05 Tahoma Environmental Biz Award Goes to McFarland Cascade

							‘05 Tahoma Environmental Biz Award Goes to McFarland Cascade Pole and Lumber
Company

(Tacoma, WA)—Many area businesses work on environmental protection projects and do a lot to
improve the community’s quality of life. McFarland Cascade Pole and Lumber Company’s
commitment to making Tacoma-Pierce County a better place to live, work, play and do business
was recognized Tuesday, April 26, with the third annual presentation of the Tahoma
Environmental Award during the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s quarterly general
membership luncheon in honor of Earth Day.

McFarland Cascade operates a wood treatment facility in Tacoma since 1974. Over the years,
the company has made significant investment in pollution control equipment. This includes
equipment designed to control air pollution, water pollution, and contamination of groundwater
and soil.

“There’s close to 100,000 square feet of dedicated buildings for environmental efforts. We’ve got
two full-time street sweepers, hourly and full-time employees that run and maintain stormwater
catch basins and we have two full-time environmental engineers on staff,” said Les Lonning
McFarland Cascade’s director of technical and environmental affairs.

McFarland Cascade purchased air control equipment in the last two years and has two
stormwater filtration facilities on site. Lonning also notes that over the past three years, the
company has committed close to $4.5 million in human and financial resources to improve
stormwater quality.

“I think the biggest accomplishment for us was coming into stormwater compliance two years in
advance of the actual requirements,” adds Lonning.

McFarland Cascade, headquartered in the port-industrial area on a 43-acre site, was founded in
1916 in Sandpoint, Idaho. It began business as a producer of wood utility poles, and has since
grown to include manufacturing and distribution activities in 18 states and Canada. McFarland
Cascade serves customers throughout the U.S., Canada, the Far East, the Middle East and the
Pacific Rim.

The privately held company employs 150 full-time and 50 seasonal workers. McFarland Cascade
and all of its subsidiaries employ 350 people and generate $150 million in sales.

“The Chamber and Tom Taylor, Tom Taylor Insurance, are proud to congratulate and thank
McFarland Cascade Pole and Lumber Company for being a leader in environmental protection
efforts,” said Tom Taylor, award sponsor.

For more information about McFarland Cascade visit www.ldm.com.

About Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber (http://www.tacomachamber.org) was founded in 1883. Its
mission is to promote a strong business climate that creates economic opportunity and a more
livable community through advocacy, networking, resources and services for business
development.
velopment.