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TWO RHODE ISLANDERS RECEIVE EPA AWARD

Release Date: 04/25/1997
Contact Information: Kathleen Bogie, (617)918-1976

BOSTON-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will recognize 38 New England environmental champions, including two from Rhode Island, with Environmental Merit Awards during an Earth Day celebration today at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

"New Englanders have a long tradition of being acutely aware of their environment and taking action to protect it. We are pleased to honor just a few of those that truly deserve recognition for their actions," said EPA Regional Administrator John DeVillars. "The winners, in fact all of the nominees, set an example for all of us to follow."

The winners were selected from more than 100 nominations received this year from businesses, media, local and state government officials, environmental organizations, and citizen activists.

The Rhode Island winners and basis for recognition are:

As Director of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway Project, Jane Sherman leads a community-based public/private collaborative supported by a broad coalition of federal, state, and city agencies, environmental non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and community groups. Ms. Sherman has been a vital force in spearheading the effort to restore the Woonasquatucket River as a vital natural asset, and to use this environmental improvement as a catalyst for change in the urban neighborhoods composing the river corridor.

William Murphy of the Davies Career and Technical High School recognizes that pollution prevention starts with education. Mr. Davies' commitment to excellence in the auto refinishing industry takes him beyond the realm of the spray booth. He developed a program to run his auto collision program as a model for measuring toxics use reduction methods. Additionally, hedeveloped a pollution prevention curriculum for secondary student and industry personnel, conducted hands-on training seminars pertaining to proper usage of high volume low pressure spray equipment, and is working to establish a mentoring program with local auto body shops. The success of his training program is evident in that many licensed shops are upgrading their pollution prevention and environmental safety practices to provide healthier and safer workplaces for their employees, customers and communities.