northwest Earth Institute, North Cascades Conservation Council, Puget Sound Regional Council, and the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation. The Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, a non-profit membership organization, was formed in 1989 with a mission of protecting important ecosystems and the rural character of the islands. One of King County’s rural communities, Vashon-Maury Island, with 25,000 acres and a population of nearly 12,000, is ranked by biologists and other habitat experts as one of the most important Central Puget Sound ecosystems to keep in its natural condition. There is healthy habitat for herring, salmon, and Orca; nesting and breeding grounds for Neotropical songbirds and a wide array of fresh and saltwater ducks; and the island’s water source is an aquifer that is only replenished by rainfall. Additionally, there are 20 fish bearing creeks on Vashon-Maury Island that provide spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and searun cutthroat. Over the past 12 years, the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust has worked tirelessly to directly protect nearly 350 acres of important bird and salmon habitat. Indirectly, it has worked to preserve 1150 acres which are part of the King County Public Benefits Rating System and Timber Land Program. The Trust’s strategy is to evaluate entire ecosystems and work to protect critical watersheds. The success of this approach is evident in acreage protected in the Shinglemill Salmon Preserve and the Christensen Creek Bird Preserve. Over $800,000 has been raised in the past year and a half to purchase land. Additionally, in partnership with the Cascade Land Conservancy, the Land Trust is generating support and funds to purchase the 250-acre gravel pit owned by Glacier Northwest. Through effective partnerships with King County, the State Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, the Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society, and the Vashon Park District, the Land Trust continues to serve the residents of this community. Individuals and businesses in King County that are working to make a positive impact on our environment are selected monthly for their outstanding contributions to maintaining the natural beauty of this region. For more information about King County's Earth Legacy Initiative, please visit our Web site at: www.metrokc.gov/earthlegacy. Updated: July 24, 2002 Executive's home Executive's news Executive's site map | E-mail the Executive King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.