DE PERE, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requests public comments on a proposed Green Tier contract with The C.A. Lawton Co. (Lawton), a manufacturer of iron castings and machined components based in De Pere, Wisconsin.
Lawton has been a Tier 1 participant in the DNR’s Green Tier program since 2013. The proposed contract would advance the company to Tier 2 of the program. The proposal covers activities at two facilities located on Enterprise Drive in De Pere.
The DNR welcomes comments from The C.A. Lawton Co. customers, neighbors and stakeholders through March 30, 2021. Comments and requests should be directed to Weston Wegener at weston.wegener@wisconsin.gov or 608-284-0908. The DNR will also hold a virtual public meeting concerning the proposed contract on Friday, March 26 at 1 p.m. Participants can join online via Skype or via phone by calling toll-free at 608-316-9000, meeting ID 22911361#.
Tier 2 participants agree to meet rigorous eligibility requirements, which are negotiated into participation contracts with the DNR and interested stakeholders. These contracts enable significant environmental improvements and can allow for some regulatory flexibility. This contract will allow Lawton to obtain coverage under the Green Tier Registration Operation Permit (ROP-G). The ROP-G requires that the facility maintain air emission levels below 80% of the major source thresholds.
Lawton manufactures large iron castings and machined components for various markets, including agriculture, paper, mining and energy. The company is focused on being an industry leader in sustainability and cutting-edge business practices that respect limited resources. Lawton has implemented a robust sustainability program committed to continual improvement. Past improvement efforts include participation in independent energy usage assessments identifying obsolete equipment, outdated practices and drains on resources; installation of an upgraded compressed air system, scrap metal pre-heater and light fixtures; and diversion of excess foundry sand to beneficial reuse projects in nearby communities.
“This is another tangible step in our decade-plus long Beyond Compliance program,” said Lawton CEO Alex Lawton. “Partnering with the State of Wisconsin on this progressive and thoughtful program is fantastic. It’s a very intentional way for good actors like our company to be both recognized and rewarded and for the state to gain both environmental improvement and efficiency in its operations. A true win-win situation.”
Prior to its Tier 2 application, Lawton implemented an environmental management system certified to the ISO 14001 standard and has demonstrated a commitment to superior environmental performance. Under the proposed contract, future goals include reducing energy usage, improving waste management practices for litter and Styrofoam waste; improving single-stream recycling efforts and creating a database to track carbon emissions.
Learn more about the Green Tier program on the DNR’s website.
