EPA Gulf Program Seeks Entries for 2007 Gulf Guardian Awards

The Gulf of Mexico Program today announced that entry forms for the 2007 Gulf Guardian Awards are available online at: http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/gulfguard.html. The deadline for applying for a 2007 Gulf Guardian Award is July 31.

The Gulf of Mexico Program partnership developed the Gulf Guardian awards in 2000 as a way to recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals and agencies that are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. Each year, a first, second and third place winner are awarded in seven categories: 1) Business, 2) Government, 3) Civic/Nonprofit Organizations, 4) Youth/Education, 5) Partnerships, 6) Individual and 7) Binational, which jointly honors U.S/Mexico Partnership programs and projects.

“Government alone can’t solve the environmental challenges we face today,” said Bryon Griffith, director of the Gulf of Mexico Program, encouraging applications for these prestigious awards. “The Gulf Guardian applicants and subsequent winners over the years have repeatedly demonstrated that the answer to our environmental problems is by working together as one Gulf community through creative and effective public and private partnerships.”

The Gulf of Mexico Program began in 1988 to protect, restore and maintain the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in economically sustainable ways. The Program is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is a non-regulatory, inclusive consortium of state and federal government agencies and representatives of the business and agricultural community, fishing industry, scientists, environmentalists and community leaders from all five Gulf States. The Gulf Program seeks to improve the environmental health of the Gulf in concert with economic development.

To apply for a Gulf Guardian Award, go to the web address above and click on the “2007 Gulf Guardian Application” link. The application is available in English and in Spanish. Please email your completed application to gulf.guardian@epa.gov. For more information, please call Diane Altsman at 228-688-7015.