HOUSTON, Feb. 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) has successfully completed its tri-annual certification process for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS).
This marks the fifth consecutive successful certification in 13 years for PHA, which became the first port authority in the United States to achieve ISO 14001 status in 2002.
This year's audit by DNV-GL Business Assurance USA, Inc. revealed no recorded major or minor nonconformances (unprecedented and outstanding). The audit also cited four noteworthy efforts, six observations and two opportunities for improvement.
The ISO 14001 certification standard is one of the most stringent and challenging in the environmental industry. Of the 360 seaports in the United States, fewer than 10 are ISO 14001 certified.
PHA's certified facilities include its Central Maintenance facility and the Bayport and Barbours Cut container terminals. Among the improvements cited by auditors during the recertification process were improved energy efficiency, use of LED lighting and the purchase of new vehicles with reduced emissions.
Also noted was improved internal communication, which has provided better understanding of potential impacts of tenant and contractor activities.
"By implementing a systematic approach to setting and meeting environmental goals and objectives, we have successfully identified and controlled the environmental impacts of activities, products and services and improved environmental performance for 13 years," said Port Authority Executive Director Roger Guenther. "This is an accomplishment in which we can all take pride.
"I extend my gratitude to the Environmental Affairs Department for its leadership of our EMS and to each member of the Port Authority organization for their unrelenting support and commitment in making PHA's EMS a success," he added.
About the Port of Houston Authority
For more than 100 years, the Port of Houston Authority has owned or operated the public cargo-handling facilities of the Port of Houston – the nation's largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage. The port is an economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the nation. It supports the creation of more than one million statewide jobs and more than 2.1 million nationwide jobs, and the generation of economic activity totaling more than $178.5 billion in Texas and $499 billion across the nation. For more information, visit the Port Authority website at: www.portofhouston.com