PHA Commission Approves About $10 Million in Environmental Improvements for Bayport...

PHA Commission Approves About $10 Million in Environmental Improvements for
Bayport Container Terminal

HOUSTON, July 23, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Port Commission of The Port of
Houston Authority (PHA) approved about $10 million in environmental improvements
for Bayport Container Terminal which include a future Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED)-rated structure at its regular July 22 meeting.

Commissioners welcomed the 18 college and graduate school participants in the
authority's summer intern program, and the interns expressed their gratitude for
the opportunity in a special presentation. Interns represent Houston Community
College, Long Island University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M
University-Galveston, Texas Southern University, Texas State University,
University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of
Houston-Downtown and University of New Hampshire.

CONSTRUCTION MATTERS

(Agenda G2) Commissioners approved a construction contract to Metropolitan
Landscape Management, Inc. for Bayport North Shore Landscaping for $223,657.
Trees and shrubbery planted in 2000 as part of the Bayport Channel Stabilization
project, adversely affected by several dry growing seasons, will be joined with
additional landscaping, which will be also provided to enhance the environmental
aesthetics of the communities north of the channel.

(Agenda G3) Commissioners approved a construction contract to Brooks Concrete,
Inc. for Morgan's Point Sidewalks for $68,096. This public safety project near
the Barbours Cut Container Terminal will construct a sidewalk along Vinsonia
Ave. in Morgan's Point and also provide additional recreational benefits as a
part of the port authority's commitment to the Morgan's Point community.

(Agenda G5) The commission approved a construction contract to Forde
Construction Co., Inc. for Concrete Replacement at Wharf Nos. 23, 26 and 29,
located near the Turning Basin Terminal, for $2.03 million. The concrete
pavement at the bulkhead line at Wharf Nos. 23, 26 and 29, originally
constructed in the 1960s, is in need of replacement. Additionally, concrete
pavement at various locations along the Lower Level Road needs replacement.

(Agenda K4) The commission approved advertising and receipt of competitive
sealed proposals for Bayport Terminal Maintenance and Repair and Building, Phase
1 for $16 to $18.5 million. Required services include the facility design for a
building of approximately 65,500 square feet with maintenance offices, equipment
repair bays, parts and specified equipment storage. The project site work
includes adjoining parking, service roads and utilities.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

(Agenda K3) Commissioners approved advertising and receipt of competitive sealed
proposals for Bayport Container Terminal Administration Building for $8 to $10.5
million. The project includes a two-story building of approximately 30,000
square feet for Operations, Customs and future tenants. As part of the PHA's
strong commitment to environmental stewardship, the PHA will seek certification
by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) structure.

(Agenda K7) The commission approved advertising and receipt of qualifications
for engineering and design services, construction management services, project
coordination team representation, geotechnical services, surveying, marsh
management and other general assistance for the Houston Ship Channel project and
beneficial use sites. As the local sponsor for the Houston-Galveston Navigation
Channels project to deepen and widen the Houston Ship Channel, the PHA is
responsible for the local share, and has been deeply involved with all facets of
the project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The initial construction
phase of the project is complete and it is in the deferred construction phase,
where additional placement sites and beneficial use sites are being constructed.

(Agenda M3) Commissioners approved an MOA with the USACE for maintenance
dredging. PHA is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite
the maintenance of portions of the Houston Ship Channel (Care facility) by
voluntarily contributing funds to be used by the USACE for maintenance dredging.
PHA would contribute up to $400,000 to defray the incremental costs incurred by
the USACE for the additional non-federal (PHA) work to be added to the existing
contract in the vicinity of Carpenters Bayou and Greens Bayou.

(Agenda M5) The commission approved month-to-month lease agreements with VPSI,
Inc. to lease vans under the METROVan Program for $180,000. PHA expects that the
vanpool program will be fully implemented by the end of 2008 with up to 15 vans
operating. At full implementation, the program will reduce about 0.76 tons of
NOx, 0.86 tons of VOC and 805 tons of Co2 each year. Additionally, the program
will result in nearly 1.5 million fewer vehicle miles, 105 fewer road vehicles
on the road and 82,000 fewer gallons of vehicle fuel consumption per year. About
14 percent of PHA employees are currently participating in the program.

This news release is not a substitute for the official PHA agenda. To view the
complete agenda, please visit:
http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html

The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located
along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and
private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and
other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of
cargo. Each year, more than 7,700 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in
the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in overall total tonnage. The
port authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the
Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a
center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central
Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and
implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous
standards of ISO 14001. PHA is the first port authority in the world to receive
ISO 28000:2007 certification for Port Police and the perimeter security
operations at both the Barbours Cut and Bayport Terminals. Additionally, the
port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on
the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange.

For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com

To access the port's web site photo gallery, please visit
http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the
link for PHA Photo Gallery.

The Port of Houston Authority logo is available at
http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=720

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CONTACT: The Port of Houston Authority
Lisa Ashley-Whitlock, Communications Manager
(713) 670-2644
Cell: (832) 247-8179
lwhitlock@poha.com
Argentina M. James, Director of Public Affairs
(713) 670-2568
Cell: (713) 306-6822
ajames@poha.com