If you know of someone who works hard to make the world an environmentally better place, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hopes you’ll nominate them for an Environmental Quality Award. Nominations are due by Feb. 22.
"As we approach the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and reflect on the tremendous environmental progress we have made, let’s also take a minute to think about those among us who have gone that extra mile to protect the environment and people’s health," Judith Enck, EPA Regional Administrator, said in a press release. "Whether they are local community members, tribal leaders, reporters or representatives of local government, they have used their creativity and boundless energy to make our world a better place."
EPA spokesman Chris Sebastian pointed out that EPA can’t do the job without help from others.
"We’re all in this together. The environment is everybody’s responsibility," he said from his New York office.
According to Sebastian, it’s important to acknowledge people and groups who assist EPA in doing its job.
There are six categories of awards. They are individual citizen, non-profit organization, environmental or community group, environmental education, business and Industry, press and media, and federal, state, local or tribal government or agency.
Nominations for the awards are solicited from both within and outside EPA. Self-nominations are welcome.
Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony in April at EPA’s Manhattan offices. Sebastian said EPA has been presenting the Environmental Quality Awards for about 25 years.
Last year, Sustainable Systems and Designs International of St. Croix won in the business and industry category. The company, headed by Onaje Jackson, develops earth-friendly planning, design and engineering solutions.
In the environmental education category, the 2008 St. Croix Planning Committee of the International Year of the Reef won the award. The local grassroots group raised community awareness about the importance and fragility of coral reefs.
St. Thomas resident Sean LaPlace won as an individual citizen. As a member of many organizations and volunteer groups, LaPlace made countless efforts to protecting the islands’ natural resources. They included spearheading a massive used tire collection campaign on St. Thomas in which a large group of volunteers removed close to 1,500 illegally dumped tires over just a few days.
For more information on award criteria, prior winners and nomination instructions, visit EPA’s Environmental Quality Award website at http://www.epa.gov/region2/eqa.