A company that is reducing traffic congestion, a Native American tribe and a group of farmers cooperating to save water and protect salmon runs, and a state government that is preventing sprawl and protecting open space are among the 24 winners of the National Awards for Sustainability, given to programs that demonstrate leadership and excellence in integrating environmental, economic, and community sustainability.[Editor's Note: complete list of winners is attached.]

Given by the national environmental nonprofit Renew America and the President's Council on Sustainable Development, the awards will be presented on May 3^rd at a featured event of the landmark National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America. The National Town Meeting is the largest "quality of life" conference in history, with events on May 2^nd - 5^th in Detroit, Michigan, and about 100 other locations across America.

"Today's announcement demonstrates that by working together we can protect our health and environment while growing the economy,"said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner. "These award winners are leading the way in building livable communities for the 21st century."

The winners were selected through a rigorous process from over 300 applicants from businesses, community groups, and governments."These good works are a vivid snapshot of the extraordinary efforts taking place every day across our country," remarked Anna Slafer, Executive Director of Renew America. "As Earth Day gives us an opportunity to focus on the importance of caring for our planet, Renew America and the President's Council honor the people and programs that safeguard our environment and enhance our communities every day."

"The award winners exemplify the ideals of cooperative,‘can-do' citizenship. They are the unsung heroes changing the shape of their communities and our nation," said Martin Spitzer, Executive Director of the President's Council on Sustainable Development. "It is fitting to celebrate their ingenuity and commitment at the National Town Meeting, which is dedicated to promoting how people can work together to create livable communities and a healthy environment."

The winners will be listed and described along with this year's finalists in Renew America's Environmental Success Index,a comprehensive on-line database listing more than 1,400 successful programs throughout the United States. Among the 24 winners are:

• American Express Financial Advisors, Inc. Employee Commute Program, whose comprehensive approach has fostered the use of alternative transportation and telecommuting by 75% of its Minneapolis employees far exceeding the national average;
• The Dungeness River Water Sharing Program,a cooperative effort between the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and the Dungeness River Agricultural Water Users Association to conserve water use, protecting stream flows for fish and the farmers' livelihood; and
• New Jersey Governor Whitman's Sustainable Development Program, which is involving state agencies, localities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in statewide efforts to preserve open space, curb sprawl, revitalize urban centers, and promote sustainable businesses.

In addition to receiving a National Award, four of the winners have been singled out to receive special Environmental Leadership Awards, which come with a cash prize.

• Friends of Albuquerque's Environmental Story's Educating for a Sustainable Community program will receive the AT&T Environmental Achievement Award for its efforts to advance local environmental goals;
• Green Development Services of the Rocky Mountain Institute will receive the Louisiana-Pacific Green Building Leadership Award for its work to promote environmentally-smart building practices and materials;
• Stonyfield Farm's Climate Change Initiativewill receive the Robert Rodale Environmental Achievement Award for its efforts to promote better public health and heightened environmental responsibility; and

• Bates College Food Services will receive the Dana and Christopher Reeve Environmental Leadership Award in recognition of its leadership in community agriculture and food issues.

The National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America is being co-sponsoredby the President's Council on Sustainable Development and the Global Environment and Technology Foundation. The President's Council on Sustainable Development is an advisory committee established by President Bill Clinton to develop bold, new approaches to achieving our nation's economic, environmental,and equity goals. Members of the Council are leaders from business; all levels of government; and community, environmental, and Native American organizations. For more information, call (202) 408-5296 or visit www.whitehouse.gov/PCSD.

Major funders of the National Awards for Sustainability program areAT&T, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation, The Humane Society of the United States, Novartis Inc., Rodale Institute, Tenneco, and U.S. Steel Group,a unit of the USX Corporation. Additional support has been provided by Bank of America, Edison Electric Institute, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Georgia Power Company, Lucent Technologies, Philip Morris Companies Inc.,The Home Depot, Springs Industries, Inc., and Weyerhaeuser Company. RenewAmerica has independently solicited and accepted contributions for the awards program and in doing so did not involve the President's Council on Sustainable Development.
 
 

Atmosphere/Climate: Cities for ClimateProtection Campaign - International Council for Local EnvironmentalInitiatives (Berkeley, CA)
Climate Change Initiative - Stonyfield Farm, Inc. (Londonderry,NH)

Community Education: Eco-Cycle - (Boulder, CO)

Community Participation: Senior Environment Corps - PennsylvaniaDepartment of Environmental Protection (Harrisburg, PA) and EnvironmentalAlliance for Senior Involvement (Catlett, VA)

Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency and Pollution PreventionProgram - New York State Office of Mental (Albany, NY)

Fairness/Social Justice: Mining Program - New Mexico EnvironmentalLaw Center (Santa Fe, NM)

Food/Agriculture: Bates College Food Services - BatesCollege (Lewiston, ME)

Forests/Rangelands: Northeastern Pennsylvania Urban &Community Forestry Program - Morris Arboretum of the University ofPennsylvania (Mayfield, PA)
Sustainable Forestry Initiative: American Forest & PaperAssociation - Washington, DC)

Freshwater/Watersheds: Dungeness River Water Sharing Program- Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and Dungeness River Water Users Association(Sequim, WA)
Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network: Saginaw Bay WatershedInitiative Network (WIN) (Saginaw Bay Watershed, MI)

Green Buildings/Real Estate Development: Green DevelopmentServices - Rocky Mountain Institute (Snowmass, CO)

Growth Management/Regional Planning: Governor Whitman's SustainableDevelopment Program - State of New Jersey (Trenton, NJ)

Hazardous Waste Management/Recycling: Brownfields EconomicRedevelopment Initiative - Environmental Protection Agency, Officeof Outreach and Special Projects (Washington, DC)
Mack Avenue Engine Plant Development Project - DaimlerChryslerCorporation (Auburn Hills, MI)

Institutional Education: Educating for a Sustainable Community- Friends of Albuquerque's Environmental Story (Albuquerque, NM)

Job Creation/Enrichment: The Green Institute (Minneapolis,MN)

Pollution Prevention: Pollution Prevention: ESH Impact Program- ITT McDonnell & Miller (Chicago, IL)

Renewable Energy: Community Based Marketing of Green Power- Land and Water Fund of the Rockies (Boulder, CO)

Solid Waste Management/Recycling: Navy Whidbey Recycle- NAS Whidbey Island (Oak Harbor, WA)

Telecommunications and New Communication Tools: Green MapSystem - Modern World Design (New York, NY)
NGO Support Center Project: Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin Coalition(El Paso, TX)

Transportation Efficiency: Employee Commute Program -American Express Financial Advisors, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN)

Wildlife and Habitat: Oregon Biodiversity Project - Defendersof Wildlife (West Coast Office) (Lake Oswego, OR)