The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England regional office recently honored four Maine individuals and organizations in the Environmental Merit Awards, recognizing their efforts to protect and improve their local environment.
Ogunquit’s Martin “Tin” Smith, who has been a leader with the Great Works Regional Land Trust since its inception 30 years ago, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominated by the organization’s board of directors and staff, Smith earned his award through efforts to protect southern coastal Maine, including 119 land purchases or easements that have preserved nearly 6,000 acres of land and his advocacy to protect the Mouth Agamenticus area ecosystem.
Other winners from Maine includes Orrington’s Penobscot Energy Recovery Company, which won in the Business, Industries and Technology category; the Ogunquit Conservation Commission, which won the Enviro, Community, Academia & Nonprofit category; and State Performance Partnership Improvement Team, a group made up of New England environmental workers that included Jeff Crawford from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
"We are proud to honor those citizens, businesses and organizations who have gone the extra mile to help protect and preserve our region's natural resources," Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office, said. "These New England award winners are committed to making our towns, cities and countryside of New England healthy, vibrant places with clean air, land and water."
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