The Northeast Environmental Partners are now accepting nominations for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Partnership Awards, the Thomas P. Shelburne Award and the 1st Annual Emerging Environmental Leader Award.  The deadline for nominations has been extended to June 15.

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Partnership Awards are presented annually to recognize the achievements of individuals or organizations that, through partnerships, have achieved excellence in environmental protection or conservation.

The Thomas P. Shelburne Environmental Leadership Award. This award, in its eighteenth year, was established by the NE PA Environmental Partners to recognize an individual who stands out for his or her long-term commitment to environmental quality through inspirational leadership, dedication and commitment to partnering.

This year will also focus on the newly added 1st Annual Emerging Leader Award, which will be a student who demonstrates young environmental leadership, creativity and dedication to inspire others to adopt similar actions to protect the environment.

"We take great pride in Northeastern Pennsylvania and want to recognize the people making positive impacts to our communities by partnering with others," said Meg Welker, manager of education and public outreach at PPL and dinner planning committee chairperson. “Please consider nominating some of those unsung heroes.”

The Awards are open to any group, individual, company, program, or organization whose work has had a positive impact on the environment in Northeastern Pennsylvania’s following counties: Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming.

During the past 21 years, over 150 individuals and groups involved in agriculture, forestry, business, industry, education, science, environmental awareness, community service, and government have been honored.

Nominations may be made by a person or persons involved in the activity, or by a third party.  Nomination forms are available online.

Award presentations will be made during the Environmental Partnership Awards Dinner to be held on October 25, at the Woodlands Inn & Resort, Wilkes-Barre Pa.

The Northeast Environmental Partners  include: Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Northeast Office, PPL Corporation, Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, and Wilkes University.

6/4/2012