Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc. - Green: Overview

PRESERVATION, CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT

Today more than ever, concern for the environment is on the rise. We know this because how we use or waste our resources, or pollute the world we live in today, we must also live with tomorrow.

ASPHALT GOES GREEN

Asphalt Preservation by definition is a "Green" environmentally friendly activity. By Preserving your pavements, you are saving the planet by reducing demand on finite petroleum resources while also dramatically reducing long term costs of operation. Preservation minimizes the effects on the environment caused by prematurely rebuilding pavements before their maximmum life potential expires. Implementing simple and inexpensive practices that cause pavements to last longer is what "Going Green" is all about.

PRESERVATION LOWERS COST

What could one expect cost savings and reduction of (waste) our finite resources to be? FHWA data shows that for every $1 spent on preservation, up to $11 dollars in reduced future costs will occur. So Going Green is not only good for the environment, but it is good for your budget as well. Or said in another way, if you're not actively incorporating preservation into your program then you are spending up to $11 dollars more than you should be spending. Taking the analogy one more step, divide your present annual pavement rehabilitation and replacement expenditures by 11, that is what your budget might look like on a diet of preservation. This also translates as a significant reduction of impact on petroleum resources not to mention agency and pavement owner budgets. Preservation is also about the money left over in your pocket!

CONSEQUENCES DECADES FROM NOW

Decisions we make today have consequences on our environment in the future. They are either positive or minimal in nature, or they are large and far reaching and very negative. Getting good gas mileage is a good idea, it preserves our finite resources for future generations while limiting air pollution today. Recycling bottles, paper, metals and such is certainly a noble task. Resources are returned to useful service and the burden on replacement is minimized.

But, lets get real for a minute, there are still significant issues in the "save the earth" discussion many times larger than bottles and cans that we can do something about. Something immenently larger, massively more expensive and critical to our prosperity now and in the future. Our infrastructure! Pavement Preservation reduces pollution as well as demand for our finite resources by getting more life out of todays assets. Preserving of our interstate highways, city and county roads, airport runways, parking lots, and our transportation network is an environmentally friendly and fiscally responsible thing to do.

Preservation in essence, is caring about the future condition of the world we live in. Hopefully the legacy we leave for our children, grand children and beyond says that we were good stewards of what we have been given charge. Preservation is the "long term" philosophy that shows we recognize these important long term issues. We understand and implement this practice for many of our structures, vehicles, machines and systems. The time has finally arrived for all of us to go to the next level in environmental awareness by preserving single biggest asset; our pavement infrastructure. When you think about it in this manner, Asphalt Preservation makes a lot of sense.

GILSONITE & GSB IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY & SAFE

Gilsonite has excellent health and safety characteristics. In fact, Gilsonite products are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in resinous and polymeric coatings that come into direct contact with food. Gilsonite falls under Section §175.300 (formerly Section §121.2514) of the FDA regulations, Part 3, subpart (iv), which lists Gilsonite as one of several approved natural resins. Gilsonite products are non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-toxic. Details can be found in the OSHA Materials Safety Data Sheets for Gilsonite products.

GSB IS EPA TESTED!

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF GSB

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Report on GSB

GSB products are not only safe for workers and the public at large, but have been tested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in a Life Cycle Assesment and given very high marks. GSB-88 was tested against an asphalt overlay in a "Life Cycle Assessment"; and the results show a significantly less obtrusive foot print on the environment when comparing GSB to the asphalt overlay. Lead research scientist Rita Schenck, Phd. noted GSB as one of the cleanest processes tested to date! Impact on global warming, emissions into the atmosphere, and the resources expended to install each process were compared. There were no PAHs found in GSB, unlike those found in coal tar seal coatings. This eliminates the worry of toxic watershed runoff or fears of EPA reprisals in the future. GSB products were found environmentally sound.