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EPA Honors U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Leaders

Release Date: 04/27/2012
Contact Information: Contact: Elizabeth Myer, (212) 637-3860, myer.elizabeth@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has honored two organizations in the U.S. Virgin Islands with Environmental Quality Awards for their achievements in protecting public health and the environment. EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck was joined by Mayor Dana Redd of Camden, New Jersey to present the awards to this year’s recipients at a ceremony at EPA’s offices in Manhattan.

“Change that will create a healthier and more sustainable future begins with people like those the EPA is honoring today,” said Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “They give of themselves and set a high bar in their actions to protect public health and the environment.”

EPA presents Environmental Quality Awards annually during Earth Week to individuals, businesses, government agencies, environmental and community-based organizations and members of the media in EPA Region 2, which covers New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally-recognized Indian Nations. The awards recognize significant contributions to improving the environment and public health in the previous calendar year. For information about the Environmental Quality Awards in EPA Region 2, visit https://www.epa.gov/region02/eqa/.

Attached is a list of the award winners.

2012 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AWARD WINNERS

Environmental Education

Beyond Visions Foundation
Beyond Visions Foundation has made environmental education, awareness, advocacy and stewardship its mission since 1997. Its efforts across the U.S. Virgin Islands have helped a diverse range of communities by providing youth education and community assessment programs as well as health awareness initiatives. In 2011, one of its peer-led programs, “The Nature Explorers Club,” visited marine areas in St. Croix that are designated areas of concern. Participants in the program learned about the environmental and ecological importance of natural resources, and ultimately produced a short video about their experiences. Beyond Visions is also highly active in promoting environmental justice in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Non-Profit Organization, Environmental or Community Group

Island Green Building Association
Island Green Building Association created the first and only Residential Tropical Green Building Certification program designed specifically to promote the development of sustainable tropical architecture and environmental preservation on St. John, U.S. VI. In 2012, the association established the Resource Depot on St. John to promote the reuse and recycling of unused construction materials to reduce the amount of construction materials going into the Virgin Island’s waste stream. The association also conducts monthly public environmental education meetings on topics that include municipal composting, solar power and recycling.

For more details, visit: https://www.epa.gov/region02/eqa

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