The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence to showcase the best of the best among Pennsylvania’s environmental stewards.

The deadline for nominations is December 17.

“Pennsylvanians show their dedication to the environment in countless projects, from stream monitoring to city park cleanups, to shop floor recycling,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “We deeply appreciate the positive difference these environmental stewards make all year round, and each spring look forward to recognizing some of the very best initiatives.”

DEP oversees the application and award selection process, evaluating projects on seven criteria: degree of environmental protection, climate change, sustainability, partnership, economic impact, innovation, and environmental education and outreach. Projects don’t have to meet all criteria to merit an award and may be nonprofit or for-profit.

The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence are open to all individuals, whether they led or participated in a project, and to all schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, farms, and government agencies. People may also nominate an individual or organization by applying on their behalf. 

Projects must have been completed before October 17, 2018, to be eligible. Past winners may submit applications for new projects, but projects that have previously received an Environmental Excellence Award aren’t eligible. 

Last year, 23 projects received awards and achieved these results--

-- Volunteers: Enlisted 16,000 volunteers;

-- Greenhouse Gases: Prevented 258 million tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere;

-- Cost Savings: Saved over $42 million in operation and maintenance costs;

-- Water Savings: Conserved 37 million gallons of water annually;

-- Waste Diverted: Diverted 29 million tons of waste and 57 million bottles from landfill disposal;

-- Stream Buffers: Created 98,500 acres of riparian buffers;

-- Trees Planted: Planted 35,090 native trees and shrubs, and

-- Solar Energy: Installed 350 rooftop solar tubes.

For more information and to apply, visit DEP’s 2019 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence webpage.

Related Story:

23 Companies, Groups, Individuals Honored With Governor's Award For Environmental Excellence

[Posted: Oct. 17, 2018]

10/22/2018