NOMINATION FOR A GULF GUARDIAN AWARD The Gulf of Mexico Program and its Mission: The Gulf of Mexico Program was initiated in 1988 by the U.S. EPA as a non- regulatory program. Founded on the threefold principle of partnership, science-based information, and citizen involvement, the Gulf of Mexico Program applies an adaptive management approach to large coastal freshwater and marine ecosystems. The mission of the Program is to facilitate collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways consistent with the economic well-being of the Region. The Gulf Guardian Awards The Gulf Guardian Awards were created in 2000 to recognize environmental excellence towards achieving and preserving healthy and resilient coasts in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The Gulf Guardian Awards recognize efforts within the 31 States that comprise the Gulf of Mexico watersh ed. The Awards are presented on a Bi-annual basis. The official categories for nomination are: Business/Industry, Environmental Justice/Cultural Diversity, Civic and Nonprofit Organizations, Youth Environmental Education, Individual and Partnerships. First, Second and Third place winners are awarded and presented at a special ceremony. Sponsored by the partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf of Mexico Program, to recognize extraordinary environmental stewardship towards protecting the Gulf of Mexico. 2019 Gulf of Mexico Program One Gulf... One Community vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency " o> ^Sxico ------- 2019 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS & REQUIREMENTS Application deadline for the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Program Gulf Guardian Award is June 30, 2018 Winners will be notified in September of 2018 and awarded at a special function in Summer 2019. Award categories are: + Business/Industry ~ Environmental Justice/Cultural Diversity + Civic/Nonprofit Organization ~ Youth Environmental Education + Partnerships + Individual Choose the category that best describes your organization by checking the appropriate box on the first page of your application. The Gulf of Mexico Program will make the final decision on the appropriate category for your project. Applications will be scored in only one category. Please consider the following requirements when filling out your application. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not be considered. + Please complete one application per project using only the space provided on the application. Mail completed entry to the address listed at the end of this form or email your application to GulfGuardian@epa. gov. Electronic submissions are preferred. + Your application must be electronically submitted or postmarked by June 30, 2018, to qualify for a 2019 Gulf Guardian Award. + The Gulf Guardian Awards are awarded on a biannual basis. Past winners must wait four years before submitting a new application. (For example, 2015 winners can reapply for 2019). + Type sizes should be no smaller than Times 12-point or comparable. + Projects must show measurable results. Projects must either be complete or demonstrating measurable results as an ongoing effort. + Support material (videos, brochures, press clips, photos, manuals, etc.) will not be accepted. However, you may be asked to submit additional materials at a later date. ------- 2019 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS & REQUIREMENTS (CONTINUED) Application deadline for a 2019 Gulf Guardian Award Nomination is June 30, 2018. Selection of the winning projects will be based on the following criteria: INNOVATIVE Does the project contribute new or improve upon existing information? Is it a new concept or process? Has it ever been executed successfully before? Is it a creative solution or provide more information to solve a problem? BENEFICIAL Does it make a significant contribution to improving the Gulf of Mexico? Does it reduce health risk or conserve resources? Does it reduce a large volume or significant percent of water contaminants, hazardous/toxic or solid waste? Is it beneficial to the economy, the environment, or local community? Does it tackle a difficult task? Is it effective? MEASURABLE Can we measure its contribution to environmental quality or improved awareness? EDUCATIONAL Does the project promote public education? Does it encourage other environmental efforts? Does it serve as a model for other efforts? EXCEPTIONAL Is the project self-sustaining or ongoing? Does it go significantly beyond legal requirements? Does it solve a serious environmental problem or result in a significant positive impact on the environment? ------- PROJECT NAME: Or if for INDIVIDUAL category: NAME Organization Name Street Address City, State, and ZIP Code Phone (with area code): Email Address: Name of person submitting this nomination in case further information is needed. NOTE: If project or individual is selected, correspondence will be addressed to person/organization listed in first block above. Name: Address: City/State/ZIP: Phone: Email: Award Category: O Environmental Justice/Cultural Diversity O Youth Environmental Education O Business and Industry O Civic/Nonprofit Organization O Partnerships O Individual *Continue with the nomination form for individual category below Focus Area- Please check all that apply to your nomination. Not applicable to the Individual Category. CD Water Quality/Public Health: Does this project protect the public's health or preserve, or enhance water quality for healthy beaches, living marine resources and shellfish beds in the Gulf? ~ Habitat: Conservation and Restoration: Does this project conserve, protect or restore critical Gulf of Mexico coastal habitats? ~ Ecosystems Integration and Assessment: Does this project aid coastal managers, scientists and others make sound decisions regarding the health and productivity of the Gulf? ~ Nutrient Enrichment: Does project aid in the ultimate reduction of nutrients introduced to our streams, rivers, bays and the Gulf? I~1 Cultural Diversity/Environmental Justice: Does this project enhance environmental awareness and protection among the culturally diverse and underserved communities? ~ Environmental Education: Does project increase awareness and stewardship among youth and students and ultimately aid in the protection of Gulf of Mexico resources? ~ Coastal Community Resilience: Does this project provide education or enhancements for coastal communities, ecosystems, and economies to become more resilient to coastal hazards? If this results in a winning entry, who would be most likely to accept the award? Name(s): Title(s): ------- FOR ALL CATEGORIES (EXCEPT INDIVIDUAL) Position the cursor in the blank box. As you type, the box will expand to accommodate the text you input. (1) Summarize the project's highlights and accomplishments. (Summarize in 100 words or less.) (2) Describe the project in detail [date of event(s), site(s), purpose, goals, history, description of the problem, accomplishments to date, etc.]. What type of environmental improvement was made and how was the improvement accomplished? (Describe in 500 words or less.) ------- 3) Is this project innovative or creative in its use or application of technology or personnel? If so, please explain. (Explain in 100 words or less). (4) Describe how the project benefits the health and productivity of the Gulf. (Describe in 100 words or less.) (5) How do you specifically measure the success of the project? (Describe in 50 words or less.) (6) Describe any educational, training, or outreach component to your program (if applicable) (Describe in 100 words or less.) (7) Is this a collaborative project involving the cooperation of public, private, community, business, or citizen groups? If so, please explain the cooperative effort and list all participating entities and their respective roles. (Describe in 100 words or less.) ------- (8) Describe anything exceptional about your project. For example, is it financially self- sustaining? Does it go above and beyond legal requirements? Does it result in a significant positive impact to the environment? Does your project take place in a critical region? Can it be duplicated in another area? (Describe in 100 words or less.) ------- INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY NOMINATIONS: (1) Summarize the individual's accomplishments in one paragraph and why this individual is especially deserving of the Gulf Guardian Award. (Summarize in 100 words or less.) (2) Describe the individual's accomplishments in detail. What type of environmental improvement was made through this individual's effort? (Describe in 500 words or less.) ------- (3) Has this individual used innovative or creative methods in application, technology or personnel? If so, please explain. (Explain in 100 words or less). (4) How do you measure the success of this person's accomplishments? (Describe in 100 words or less.) (5) Does this individual seek the cooperation of different types of public, private, community, business, or citizen groups? If so, please explain the cooperative effort and list all participating entities and their respective roles. (Describe in 100 words or less.) (6) Describe anything exceptional about this individual. Does he/she go above and beyond legal requirements? Do his/her efforts result in a significant positive impact to the Gulf of Mexico? (Describe in 100 words or less.) (7) Briefly describe the schedule or timetable for this individual's career, including dates of any major mile-stones and/or their successes. (Describe in 100 words or less.) ------- All Nominations must be emailed by June 30,2018, to GulfGuardian(o),epa.gov. or postmarked by June 30, 2018, to: U.S. EPA, Gulf of Mexico Program, 2510 14th Street, Suite 1212, Gulfport, MS 39501. Attn: Gulf Guardian Award Note: Email preferred. For questions, contact Jeanne Allen, Gulf of Mexico Program Office, 228-679-5892. ------- |