For Release: Thursday, April 9, 2009
DEC Accepting Applications for Environmental Excellence Awards
Sixth Annual Competition Will Recognize Uniquely Innovative and Sustainable Practices
Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Environmental Excellence Awards program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. The program recognizes businesses, governments, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions and individuals in New York State that are achieving environmental excellence through innovative and environmentally sustainable practices or partnerships.
"The Environmental Excellence award program enhances our ability to recognize those who are improving the environment and contributing to New York's economy," Commissioner Grannis said. "We hope that the example set by our award winners will inspire others to incorporate exceptional environmental stewardship in their operations and programs."
DEC is especially interested in acknowledging projects that achieve significant environmental benefits through: innovative and cutting-edge pollution prevention technologies; initiatives to make schools and businesses more "green;" energy conservation and green energy production efforts; waste reduction and recycling efforts; stormwater management and watershed planning; environmental protection and restoration efforts; and land conservation.
Previous award winners have helped improve New York's environment by developing initiatives that have eliminated 2.01 million pounds of hazardous waste, recycled 324 million pounds of solid waste, and preserved 149,000 acres of open space.
Winners have included the Brewster Central School District in Putnam County, which involved 3,700 students in sustainability and environmental education programs that diverted 500,000 cubic feet of paper and plastics from being landfilled and saved more than one million kilowatt hours of electricity. Delphi Thermal Systems in Lockport, Niagara County, was honored in 2007 for eliminating the hexavalent chromium coating for air conditioning evaporator units by using an alternative metal alloy. This innovative step allowed the facility to eliminate a hazardous waste stream, close a wastewater treatment plant, and save 3.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity. The Nature Conservancy and Lyme Timber Company were honored for a partnership that resulted in the protection of 104,000 acres of Adirondack forest land in Franklin and Essex counties. The project balanced multiple interests by restricting development, providing public recreation rights, and requiring sustainable forestry operations that protect water quality and wildlife habitat.
Applications for the awards must be post marked no later than Friday, June 12, 2009. Information about the award program, the application materials and information on past award winners is available on the DEC website or by writing to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Pollution Prevention Unit, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-1750; by phone to DEC's Pollution Prevention Unit at (518) 402-9469; or by email to eeawards@gw.dec.state.ny.us .
