Nominations for the 2016 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards are now being accepted.   The deadline for nominations is February 12.

The awards are presented annually to local organizations that demonstrate leadership, effectiveness, and results in making an impact on the environment and will be awarded at PEC’s annual Pittsburgh dinner on May 26.

The Awards are open to any group, individual, program, company, school, or organization located and working in one of the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland.

Online nomination submissions are encouraged, but nominations through U.S. Mail will be accepted. Please include a copy of the nomination cover sheet with your mailed submission. Please include contact information for nominator and nominee, if different. Include both phone number and email, if available.

Each nomination is limited to four (4) typed, one-sided, double-spaced 8 1⁄2” x 11” pages, and must provide responses to the following five questions:

-- What environmental need within the community or organization did the nominee address?

-- What kind of solution did the nominee develop to address the identified need? Describe any unique or innovative aspects of the initiative, particularly any special challenges overcome as part of the implementation and/or outstanding creativity involved.

-- What effect or impact did the nominee have on the environment? (Base your answer on environmental benefits related to community awareness, environmental quality, the local economy, the public, technical contributions, etc.) Include in your response the scope or breadth of this impact within the community or organization.

-- What specific examples, data, or other evidence demonstrates the environmental effect or impact described above?

-- What other pertinent information about this nominee would you like the judges to consider?

In addition, all nominations must have one (1) letter of support from someone outside the nominee’s organization who is familiar with the success of the nominated activity; someone other than the nominator must write this letter.

The letter should explain the impact of the nomination, its environmental significance or benefit, and its relevance in meeting a specific need. Letters of support may be submitted separate from the nomination, but must also be received by February 12.

Winners of the Awards will receive a $5,000 cash award designated to the nonprofit organization of their choice, a commemorative award, two complimentary tickets to the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Dinner, media recognition of their program and award, along with recognition and a full description of their winning project in the Awards Dinner program.

Mailed entries may be submitted to: Pennsylvania Environmental Council, 2016 Western PA Environmental Awards Program, 2124 Penn Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

For more information, visit the 2016 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards webpage.  If you have any questions about the nomination process, please call the Pennsylvania Environmental Council at 412-481-9400 or send email to: WPEA@pecpa.org.

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1/11/2016