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EPA Region 2 Administrator Honors Environmental Achievers in New Jersey

Release Date: 04/22/2004
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(#04056) New York, New York In celebration of Earth Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 Administrator, Jane M. Kenny, will honor four people and organizations that achieved success in improving the environment in New Jersey. Regional Administrator Kenny will present EPA's Environmental Quality Awards and a President's Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) at a ceremony in EPA's offices in Manhattan tomorrow. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the renowned Director of the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony. "The superior winners we are honoring today are truly environmental trail blazers," said Regional Administrator Kenny. "By taking a leadership role and making local changes, the award recipients demonstrate that we can all have a positive impact on the environment." EPA selected Environmental Quality Award winners come from non-profit, environmental and community groups, individual citizens, environmental education and business organizations and members of the news media. The honor is given to those individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to improving the environment in EPA Region 2, which covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven federally-recognized Indian Nations. The Agency receives nominations for the awards from both inside and outside. The PEYA program promotes the study of environmental science and the development of leadership skills in young people. Students from kindergarten to twelfth grade who actively participate in noteworthy environmental projects are eligible to receive PEYA certificates of commendation signed by the President of the United States. One winner from each of EPA's ten regions is selected to participate in an expense-paid trip to the national award ceremony in Washington, D.C. 2004 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AWARD WINNERS BUSINESS Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin facility in Moorestown, New Jersey, worked with local officials to establish a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program for employees and residents in the Moorestown area. The program, which is held every month, provides an opportunity for Lockheed Martin employees and Moorestown residents to dispose of household hazardous waste safely. State and local environmental agencies have been working together to sustain the effort, which is the first of its kind in New Jersey. The program has also provided access to information about how to properly handle and dispose of unwanted chemicals. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES New Jersey Department of Community Affairs New Jersey Green Homes Office The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has established a New Jersey Green Homes Office to assist for-profit and nonprofit developers, architects, government, community housing development organizations and members of the design and construction industry. New Jersey DCA's goal is to promote green housing design and construction in New Jersey. The Office has established the New Jersey Affordable Green Program, which offers subsidies to developers of affordable housing if they implement green technologies and standards. More than 350 low to moderate income housing units that meet Energy Star standards are currently being built in New Jersey. The New Jersey Affordable Green Program has received national attention for offering hands-on technical assistance, subsidies and training. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS East Brunswick Butterfly Park The East Brunswick Environmental Commission opened its Butterfly Park in the spring of 2002. The park, the first of its kind in New Jersey, fosters butterfly conservation, enjoyment and appreciation. It encompasses 11 acres and is maintained by hundreds of volunteers. It is home to more than 30 species of butterflies and is funded almost entirely through donations. The Butterfly Park has sparked a greater interest in and awareness of butterflies and makes an excellent setting for student field trips. Isles Inc. The Isles Inc. Bellevue Court Program, is a partnership between Isles, Inc. and Tara Construction to fully rehabilitate 22 vacant homes on Bellevue Avenue in Trenton using green building strategies. The homes have central heating and air conditioning, and will meet the requirements of the New Jersey Energy Star Program, which encourages conservation. The program is working with the New Jersey Green Homes Office on the use of construction materials and approaches that support recycling, energy conservation and good indoor air quality. All of the units will contain about 27 green, high performance features and systems. Isles will use photovoltaic panels, thermal modules and passive solar features to nearly eliminate the need to pull electricity from other sources.