Application Guidelines for 2016 Awards Sponsored By: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program is sponsored by EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. The Program was suggested by the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, a senior-level federal advisory committee that provides advice to EPA on air issues. The Awards Program periodically recognizes individuals who have served as pioneers in their fields as well as organizations that have contributed to cleaner air. 1 ------- Clean Air Excellence Awards - Entry Guidelines - [Eligibility The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program is open to both public and private entities. Entries are limited to efforts related to air quality in the United States. |Entry Deadline All entries must be sent electronically or postmarked by September 11, 2015. Submit your applications today! |Entry Requirements All applicants must submit one (1) original entry form and supporting documentation electronically or in hard copy to the address noted below. Supporting documentation may include photographs, videotapes, written materials (e.g., an evaluation of the outcomes of the initiative; product literature; development plans; press releases; copy of the state, local, or tribal policy) and any other information that may assist program judges in making award decisions. In an effort to reduce resources, EPA strongly encourages applicants to submit their entry form and supporting documents electronically in Word or PDF format (emailed directly or copied onto a CD or flash drive and mailed). If filing electronically is not feasible, applicants may submit their entry form and supporting documents in hard copy. Email entry form and supporting documents to: i efferson .catrice @epa. gov -OR- Mail entry form and supporting documents to: Clean Air Excellence Awards Program ATTN: Catrice Jefferson U.S. EPA, Office of Air and Radiation Mail Code 6103A, Room 5442-Q 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20460 Please submit each entry under only one award category. Note that you may submit any number of different projects as separate entries. If you would like your project considered for the Gregg Cooke Visionary Program Award (which recognizes projects that blend aspects of two or more award categories), please mark that box under Section I of the Entry Form. Applicants also may choose to combine multiple projects into one entry if all of the projects fall under the same category. Please note that the number of awards given in any one year will depend on the applications received. In a single year, some award categories may have multiple award winners, while other categories may have no winners. If your entry does not win an award in a given year, you may choose to reapply with the same or different project in future years. If your entry does win an award, you may reapply with different projects in future years. However, please note that the same applicant will not be given an award more than two times in three years. 2 ------- Clean Air Excellence Award Categories There are five general categories for which you may enter a program, project, or technology: Clean Air Technology. This category applies to technological developments (including products or processes) that reduce criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and/or greenhouse gases from either stationary, mobile, or area sources. Community Action. This category applies to community partnership efforts that directly or indirectly (i.e., by encouraging actions) reduce emissions of criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and/or greenhouse gases. Education/Outreach. This category applies to efforts to educate and/or disseminate information to the intended targeted audience(s) about air quality and related issues. Regulatory/Policy Innovations. This category applies to regulatory or policy initiatives and programs implemented across all levels (e.g., state, local, government, industry, non-profit) related to criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and/or greenhouse gases. Transportation Efficiency Innovations. This category applies to programs and projects that make transportation systems more efficient and reduce criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and/or greenhouse gases in the process. In addition to the five award categories described above, the Clean Air Excellence Awards Program includes two special award categories. Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award, honoring a former member of EPA's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC) and environmental leader at 3M. This category recognizes up to one individual for outstanding achievement, demonstrated leadership, and a lasting commitment to promoting clean air and helping to achieve better air quality. The candidate should be an innovative leader in his or her field and demonstrate a lifetime of achievement in promoting clean air. Candidates for this award must be nominated by a third party. Gregg Cooke Visionary Program Award, honoring a former EPA Regional Administrator. This award recognizes the air quality project or program that most successfully blends aspects from two or more of the existing awards categories (i.e., Clean Air Technology, Community Action, Education/Outreach, Regulatory/Policy Innovations, and Transportation Efficiency Innovations). |Judging and Award Criteria Award recipients are chosen through a multi-step judging process. EPA staff conducts an initial technical screening of all applications. Selected entries are then reviewed by a Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC) task force, which provides advice to EPA on the candidates' programs. The full CAAAC and EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance then provide additional comments on entries. EPA's Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation makes the final award determinations. Please note the 500-word limit for the entry form summary of the project and submit supporting documents as appropriate. Entries will be judged based on both general criteria and criteria specific to each award category. Each entry will be assigned a rating based on the following general criteria: ~ The entry directly or indirectly (i.e., by encouraging actions) reduces emissions of criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and/or greenhouse gases. 3 ------- ~ The entry is innovative and unique. ~ The entry provides a model for others to follow (i.e., it is replicable). ~ The entry's positive outcomes are continuing/sustainable. Though your entry may not be required to meet the following criteria, these general criteria will be considered in the judging process: ~ The entry has positive effects on environmental media other than air. ~ The entry demonstrates effective collaboration and partnerships. ~ The individual or organization submitting the entry has effectively measured/evaluated the outcomes of the project, program, or technology. The evaluation criteria specific to each of the five award categories are presented below. Clean Air Technology ~ The technology is commercially viable and can be widely applied. ~ The technology is cost-effective relative to other air pollution control technologies that already exist. ~ The technology is developed to the prototype stage or beyond. Community Action ~ Diverse stakeholders participate in planning and decision-making efforts aimed at improving air quality. ~ Partnerships among business, industry, government and non-government organizations are established and help to leverage community resources where appropriate. ~ Projects identify and address the community's priority air quality concerns. ~ Project has significantly improved the community quality of life. Education/Outreach ~ The education/outreach program increases public awareness about the importance of clean air. ~ The education/outreach program improves access to information on clean air issues. ~ The education/outreach program successfully reaches the intended targeted audience(s). ~ Development of the education/outreach program is completed or substantially underway. Regulatory/Policy Innovations ~ The regulation or policy encourages actions that go beyond compliance with applicable laws and regulations. ~ The regulation or policy provides flexibility to the regulated community. ~ The development process for the regulation or policy has included a stakeholder (e.g., public) involvement component. ~ The regulation or policy has been put into effect. Transportation Efficiency Innovations ~ The project or program increases the number of available transportation options, improves transportation efficiency (e.g., fewer vehicles miles traveled or better fuel consumption), and/or reduces travel time and costs, with the result of improving air quality. ~ Development of the project or program is completed or substantially underway. 4 ------- Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award ~ The individual has demonstrated leadership, outstanding achievement, and a lasting commitment to promoting clean air and helping to achieve better air quality. Gregg Cooke Visionary Program Award ~ The air quality project or program that most successfully blends aspects from two or more of the existing awards categories. Presentation Award recipients will be recognized by the U.S. EPA at a special awards ceremony held in Washington, DC, in 2016 (date to be announced later). Awards are honorary and do not include monetary recognition. Questions Contact Catrice Jefferson, U.S. EPA, at 202-564-1668 orjefferson.catrice@epa.gov. 5 ------- |