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SIX FROM RHODE ISLAND WIN EPA'S ENVIRONMENTAL MERIT AWARD

Release Date: 04/19/2000
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - Six individuals and organizations from Rhode Island were honored today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their contributions to the environment. The Rhode Island winners were among 37 recipients from around New England that received Environmental Merit Awards at an Earth Day ceremony at Faneuil Hall.

The awards, given out since 1970, are awarded to individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts to preserve the environment. This year's competition drew nearly 100 applications.

"These residents and organizations from Rhode Island have played a significant role in protecting and cleaning the air, water and land that is so important to our health and well-being," said Mindy S. Lubber, EPA's New England Administrator. "All of us have the ability to serve the environment. It just takes will. The men and women being honored today serve as examples of people who had the will and found a way to help make sure we all have a cleaner, safer environment."

The six winners from Rhode Island were:

• Roberta Hazen Aaronson of Providence: Since 1992, the Rhode Island's Childhood Lead Action Project has worked to eliminate childhood lead poisoning through education, parent support and advocacy. From the start, Aaronson has kept the organization on track. As executive director, Aaronson has shaped the project into a well-respected watchdog organization that has played an important role in reducing the state's childhood lead poisoning rates. Her vision helped create the Get the Lead Out Coalition, a 35-member statewide group of environmental, housing, health and social service providers, church groups and advocates who have been integral in advocating for sweeping policy changes regarding lead issues.
• Dave Monk, Salt Pond Coalition, Charlestown: Monk has shown foresight and leadership at the Salt Pond Coalition, a regional coalition working to protect a string of gem-like shallow bays and salt ponds on the state's southern coastline. The salt ponds are a critical fisheries resource, a popular rest stop for migratory birds on the Atlantic flyway and an important cog in the state's tourism industry. As executive director, Monk works with the "Salt Pond Watchers," volunteers who have been monitoring water quality in the ponds for more than a decade. The group has also been active in curbing pollutant discharges into the ponds, with special attention focused on improving the maintenance and performance of individual septic systems that are widely used around the ponds. Monk been a leader in outreach and communication, including writing and filming numerous public service announcements to capture local attention on such issues as sprawl, nonpoint pollution, pesticides use and septic system maintenance.
• Alexander Washburn & Catherine Brandt of East Greenwich: These two seventh graders at Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich have been growing and monitoring eelgrass in a saltwater tank in conjunction with Save the Bay's Eelgrass Restoration Program. In a description of their project, the students say, "we hope our efforts... will help save Narragansett Bay's precious ecosystem." The two planted eelgrass in the fall and have cleaned off the blades every other day so sunlight can get in. The students created a brochure to educate Rhode Islanders on eelgrass, created a PowerPoint presentation for schools and made a website on their project www.rockyhill.org/middle/eelgrass/EELGRASS1.HTM Last month, they were honored by Save the Bay's Young Environmentalist Award.
• State Air Offices in and Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island: The offices responsible for air quality in these three states voluntarily submitted regulations to EPA to reduce air pollution regarding the interstate transport of nitrogen oxides, a precursor of ozone smog. The states submitted these regulations despite a court ruling that said the states did not yet have to meet these federal requirements. Regulations from these three states will result in nitrogen oxide reductions of more than 5,500 tons each ozone season beginning in 2003. These three states were the only states in the country to make such submissions to date.
• Mayor A. Ralph Mollis and the Woonasquatucket River Management Action Committee: After elevated levels of dioxin were found in and along the Woonasquatucket River, the Woonasquatucket River Management Action Committee was formed to work with EPA in making cleanup decisions regarding the site. The committee, under the strong leadership of North Providence Mayor A. Ralph Mollis, was also as a liaison to the community. Members worked to make sure the community knew the details of the contamination, and that EPA knew of community concerns. Mayor Mollis has done an exemplary job of understanding and communicating the complex issues surrounding dioxin, Superfund and EPA's cleanup program. Committee members include: Cheryl Bozzi, State Sen. John Celona, Eugenia Marks, Anthony Phillips, Robert Vanderslice, Matthew DeStefano and officials from EPA New England and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
• Grow Smart Rhode Island, Providence: Grow Smart Rhode Island, a coalition of organizations representing Rhode Island's business, environmental, historic preservation and transportation constituencies, joined forces in 1997 to promote sustainable development. Accomplishments last year included: supporting a smart growth training program for municipal officials; rewriting state fire and building codes to make the rehabilitation of older structures more economical; completing a Suburban Sprawl and Urban Decay study; promoting a change in approach to tax valuations of farm forest and open space; and promoting a state urban reinvestment tax and an expanded state historic tax credit. The group's contributions are a major reason Rhode Island is receiving national recognition for its smart growth efforts.