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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/29/03

Contact: Mary Helen Cervantes
609-292-9289

Pennsylvania Honors Governor McGreevey for His Environmental Leadership
Environmental Group Also Awards DEP's Campbell

(03/78) TRENTON – Governor James E. McGreevey is being honored tonight by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, which has bestowed its highest award to New Jersey's chief executive for his leadership on smart growth and open-space protection.

Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is accepting the organization's prestigious Curtin Winsor Award on behalf of Governor McGreevey at the organization's 33rd Annual Philadelphia Dinner.

The statewide, nonprofit, educational organization, founded in 1969, has advocated for policies, laws and regulations on key environmental issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The council has directed its efforts in three major areas: sustainable use of land and natural resources; protection of watersheds; and innovative solutions to environmental problems.

"Combating sprawl and protecting our open space and environment are among my most important priorities for improving New Jersey's quality of life. Recognition from such an effective environmental advocacy group is tremendously rewarding and I thank you," Governor McGreevey said. "I am committed to continue with our aggressive agenda to preserve our remaining open space and farmland, protect our drinking water supplies and revitalize our cities and older suburbs."

The Governor has taken new and unprecedented measures to safeguard New Jersey's water resources, strengthen environmental enforcement and promote many smart growth policies.

"I'm deeply honored to be chosen for this award because I consider it a privilege to serve Governor McGreevey and the people of New Jersey as steward of our air, water and other precious natural resources," Campbell said.

On Earth Day 2003, a historic package of regulations proposed by the Governor on Earth Day 2002 was adopted, strengthening protections for nine drinking water reservoirs and six river and stream segments by upgrading their status under the Clean Water Act to Category One.

Governor McGreevey is the first New Jersey governor to use this regulatory tool to provide the highest level of protection to the State's drinking water resources. The Governor has announced plans to provide this Category One designation to other water bodies throughout New Jersey.

Under Governor McGreevey's leadership, the administration has introduced new reforms to its brownfields program to encourage and accelerate the cleanup and redevelopment of New Jersey's polluted sites. The Governor has also committed to create two new state parks and establish or improve 200 local parks.

As part of his environmental and community enhancement efforts, Governor McGreevey has committed to planting 100,000 trees statewide to help urban and older suburban communities improve their air quality, reduce their energy costs and summertime temperatures, and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. Five hundred trees have already been planted in Camden using money from a clean air enforcement settlement.

"To stop mindless sprawl in its tracks, we need to work together - the state, counties, towns, developers, nonprofit organizations and environmentalists. Our fight against sprawl will shape the New Jersey that we will leave to our children and grandchildren," McGreevey said.

The Winsor award is given in memory of the Council's founder and longtime president, Curtin Winsor. Winsor retired as chairman of the organization in 1989 and died in 1998 at age 92.

 

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