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T. R. Miller Mill Company was presented the Air Conservationist of the Year Award at the 2023 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet. The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) held the banquet, co-sponsored by Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy on Friday, August 4, 2023, at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville. Governor Kay Ivey provided a congratulatory video prepared specifically for the 2023 Award Recipients.
The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most respected conservation honors in the state of Alabama. Over the past 50 years, AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.
T. R. Miller Mill Company operates a lumber and pole mill in Brewton, Alabama. Founded in 1872, the company is one of the oldest, privately held, forest product companies in the United States.
Sawdust and shavings are a natural byproduct of the milling process and require specific equipment and procedures to manage particulate matter and air quality. In 2021, even though existing equipment and processes comfortably met all permit limits, T. R. Miller was not satisfied. As a result, they embarked on a process to identify more efficient and effective methods for dealing with sawdust, shavings, and the particulate matter that enters the air.
In 2022, the company voluntarily invested two million dollars to install a new cyclofilter system that was much more efficient at removing sawdust and shavings from the air stream.
Not only has the new system increased operational efficiencies, it has improved safety associated with fire risk and further improved air quality by reducing particulate matter emissions by more than 50 percent.
Presenting Sponsors for the event were Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy. The Westervelt Company, Lockheed Martin, Alabama Farm Credit, and Alabama AG Credit­­­ Land & Farm Lenders sponsored the food and refreshments for the event. Alabama Gulf Seafood was sponsored by the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission. Additional sponsor support was provided by the National Wildlife Federation, Southeast Region, David & Kelly Thomas, Ralph & Catherine Martin, III, CDG Engineers & Associates, First South Farm Credit, Josh & Mary Virginia Mandell, Lee Thuston, Russell Lands, Stifel, and Central Alabama Electric Co-Op.
AWF’s GCAA was created to promote leadership by example and in turn increase conservation of the natural resources in the state of Alabama including its wildlife, forests, soils, water and air. The program is designed to bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of conservation practices and projects and to give proper recognition to those persons and organizations that make outstanding contributions to the natural resource welfare of their community and state.
The Alabama Wildlife Federation, established by sportsmen in 1935, is the state’s oldest and largest citizens’ conservation organization.  The mission of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit group supported by membership dues and donations, is to promote conservation and wise use of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources as a basis for economic and social prosperity.  To learn more about AWF, including membership details, programs and projects, contact Alabama Wildlife Federation at 334-285-4550 or visit www.alabamawildlife.org.