Nomination Process for the Environmental Merit Awards
Nominations may be submitted for an individual, business, government agency, not-for-profit, professional association, or college/university whose work to protect and improve New England's environment during the past year is worthy of recognition. Nominators may nominate themselves.
Award categories and award criteria are described below. Nominators should carefully review the descriptions, submit nomination applications into the most appropriate category, and address each of the award criteria. Please note that application forms must be filled out in their entirety along with a one-page summary of the nominees' accomplishments, and must be submitted by the application deadline. Applications will be evaluated and selected award recipients notified in April. Award recipients will be invited to the Environmental Merit Awards Ceremony to be held in Boston in May.
Deadline for Nomination Applications: Friday, February 10, 2017.
- Annual Award
Nominate an individual, business, government agency, not-for-profit, professional association, or college/university whose work on behalf of the environment during the past year is worthy of recognition.
Please complete the nomination form along with clearly addressing the criteria listed below not to exceed one-page with font size no smaller than 10 point. (Supporting material, such as news clips, are accepted, but should not exceed 5 pages.)
Annual Award Criteria: (Total 65 pts)
- Define the specific environmental problem or need (10 pts)
- What actions were taken to address the environmental problem or need (15 pts)
- Measurable, sustainable and lasting public health or environmental results (15 pts)
- EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment. Please explain how your work connects to EPA's mission (i.e waste reduction or reduction in air, water, land pollution) (10 pts)
- Ability of the program/activity to be replicated or widely shared (10 pts)
- Promotion of innovative ideas or approaches (5 pts)
Materials over the page limits stated above will not be evaluated.
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominate an individual who has demonstrated a sustained commitment toward improving New England's environment during a career or over a lifetime.
Please complete your nomination form. Nomination applications must be a minimum of one-page and should not exceed three-pages in length with a font size no smaller than 10 point. Supporting materials, such as news clips, are accepted, but should not exceed 5 pages. All nominations will be evaluated based on the criteria listed below.
- Lifetime Achievement Awards are reserved for individuals who have demonstrated a continuous commitment to environmental and public health issues leading to measureable, lasting and sustained results over a career or a lifetime.
- Please identify if the applicant is currently engaged in this effort or has retired.
Lifetime Award Criteria: (Total 30 pts)
- Describe the nominee's work over their entire career. (20 pts)
- What has been the long term impact of the nominee's body of work, which has been measureable, sustainable and has had lasting results. (10 pts)
Materials over the page limits stated above will not be evaluated.
- "In Service to States" Annual Award
To honor Ira, the "Ira Leighton in Service to States Annual Award" will recognize an individual or organization that has made significant strides in facilitating state and federal partnerships through innovative sustainable solutions addressing critical environmental challenges in New England. The successful candidate will have actively demonstrated conviction and leadership in protecting the environment and in promoting sustainable practices. Specifically, the candidate will have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments and contributions in improving the air, waste, or water environment in New England at the local, state, or regional level. Actions should reflect commitment, demonstrated results, increased awareness, proven public benefit, and improved public policy and/or resulted in a more efficient use of natural resources. Successful award recipients are champions of sustainability and agents for positive change within New England. They demonstrate a record of outstanding performance in leading implementation of sustainable practices and effective environmental management through employment of innovative strategies.
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, the Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association in coordination with New England state Commissioners and the US EPA, Reg 1 initiated this award as a tribute to Ira Leighton. He was a US EPA Deputy Regional Administrator who dedicated over forty years as a public servant to protecting the environment, and passed away in 2013.
- Children's Environmental Health Award
The Children's Environmental Health Merit Award is awarded to an individual or group that has demonstrated significant progress, contribution, leadership toward protecting children from environmental health risks in schools, homes, childcare environments, or other places where children live, learn and play in New England including: advancement to increase awareness of children's unique vulnerabilities to pollutants and other environmental hazards through research, education, outreach or capacity-building; development of activities or programs that have produced tangible reduction in risk to children from environmental health hazards.
Please complete the nomination form along with clearly addressing the criteria listed below not to exceed one-page with font size no smaller than 10 point. (Supporting material, such as news clips, are accepted, but should not exceed 5 pages.)
Children's Environmental Health Merit Award Criteria: (Total 65 pts)
- Define the specific environmental problem or need (10 pts)
- What actions were taken to address the environmental problem or need (15 pts)
- Measurable, sustainable and lasting public health or environmental results (15 pts)
- EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment. Please explain how your work connects to EPA's mission (i.e waste reduction or reduction in air, water, land pollution) (10 pts)
- Ability of the program/activity to be replicated or widely shared (10 pts)
- Promotion of innovative ideas or approaches (5 pts)
Materials over the page limits stated above will not be evaluated.