An Andalusia man was recently recognized at the Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet for his employer’s mission to prevent hazardous exposure to its employees.

Marty Robinson and Aviation Center Logistics Command of Ft. Rucker was recently awarded the Air Conservationist of the Year Award at the banquet, which was co-sponsored by Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy, held on Fri., Aug. 2, at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville.

The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards are the most respected conservation honors in the state of Alabama. During the past 30 years, the AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.

“The Aviation Center Logistics Command at Fort Rucker has the mission to provide superior maintenance on helicopters and ground service equipment,” said AWF’s Marla Ruskin. “At the same time, these services must be conducted safely and insure the integrity of the work and natural environment.”

Aviation Center Logistics Command is preventing the unnecessary exposure of employees to hazardous materials and the unnecessary generation of hazardous waste and volatile organic compounds emissions to the environment through incorporation of the STAR 4D painter training program, Ruskin said.

“This advanced certification program has the potential to eliminate 10,615 pounds of hazardous waste per year and reduce the amount of coating materials used by 302 gallons per year,” she said. “Not only will these voluntary efforts reduce net annual costs by almost $50,000, but they will also reduce volatile organic compound emissions by 13 percent.”

The 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.

Robinson and his wife, Sara, have lived in Andalusia for more than 20 years. She works as a second grade teacher at Red Level Elementary School.