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NPS Intermountain Region director earns EPA Environmental Achievement Award

Release Date: 6/5/2003
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Denver -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Deputy Administrator, Kerrigan Clough, will present Karen Wade, National Park Service Intermountain Region director, with EPA’s 2003 Environmental Achievement Award at 4 p.m. today at the NPS offices, Lakewood.

Wade is receiving the award for her leadership, commitment and creativity in promoting sustainable park environments and environmental management systems in the National Park Service Intermountain Region.

Under Wade’s leadership, the Intermountain Region established a program for sustainable park environments and an environmental managements system which, together, affirmed NPS’s commitment to pollution prevention and waste management practices. This commitment goes well beyond compliance with environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Wade directed resources and drew public attention to these important initiatives, assuring that the principles of environmental sustainability, pollution prevention and environmental management systems are integral to the everyday operations of national parks in the Intermountain Region.

Wade challanged parks managers to develop creative projects and approaches that incorporate sustainable ideas. Moreover, she encouraged cooperative team efforts with states, tribes, local governments, businesses and organization.

Under her direction, parks have realized significant environmental advancement resulting in measurable improvement to the parks’ environment. Environmental compliance, environmental management sustainability and pollution prevention have become cornerstones of Intermountain Region park management, through Wade’s leadership.

The Regional Administrator presents awards in four external award categories to individuals and groups external to the Region Office. This award recognizes significant achievements in protection of public health or the environment, or in advancing the Agency’s current strategic goals. Among the criteria is an outstanding contribution to environmental protection through a single action, or by an ongoing action over an appreciable period of time.