CPS Millingport: A Long History Of Environmental Respect
July 1, 2013 
The CPS Millingport outlet has won numerous awards during its history, including a CyberDealer Award in 2002 and a State Environmental Respect Award in 2012.
The Crop Production Services facility in Millingport, NC, has been a regular part of this community since 1959. Even though it’s been known by a variety of names during that time (including Royster-Clark), the plant has always maintained a proactive stance on protecting the environment.
“I strongly feel that having a true respect for the environment must be as important as workplace safety and customer service,” says Facility Manager Billy Lowder. “CPS is voluntarily providing the capital to ensure that each branch has the state-of-the-art equipment and training so that we will be up-to-date in environmental needs.”
And these efforts have paid off. In 2013, CPS Millingport has been named one of the regional winners in the Environmental Respect Awards competition, sponsored by DuPont Crop Protection in partnership with CropLife magazine. This followed winning a state Environmental Respect Award in 2012.
Containment Upgrades
One of the reasons the outlet has been recognized with this honor ties to its efforts to improve its containment capabilities. “We recently added containment to our packaged chemical warehouse and containment/loadpad for our above-ground fertilizer tanks,” says Lowder. “These improvements are voluntary by us, not required by the state of North Carolina.” The outlet also has put in a pond at the back of its facility to catch any product runoff that may be present.
Besides containment, CPS Millingport also has emphasized on-site safety measures. All of its employees are trained annually on hazard communication. In addition, two staff members are trained and qualified to contact local, state and federal officials should a spill occur.
“I was a member of the Millingport Volunteer Fire Department, so I know how important proper safety and security measures can be for any ag retail facility,” says Lowder. “Our plant will continue to upgrade as many features as we can to keep improving upon our environmental stewardship.”
Given that his family has lived in the Millingport area for more than one century (in fact, one of the town’s streets carries the family name), Lowder says it is important for CPS Millingport to maintain this adherence to environmental safety.
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