FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 24, 2008

First Earth Day Awards Program announced

COLUMBIA – The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will present its first Earth Day Awards in April, the agency announced today.

"The award will be given to recognize people or businesses that implement sustainable, environmentally-conscious practices or programs that improve or protect our state’s environment," said Bob King, deputy commissioner for DHEC's Environmental Quality Control. "The awards program is open to businesses, groups, families or individuals in South Carolina."

"Entries will be accepted from Dec. 1, 2008, through Jan. 31, 2009, and evaluated using the 'Make Earth Day every day' principle," King said. "In the spirit of Earth Day, we strongly encourage participants to submit their entries electronically."

Projects must visibly document activities that result in energy/cost savings, pollution prevention, waste reduction, and/or other measurable environmental improvements or protection. There are four categories: Large (50 or more participants); Medium (11 to 49); Small (two to 10 participants); and Individual.

Projects must have been implemented at any time between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2008. There is no entry fee. The DHEC Earth Day Awards electronic entry form can be accessed at http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/earthday/docs/d-1039.pdf. Electronic entries should be sent to earthdayawards@dhec.sc.gov.

Mail-in entries must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2009. Send complete mail-in entries to:

SCDHEC – Commissioner’s Office
Earth Day Awards Committee
2600 Bull Street; Columbia, SC 29201

Awards will be presented at a formal presentation in April 2009, and winning projects will be viewable on the DHEC Web site. For more information, visit the DHEC Earth Day Awards Web page at: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/earthday/awards.htm.

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For more information:
Stacey Gardner – (803) 898-3300
E-mail – earthdayawards@dhec.sc.gov
or
Clair Boatwright – (803) 898-4461
E-mail – boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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