Thursday, April 6, 2006

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

On a Mission to Make the Air Cleaner

Contact:  Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / smith.roxanne@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - April 6, 2006)  A teenager from Utah is showing major corporations that energy efficient and environmentally friendly cars are an option.  A bike magazine is doing its part to promote clean transportation by giving away bikes in 20 cities.  And, a citizens' advisory council is working with an oil refinery to solve clean air issues.  These three are part of 16 projects by individuals, state and local governments, or organizations that were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their efforts at the sixth annual Clean Air Excellence Awards ceremony.

"This year's competition showed us an impressive range of individuals, businesses, local governments, and other entities working to improve air quality," said William L. Wehrum, acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation.  "We are honored to recognize them for their ability to create and implement effective projects and programs to reduce air pollution."

The Clean Air Excellence Awards program recognizes and honors outstanding, innovative efforts that make progress in achieving cleaner air.  The program was established in 2000 at the recommendation of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC), a senior-level policy committee that advises EPA on issues related to implementing the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.  The six categories of awards and this year's awardees are below.

More information about this year's awards (http://www.epa.gov/air/caaac/2005awar.html)

Clean Air Technology
Alternative Maritime Power, Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro, Calif.

Hybrid Bus Program, King County Metro Transit, Seattle, Wash.

ATmaP™'s Elimination of Solvent-Borne Adhesion Promoting Primers, FTS Technologies and DaimlerChrysler Body-on-Frame Engineering, Flint, Mich.

PowerFrame™ Grid Technology, Johnson Controls Battery Group Inc., Milwaukee, Wis.

Community Development/Redevelopment
Transit Oriented Development Program, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, Ga.

BikeTown, Bicycling Magazine, Rodale Inc., Emmaus, Pa.

Education/Outreach
ConocoPhillips Billings Citizen Advisory Council, ConocoPhillips Billings Refinery, Billings, Mont.

Pioneering Full-Scale Electric Vehicle Motor Sports to Promote Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Automobiles, Brent Singleton, Odgen, Utah

Students Fueling the Future Fuel Cell Education Program, Students Fueling the Future Inc., Southport, N.C.

Regulatory/Policy Innovations
Tippecanoe Laboratories Flexible Permit, Eli Lilly and Company, Tippecanoe Laboratories and Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Office of Air Quality, Indianapolis, Ind.

Port of Seattle Air Quality Program, Port of Seattle, Seattle, Wash.

The Kansas City Regional Clean Air Action Plan, Mid-America Regional Council, Kansas City, Mo.
                                                                                               
Transportation Efficiency Innovations
UPS Fuel Conservation, Technology and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program, UPS, Atlanta, Ga.

Niagara Falls State Park – "Green Parks Program," New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Transportation Demand Management Program, City of Aspen, Colo.

Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award
David G. Hawkins, Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington, D.C.


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