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The Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program:
Nomination Package for 1998 Awards
Contents
Scope of the Program 1
Scope Focus Areas 1
Selection Criteria 2
Award Categories 3
How to Enter 3
Judging Entries 4
Notification of Winners 5
Additional Information 5
Footnotes 5
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The Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program
Nomination Package for 1998 Awards
THE PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE was established to. rec-
ognize and promote fundamental and innovative chemical methods that
accomplish pollution prevention through source reduction and that have
broad applicability in industry. For purposes of the program, green chemistry
is defined as the use of chemistry for source reduction, the highest tier of the
risk management hierarchy as described in the Pollution Prevention Act of
1990.1 Green chemistry encompasses all aspects and types of chemical
processesincluding synthesis, catalysis, analysis, monitoring, separations
and reaction conditions-that reduce impacts on human health and the envi-
ronment relative to the current state of the art.
THE PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE AWARDS PROGRAM
was established to recognize technologies that incorporate the principles of
green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture, and use. The evaluation
of the impact of the new technology will include considerations of the health
and environmental effects throughout the life-cycle with a recognition that
incremental improvements are necessary.
THE PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE AWARDS PROGRAM is
open to all individuals, groups, and organizations, both nonprofit and for
profit, including academia and industry. The nominated green chemistry technol-
ogy must be demonstrated, implemented, and/or applied within the last jive years in
the United States.
This nomination package contains concise instructions on how to enter
the competition. Entries must be postmarked no later than December 31,
1997. Awards will be presented in spring, 1998, in Washington, DC.
Nominated green chemistry technologies must be an example of one or
more of the following three focus areas:
1. The use of alternative synthetic pathways for green chem-
istry, such as:
Catalysis/biocatalysis,
Natural processes, such as photochemistry and biomimetic syn-
thesis, or
Alternative feedstocks that are more innocuous and renewable
(e.g., biomass).
2. The use of alternative reaction conditions for green chem-
istry, such as
Use of solvents that have a reduced impact on human health
and the environment, or
Increased selectivity and reduced wastes and emissions.
Scope of the
Program
Scope Focus Areas
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Selection Criteria
3. The design of chemicals that are, for example,
Less toxic than current alternatives, or
Inherently safer with regard to accident potential.
Green chemistry technologies nominated for the award will be judged
based on whether they meet the following criteria (where applicable):
1. The nominated chemistry technology must fall within the scope of
the program and at least one of the focus areas.
2. The nominated chemistry technology should offer human health
and/or environmental benefits. The technology may, for example,
Reduce toxicity (acute or chronic), illness or injury, flammability,
explosion potential, emissions or other releases, transport of haz-
ardous substances, or use of hazardous substances in reaction
processes;
Improve usage of natural resources, such as renewable feedstocks; or
Enhance biodiversity.
3. The nominated chemistry technology must be generally applicable
to a large and broad-based segment of chemical manufacturers, users,
or society at large. The nominated technology must offer at least the
following:
A realistic approach to green chemistry,
A remedy to a real environmental management problem, or
Features that can be transferred readily to other facilities, loca-
tions, and industry sectors.
4. The nominated chemistry technology must be innovative and of
scientific merit. The technology should be, for example,
Original (i.e., never employed before) and
Scientifically valid. (That is, can the nominated technology or
strategy stand up to scientific scrutiny through peer review? Has
the mechanism of action been thoroughly elucidated through
sound scientific research?)
The judging panel will look for as much detail (non-proprietary) as possi-
ble about the green chemistry technology. Specifics of the chemistry, includ-
ing comparisons to an existing technology, toxicity data, quantities of
hazardous substances being reduced or eliminated, degree of implementation
in commerce, and other human health, environmental, and economic bene-
fits, will both assist the judging panel in evaluating your nomination and will
enhance the prospects of your nomination winning.
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Up to five awards will be made. One award will be made to each of the
following:
m A small business^ for a project in any of the scope focus areas,
H An academic institution for a project in any of the scope focus areas,
m Any sponsor for a project in focus area 1 (the use of alternative syn-
thetic pathways for green chemistry),
a Any sponsor for a project in focus area 2 (the use of alternative reac-
tion conditions for green chemistry), and
Any sponsor for a project in focus area 3 (the design of chemicals for
green chemistry).
O elf-nominations are allowed and expected. There is no entry fee, and no
O standard entry form, but certain requirements must be met. Entrants must
submit a report that is no longer than eight pages, written in a 12-point font
with a typewriter or word processor, and printed single-spaced on 8V2-by-ll-
inch paper with 1-inch margins. Submissions longer than eight pages total
will not be accepted.
The report must include the following:
1. A one-page cover sheet with the complete names, addresses, tele-
phone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses (if available) of:
m The prime sponsor (person or organization that owns the project
or, in the case of academic projects, is the prime researcher).
» Contributors (individuals or organizations that provided financial
or technical support for project development or implementation).
m Contact person (person who is responsible for all communica-
tions with the awards program sponsors).
2. The cover sheet should be followed by a page containing the follow-
ing information:
a Statement affirming that the nominated green chemistry technol-
ogy has been demonstrated, implemented, and/or applied in the
United States within the last five years.
« Statement indicating within which of the three focus areas the
nominated project can be categorized. (If the nominated technol-
ogy falls within more than one focus area, a primary focus area
should be designated.)
Statement indicating whether the nominated technology is eligi-
ble for either the small business or academic award.
Award Categories
How to Enter
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Judging Entries
An abstract not to exceed 200 words that briefly describes the
nominated project. Please include a project tide.
3. The third page should consist of a one-page executive summary of
the nominated project. Please repeat the project title.
4. The remaining five pages can be used to detail how the nominated
project meets the selection criteria. Explain the following:
How the technology meets the scope and focus areas of the
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge program.
All human health and/or environmental benefits of the technology.
How the technology is applicable to industry and society.
How the technology is innovative and of scientific merit.
(Some criteria may not apply to every nominated project. Such
instances should be indicated where appropriate.)
There is no limit on the number of entries that may be submitted by one
sponsor. However, each project must be nominated as a separate entry with
a separate project report.
All entries received will be considered public information. No material
will be returned. Program sponsors are not responsible for lost or damaged
entries.
An original hard copy of the report; four double-sided photocopies; and
an electronic copy on a 3 ₯2 inch computer disk clearly labeled with the com-
puter format (IBM or Apple), software used, and file name(s) must be post-
marked no later than December 31, 1997 and mailed to:
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge
Attn: Tracy Williamson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW.
East Tower Room 338
Mail Code 7406
Washington, DC 20460
A panel of technical experts selected by the American Chemical Society
will judge the entries. These experts may include members of the sci-
entific, industrial, governmental, educational, and environmental communi-
ties. To assure fairness, judges will compare entries only with others in the
same award category. Judges may request verification of any chemistry
described or claims made in entries that are selected as finalists. The judges
will select the chemistry projects or programs that best meet the selection
criteria as award recipients.
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Winners will be notified prior to the official public announcement, which
will be made in spring, 1998, in Washington, DC. A crystal award will
be presented to the primary sponsor of the winning green chemistry project
in each of the five award categories. Certificates will be presented to indi-
viduals (as identified by the primary sponsor) who contributed to the devel-
opment or implementation of the chemistry.
Questions about eligibility, nomination procedures, or the Presidential
Green Chemistry Challenge program should be directed to Paul Anastas
and Tracy Williamson of EPA's Industrial Chemistry Branch at 202 260-2659.
Additional information about the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge is
also available from EPA's Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse at
202 260-1023 or via the Internet at (http://www.epa.gov/docs/gcc).
Pertinent sections of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990:
Sec. 6601. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "Pollution Prevention Act of 1990."
Sec. 6602. FINDINGS AND POLICY.
(b) Policy. - "The Congress hereby declares it to be the national pol-
icy of the United States that pollution should be prevented or
reduced at the source whenever feasible."
Sec. 6603. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this subtide -
"(5) (A) The term "source reduction" means any practice which -
(i) reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or
contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into
the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling,
treatment, or disposal; and
(ii) reduces the hazards to public health and the environment
associated with the release of such substances, pollutants, or
contaminants."
2A small business is defined here as one with annual sales of less than $40
million, including all domestic and foreign sales by the company, its sub-
sidiaries, and its parent company.
1
Notification
of Winners
Additional
Information
Footnotes
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