EPA honors Puerto Rico environmental leaders
A view of part of the Martín Peña Channel in Hato Rey. (Credit: © Mauricio Pascual)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday honored eight individuals and organizations from across Puerto Rico with “Environmental Quality Awards” for their achievements in protecting public health and the environment.
“Today we celebrate the exemplary work of people who work tirelessly to protect the environment and give their time and energy to create a cleaner and healthier future for us all,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Their extraordinary contributions serve as an inspiration to all who strive for a more sustainable environmental future.”
The EPA presents Environmental Quality Awards annually during Earth Week to individuals, businesses, government agencies, environmental and community-based organizations and members of the media in EPA Region 2, which covers New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally recognized Indian Nations.
This year’s winners are: Melba Ayala-Nieves, of Excursiones ECO, a tour business she owns and operates at the Martin Peña Channel; Pedro Carrión-Huertas, head of the Cataño-based non-government organization, Corredor del Yaguazo, which he uses to help create environmental stewardship programs geared toward the protection of Las Cucharillas Marsh, which is part of the San Juan Bay Estuary; The Center for Environmental Education, Conservation and Interpretation at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus; The Coalition for the Northeast Ecological Corridor; Estudiantes Dispuestos a la Restauración Ambiental del Caño Martín Peña; Organización Pro Ambiente Sustentable; the Municipality of Rincón; and the Sociedad Eco-Ambiental at the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras.
