Nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 Texas
Environmental Excellence Awards, the state's highest environmental
honor, through Oct. 24. These annual awards recognize projects
across Texas that significantly reduce waste, conserve natural
resources and prevent pollution.
The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards are presented annually
by the governor's office and the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality. A governor's blue ribbon committee identifies outstanding
contributions in 11 diverse categories including the newly created
Water Conservation category. The public may nominate an individual,
community, company, or organization for an award.
"Water availability is one of the most critical issues we will
face in the future," said TCEQ Chairman Buddy Garcia. "That is why
this year we have a new category—Water Conservation—to
recognize innovations Texans develop to address this need."
"All of us need to do our part to address environmental
challenges," said Commissioner Larry R. Soward. "These awards
recognize the often unsung heroes who go above and beyond to
protect our environment."
"I am always excited to see the development of sound
environmental concepts that provide practicable solutions," said
Commissioner Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D. "These award winners will
represent the very best innovative, measurable ways to improve the
environment."
TEEA winners find there are long-term benefits to winning.
"The award helped to bring credibility to our research and
education programs," said B. L. Harris, Ph.D., project director for
the Rio Grande Basin Initiative at the Texas Water Resources
Institute, 2008 winner in the Agriculture category. "Clearly,
having an outside review team evaluate our program efforts and then
declare us winners in a competition is confirmation and validation
of all the hard work and time of project participants."
To nominate an environmental effort that is new, noteworthy, or
something all Texans ought to hear about, apply online for a 2009
Texas Environmental Excellence Award at www.teea.org/apply.htm.
Deadline for applications is Oct. 24.
