Interior Department Gets Top Environmental Award
at White House "Closing the Circle" Awards Ceremony

WASHINGTON- At today's White House Closing the Circle Awards Ceremony - which recognized federal agencies and departments for environmental performance and stewardship - Interior Department employees received three awards including the only department-wide award. The top environmental award was presented to DOI for "practicing stewardship in practical ways."

"We commend you for helping the federal team to be a leader in stewardship," noted James L. Connaughton, Chairman of the President's Council on Environmental Quality, and Federal Environmental Executive John Howard. Howard presented the department's award to Lynn Scarlett, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget; Chris Kearney, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs; Kenneth Naser, Leader of the DOI Solid and Hazardous Materials Team; and Heather Davies, Environmental Protection Specialist. Scarlett credited team efforts at Interior.

"This teamwork carries out Secretary Norton's vision of 'the 4C's' -- communication, consultation and cooperation, all in the service of conservation. It also reflects what we call the 'veridian verge' -- the connection between the '3E's' -- environment, the economy, and the need to be effective in carrying out our missions," Scarlett said. "Our environmental objectives must become part of our culture, part of the way we conduct all of our business."

The award singled out the Interior Department for innovative leadership in its operations and its work to minimize solid waste, prevent pollution, save energy and other resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage public support for these efforts. Environmental stewardship in strategic planning, operations and maintenance is demonstrated "routinely." During Fiscal Year 2001, for example, the Main and South Interior buildings recycled 50 percent of all waste. This year, DOI will build a planted, sedge 'green roof' to help mitigate storm water overflow and to cut down on the cooling needs of the building, thereby reducing energy consumption.

At a ceremony at the Eisenhower Old Executive Office Building featuring the U. S. Marine Band and an Armed Forces color guard, the White House also presented 28 other awards recognizing federal employees. Two of these awards went to DOI. Ms. Leanne Bryan, an Interpretive Ranger and Visitor Center Specialist for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation at New Melones Lake near Sonora, California, was honored for establishing a recycling program serving nearly 820,000 visitors annually. The employees of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan were honored for "a decade of environmental leadership." Chris Case, John Ochman, William Magli, and Gregg Bruff represented Pictured Rocks employees.

-DOI-