Page 28 - Mar-Apr24 Vol 41 No 7

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION
Call for GESA Awards Nominations

Each year, the Governor’s individual or group would be a good will make time to nominate deserving
Environmental Stewardship Awards candidate for the awards, direct them Tennesseans for their environmental
honor outstanding accomplishments that to the nomination forms and other commitment, efforts, and achievements.
support the protection and enhancement pertinent information on our website. Thank you for supporting this
of Tennessee’s natural resources. The Tennessee Department of important statewide program.
Nominating an individual, group, or Environment and Conservation is
organization for their achievements is a encouraged that so many citizens and Kathy Glapa,
meaningful way to promote conservation organizations take action to ensure Office of Sustainable Practices
and recognize effective environmental Tennessee communities are healthy 615-253-8780
leadership in Tennessee. places to live, work, and play. I hope you Kathy.Glapa@tn.gov
Nominations are currently being
accepted for the 2024 Governor’s
Environmental Stewardship Awards, GOVERNOR’S ENVIRONMENTAL
and I am asking you to draw on your
knowledge and experience to help us STEWARDSHIP AWARDS
identify organizations and individuals
who are improving the quality of The Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards
Tennessee’s land, air, and water. (GESA) are presented annually to recognize outstanding
The Governor’s Environmental achievements by individuals, local governments, businesses,
Stewardship Awards include ten organizations, educational institutions, and agencies
categories: for successful environmental projects and conservation
1. Agriculture and Forestry measures. The awards program was instituted in 1986 by Ernie Blankenship of the
2. Building Green Tennessee Department of Environment and Health, a predecessor of TDEC, and has
3. Clean Air been adopted by the Governor’s office as one of its award programs.
4. Energy and Renewable Resources GESA are designed to enhance knowledge and awareness of effective conservation
5. Environmental Education and and environmental practices and projects making outstanding contributions to
Outreach the preservation and protection of community and state natural resources and
6. Materials Management to give proper recognition to those who engage in these outstanding practices.
7. Natural Resource GESA also encourage leadership by example through its award winners, leading
8. Water Quality to increased protection and conservation of Tennessee’s wildlife, forests, soils,
9. Sustainable Performance air, water, natural heritage, parks, and recreation. Applications are judged in nine
10. Lifetime Achievement different criteria areas, including such items as project results and transferability, as
Any individual, business, organization, well as three eligibility areas: location within the state of Tennessee, completion of
educational institution, or agency is a majority of the project in the current calendar year, and three years of exceptional
eligible, provided it is in Tennessee environmental compliance with TDEC.
and the project was fully implemented GESA are the most prestigious environmental and conservation awards in the
and/or finalized in the two years prior state. For more than 35 years, the awards have been presented to individuals and
to December 31, 2023, or for long- organizations making significant contributions to the protection and improvement
term projects finalized by the year of our natural resources and wildlife. GESA supports the Governor’s priorities of Job
prior to the nomination deadline. and Economic Development and Health and Welfare, while also supporting TDEC
All nominees must have a minimum priorities of Public/Private Partnerships and Positive Environmental Outcomes.
of three consecutive years of overall
environmental compliance with TDEC. The 2023 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award recipients were:
Self-nominations are encouraged. ENTITY COUNTY CATEGORY
A panel of judges representing Asurion Gulch Hub Davidson Building Green
agricultural, conservation, forestry,
environmental, and academic Tyson Foods – Obion County Complex Obion Water Quality
professionals will select award recipients T.O. Fuller State Park – Tires to Trails Shelby Natural Resources
based on criteria including level of project Bailey Davidson Sustainable Performance
or program completion, innovation, City of Chattanooga Hamilton Energy & Renewable Resources
and public education. The deadline for Memphis Tire Recyclers, LLC Shelby Materials Management
nominations is March 15, 2024. Award Lick Skillet Farm Jefferson Agriculture and Forestry
recipients will be announced in the OxyChem Humphreys Clean Air
summer of 2024. University of TN Institute of Agriculture Knox Environmental Educ. & Outreach
We need your help. If you feel like an
28 TPW March/April 2024