PORTs of Savannah and brunswick 
 
GPA placed protective covenants on the Savannah's Mulberry Grove Plantation National Historic Register Site and 1,055 acre (427 hectares) surrounding wildlands adjacent to the Savannah River International Trade Park. 
 
Roseate spoonbills and a great white egret overlook their foraging area at the Port of Brunswick's Colonel's Island Terminal. 
 
Georgia Ports Authority // Environmental Fact Sheet 
Maximizing Efficiencies to Minimize Environmental Impact. 
 
"GPA's sustainability program can be characterized as: `Do the right thing, the right way.' That philosophy is integrated into all our decisions--we choose solutions that are not just good for the environment, they're also good for business." 
-- Curtis J. Foltz, GPA Executive Director 
 
Environmental Policy 
As an instrumentality of the State, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) mission states that the organization will develop, maintain and operate ocean and inland river ports within Georgia; foster international trade and new industry for state and local communities; promote Georgia's agricultural, industrial and natural resources; and maintain the natural quality of the environment. To that end, the GPA is committed to conducting port operations in an environmentally sensitive and responsible manner to the extent feasible, practicable and consistent with the GPA's overall mission and goals. 
We will strive to: XX meet or exceed all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and other commitments; XX define and establish environmental objectives, targets and best management practices and monitor performance; XX minimize pollution from port operations; XX continually improve the port's performance; XX ensure that the environmental management policy is available to staff, tenants, customers and the general public; and XX communicate our performance to the community. 
 
An endangered wood stork finds suitable habitat for foraging and resting at the Port of Brunswick's Colonel's Island Terminal. 
 
Georgia Ports Environmental Sustainability Council 
The Georgia Ports Authority continually strives to implement a "Greening and Sustainability" initiative that instills a "green culture" in all aspects of its business. Under the leadership and direction of the Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director, the GPA implements operational and development initiatives that place environmental stewardship in the forefront. Emphasizing this environmental philosophy is a priority of all GPA employees and is evident with all port operators and service providers. 
 
Rev. May, 2016 
 
 Voluntary modernization of container handling equipment reduces fuel consumption, diesel emissions, and costs. 
For more information on the Georgia Ports Authority environmental initiatives, contact Christopher Novack, Director of Engineering and Facilities Maintenance at 912.964.3922 or e-mail cnovack@gaports.com. Rev. May, 2016 
 
PORTs of Savannah and brunswick 
 
The Georgia Ports Authority 
Maximizing Efficiencies to Minimize Environmental Impact. 
 
Energy Savings and Emissions Reduction 
Energy Efficient Improvements 
 Lighting Upgrades: Refurbishing Garden City's high mast lighting system with metal halide from high pressure sodium resulted in a 60 percent energy savings 
 Leed Silver: Former City Hall Renovation: Building uses 25-percent less energy and 30-percent less water than the average commercial building 
Diesel Fuel Additives in Container Handling Equipment 
 Yields five-percent reduction in fuel consumption and drastically decreases emissions 
Replacement of Traditional Engine Oil with Synthetic 
 The new oil only needs to be changed every 1,500 operating hours compared to 500 hours 
Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel in Fleet of Container Handling Equipment + Trucks 
 Cuts emission by an additional 10-percent _____________________________________ 
Efficient Equipment 
RTG Repower Project (DERA Grant) 
 The newer Tier 4 engines reduce emissions by one third over the life of the cranes and reduce annual fuel consumption 
Electrified Refrigerated Container Racks 
 These racks, located at Garden City Terminal, control the temperature of exports like poultry and helps the GPA avoid the consumption of fuel 
New Variable-Speed RTG Cranes 
 These machines burn an average of four gallons (14.1 liters) of diesel per hour  a 33-percent fuel/cost savings 
Electrified Ship-to-Shore Cranes 
 All ship-to-shore cranes have been converted from diesel to electric power 
 The newest cranes are designed to create their own energy for approximately 18 minutes for every hour of operation 
Electrified Rubber Tired Gantry Cranes 
 The GPA is the only terminal in the United States utilizing all-electric rubber tired gantry cranes. By the end of 2016, almost 30 percent of its RTG fleet will run primarily on electric power 
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Recycle and Reuse 
Recycled Construction Materials Used in On-terminal Projects 
 Garden City Terminal's Container Yards: Continually utilize recycled crushed concrete, asphalt millings and reclaimed asphalt during restoration activities 
 
Refrigerated Container Wash Pad Area 
 Consolidates cleaning of refrigerated containers into designated areas and ensures container residue is managed in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner 
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Waterways and Harbors 
Caretta Research Project 
 Partnership with the Caretta Research Project enables volunteers' work to dramatically increase the hatchling survival rate for nesting turtles on Wassaw Island (near Savannah, Georgia) 
Right Whale Monitoring 
 Sponsors studies monitoring the North Atlantic right whale activity off the coast of Brunswick, Georgia 
Silt Suspension System (Garden City Terminal) 
 Modified unit gently introduces air into the river, which adds dissolved oxygen into the water to protect aquatic life 
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Habitat Protection and Natural Stormwater Treatment 
 GPA protects a 9-acre (3.64-hectare) diverse wetland habitat 
 Water-level controls emulate the natural seasonal water levels, promoting new tree growth 
 As designed, the system will capture sediment and other potential pollutants carried by stormwater from more than 65-acres (26.30-hectares) of paved terminal, before discharging into the Savannah River 
 This natural stormwater management system aids in flood control 
 GPA converted adjacent upland areas to wetland, introducing native wetland vegetation including bald cypress and other species 
 GPA designed the terminal to protect the nearby old-growth "Avenue of Oaks" entrance to Whitehall Plantation 
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Fuel Avoidance 
 Through energy saving programs and efficient equipment upgrades, Garden City Terminal avoids using 4.6 million gallons (17.4 million liters) of diesel fuel annually 
 
www.gaports.com