(Washington, D.C. – Thursday, September 20, 2007) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA Honors Best-of-the-Best Ozone Protection Award Winners Contact: Jennifer Wood, (202)564-4355 / wood.jennifer@epa.gov (Washington, D.C. – September 20, 2007) Excellence in protecting the Earth's stratospheric ozone layer is the tie that binds the world’s environmental advocates, skin cancer prevention experts, scientists, farmers, industry, and the military. Today, EPA is presenting the 2007 Best-of-the-Best Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards in honor of the 20-year anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol. The 52 award recipients have demonstrated ingenuity, leadership and public service by improving environmental performance, reducing and eliminating emissions of ozone depleting substances, and strengthening national and Montreal Protocol policies. Their actions encourage others to do the same by inspiring collaboration, capacity building, and strategic networking. The awards will be presented at a ceremony this evening at the Delta Centre-Ville Hotel in Montreal, Canada, in conjunction with the Meeting of the Parties. Since 1990, the annual EPA Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards have honored 509 individuals and organizations from 42 different countries. More information on award winners’ contributions to ozone protection: Ozone Protection Awards: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/awards/bestofthebest/2007_botb_winners.html  More information about the EPA Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/awards/index.html  Related - April 26, 2007 EPA 20th anniversary report "Achievements in Stratospheric Ozone Protection": http://www.epa.gov/ozone/2007stratozoneprogressreport.html