Sustained Distinguished Performance is awarded when a River Star completes a significant new initiative with no change in recognition level. The stars reflect their level in the program.
** Accurate Marine Environmental – This spill response company implemented a no-idle policy and reduced single-use plastics by replacing individual water bottles with 5-gallon water cooler.
*** BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair – The inaugural River Star Hall of Fame winner reduced air emissions by 5 million pounds through energy sustainability projects. The shipyard also installed 180 oyster reef blocks to enhance the shipyard’s existing oyster reef.
*** Chesapeake Parks, Recreation & Tourism – The city began the first phase of converting an abandoned railroad right-of-way into the Commonwealth Railway Trail. Meanwhile, the city and volunteers planted 3,000 native pine trees at Sawyers Mill Park.
** Chesapeake Public Works – The city added a new stormwater pond in South Norfolk to address standing water and a pond in the Deep Creek area that features wetlands and a solar-powered aerator. The city also helps keep bacteria out of the river with pet waste stations.
* CMA CGM (America) LLC – This shipping company achieved its 2015 goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 50%, so set a new goal to reduce an additional 30% by 2025. The company launched the world’s largest liquid natural gas-powered container ship in Shanghai.
*** General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk – The shipyard, which was the 2019 Inside Business Hall of Fame winner, achieved an 8.6% energy reduction in 2019 over the prior year through a variety of efforts. Mentoring includes chairing the review committee and helping with oyster delivery to fellow River Stars for oyster gardening.
** Hampton Roads Rowing Club – This nonprofit hosted an Eagle Scout project in planting more than 2,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses to enhance the buffer along the shore of the Lafayette River.
*** Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation – This nonprofit planted 150 native trees, added a pollinator garden that was certified as a Monarch Waystation by Monarch Watch and installed six wooden duck boxes.
*** Keep Norfolk Beautiful/Norfolk Environmental Commission – The city’s environmental education department replanted a pollinator meadow and gave away 400 trees to citizens in 2019. Known for litter cleanups, the group also coordinates plastic bag recycling in nine schools.
* Kinder Morgan Money Point Terminal – The aggregate loading terminal at Money Point in Chesapeake added multiple stormwater controls to reduce risk to the river.
** Kinder Morgan Southeast Terminals – The fuel distribution terminal, also at Money Point in Chesapeake, upgraded three petroleum tanks to have “cables” instead of “legs,” which reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
*** Lafayette Wetlands Partnership – The volunteer group, in partnership with the City of Norfolk, restored 1,000 square feet of wetlands and 2,000 square feet of vegetated buffer along the shoreline between the Granby Street and Willowwood bridges in Norfolk.
* McAllister Towing of Virginia – The marine towing company’s latest new escort tractor tug reduces fuel consumption and air emissions by meeting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 4 requirements. The engines also feature an after-treatment system for removing air pollutants.
*** Naval Station Norfolk – The world’s largest navy base’s “combined heat and power” plant saves taxpayers $6.5 million annually on utility costs. The navy improved environmental briefings to include site visits to enhance understanding of efforts.
** Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Lafayette River Annex – The Navy’s engineering branch planted 200 native wetland grasses to enhance the shoreline and expanded the no mow zone to improve habitat and filtering of stormwater. Native trees were distributed on Earth Day.
*** Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Portsmouth Annex – The nation’s oldest naval hospital and former Inside Business Hall of Fame winner reduced hazardous waste by 5,406 pounds from 2016 to 2018. Educational signage was added to the pollinator garden on the importance and types of pollinator insects and plants.
*** Norfolk Environmental Stormwater Management – The city department upgraded an existing pond with plantings at Ballentine School. Large “living shorelines” using wetlands as a natural way to address erosion totaling 3.7 acres were constructed at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens and Villa Circle.
*** Norfolk Naval Shipyard – The former River Star Hall of Fame winner completed a resilient building to withstand a Category 4 hurricane. Partnered with Penn State on green technology to repair parts without toxic fumes. Several product and process improvements save resources.
*** Norfolk Southern Lamberts Point – The coal terminal is moving material more efficiently; conserving fuel and avoiding emissions by upgrading and distributing locomotives; using GPS and IT and other methods to manage energy; and idle-reduction technology.
* Norfolk SPCA – The SPCA installed an “EcoDog” water fountain. This local invention harvests rainwater into a container made from reclaimed materials. A solar powered pump recycles the water and purifies it with gravel filters, activated carbon and plants.
*** NRHA’s Grandy Village & Learning Center – The public housing community now features 70 new Earthcraft certified houses with geothermal heating and air conditioning as well as 200 new native trees.
** Ohef Sholom Temple –The faith community is harvesting rainwater to water a vegetable garden and also began a plastic bag recycling program, receiving a new Trex bench. It also hosted an environmental film festival.
*** Old Dominion University – This prior River Star Hall of Fame winner achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for a new building and is incorporating stormwater improvements such as rain gardens into new landscaping.
** PETA – This animal rights organization removed derelict pilings and structures from the river and has an “Adopt-a Spot” for regular cleanups. PETA created a bird nesting platform and added pollinator plants for butterflies. New programmable thermostats, more efficient lighting and routine facility “walk-throughs” help reduce energy use.
*** The Port of Virginia – To improve efficiency and reduce emissions, the port is optimizing the south end of Norfolk International Terminals by replacing outdated diesel cargo handling equipment with electric rail-mounted gantry cranes. The terminal also has 10 new hybrid shuttle carriers.
*** Portsmouth Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services – The city managed construction of a green river playground at Paradise Creek Nature Park with sustainable materials and eco-art elements such as a wall mural depicting a working river on one side and the ecosystem on the other.
** Rivercrest Condominium Association – The Indian River waterfront community added more native plants, expanded pollinator plantings, created a no mow zone, and continues to manage invasive species.
** Tidewater Tank Terminal – The liquid transfer facility constructed several bioretention areas and planted with pollinator plants to capture and filter stormwater while also improving wildlife habitat enhancement.
*** Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District – The headquarters continues wildlife and bird management of Craney Island, which includes a 350-acre no mow zone. Outreach includes a long-term partnership with a River Star School on oyster gardening as well as STEM partnerships with fellow River Stars, Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University.
* VA Dept of Environmental Quality – Tidewater Regional Office – The state agency expanded recycling efforts, including adding a CD disc recycling program at the request of an employee who wanted to do the right thing.
*** Virginia Wesleyan University – The private university accelerated its goal to be carbon neutral by a decade, to 2040. A new Smartflower solar system unfolds itself and follows the sun to generate more energy. Innovative cell phone charging includes a human-power desk bicycle and solar umbrella.
*** Virginia Zoo – The zoo’s new animal wellness building features recycled material and skylights. A new E-cycling program aims to reduce rare metals and minerals that when mined destroys the habitat of several zoo animals.
* Vulcan Materials Norfolk Sales Yard – The aggregate facility is reducing energy by installing motion sensors in restrooms and phasing in LED lighting.
* Vulcan Materials Westminster Stone & Recycling – The aggregate yard added another piece of equipment that meets EPA Tier 4 standards. It reduces fuel burn by 50% and reduces particulate matter and NOx by 90%.
* Wickers Crab Pot Seafood – The restaurant installed a rain barrel to alleviate areas of standing water and to help replenish live tanks. The owner, a fourth-generation waterman, also provides crabs and unique aquatic species for education aboard Elizabeth River Project’s Learning Barge.
