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Governor's Awards Honor Iowa Environmental Leaders
Posted: June 4, 2009

DES MOINES -Fourteen Iowa organizations and businesses will receive environmental excellence awards from Gov. Chet Culver later this summer. The awards are the premier environmental honors in Iowa, recognizing leadership and innovation in the protection of Iowa's natural resources.

"The efforts of these organizations serve as a model in providing clean air, water and land for all Iowans," Culver said. "I congratulate them for their outstanding work to protect and enhance our environment."

The awards program recognizes comprehensive environmental programs by organizations and businesses, along with special project awards in water quality, air quality, waste management, habitat restoration/development, and energy efficiency/renewable energy. The 2008 awards included two new categories: environmental education and disaster recovery.

The winners were chosen from nearly 40 nominations and include:

Environmental Excellence Award:
Waste Commission of Scott County, Davenport
MidAmerican Energy, Davenport
Vermeer Corporation, Pella

Special Recognition in Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy:
Buffalo Bill Museum, Inc., LeClaire
Curries Division of AADG, Inc., Mason City

Special Recognition in Waste Management:
Muscatine Power and Water, Muscatine
DuPont Nemours E I & Co., Fort Madison

Special Recognition in Water Quality:
City of North Liberty, in partnership with Fox Engineering Associates, Inc. (Ames) and Shive-Hattery, Inc. (Iowa City), North Liberty
Holiday Lake Owner's Association, Inc., Brooklyn

Special Recognition in Air Quality:
Arnold's Body Shop, Davenport
Northern Natural Gas Company, Omaha, NE

Special Recognition in Environmental Education:
Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center, Cedar Falls
Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids
Iowa Storm Water Education Program (Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities), Ankeny

Special Recognition in Disaster Recovery:
Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids

Complete details about each award winner and the awards program are available at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/other/ee/index.html.

The awards are sponsored by the Governor's Office, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Education, the Department of Public Health and the Iowa Waste Reduction Center.