Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Aiken County Facility Gains Certifications For Environmental InitiativesWildlife Habitat Council recognizes projects with two certifications

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (Feb. 3, 2010) - Enhancing its status as a facility focused on environmental conservation and education, the 560-acre wildlife habitat at the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) consumer tire manufacturing plant in Aiken County, S.C., was recently certified under the Wildlife Habitat Council’s Corporate Lands for Learning and Wildlife at Work programs.

“We are very excited to attain Wildlife Habitat Council certification,” said John Stewart, Aiken County Plant Manager, BATO. “Converting a portion of our property into a wildlife habitat area is another way our facility can have a positive impact on our immediate environment and local plant and animal life.”

The habitat boasts more than 400 acres of mixed-pine forest that include a network of nature trails home to several rare and threatened species. In addition, indoor and outdoor environmental classrooms allow teammates at the facility to help educate local children and citizens about wildlife habitat conservation and other environmental topics. The 75 member wildlife team at the Aiken County plant utilizes these facilities to host several programs throughout the year, with more than 600 students attending the facility’s Earth Day festivities held in partnership with the city of North Augusta, S.C.

“Our habitat gives us a great opportunity to reach out to the local community and young people with a hands-on environmental message, which is a key goal of the Bridgestone Group’s global ‘One Team, One Planet’ initiative,” said Stewart.

Students involved with Future Farmers of America learned about soil science during a hands-on event at the habitat. In addition, the facility has installed 17 bluebird boxes with the help of a local Girl Scouts troop and Birds & Butterflies of Aiken.

“We are very proud of our community involvement with the habitat, and we plan to expand our activities with them,” said Monica Key, Aiken County Human Resources and Community Relations, who leads the volunteer efforts at the habitat. “Our work on the habitat is a reflection of our commitment to environmental conservation, stewardship and education.”

Future plans call for expanding the nest box project to include purple martins and bats. Teammates also hope to work with local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops to add picnic tables, native plantings and pollinator gardens to the grounds.

WHC’s Corporate Lands for Learning and Wildlife at Work certification programs recognize businesses that effectively use their property to engage communities in environmental preservation efforts and promote environmental causes.

Opened in 1998, the Aiken County plant is LEED (U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certified, a designation that acknowledges excellent energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and resource stewardship. The Aiken County plant and the BATO plant in Warren County, Tenn., are the first two tire plants in the world that have attained LEED certification. The Aiken County facility is also a charter member of South Carolina’s Environmental Excellence Program. In 2008, the facility received a Special Commendation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wildlife Habitat Council for excellence in environmental protection and wildlife habitat restoration.