Page 26 - Mar-Apr2022 Vol39 No7

TDEC ANNOUNCEMENT
Call for GESA Award Nominations

Each year, the Governor’s candidate for the awards, direct them Tennesseans for their environmental
Environmental Stewardship Awards to the nomination forms and other commitment, efforts, and achievements.
honor outstanding accomplishments that pertinent information on our website. Thank you for supporting this
support the protection and enhancement The Tennessee Department of important statewide program.
of Tennessee’s natural resources. Environment and Conservation is
Nominating an individual, group, or encouraged that so many citizens and Kathy Glapa,
organization for their achievements is a organizations take action to ensure Office of Policy and
meaningful way to promote conservation Tennessee communities are healthy Sustainable Practices
and recognize effective environmental places to live, work, and play. I hope you 615-253-8780
leadership in Tennessee. will make time to nominate deserving Kathy.Glapa@tn.gov
Nominations are currently being
accepted for the 2022 Governor’s
Environmental Stewardship Awards, and GOVERNOR’S ENVIRONMENTAL
we ask you to draw on your knowledge
and experience to help us identify STEWARDSHIP AWARDS
organizations and individuals who are
improving the quality of Tennessee’s The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards
land, air, and water. The deadline for (GESA) are presented annually to recognize outstanding
nominations is March 31, 2022. achievements by individuals, local governments, businesses,
The Governor’s Environmental organizations, educational institutions, and agencies
Stewardship Awards include ten for successful environmental projects and conservation
categories: measures. The awards program was instituted in 1986 by Ernie Blankenship of the
1. Agriculture and Forestry Tennessee Department of Environment and Health, a predecessor of TDEC, and has
2. Building Green been adopted by the Governor’s office as one of its award programs.
3. Clean Air GESA are designed to enhance knowledge and awareness of effective conservation
4. Energy and Renewable Resources and environmental practices and projects making outstanding contributions to the
5. Environmental Education and preservation and protection of community and state natural resources and to give
Outreach proper recognition to those who engage in these outstanding practices.
6. Materials Management The awards also encourage leadership by example through award winners, leading
7. Natural Resource to increased protection and conservation of Tennessee’s wildlife, forests, soils,
8. Water Quality air, water, natural heritage, parks, and recreation. Applications are judged in nine
9. Sustainable Performance different criteria areas, including such items as project results and transferability, as
10. Lifetime Achievement well as three eligibility areas: location within the state of Tennessee, completion of
Any individual, business, organization, a majority of the project in the current calendar year, and three years of exceptional
educational institution, or agency environmental compliance with TDEC.
is eligible, provided it is located in GESA are the most prestigious environmental and conservation awards in the
Tennessee and the project was completed state. For more than 30 years, the awards have been presented to individuals and
during the 2021 calendar year. All organizations making significant contributions to the protection and improvement
nominees must have a minimum of of our natural resources and wildlife. GESA supports the Governor’s priorities of Job
three consecutive years of overall and Economic Development and Health and Welfare, while also supporting TDEC
environmental compliance with the priorities of Public/Private Partnerships and Positive Environmental Outcomes.
Department of Environment and
Conservation. Self-nominations are
encouraged. The 2021 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award recipients were:
A panel of judges representing ENTITY COUNTY CATEGORY
agricultural, conservation, forestry, The City of Kingsport .........................Sullivan .........................Natural Resources
environmental, and academic Clayton Savannah .............................Hardin ............................Materials Management
professionals will select award recipients Coffee Co. Soil Conservation Dist. ......Coffee ............................Agriculture and Forestry
based on criteria including level
of project or program completion, Cumberland River Compact ..............Davidson ........................Water Quality
innovation, and public education. Award Nokian Tyres Dayton ..........................Rhea ..............................Sustainable Performance
recipients will be announced in the Tennessee Tech University .................Putnam ..........................Building Green
summer of 2022. Trevecca Nazarene University ............Davidson ........................Environmental Educ. & Outreach
We need your help. If you feel like an Vanderbilt University .........................Bedford, Davidson ..........Energy Renewable Resources
individual or group would be a good and Franklin
26 TPW March/April 2022