Eligibility Covers Four County Area
Nominations for the first annual Metro Wichita Clean Air Awards are being accepted by the City of Wichita and the Wichita Air Quality Improvement Task Force.
“Many organizations and individuals took actions this summer to help reduce our community’s air emissions,” stated Kay Johnson, City’s Environmental Services Director. “We want to publically recognize these efforts. “
The Clean Air Awards will recognize companies, non-profit groups, and individuals who are taking steps to help reduce air pollution and emissions in the urban area. The Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is currently at risk of falling out of compliance with federal air quality standards. The Environmental Protection Agency EPA recently revised the federal ozone standard, and the MSA is close to violating this new standard.
Wichita was fortunate this summer because cool temperatures and above average rainfalls helped keep the City in compliance with the EPA’s new ozone standards.
“We don’t expect that to happen every year,” Johnson said. “We need to make sure organizations and individuals keep up the good work to reduce emissions on a permanent basis.”
Entries are welcome from metro area businesses, organizations, community groups and individuals that have contributed to improving and preserving air quality in the four-county metro area (Butler, Harvey, Sedgwick, and Sumner Counties). Nominees need to submit applications by Dec. 15.
Clean Air Award recipients will be recognized in a public ceremony, and also featured in newsletters and on City7, the city’s Cox Communications cable channel.
A panel of judges from local and state government, business, and the private sector will select the winners.
Completed application can be mailed to John Stark, City of Wichita, Environmental Services Supervisor, 1900 E. 9th Street, Wichita, KS, 67214. They may be emailed to jstark@wichita.gov or faxed to (316)268-8390.
Applications and general guidelines can be viewed and printed from the City’s website at www.wichita.gov. For more information, contact John Stark, 268-8353. For assistance in filling out the application or quantifying environmental improvements and cost savings, contact Nancy Larson, Kansas Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) at 800-578-8898 or by email at sbeap@ksu.edu.
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