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Pennsylvania Native Wins Prestigious EPA Award For Protecting Wetlands

Release Date: 06/24/2014
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (June 24, 2014) – Regina Poeske, a resident of Doylestown, Pa., and the Wetlands Ecologist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, received the Edward T. “Red” Heinen Wetlands Award, EPA’s most prestigious national award recognizing superior work to protect wetlands.

The award is named after a highly respected leader from the formative years of EPA’s Wetlands Program. It is presented annually to the person from EPA’s nationwide Wetlands Program who best exemplifies the high standards and personal dedication to wetlands protection that characterized Red’s years with EPA. It acknowledges those people whose work and attitude best contributes to EPA’s environmental and public service goals.

“Regina is a tireless champion of wetlands protection here in the mid-Atlantic region, and her expertise is often requested during the development of national wetlands protocols,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “Her scientific knowledge, leadership abilities and consensus-building skills have helped minimize negative impacts to wetlands in every corner of our region.”

During her 25-year tenure at EPA, Regina has served on national teams on emerging issues in data analysis, participated in national pilot projects aimed at assessing the impacts to wetlands, tackled contentious wetland issues, and worked to make sure that environmental justice issues were addressed in EPA’s work.

“I have a passion for wetlands and for working with cutting edge researchers to integrate science into our practical management of wetlands,” Regina said.

Highlights of Regina’s career include the King William Reservoir in Virginia, and critical support to the National Wetlands Monitoring and Assessment Program.

She has provided environmental impact analysis training internationally to the African nations of Mali, South Africa and Morocco. Regina has also educated foreign students invited to the U.S. for wetlands training.

Poeske is a 1981 graduate of Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster, and a 1985 graduate of Stockton State College in Stockton, N.J. where she received a bachelor of science degree in Marine Science.

EPA’s mid-Atlantic region includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.