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Entry Requirements
Awards Program
Eligibility
The Clean Air Excellence Awards Program is open to both public and private entities. Entries are limited to the United States.
Entry Deadline
The 10th Annual Clean Air Excellence Awards entry packages must be postmarked by September 25, 2009.
Entry Requirements
All applicants must submit an original and five copies (a total of six copies) of the entry form and an electronic copy of the application and write-up in Word or Pdf format to the address at the bottom of the form. In addition to the entry form, applicants should submit six copies of any supporting documentation, such as photographs, videotapes, written materials (e.g., an evaluation of the outcomes of the program, project, initiative, etc.; product literature; development plans; press releases; copies of the state, local, or tribal policy), and any other information that may assist program judges in making award decisions.
Please submit each entry under only one award category. Note that you may submit any number of different projects as separate entries. 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.
Clean Air Excellence Award Categories
There are five categories in which you may enter a program, project, or technology:
Clean Air Technology. This category applies to technological developments (including products or processes) that reduce air pollution from either stationary, mobile, or area sources.
Community Action or Healthy Community Excellence Award - This category applies to community partnership efforts that directly or indirectly (i.e., by encouraging actions) reduce emissions of criteria pollutants or hazardous/toxic air pollutants. These communities have demonstrated environmental results and air emission reductions through collaborative processes. This category replaces the previous Community Development/Re-Development category.
Education/Outreach. This category applies to efforts to disseminate information about air quality and related issues.
Regulatory/Policy Innovations. This category applies to regulatory or policy initiatives and programs implemented at state, local, or tribal government levels.
Transportation Efficiency Innovations. This category applies to programs and projects that make transportation systems more efficient and reduce air pollution in the process.
Special Awards
In addition to the five award categories described above, the Clean Air Excellence Awards Program will annually recognize two special award categories.
The Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award. 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. This category recognizes an outstanding project or program that has achieved environmental excellence in more than one of the five general award 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.
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 or hazardous/toxic air pollutants.
- 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 is not 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.
Technical Evaluation Criteria Specific to Each Award Category
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 reaches a wide number of stakeholders.
- 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, and thus is likely to reduce vehicle miles traveled and/or vehicle trips.
- The project or program improves travel convenience and reduces travel time and costs.
- Development of the project or program is completed or substantially underway.
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 project or program demonstrates environmental excellence in more than one of the five general award categories.
Presentation
Award recipients will be recognized by the U.S. EPA at a special awards ceremony held in Washington, DC in early spring 2010. Awards are honorary and do not include monetary recognition.
Questions
Contact Pat Childers, U.S. EPA, at 202-564-1082 or childers.pat@epa.gov.