United States
• Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
(74O6)
EPA744-K-99-QQ1
August 1 999
www.epa.gov/greenchemistry
Printed on paper that contains at leasi 30 percent postconsumer fiber.
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The Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program:
Nomination Package for 2000 Awards
Contents
Scope of the Program 1
Scope Focus Areas \
Selection Criteria 2
Award Categories 3
How to Enter 3
Judging Entries 5
Notification of Winners 5
Additional Information 5
Footnotes 5
Sample Cover Page 6
Award Nomination Checklist 7
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The Presidential Green Chemistry
Challenge Awards Program
Nomination Package for 2000 Awards
nnHE PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE was established to rec-
J. ognize and promote fundamental and innovative chemical methods that
accomplish pollution prevention through source reduction and that have
broad applicability in industry. For the purposes of this program, green
chemistry is defined as "the use of chemistry for source reduction." Source
reduction is the highest tier of the risk management hierarchy as described
in the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.' Green chemistry involves a reduc-
tion in or elimination of the use or generation of hazardous materials, includ-
ing feedstocks, reagents, solvents, products, and byproducts, from a chemical
process. Green chemistry encompasses all aspects and types of chemical
processes, including 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 new technology's impact will include considerations of the health and
environmental effects throughout the technology's lifecycle with a recogni-
tion 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, government, and industry. The nominated green
chemistry technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past 5 years
in the United States (e.g., been researched, demonstrated, implemented, applied,
patented, etc.).
This nomination package contains concise instructions on how to enter the
competition. Entries must be postmarked no later than December 31, 1999.
Awards will be presented in spring or summer 2000, in Washington, DC.
Nominated green chemistry technologies should 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:
m Catalysis/biocatalysis.
m Natural processes, such as photochemistry and biomimetic syn-
thesis.
m Alternative feedstocks that are more innocuous and renewable
(e.g., biomass).
2. The use of alternative reaction conditions for green chem-
istry, such as:
m Use of solvents that have a reduced impact on human health
and the environment.
Scope of the
Program
Scope Focus Areas
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Selection Criteria
^ Increased selectivity and reduced wastes and emissions.
3. The design of chemicals that are, for example,
m Less toxic than current alternatives.
^ Inherently safer with regard to accident potential.
Green chemistry technologies nominated for an 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 might, for example:
M 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.
0 Improve usage of natural resources, such as renewable feedstocks.
B Enhance biodiversity.
3. The nominated chemistry technology should be generally applica-
ble to a large and broad-based segment of chemical manufacturers,
users, or society at large. The nominated technology should offer at
least the following:
m A realistic approach to green chemistry.
^ A remedy to a real environmental management problem.
H Features that can be transferred readily to other facilities, loca-
tions, and industry sectors.
4. The nominated chemistry technology should be innovative and of
scientific merit. The technology should be, for example:
m Original (i.e., never employed before).
m 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 (nonproprietary) as possi-
ble about the nominated technology. Specifics of the chemistry, including
comparisons to an existing technology, toxicity data, quantities of hazardous
substances being reduced or eliminated, degree of implementation in com-
merce, and other technical, human health, environmental, and economic
benefits, will both assist the judging panel in evaluating your nomination and
enhance the prospects of your nomination winning.
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Approximately five awards will be made. One award will be made to each
of the following:
m A small business2 for a project in any of the scope focus areas.
m 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).
m Any sponsor for a project in focus area 2 (the use of alternative reac-
tion conditions for green chemistry).
® 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 typed, single-spaced report that is no longer than eight pages,
written in 12-point type on SVz-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 a project title followed by the complete
names (with titles), addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, and
e-mail addresses (if available) of the following individuals or organi-
zations:
m Prime sponsor (individual or organization that owns the project
or, in the case of academic projects, is the principal investigator).
m Contact person(s) (individual who is responsible for communi-
cations with the awards program sponsors). For academic nomi-
nations, the contact will likely be the principal investigator. For
government and industrial nominations, the contact will likely be
a project manager or other technical representative. Industrial
nominations may also include a public relations contact.
^ Contributor^) (individual or organization that provided finan-
cial or technical support for project development or implementa-
tion). Providing information on contributor(s) is optional.
2. The cover sheet should be followed by a page containing the follow-
ing information:
m Project title.
m Statement affirming that the nominated technology has been
researched, demonstrated, implemented, and/or applied in the
United States within the past 5 years.
Award Categories
How to Enter
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m Statement indicating whether the nominated technology is eligi-
ble for either the small business or academic award.
m 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.)
m A technical abstract not to exceed 200 words that briefly.
describes the nominated project.
3. The third page should consist of a one-page executive summary of
the nominated project. Please repeat the project title on this page.
4. The remaining five pages can be used to detail how the nominated
project meets the selection criteria. Explain the following:
m How the technology meets the scope and focus area(s) of the
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge program.
m All human health and/or environmental benefits of the technology.
m How the technology is applicable to industry and society.
m How the technology is innovative and of scientific merit.
(Some criteria might 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. Each project, however, 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 SV^-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, 1999, 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
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A panel of technical experts selected by the American Chemical Society
will judge the entries. These experts might 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.
Winners will be notified prior to the official public announcement, which
will be made in spring or summer 2000, in Washington, DC. A crystal
award will be presented to the primary sponsor of the winning green chem-
istry project in each of the five award categories. Certificates will be present-
ed to individuals (as identified by the primary sponsor) who contributed to
the research, development, or implementation of the chemistry.
Questions about eligibility, nomination procedures, or the Presidential
Green Chemistry Challenge program should be directed to Paul Anastas
or 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 .
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 subtitle -
"(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.
Judging Entries
Notification
of Winners
Additional
Information
Footnotes
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Sample Cover Page
please use the format below for the cover page of your nomination.
Title of Nomination
Primary Sponsor:
Full name
Title
Address
Phone
Fax
E-mail (if available)
Contact Person(s):
Full name
Title
Address
Phone
Fax
E-mail (if available)
Contributor (s):
Full name
Title
Address
Phone
Fax
E-mail (if available)
m Prime sponsor-Individual or organization that owns the project.
In the case of academics, the principal investigator.
« Contact person(s)-Individual available for communication about
the nomination.
» Contributor^)—Individual or organization that provided financial
or technical support for the nominated project.
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Y
Iour nomination should include the following components:
see "How to Enter" for further details)
^ Cover page.
m Technical abstract (200 words or less).
m Statement affirming that the project has been researched, demon-
strated, implemented, and/or applied in the United States within
the past 5 years.
m Statement indicating whether the nomination is eligible for either
the "Academic" or "Small Business" category.
m Statement identifying which of the three focus areas described on
pages 1 and 2 is the most applicable to the nomination project.
(Other focus areas may also be identified).
"m Executive summary (one-page).
m Project description (5 pages or less).
M An original typed copy of the nomination.
m 4 photocopies of the nomination.
m A 3'/2-inch clearly-labeled computer disk containing the nomina-
tion.
Award Nomination
Checklist
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