April 12, 2007 – When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hands out its annual Environmental Quality Awards at an April 26 ceremony in New York, five of the winners will hail from the Virgin Islands.
"We feel it's very important to recognize and honor good environmental deeds done by those outside the EPA," EPA spokesman Chris Sebastian said Thursday.
He said that Clean Islands International, which operates the V.I. Environmental Resource Station at Lameshur, St. John, will receive an award in the nonprofit organization category.
VIERS Administrator Randy Brown said that Clean Islands is getting the award for its work at VIERS and work the organization did in training programs for the V.I. Waste Management Authority.
VIERS runs summer camps for local school children to teach them about the environment, as well as hosting groups throughout the winter season.
The Coral Bay Community Council and its president, Sharon Coldren, will also receive an award in the nonprofit organization category.
"It's for everything we've done over the last several years to publicize the concerns about effective storm-water runoff prevention," Coldren said.
She said the organization also sought assistance from local and federal authorities to help residents of the area fix the runoff problem.
Coldren said the organization has 200 members, and she hopes that receiving the award will encourage more people to join.
Emmeline Simmonds, a program manager at the V.I. Waste Management Authority, will get an award in the governmental agency category.
"I created and managed several programs that included community involvement," Simmonds said.
She said the programs build environmental awareness and encourage people to look at what they can do to protect the environment.
Simmonds said one of those programs, the youth summer program, has been running under her management for 15 years.
She said she also runs the greenhouse program, which includes propagation of native species, workshops for children and assistance to elderly residents with their gardens.
Quantum Sail Design Group will get the business award for its participation in the V.I. Energy Office rebate program and for owner Arun Keshap's development of an off-the-grid eco-cabin.
"I use it as a showcase for potential customers," Keshap said.
He said he plans to ultimately build more eco-cabins that will be rented to people on vacation.
St. John resident Barry Devine will receive an award in the individual citizen category. Devine is the chief scientist at UVI's Conservation Data Center. He often speaks out on environmental concerns. Devine could not be reached for comment.
The EPA will also hold an awards ceremony in the Virgin Islands for those winners who can not attend the New York ceremony.
Last year, architect Doug White, Mario Francis of the Junior Gardening and Ecology Academy and Lillian Moolenar of the Planning and Natural Resources Department received EPA awards.

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