TRENTON – An ice-skating rink that is using cutting-edge technologies to combat global warming, a Camden County municipality that switched to energy-efficient bulbs in traffic lights and a woman who nurtured the rebirth of the Passaic River are among New Jersey’s environmental leaders to be honored tonight with the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award.

“This year’s winners embody the commitment, innovation and determination needed to take on today’s pressing environmental issues such as fighting global warming, developing renewable energy sources, conserving natural resources and protecting the quality of our air and water,” Governor Jon S. Corzine said. “They also are showing us ways to grow the economy and create jobs through green technologies that will build a more sustainable future, a concept that is more important today than ever.”

“These award winners are putting into practice the idea of thinking globally but acting locally,” said newly-nominated Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Mark Mauriello. “Their hard work and dedication should serve as inspiration to all of New Jersey as we face the complex challenges of protecting our environment in the 21st Century.”

The awards are to be presented at 5 p.m. at Drumthwacket, the official residence of the governor.

The DEP established an environmental awards program in 2000.  In 2006, Gov. Corzine gave his support to the program because of his concern and appreciation for environmental issues. At that time, the program became known as the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards.

The DEP coordinates the program. The New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities are co-sponsors.

A panel of judges evaluates nominees on the long-term benefits their work has achieved as well as innovation. Since its inception, more than 80 municipalities, individuals, businesses and institutions have been honored.

For the first time, the DEP’s annual Clean Water New Jersey award presentations are being integrated into the Environmental Excellence program. The Clean Water New Jersey program recognizes exceptional programs by municipalities, public complexes and highway agencies regulated under DEP municipal stormwater permits.

To learn more about the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award program and for lists of past winners, visit www.nj.gov/dep/eeawards.                                       


Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards


Clean Air: Aspen Ice, Randolph

Aspen Ice is a state-of-the-art sports complex that features two Olympic-size ice-skating rinks. The facility features a solar-electric system that provides 60 percent of its electricity. The complex utilizes high-efficiency chillers and lighting, as well as high-tech reflective insulation. The company estimates that these measures reduce the facility’s greenhouse gas emissions by 500 metric tons a year.

Water Resources: Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc.

On its journey to Newark Bay, the 45-mile-long Hackensack River flows through one of the most heavily industrialized regions of New Jersey. Yet reservoirs in its upper reaches provide drinking water to approximately one million people. The Hackensack Riverkeeper works to protect and restore the river and its 210-square-mile watershed with a staff of five full-time employees, an AmeriCorps watershed ambassador and more than 300 volunteers.

Environmental Education/Student Activity: Bonner Scholars Program, The College of New Jersey, Ewing

Under the leadership of college president Dr. R. Barbara Gitenstein, student leaders in the Bonner Scholars  program spearhead projects to improve the quality of life for people in Trenton and surrounding areas. During the last academic year, Bonner Scholars mobilized 260 students to participate in a large cleanup of the Trenton portion of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park.

Healthy Ecosystems: Musconetcong Watershed Association

The Musconetcong Watershed Association works to protect and enhance the Musconetcong River, a small tributary of the Delaware River that flows through the hills of northwestern New Jersey. The association conducts a volunteer water-monitoring program as well as watershed education programs for schools and the public. Among its achievements, the group worked with the DEP to remove an old grist mill dam, a project that was instrumental in leading to the designation of the Musconetcong as a National Wild and Scenic River.

Innovative Technology: Rutgers EcoComplex, Mansfield

New Jersey’s first environmental research and outreach center continues to serve as a resource hub for the state’s environmental and renewable energy industries. The center works to commercialize new environmental technologies and create “green-collar” jobs through the efficient pooling of resources.

Land Conservation: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

The joint base is a military partnership among McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix and the Lakehurst Naval Engineering Air Station that encompasses 60 square miles along the
northern edge of the Pinelands National Reserve.  The base is being recognized for protecting more than 1,000 acres in and around the installations as part of a nationwide Department of Defense preservation effort.

Safe and Healthy Communities: Cherry Hill Township, Camden County

Cherry Hill formed the grassroots group Sustainable Cherry Hill to implement a Green Action Plan to reduce the township’s carbon footprint. To that end, the township has installed energy-efficient LED bulbs in traffic lights and works to protect open space. It is also installing solar panels on its municipal building.

Environmental Leadership: Ella F. Fillipone, executive director, Passaic River Coalition

Recognized as an influential environmental leader, Ella Fillipone has been working to protect the Passaic River since the birth of the environmental movement in the late 1960s. During her long career, she led the defeat of a flood-control tunnel proposed for the Passaic and helped spur the creation of the state’s Blue Acres program that purchases properties in flood zones. She also worked toward preservation of Sterling Forest along the border of New Jersey and New York to protect water quality in the Passaic watershed’s lakes and reservoirs.

Clean Water New Jersey Awards

Tier A Municipality: Ocean Township, Monmouth County

Assisted by local Girl Scout troops and students from nearby Monmouth University, the township labeled more than 3,500 storm drains two years ahead of schedule. The township also created fun an informative public-service announcements about leaf collection and proper storage to help residents understand the impact leaves can have on animals, waterways and aquatic habitats.

Tier A Municipality: Point Pleasant Borough, Ocean County

Point Pleasant voluntarily upgraded more than 100 storm drain inlets to prevent floatable materials from getting into Barnegat Bay. This initiative encouraged neighboring municipalities to upgrade storm drain inlets. Point Pleasant anticipates retrofitting all inlets within seven to 10 years.

Public Complex: Kean University, Union Township

Kean University completed the mapping of stormwater outfalls and labeled storm drain inlets ahead of schedule. The university has implemented quarterly inspections of drains in its vehicle maintenance yard and monthly inspections of fueling areas, steps that go beyond the requirements of its permit.

Highway Agency: Ocean County

Ocean County has installed two systems to capture water used to wash vehicles and anticipates offering use of one of these facilities to other public agencies. The county also upgraded more than 1,500 storm drain inlets that were not required under the minimum standards set in its permit. The county upgraded drains in areas with high vehicle and pedestrian traffic and that discharge into waterways classified for C-1 high-priority protection.

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Photos from Governor Corzine's public events are available in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/