EPA Honors New Jersey Environmental Leaders

EPA Honors New Jersey Environmental Leaders

Contact: Elizabeth Myer, (212) 637-3860, myer.elizabeth@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has honored ten individuals and organizations from across New Jersey with Environmental Quality Awards for their achievements in protecting public health and the environment. EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck was joined by Mayor Dana Redd of Camden, New Jersey to present the awards to this year’s recipients at a ceremony at EPA’s offices in Manhattan.

“Change that will create a healthier and more sustainable future begins with people like those the EPA is honoring today,” said Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “They give of themselves and set a high bar in their actions to protect public health and the environment.”

EPA presents Environmental Quality Awards annually during Earth Week to individuals, businesses, government agencies, environmental and community-based organizations and members of the media in EPA Region 2, which covers New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally-recognized Indian Nations. The awards recognize significant contributions to improving the environment and public health in the previous calendar year. For information about the Environmental Quality Awards in EPA Region 2, visit http://www.epa.gov/region02/eqa/.

Attached is a list of the award winners.

2012 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AWARD WINNERS
Individual Citizen

 
Andrew Kricun
As the Executive Director of the Camden County Municipal Utility Authority, Andrew Kricun has improved water quality and promoted sustainability throughout Southern New Jersey for 26 years. During his tenure at Camden County Municipal Utility Authority, water quality performance has improved 40% while residential rates remain unchanged. Mr. Kricun’s commitment to local, regional and national environmental quality improvements have paved the way for a more sustainable New Jersey.

Donna Macalle-Holly
As an employee of the Lake Hopatcong Commission, Donna Macalle-Holly works closely with four surrounding towns to implement stormwater management projects that reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Lake Hopatcong. Donna worked diligently on the Commission’s lake-friendly fertilizer program,  developing an educational webpage and creating slogans for signs that were widely distributed in the community. Recently, she worked on an outreach initiative to educate the public on the threat of a new invasive species, the water chestnut. Donna is a regular contributor to local newspapers on the protection of Lake Hopatcong.

Doug O’Malley
Doug O’Malley has been an outstanding advocate for the environment. As Field Director for Environment New Jersey, Doug has been an indefatigable advocate on numerous issues such as climate change and the preservation of open space. Doug has also led efforts to pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation in Congress and to fast-track New Jersey’s clean energy economy through strong state standards for wind, solar and energy efficiency programs. He has written editorial pieces and has been widely quoted in the press on issues of environmental concern.

Dr. Nicky Sheats

As chair of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance and director of the Center for the Urban Environment at the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy of the Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, NJ, Dr. Sheats has proven a tireless environmental educator and fighter forenvironmental justice, both locally and nationally. In recent years, Nicky Sheats has repeatedly stood with low income communities of color throughout New Jersey in their struggles for a clean and healthy environment.

Paul D. “Pete” McLain
Paul D. “Pete” McLain has been a champion of environmental protection for more than 50 years. In his capacity as Deputy Director of the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, Pete developed the NJ Non-game and Endangered Species Program, the first in the nation. Pete was directly involved in the reintroduction of the peregrine falcon and the revival of osprey populations in New Jersey and has worked tirelessly to spread information on wildlife and environmental issues via newspapers, magazines, radio and the production of films. He founded the Barnegat Bay Student Grant Committee, which provides funding for student research.

Environmental Education


Project Reservoir
Project Reservoir is a multi-year, multi-disciplinary project designed, implemented and maintained by the students of the Christa McAuliffe School, PS #28 in Jersey City, NJ. The project is focused on the students’ efforts to help revitalize and transform an abandoned local reservoir into a first class, state recognized recreation and education center. Throughout the project, the team has partnered with the Reservoir Preservation Alliance to identify problems, design innovative solutions and solicit community support for their vision. The students have enjoyed a unique environmental education experience while learning to apply their academic skills to real world scenarios.

Richard Howlett
Richard Howlett is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Water Association, which plays a pivotal role in the training of small-system water and wastewater operators, provides on-site technical assistance for small systems and helps to implement source water protection. Through innovative approaches, Richard organizes and delivers free training to small systems operators. Over 70 training sessions are offered each year, typically with 35-50 attendees at each meeting. At these sessions, water and wastewater operators are trained in navigating the regulations under the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Acts.

Non-Profit Organization, Environmental or Community Group


Duke Farms Foundation
Duke Farms Foundation has recently refocused its mission to be a model of environmental stewardship in the 21^st century and inspire visitors to become informed stewards of the land. To carry out its new vision, Duke Farms is upgrading a 22,000 square-foot former barn to LEED Platinum standards to serve as an orientation center. This building’s electricity is being supplied by a 640-kilowatt solar array and 50 geothermal wells to heat and cool it. In addition, a constructed wetlands system will treat wastewater on-site, and rain gardens and bioswales will handle stormwater.

Land Conservancy of New Jersey
The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a member-supported non-profit land trust whose mission is to preserve land and water resources, conserve open space, and inspire and empower individuals and communities to protect our natural land and environment. The Land Conservancy has preserved a total of 18,595 acres in 310 projects, including 14,507 acres in 245 projects in the New Jersey Highlands. It has worked with 60 municipalities impacting over half of New Jersey’s counties and benefitting millions of residents across the state.

ReClam the Bay, Inc.
ReClam the Bay is a volunteer organization established by the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Program, whose partners include Rutgers Cooperative Extension, NJ Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Shellfisheries, Ocean County and the Barnegat Bay Partnership. The group has trained over 120 certified shellfish gardeners, while its volunteers have put about 10.7 million clams and three million oysters in the Barnegat Bay. In 2011, the Barnegat Bay Shellfish Restoration Program taught nearly 9,500 people about the connection between water quality and life in the bay, as well as how to protect and restore the estuary.

For more details, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/eqa
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