2019
ENVIRONMENTAL MERIT AWARDS
for outstanding efforts in preserving New England's environment
mm United States	=
Agency	ceremony sept 10

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4% l-HA United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
environmental merit awards welcome
WELCOME TO THE
2019 ENVIRONMENTAL MERIT AWARDS CEREMONY
DEDICATION
POSTHUMOUS
DOUGLAS M. COSTLE
MCLEAN, VIRGINIA
Douglas M. Costle was among the driving forces in the
creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.
After Richard M. Nixon was inaugurated in 1969, Doug
was recruited to the White House Advisory Council on
Executive Organization where he played a major role in
conceptualizing the agency He was appointed by Presi-
dent Jimmy Carter to serve as EPAs administrator from
1977 to 1981. At his first news conference, Doug noted
that "Clean air is not an aesthetic luxury. It is a public
health necessity." Doug advanced the argument, new at
the time, that environmental regulation supported eco-
nomic development because it preserved resources. Doug
served as dean of Vermont Law School from 1987 to 1991.
He died this year at his home in McLean, Virginia.

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environmental merit awards in service to states
Ira W. Leightori, jr.
1945-2013
Dedicated EPA public
servant since 1972
A true friend, a mentor
and a lover of
New England.
He will be missed.
IRA LEIGHTON
"IN SERVICE TO STATES"
ANNUAL AWARD
The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control
Commission (NEIWPCC), the Northeast States for Coor-
dinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), the Northeast
Waste Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA),
in coordination with the New England state Environmen-
tal Commissioners and the United States Environmental
Protection Agency, Region 1 (EPA) have initiated the
Ira Leighton "In Service to States" Environmental Merit
Award as a tribute to our long-time colleague and friend,
Ira Leighton, who passed away in 2013, after serving forty-
one years at the US. EPA. Iras dedication and passion
for protecting the environment was evident to all who
knew him. He was a constant presence in New England; a
force who took ideas and made them actionable tasks that
resulted in measurable improvements.
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environmental merit awards in service to states
SALUTING THE
IRA LEIGHTON
"IN SERVICE TO STATES"
ANNUAL AWARD RECIPIENT
ROBERT KLEE
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT
Robert Klee, commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
from January 2014 to December 2018, has a long history of working for the environment in Con-
necticut. Before becoming commission, Rob was the departments chief of staff, working on energy
policy and environmental regulations.
Before joining the state, Rob was an attorney with Wiggin and Dana in New Haven, where he spe-
cialized in appellate work as well as energy and environmental law. He has a doctorate in industrial
ecology from Yale's School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, a law degree from Yale, and an
undergraduate degree from Princeton in geology and environmental science.
Rob's efforts represent a considerable body of work across all environmental and energy programs,
from air, land, and water quality. He has worked for wildlife conservation, open space, energy ef-
ficiency, and renewable energy and has focused on issues of climate change.
Some of Rob's most-noteworthy accomplishments include: leading the way in forging bipartisan
common ground among the states on environmental policy; championing climate change legis-
lation; putting 3,624 acres back to productive use, adding 5,059 acres of land to state parks, and
adding a program that provided free access to state parks. He also guided Connecticut in joining
California to support the need for stringent vehicle emission standards, reducing air pollution
from major facilities by 23 percent from 2011 to 2017. This effort also supported 38,000 state jobs
through investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Perhaps Rob's most important accomplishment was earning the nickname "Dr. Trash" through his
work in residential recycling and with producers of paint, mattresses and packaging, among other
things. Rob's numerous accomplishments reflect the breadth and diversity of the roughly 860-per-
son agency he led for four years.
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environmental merit awards lifetime achievement
MICHAEL R. DELAND
Marion, Massachusetts
Michael R. Deland was regional administrator of EPA's New England office from 1983
to 1989. Michael was appointed regional administrator by EPA Administrator William
Ruckelshaus. In this role, the Massachusetts native was central to the cleanup of Boston
Harbor, having filed the lawsuit in 1985 on behalf of the EPA that led to the cleanup of one of the nation's dirtiest
bodies of water. He once was called "the most aggressive environmental law enforcement official in the nation" by
an attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation.
Michael first came to EPA in the early 1970s as a lawyer, went on to join a consulting firm before returning to New
England EPA as administrator. President George H.W. Bush in 1989 named Michael chairman of the White House
Council on Environmental Quality, which coordinates environmental policy for the White House.
When EPA scaled back staff in the 1980s, Michael wrote a column for the American Chemical Society journal noting
the drop-off in enforcement cases was prompting "the question whether the agency can continue to be a viable factor
in environmental protection." Michael was known to consistently seek out expert opinions before making decisions,
aware he had to take into account the interests of environmentalists, developers, and economic advisers.
Although Michael always will be remembered for the Boston Harbor cleanup, another of his notable accomplish-
ments had national implications. After Michael overruled an Army Corps of Engineers permit for mall developers
to fill in 32 acres of wetlands in Attleboro, the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court. This led to a 1989 ruling that
forced developers look for alternative sites rather than filling in wetlands.
Not to be deterred by his physical challenges, Michael used a cane, then crutches, and finally a wheelchair to get
to where he had to be amid debilitating and worsening back problems. He was proud to have led a successful
campaign to get a statue of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, seated in his wheelchair, at his memorial in Wash-
ington. In 1992, Michael accompanied Bush to Rio de Janeiro, where Bush signed the UN Framework Conven-
tion on Climate Change.
Michael Reeves Deland was born in Boston in 1941 and grew up in Brookline. He learned to sail during summers
in Marion and continued to race even after his walking was limited. He received a bachelor's degree from Harvard
in 1963 before he joined the Navy, where he was stationed in Japan. He graduated in 1969 from Boston College
Law School and in 1973 married Jane Slocum.
After Michael's death in January of this year, his family said in a statement, "We had the great privilege of witness-
ing our Dad's perseverance, humor, and steadfast loyalty and determination on a daily basis." Those who remem-
ber Michael Deland at EPA New England will also remember these qualities, as well as his profound commitment
to protecting New England's environment.
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environmental merit awards lifetime achievement
EDWARD P. KUNCE
Brockton, Massachusetts
From 1986 until 2012, Edward Kunce served as regional director, deputy com-
missioner and acting commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Envi-
ronmental Protection. For over two decades, Ed oversaw DEP's permitting, compliance and enforce-
ment, technical assistance, and emergency response functions. In all these efforts, he showed a commit-
ment to environmental results, a desire to advance innovative approaches, and an ability to collaborate.
His leadership on major, highly complex projects illustrates Ed's success. The Central Artery/Tunnel
Project created tremendous environmental challenges, including how to handle 30 million tons of
excavated, contaminated material. Ed led DEP's efforts, working with local, state, and federal part-
ners to develop approaches that resulted in the reuse of excavated material; returning 1,600 acres of
land to beneficial uses, the majority for parks and athletic fields; remediation of 27 acres, allowing
for development of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway; and adding 6,900 feet of Boston Harbor-
walk. Ed provided similar leadership at the Massachusetts Military Reservation Superfund Site. At
a time when the cleanup was floundering, Ed was instrumental in establishing a strategic plan, with
scheduled and enforceable milestones, as well as in creating a new management structure that eased
the way for more public participation. These efforts moved the reservation's cleanup program from
failure to success.
Ed's innovative methods include the Environmental Results Program, Third-Party Inspectors, multi-
media inspections, and a semi-privatized waste site cleanup program. He successfully promoted new
permitting and regulatory requirements that yielded environmental improvements, such as mercury
controls on waste combustors that dramatically reduced mercury emissions; diesel retrofit require-
ments for construction equipment; and permits for natural gas plants resulting in the cleanest plants
in the country. He led development of the department's mobile lab, improving its ability to respond
to emergencies and provide real-time data used to assess and prevent, public health threats.
While these achievements are examples of Ed's successful approach, they provide just a glimpse into
his impact on DEP. He fostered an atmosphere where innovation and common sense were part of
the discussion of complex problems. He understood that all of the tools in the regulatory tool box
—compliance and enforcement, as well as technical assistance and effective communication—are
important. Through his efforts and leadership, Ed played a huge role in shaping DEP into the results-
driven, innovative and collaborative agency it is today.
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environmental merit awards lifetime achievement
JOHN BANKS
Indian Island, Maine
John Banks was named director of the Penobscot Indian
Nations Department of Natural Resources when the Nation
was first recognized in 1980. A graduate of University of Maine with a degree in forestry, John became
the departments first employee and continues today as the only director it has had. He now runs a
department of eight programs.
The Penobscot Nation, under John's leadership, has protected human health and the environment
through comprehensive water quality monitoring and many projects reducing runoff along the
Penobscot River and other waterbodies. John also has overseen cleanup of 440 contaminated acres
on Nation lands.
John has been a steadfast advocate for protective water quality standards in the Penobscot and other
waters where Penobscot Nation members fish for sustenance. He was lead negotiator of the Penob-
scot River Restoration Trust, which began in 1999 with a goal to re-balance hydro-power and restore
sea-run fisheries on the river. Through this monumental effort involving the Nation, federal, state
and NGO partners, two obstructing dams were removed and a fish byway was constructed allowing
11 fish species, including the Atlantic salmon, to return. Since then, thousands of diadromous fish
species have returned to the river and tributaries, providing lasting sustenance for tribal members
and the general populace.
As commissioner of the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission for 31 years, John is the longest serving
commissioner in commission history. He also served on the National Tribal Environmental Council,
EPA New England's Tribal Operations Committee, the East Regional Tribal Conservation Advisory
Council, the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society, the National Indian Policy Center, and Maine
Rivers. In 2015, John became the first indigenous member of the U.S. delegation to the North Atlantic
Salmon Conservation Organization annual international meeting.
Due to John Banks' 39 years of leadership, the Nation's environmental program is widely recognized as
a model for tribes across the nation.
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environmental merit awards lifetime achievement
MATTHEW SCOTT
Belgrade, Maine
Since childhood, Matthew Scott has been an avid outdoorsman. In
1962, Matt became assistant regional fisheries biologist for the state
Department of Fish and Game, then regional biologist in 1967.
In 1970, he was recruited by the Environmental Improvement Commission, later renamed Depart-
ment of Environmental Protection, as the first biologist in an agency of primarily engineers. He
developed strong scientific programs to protect water quality, which led to a Maine Lakes Working
Group, made up of state agencies promoting management of Maine's lakes and ponds.
In 1974, Matt formed the Maine Volunteer Lakes Monitoring Program, leading to four decades
of data from hundreds of lakes. Under Matt's leadership, staff at DEP developed a biological
monitoring program assessing water quality and a nutrient management model regulating devel-
opment, both among the best in the country. When Matt retired from DEP in 1988, he became
executive director of the Maine Low Level Radioactive Waste Commission, working to find a
long-term storage site for low-level radioactive waste from Maine Yankee. His 1995 retirement
brought him to Colby College, where he taught environmental science for two years before be-
coming deputy commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
In 2000, as executive director of Project SHARE, Matt helped create river watershed councils for
five major rivers. In 2003, he was appointed to the Board of Environmental Protection, a citizen
board providing oversight to the DEP, where he served eight years, eventually as chairman.
The list goes on. Matt even found time to be a planning board member and Boy Scouts Scout-
master in his hometown of Belgrade. A board member of the Seven Lakes Alliance of the Bel-
grade Lakes region, Matt has donated most of his 100-plus-acre farm as a conservation trust.
Matt Scott is a perpetual guardian of environmental quality.
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environmental merit awards lifetime achievement
MICHAEL W. DURFOR
Epsom, New Hampshire
Michael Durfor began at the Northeast Resource Recovery
Association in December of 2008. During his decade-long
leadership, the nations oldest member-driven recycling and cooperative marketing association
increased support for member services, technical support programs, and education for citizens and
professionals. Mike directed the start of the newsletter, updated market pricing, renegotiated mar-
keting contracts, and added single-stream recycling and municipal solid waste at the association.
In 2008, recycling markets were at an all-time low. Realizing that in crisis lies opportunity, Mike
and his staff charted a new course, focusing on market development, expanding materials and
education. That strategy was so successful the association expanded to every New England state.
Just as the market recovery was beginning, Mike and his team faced their next great challenge:
consolidation of the industry and the emergence of single stream recycling. Association mem-
bers needed data to decide whether or not to move to single stream. With support from the as-
sociation, many members invested in infrastructure so they could market their materials directly.
Now, years later, they are benefitting from the work of Mike and his team.
While at the association, he faced a barrage of difficult issues. Tipping fees; recycling rates; diver-
sion rates; reuse of mixed paper; processed glass aggregate reuse; waste characterization studies;
contract negotiations; rural logistics, new technologies; and the Green Fence were among chal-
lenges for which Mike became a regional leader. Along the way, partnerships expanded the scope
and reach of the organizations mission, including the acquisition of the Association of Vermont
Recyclers in 2009 and oversight of the best-in-nation electronics recycling program.
Over the last decade, Mike Durfor s organization has recycled 1.3 million pounds of material,
just one figure to represent his accomplishments. In May, Mike Durfor retired from the National
Resource Recovery Association and turned it over to the next generation of recyclers.
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environmental merit awards lifetime achievement
M
COLLIS G. ADAMS
Concord, New Hampshire
Collis Adams retired in August from his job as wetlands bureau admin-
istrator for the NH Department of Environmental Services, a job he held
for 19 years. In this position, Collis oversaw dredge, fill and construction in wetlands, surface
waters, coastal areas, and protected shorelands. During this time, he also served on the Wet-
lands Board, the In Lieu Fee Mitigation Site Selection Committee, and the NH Stream Crossing
Initiative. Collis was an active member of the DES "Silver Jackets," an incident and recovery
response team that works to increase awareness, reduce flood risk, and facilitate partnerships
aimed at mitigating and recovering from flooding events.
In 2017, Collis was given the State, Tribal, and Local Program Development award by the
Environmental Law Institute. He served as chair of the Association of State Wetland Managers,
helping create several capacity-building projects serving states and tribes in wetland regulation,
restoration, monitoring and assessment, and development of wetland water quality standards.
At the national level he has served on the Association of Wetland Managers for six years, most
recently as chair. He recently served on the Assumable Waters Subcommittee under the auspices
of the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology to make recom-
mendations for state assumption of the Clean Water Act 404 program.
In December 2017, Collis was given the DES Continuous Process Improvement Award for
working with a DES Lean team to create a triage technical review process for the state Depart-
ment of Transportation. This past year, under his leadership, the wetlands bureau completed a
multi-year initiative to adopt new wetland rules that capture changes in state law, consistency
with the federal Corps General permit, best available science, and increased streamlining. His
staff have presented regionally on mitigation initiatives, wetland buffers, climate change, best
management practices, conservation, stream crossings, and aquatic restoration mapping tools.
Collis Adams' leadership will carry on with a passionate staff dedicated to the mission of pro-
tecting and preserving valuable wetlands while allowing reasonable development.
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environmental merit awards
lifetime achievement
DAVID DEEN
Putney, Vermont
David Deen, a Vermont representative for 30 years, spent much
of that time also working as the Connecticut River Conservancy
River Steward before he retired from both in 2018. Throughout his career, in both his personal
and professional life, David worked for clean water protections. His deep knowledge of and
clear passion for Vermont's rivers, lakes, streams, ponds and wetlands are an incredible gift to
anyone who lives, works or plays in Vermont.
For most of his legislative career David was on the House Committee on Natural Resources,
Fish and Wildlife, serving as chair for the nearly 15 years. He consistently created space for all
voices to be heard and sponsored many pieces of important environmental legislation. Some of
the most notable pieces of legislation were the designation of groundwater as a legally protected
public trust resource in Vermont; four separate acts between 2010 and 2014 that promoted
the identification and protection of flood hazard areas and river corridors to reduce flood and
fluvial erosion hazards; and the Vermont Clean Water Act of 2015, which includes far-reaching
requirements to improve stormwater management and expand agricultural stewardship activi-
ties statewide.
David has been a New Hampshire licensed fly-fishing guide for more than 20 years, teaching
people to fish while also teaching them the basics of healthy rivers, and helping connect them
directly to a resource he so clearly cherishes. This lifetime achievement award recognizes
David's service to Vermont, Vermonters, and the state's incredible natural resources.
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environmental merit awards individual
INDIVIDUAL
PETER AUGUST
Richmond, Rhode Island
As a University of Rhode Island professor since 1981,
Peter August has inspired hundreds of individuals to
get involved in science and conservation. As a volun-
teer, he has developed trails and protected land. As
a visionary, he has developed programs to support
habitat and promote scientific decision tools. Pete's
engagement in environmental issues made him the
obvious choice by the governor to chair the Science
and Technical Advisory Board. In this position, Pete
developed climate change information and played
an important role in developing Resilient Rhody, the
states resiliency plan. Founding director of URI's
Coastal Institute, Pete brought together scientists and
stakeholders to improve public policies. He was a
founder of URI's Environmental Data Center, which
uses CIS mapping to address land conservation and
natural resource management. Pete uses geographic
mapping to help the state conserve properties and he
has made CIS technology accessible to environmental
decision-makers, improving the quality of decisions
and helping ensure a more resilient Rhode Island. As
chair of the Science Advisory Committee for Napa-
tree Point Conservation Area, a pristine barrier island
ecosystem in Westerly, Pete has coordinated vegetation
surveys, aerial photo acquisition, depth and eelgrass
monitoring, shoreline mapping, and mammal, bat and
bird surveys since 2012. This work has demonstrated
how fragile coastal areas can be protected from degra-
dation and can rebound from storms. Pete's ability to
drive lasting change makes him a conservation leader
and hero in Rhode Island.
MARY ANN TILTON
Concord, New Hampshire
Mary Ann Tilton, Assistant Bureau Administrator for
the Wetlands Bureau of the NH Department of Envi-
ronmental Services, has worked with EPA's wetlands
program for more than 25 years. Mary Ann led an
effort to rewrite coastal and inland state rules, the first
rewrite since 1991. This required an extraordinary
amount of time, including weekends and evenings.
She also has organized and led multiple internal work
groups, 40 public meetings, many drafts, and thou-
sands of responses to comments, in addition to her
"regular" work supervising staff, putting in place wet-
land program plans and grant proposals, and oversee-
ing enforcement and compliance activities. Mary Ann
also has streamlined permitting, saving money and
providing one-stop shopping for applicants needing
multiple state permits for development. She has been
a leader in regional wetland issues, including meeting
with EPA and other New England states to share ideas
and experience. She has given talks on issues, includ-
ing wetland buffers, assessment, and finding innovative
approaches to make government wetland reviews more
efficient. Among her accomplishments in balancing
resource protection with landowners' rights was the re-
cent "Wetlands Best Management Practice Techniques"
manual, focused on minimizing impacts from develop-
ment and written to help permit applicants understand
state expectations when planning projects. MaryAnn
also has led a working group to draft NH's first stream
crossing rules, and then worked with groups to pro-
duce the first state regulations. The new rules place
greater emphasis on stream resources and aquatic or-
ganism passage. MaryAnn's career exemplifies inspira-
tional leadership focused on protecting resources while
upholding the public trust.
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environmental merit awards individual
BOYD SMITH
Newfound, New Hampshire
The executive director of the Newfound Lake Re-
gion Association had a vision for development of a
watershed-based plan for the fifth largest lake in New
Hampshire that might have sounded far-fetched. When
Boyd Smith is that director, chances of success are
good. Boyd spearheaded development of a watershed-
based plan for Newfound Lake and has secured several
rounds of funding since 2009. He continues to be the
champion of protection efforts for the 96-square-mile
watershed. Boyd realized focusing too much on lo-
cal planning boards might not be the best way to get
progressive land-use regulations and policy for the
watershed. Rather, he looked to informed voters and
taxpayers to advocate for sustainable watershed policy.
He collaborated with state and regional agencies to
increase land conservation and secured $750,000,
completed 11 land conservation projects in nine years,
and facilitated $3.9 million in donations for conserva-
tion easements. Boyd is the hub of efforts that have
increased conserved watershed acres from 12 percent
to 30 percent in a decade. Boyd's work with the lake
association led to a paradigm shift among residents in
the nine watershed communities by consistently com-
municating why stormwater is a problem and what can
be done about it. Boyd spent countless hours "in the
trenches" to inspire neighbors to take action to protect
the lake they love. This permanent lake protection is
a victory for a vital ecosystem and economic driver in
the region. Newfound Lake will reap the benefits of
Boyd's hard work for generations to come.
ISABEL TOURKANTONIS
Billerica, Massachusetts
Scientists in municipal government often don't get
the accolades they deserve. Isabel Tourkantonis,
Billerica's director of environmental affairs, de-
serves recognition for finding workable solutions to
complex wetland environmental issues. With two
tributary rivers - the Concord and Shawsheen - and
many perennial streams, marshes, swamps, ponds,
and isolated wetland pockets, the community de-
pends on coordination between departments and
applicants, an area where Isabel shines. In addition,
Isabel is recognized for daily work doing techni-
cal reviews, delineations, restoration plans, vernal
pool identification, and permitting. Finally, her
efforts to prevent and reduce contamination deserve
recognition. Through due diligence and outreach to
property owners, she has added critical, biodiverse
parcels to the inventory of land set aside for conser-
vation. Within two years, Isabel has helped the town
receive: five acres of marsh and floodplains in the
Robbins Conservation Area, a wildlife corridor as-
sociated with a perennial tributary of the Shawsheen
River; a 24-acre land area associated with the Village
Crossing Project housing development, largely
comprised of bordering vegetated wetlands; and a
1.45-acre Carter Avenue parcel in a scenic segment
of the Concord River and an abutting riverfront
parcel for the purposes of preserving and restoring
a floodplain, riverfront and a buffer zone. Billerica
residents do not always recognize efforts to enforce
wetland protection rules, nor the struggle to con-
vince individuals to donate land. Isabel takes that
burden for the benefit of the community and planet.
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environmental merit awards individual
IVEY ST. JOHN
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Ivey St. John, retiree and advocate from Charlestown,
was a founding member of the Mystic River Water-
shed Steering Committee. She represents the Charles-
town Waterfront Coalition on the steering committee.
The Mystic River Watershed Initiative kicked off with
a summit in 2008 that focused on water quality, open
space, flooding, and industrial contamination in the
76-square-mile watershed. The steering committee
was formed in 2009, co-chaired by EPA and the Mystic
River Watershed Association. It helps establish pri-
orities for the river and watershed, and recommends
projects, specifically related to water quality and public
access in the watershed. From the start, Ivey pushed to
get non-profit groups an equal voice on the commit-
tee. The organization has taken on issues like eutro-
phication, sanitary sewer overflows, stormwater, and
contamination related to heavy metals in fish tissue.
Ivey worked with EPA and the Mystic River Watershed
Association, pushing for improved water quality, open
space, and public access to the river and its tributar-
ies. Ivey has been a voice in every discussion at nearly
every event and meeting since the initiative began.
After a 2006 oil spill in Chelsea Creek, she helped lead
a coalition to petition to have a portion of the pen-
alty used for projects in the Mystic River watershed.
Ultimately, $1 million was awarded for projects that
reduced stormwater runoff, removed invasive spe-
cies, supported monitoring, and improved habitat in
the Maiden River. Ivey has made exemplary efforts on
behalf of the Mystic River Watershed.
ANDREW DAVISON
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Over the past two decades, Andrew Davison, founder
of Cape Cod Biofuels, has run a company with a clean
fuel business model that extracts byproducts from
farmlands, feeds citizens and recycles byproducts into
clean fuels. His products improve air and water qual-
ity and increase energy and community resilience. The
unique closed-loop recycling program developed by
Cape Cod Biofuels reduced emissions. In 2018, more
than 100 companies produced nearly 2 billion gallons
of biodiesel nationwide. Most producers purchase oils
and fats that remain in our economy in excess and re-
cycle them into biofuel. Over a dozen of these compa-
nies operate secondary businesses: waste oil collection
services from restaurants. Cape Cod Biofuels closes the
loop from farms to fuel tanks. It works with farmers to
supply oil to more than 400 restaurants, then collects
used oil from these and 500 additional restaurants. It
keeps the oil out of landfills by using it to make bio-
diesel that powers four of its trucks. It is also sold to
construction companies, landscapers, commercial fish-
erman and municipalities. While clean-fueled trucks
deliver vegetable oils, others recycle these same oils
before recycling them into biofuels, leaving no used oil
wasted. They then supply regional fleets with their final
product. Davison, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, saw the
impacts of the degradation of New England waters. The
700,000 gallons of biodiesel produced by Cape Cod
Biofuels has resulted in an annual reduction of 50,000
pounds of carbon monoxide; 6,000 pounds of hydro-
carbon and 5,000 pounds of particulate matter.
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environmental merit awards individual
ROBIN CHAPELL
Walpole, Massachusetts
Robin Chapell, health director for the Town of Walpole,
for decades has been an integral part of the successful
redevelopment of the Blackburn & Union Privileges
Superfund Site. As a member of the site's technical team,
Robin was critical to the success of the cleanup and rede-
velopment. Her perseverance in representing commu-
nity interests helped turn the formerly unusable prop-
erties into a police station, senior center and parking
lot, all heavily used by the community. After the initial
cleanup at the site, which has been listed as a Superfund
site since 1994, the town was left with mostly abandoned
mill buildings, an eyesore in a residential neighbor-
hood. One was in such poor condition the local fire chief
wouldn't allow crews inside if the building caught fire.
After decades of negotiating, responsible parties agreed
to take the buildings down, and redevelopment became
possible. Without Robin's participation, negotiations
might not have succeeded. An excellent mediator, Robin
helped the site team navigate community needs, while
reiterating that the cleanup had to be done to enhance
the community. She worked for creative solutions that
address both community concerns and environmental
health. The result was the mill buildings coming down,
contamination being more effectively contained, and the
siting and aesthetic of the water treatment plant being
changed to assuage neighborhood concerns. In addition,
the town agreed to take the property by tax title, and the
responsible parties took down the buildings. Redevelop-
ment on the entire property was then possible.
ROBERT ISNER
Hartford, Connecticut
Robert Isner has worked for more than 25 years at
the Connecticut Department of Energy and Envi-
ronmental Protection, where he is now director of
the Waste Engineering and Enforcement Division.
Robert's innovative solutions have made the state's
waste program a leader nationally. About five years
ago, EPA approached the department regarding
hazardous waste facilities that needed an initial
control to address immediate health risks. Seeing
an opportunity, Robert pulled together a team from
both his own division and the remediation division
to partner with EPA to address these sites. Robert's
division volunteered to spearhead this challenge and
develop a strategic plan. Over the next five years, the
majority of sites on the list have been resolved. Rob-
ert's quiet, but effective leadership style provided his
staff the flexibility to be creative. Under Robert's di-
rection, the department's waste program has shown
innovation in settlements and policies to improve
compliance. It has incorporated high-quality on-line
training for the regulated community. DEEP has
been innovative in writing settlements that include
future compliance plans and third-party audits.
One notable case, involving a national retail phar-
macy chain, had a national impact on compliance
in the regulated community. Robert's work with the
Connecticut Hazardous Waste Advisory is a forum
for information sharing between the department
and regulated community. Robert is tenacious in
his pursuit of transparent, effective and efficient
government. He has dedicated his career to fair and
reasonable environmental compliance.
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environmental merit awards individual
JAMES SUR WILO
Montpelier, Vermont
James "Buzz" Surwilo, who works in the Vermont
Department of Environmental Conservation, has
been effective in reducing the waste stream, specifi-
cally through salvaging and recycling of construction,
demolition and disaster debris materials. Buzz reviews
Vermont's Act 250 plans, which require construc-
tion projects to have a waste management plan and
offer suggestions for improving them. As a result,
these plans are taken seriously and efforts to divert
construction materials are becoming the norm. In the
Robertson Paper brownfields cleanup in Bellows Falls,
Buzz reviewed the draft plan, met with contractors,
and refined the plan, increasing the amounts of brick,
timbers, and other materials to be reclaimed. After
Tropical Storm Irene, a cooperative effort between
DEC and the state Department of Transportation to
rebuild a more sustainable infrastructure resulted in
recycled asphalt shingles being used in a gravel mix for
shoulder and dirt road maintenance projects. Buzz's
work increased the safe reuse, recycling and disposal
of industrial byproducts, building materials and
debris. Vermont produces about 25,000 tons of waste
shingles per year and the sole recycler processes about
2,500 tons annually. Through Buzz's efforts, the use of
recycled asphalt shingles was successfully piloted in
unbound aggregate mixtures. The use of these shingles
in road construction materials is now in high demand
statewide. In the recent construction season, demand
for the shingles had increased by 50 percent. Buzz's
results have been replicated regionally and nationally.
Buzz's work has been recognized as an example of mar-
ket development strategies in Vermont and nationally.
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environmental merit awards government
GOVERNMENT
ELECTRIC TRANSIT BUS TEAM
RI Department of Environmental Management
A team from four state agencies helped develop a plan
using Rhode Islands $14.4 million share of a federal
settlement with Volkswagen. As lead agency and ad-
ministrator of the funds, the RI Department of Envi-
ronmental Management developed the mitigation plan
in conjunction with the Office of Energy Resources, the
RI Public Transit Authority and the Division of Public
Utilities. The state's plan for using the settlement funds,
called the Beneficiary Mitigation Plan, calls for a 10-
year period for environmental mitigation projects to
improve air quality in Rhode Island, reduce diesel and
nitrogen oxide emissions, and install electric vehicle
infrastructure. Under the proposed plan, $10 million
will pay to replace about 20 aging diesel buses with all-
electric zero-emission vehicles, with a focus on com-
munities with poor air quality and high asthma rates.
Rhode Island has 73 hybrid buses. With this invest-
ment, the state's bus fleet will be about 36 percent low
and zero-emission vehicles. Another $1.5 million will
be used to add 15 to 30 fast-charging stations in 2020
to the eight existing public stations. About $2.5 million
would be divided among organizations for the admin-
istrative costs of the projects. This initiative to replace
the oldest diesel buses with zero emission vehicles
could not have come to fruition without the dedicated
service of employees at each of the four agencies.
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
REGIONAL STORMWATER COALITION
Spencer, Massachusetts
In 2011, three town administrators in Central Massa-
chusetts created a coalition to help communities better
manage stormwater. The idea for the Central Massa-
chusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition was developed
out of frustration about municipal budgets that never
seem large enough for multiple infrastructure chal-
lenges and a desire to protect the community's natural
resources. The 13 neighboring communities involved
recognized they share stormwater systems, surface wa-
ter resources, and the need to protect these resources.
They set out to address common stormwater manage-
ment priorities and to share solutions. Together, the
coalition, funded with a state grant, has been able to
protect shared resources and meet the requirements
of their permits through National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System. It has developed templates, ma-
terials, and training, available on its website, to help
communities comply with stormwater permits and use
best management practices. The coalition has grown to
include 30 communities and in 2014, partnered with
the state Department of Environmental Protection to
invite other regional coalitions into a statewide coali-
tion that became the Massachusetts Statewide Munici-
pal Stormwater Coalition. The Central Massachusetts
Regional Stormwater Coalition has earned a reputation
for empowering communities to better manage storm-
water. It has worked to engage the community, provide
a forum for information and education, and advocate
for stormwater management practices that protect New
England's environment.
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environmental merit awards government
PROVINCETOWN
STORMWATER PROGRAM
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Dense development and large amounts of nonporous
pavement in Provincetown Harbor have resulted in
significant amounts of stormwater runoff reaching the
harbor, hurting shell fishing and reducing water qual-
ity. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection placed Provincetown Harbor on its 1992
Clean Water Act list of impaired waters for pathogens
caused by polluted stormwater runoff. As a result,
Provincetown, among other changes, installed more
than two miles of porous pavement on Commercial
Street. Provincetown Harbor has already found it has
cleaner water, with a 90 percent reduction in beach
closings. The improvements addressed bacterial and
untreated stormwater runoff from the main street
through town, Commercial Street, which provides
primary access to the harbor and hosts hundreds of
businesses. The challenge of treating stormwater from
this narrow, highly traveled corridor was solved by
reconstructing the road using porous pavement over
a stone reservoir bed. Besides improving the harbor's
water quality, the road reconstruction revitalizes the
downtown. So far, 7,750 feet of Commercial Street were
reconstructed with a new water main, granite curb,
and pavement. Drainage at 17 outfalls was retrofitted
with porous pavement. The project has been funded
through a combination of town investments and grant
funds. Business owners have been happy with the lack
of standing water during rain. A progressive communi-
ty and strong project team insured a successful applica-
tion of the porous pavement.
CITY OF LAWRENCE &
TOWN OF ANDOVER
Massachusetts
The Lawrence Water & Sewer Department and the
Andover Water Department made extraordinary ef-
forts to help support the goal of developing a compre-
hensive water strategy for the Merrimack River. The
Merrimack River is the most impaired water body in
New England and serves as a drinking water source
for five Massachusetts communities: Lawrence, Ando-
ver, Methuen, Tewksbury and Lowell. EPA's Office of
Research and Development undertook a study to help
assess and predict water quality in the Merrimack and,
as part of its study, needed to install monitoring equip-
ment at two drinking water intake locations. Andover
and Lawrence generously provided access and assis-
tance to EPA to install monitoring equipment neces-
sary to support the study. Without Andover's and Law-
rence's cooperation and assistance, EPA could not have
undertaken this seminal water quality monitoring proj-
ect—the only one of its kind in New England. Through
this project, EPA collected water quality data during dry
and wet weather to help predict bacterial conditions in
the Merrimack River that could impact drinking water
and recreational activities. The data collected was shared
in "real-time" on EPA's website and continues to be
evaluated by EPA's research scientists.
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environmental merit awards government
TOWN OF WOLFEBORO
Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Wolfeboro, a picturesque community, maintains access
to multiple waterbodies in the Lakes Region of New
Hampshire. The town in recent years has prioritized
projects to maintain and protect its water resources.
In 2017, with David Ford as director of Public Works,
the town set an example by putting in place one of the
first asset management plans in New Hampshire. Asset
management allows water managers to make well-in-
formed decisions on how to best operate and maintain
their systems, while maintaining infrastructure at the
lowest cost possible. It allows municipal staff to work
efficiently while maintaining high quality customer
service. Water quality is severely diminished without
an investment in infrastructure and the town of Wolfe-
boro is responsible for maintaining both town and
state-owned stormwater facilities. There are 918 struc-
tures in the town with 20 to 100 added each year. An
inventory of these assets is used to set priorities based
on condition, analysis of life cycle and maintenance
costs. Dave Ford embraced this project with vigor and
passion. He communicated the importance of the pro-
gram to town officials and the public. As a result, the
Town of Wolfeboro now has an effective tool to help
prioritize the towns infrastructure replacement, as well
as the ability to better maintain high water quality and
efficiently use staff time. This is an example of a town
using resources wisely to secure its infrastructure and
improve water quality.
NH COASTAL PROGRAM
NH Department of Environmental Services
The NH Coastal Program provides funding and techni-
cal assistance to 17 communities on the coast to help
them protect clean water, restore coastal habitats, and
be resilient to flooding. The programs staff - Steve Cou-
ture, program administrator; Kirsten Howard, coastal
resilience coordinator, and Nathalie Morison, coastal
resilience specialist - have been key to New Hamp-
shire being recognized as a national leader in climate
adaptation planning. They secured and administrated
hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for coastal
resilience efforts and participated in the recent update
to the state's 2018 hazard mitigation plan, ensuring
climate change and coastal flooding were included. The
staff are members of the Coastal Adaptation Work-
group, which provides technical assistance and educa-
tion to municipalities on climate adaptation activities.
Two years ago, the Coastal Program took the lead on a
"Climate Risk in the Seacoast" project, which assessed
the impacts of climate change on 10 municipalities sur-
rounding the Great Bay Estuary. Last year, the program
led an effort to get the state and towns to put into place
a report to the NH Coastal Risk and Hazardous Com-
mission. This led Dover to adopt a Climate Adaptation
Master Plan Chapter and Durham to amend its flood
plain regulations. It also led to a climate change open
house in Exeter and outreach to vulnerable businesses
in Newington. Municipalities often get the credit for
sustainability efforts, but without the New Hampshire
Coastal Program staff, many coastal communities
would not be where they are today.
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environmental merit awards enviro, community, academia, nonprofit
ENVIRO, COMMUNITY, ACADEMIA, NONPROFIT
BABOOSIC LAKE ASSOCIATION
Amherst and Merrimack, New Hampshire
Baboosic Lake Associations mission is to protect and
restore Baboosic Lake in Amherst and Merrimack,
NH. Lhis small non-profit without paid staff has
achieved huge improvements in the watershed. Ba-
boosic Lake, located near heavy development, saw its
water quality suffer due to poor land use decisions. To
address water quality issues, the association developed
a restoration plan, working with the state Depart-
ment of Environmental Services. The association built
a network of federal, state and local partners, as well
as a group of skilled residents. As a result of the plan,
the town of Amherst connected homes with 30 of the
worst individual septic systems to a community septic
system. The association also has stabilized slopes to
reduce stormwater runoff and controlled and treated
this runoff. Recently, the association used an EPA
grant to control road erosion. Projects so far prevent
about 58 pounds of phosphorus from entering the lake
annually, close to the goal of 70 pounds. Water quality
sampling showed decreasing trends in chlorophyll-a
and total phosphorus. The 222-acre lake is no longer
listed as impaired for recreation or aquatic life. Swim-
ming advisories have decreased, with none in recent
years. The Baboosic Lake Association not only moti-
vates watershed protection, it also engages partners
involved in restoration. It trains volunteer scuba divers
for invasive aquatic plant control, supports a weed
watcher program, performs water quality monitoring
in coordination with the University of New Hampshire,
and provides education.
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environmental merit awards business
BUS NESS
PERKINELMER HEALTH SCIENCES INC.
Shelton, Connecticut
PerkinElmer, which designs and manufactures lab
equipment, makes its products in a way that mini-
mizes adverse health and environmental impacts
throughout a product's life-cycle. Its instruments have
helped identify trace levels of lead and other materials
in water, detect toxic air conditions, and screen soil
to identify volatile organic compounds. The instru-
ments are designed to consume fewer resources, and
the company has removed hazardous substances, such
as mercury, from all its products. For the past three
years, employees have participated in an Earth Day
household hazardous waste collection, bringing in
more than 20,000 pounds of waste. In the last three
years, employees also spread 181 wheelbarrows of
mulch at the Beardsley Zoo, removed 2,000 pounds
of trash and 25 contractor bags of plastic bottles from
the Naugatuck River, replanted 2,000 strawberry
plants at Massaro Community Farm, and dug 2,160
square feet of garden beds. Through recycling, Perki-
nElmer has diverted 4,957 pounds of nitrile gloves
and disposable garments from landfills. The Shelton,
Connecticut facility has limited it its carbon footprint
through upgrades that include a new high efficiency
cooling tower, lighting upgrades to LED, upgrading
boilers to an efficient natural gas system and remov-
ing four 20,000-gallon oil tanks. The company also
built a telepresence conference center to eliminate
unnecessary travel. PerkinElmer works to improve
human and environmental health around the world.
GARBAGE TO GARDEN
Portland, Maine
Garbage to Garden is a regional food scrap recycler,
providing curbside composting throughout Maine and
the Boston area. Serving more than 8,000 households,
businesses, schools and events, the nine-year-old Gar-
bage to Garden collects an average of 21 tons of food
scraps daily and is recognized as the most subscribed
to composting company in the country. Households
who subscribe get buckets to fill with compostables
that Garbage to Garden takes away weekly. The organi-
zation also installs raised bed gardens to more than 100
urban and suburban gardeners yearly. For hundreds
of businesses, schools, and universities, as well as local
municipalities, Garbage to Garden provides commer-
cial composting and recycling while educating students
and employees on composting and recycling. The busi-
ness started in founder Tyler Franks apartment and
expanded into 1,000 square feet, where Tyler lived for
six months in a tent to save money for equipment. Four
years ago, it moved to a 5,000-square-foot building and
now needs a larger facility. A second location recently
opened in Saugus. More event organizers each year
look to Garbage to Garden to examine their waste and
find alternatives that can be composted and recycled. It
provides these services to some of New England's big-
gest festivals and hundreds of smaller events. Garbage
to Garden's volunteer program allows lower income
participants to earn free composting service. The
business donates dozens of yards of compost a year to
school and community gardens. Garbage to Garden's
curbside composting has become much greater than
the sum of its parts. Its work has been recognized
locally and nationally.
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environmental merit awards children's environmental health
CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PIONEER VALLEY ASTHMA COALITION
Springfield, Massachusetts
The Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition works to improve
the lives of families, individuals, and communities
affected by asthma in the Pioneer Valley of Massa-
chusetts. Established in 2006, the coalition addresses
childhood asthma by improving medical and self-man-
agement of asthma as well as by reducing environmen-
tal triggers. The coalition focuses on changing policy
and systems to have an impact, with focus on outdoor
air pollution and indoor air quality. It has success-
fully advocated for new policies, including statewide
regulations to prohibit tobacco sales to under 21; green
cleaning policies and procedures adopted by Holyoke
Public Schools; an ordinance against burning construc-
tion and demolition debris; asthma protocols approved
by Springfield Public Schools; and an idle-free vehicle
policy at Springfield Public Schools. The coalition has
also worked with Springfield schools to educate the
community about the state anti-idling law, as well as
fragrance-free procedures for classrooms and green
cleaning procedures. It was instrumental in institut-
ing asthma management education and green cleaning
practices, leading to a reduction in asthma emergency
room dismissals. The coalition, which includes health
professionals, community groups and residents, public
health organizations, government agencies, academic
institutions, schools, day care, housing and environ-
mental groups, has numerous partners in its work to
improve life for people with asthma and reduce health
care costs. The coalitions work on childhood asthma is
crucial, given that this year Springfield has been identi-
fied as one of the most challenging places to live with
asthma in the country.
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environmental merit awards 2019 special thanks
VOCALIST
DANIEL M. CLARK
"The Singing Trooper'and Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
He has performed with the Boston Pops during the 4th of July, was
featured in People Magazine, a guest artist on Fox and Friends, The
Donny and Marie show, and the Rosie O'Donnell Show. He
performed for President George W. and Barbara Bush. In 2013, Clark
sang God Bless America at the first game of the World Series for the
Boston Red Sox. He has also delivered a spectacular National Anthem
for the New England Patriots, Bruins, Celtics, and has opened the last
28 Boston Marathons! He was seen performing for the opening of the
Tall Ships for Sail Boston 2017. Most recently his televised recording
of the Na-tional Anthem is at the National September 11th Museum
in New York city. Sgt Clark continues to perform in concert around
the nation.

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environmental merit awards | 2019 special thanks
Ray's musical career started in Hollywood at age 16 as a marimba artist on the
Lawrence Welk Show Although the producers wanted Ray and his brother, Rob,
to stay on with the Welk show, the offer was politely declined due to their college
aspirations. Ray has a Ph.D. from Tufts in Psychology-Medical Engineering, and is a patent holder.
He is a photographer, computer-graphic artist, and an instrument-rated private pilot.
Ray had classical piano lessons from age 8 to 12, followed by some marimba lessons from his dad, Salvy, a
virtuoso featured on several popular radio and TV shows in the 1940s and 1950s. Salvy's brother, Dan, gave
Ray an accordion when Ray was in college. Ray soon rigged the accordion with an electronic bass device using
circuitry copied from an organ pedal-board. Unfortunately, a few years later this unique accordion was stolen
along with the special bass device. However upsetting it seemed at the time, technology had evolved, and
Ray patented an innovative circuit, incorporating several improvements, thus paving the way for his ultimate
keyboard instrument, the Cavichord.
Cavichord
A standard accordion has bass and chord buttons on the left side, and a piano-style keyboard on the right. The
Cavichord makes good use of this intrinsic triple-section design while adding a fourth section of melody derived
from the highest note played with the right hand. Each of these four sections can play a unique combination
of sounds simultaneously depending on how the Cavichord is squeezed. With practice, it can sound and feel
as though there were a symphony orchestra under one's fingertips with each section responding independently
yet harmoniously. Therefore, all of the music is fundamentally live at all times.
You will hear the exhilarating sound of a harp glissando. No other keyboard in the world has this feature. These
arpeggios were recorded live as Ray played them. He invented special circuitry that allows reproduction of
these arpeggios at will using the chord buttons of the Cavichord.

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RIVANNA NATURAL DESIGNS, INC.
Green Awards for your next green event
At Rivanna Natural Designs, we believe products that
express gratitude, reward performance, and celebrate
excellence should harm neither the planet nor the
people who create, purchase, or receive them. We
are honored to create these awards for the EPA's New
England Region. The recycled glass products are made
from recycled window pane glass that is crushed and
mixed with elements of vibrant color. The crushed
glass is heated and transformed into a glowing liquid.
Artisans at the foundry then form the glass into tiles,
awards, and other functional shapes. The foundry
that produces our classic recycled glass is a non-profit
organization that assists the homeless and low-income
people through emergency services, housing, jobs,
training, and other charitable endeavors.
The central principal of our business is that, in its
every aspect, our work must reflect our strong obliga-
tion to our clients, coworkers, community, and envi-
ronment. A certified woman-owned business and
B Corporation, we participate in a number of volun-
tary programs aimed at minimizing our environmen-
tal footprint, including EPA's Green Power Partner-
ship and ENERGY STAR® for Small Business.
www.rivannadesigns.com

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United States
kWUpMU Environmental Protection
kl	Agency

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