FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 20, 1999
For More Information Contact: Hawai Sea Grant --- Priscilla Billig, Communications Director, (O) 808-956-2414, [email protected]
New York Sea Grant --- Paul Focazio, Assistant Communications Director, (O) 516-632-6910, [email protected]
National Sea Grant Program --- Ben Sherman, National Media Relations Coordinator, (O) 202-622-7095 [email protected]
SEA GRANTERS IN HAWAII, NEW YORK WIN NOAA'S 1999 ENVIRONMENTAL HERO AWARDS
WASHINGTON D.C. - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recognized Sea Grant researchers and extension personnel in both Hawaii and New York with presentation of the 1999 NOAA Environmental Hero Award.
Honored in Hawaii were Hawaii Sea Grant's Extension Director Bruce Miller, Hawaii State Representative Brian Schatz, and Youth for Environmental Service Coordinator Sean Casey. Cited for environmental work in New York State was Walter "Skip" Hartman, an advisor to New York Sea Grant's Great Lakes sportfishery development program, and the first Native American so honored by NOAA.
This marks the third year that NOAA has recognized individuals and organizations throughout the United States for their "tireless efforts to preserve and protect the nation's environment." Each honoree also was sent personal commendations from Vice-President Al Gore who congratulated this year's heroes for their "passionate commitment to the protection of our nation's environment."
Overall the 1999 NOAA Class of Environmental Heroes recognizes 34 individuals or programs, and is traditionally announced as part of Earth Day recognition activities nationwide.
"We are delighted and honored that NOAA is recognizing Sea Grant personnel in their efforts in extension and educational outreach," said NOAA National Sea Grant College Program Director Ronald C. Baird. "The efforts of Bruce Miller, Brian Schatz and Sean Casey in Hawaii's YES program represent an excellent example of partnering extension and educational goals. Skip Hartman's work in New York represents a strong commitment of Sea Grant to promoting responsible use of our fishery and coastal resources."
The Hawaii trio was recognized for its creation of Youth for Environmental Service, called YES, a program which educates and engages K-12 students in discussions of local environmental issues. YES also gives students a chance to get involved in environmental projects, such as restoring trails, planting trees, picking up litter from beaches and streams, and more.
To date, YES has given presentations to more than 65,000 students in 450 schools; involved 25,000 students in environmental community service projects; removed 20 tons of debris from Honolulu streams; restored one mile of the most used hiking trail on Oahu; planted approximately 2,000 plants; cleaned 40 beaches; stenciled more than 2,500 storm drains with a "Dump No Waste" message; and organized more than 350 other community service projects.
In 1997, the Educational Foundation of America awarded a $56,000 grant to YES to continue its pilot projects in Los Angeles and San Francisco and to establish a YES pilot project in Seattle in partnership with the University of Washington Sea Grant program.
New York's Hartman, a member of the Seneca Native American nation, has been an active participant in the stewardship of the Great Lakes environment for more than a decade. In addition to his advisory work with the New York Sea Grant's sports fishery program, Hartman has served as chair of the Niagara County Fisheries Development Board and as a public-advisor-at-large for the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission and its Lake Ontario Committee.
Hartman has been and continues to be a particularly strong advocate of New York Sea Grant having played an important role as a member of New York Sea Grant's statewide Program Advisory Committee and the National Sea Grant Panel for a number of years.
As a co-advisor to the Lake Ontario Sportfisheries Promotion Council, Hartman's efforts led to funding available to initiate the Lake Ontario thermal-mapping program, under the aegis of Coastwatch. Most recently he has been instrumental in the development of a cage-culture project for chinook salmon fingerlings, as a cooperative effort between sportfishing stakeholders and fisheries managers.
Hartman would also like to give something back to his heritage. As an enrolled Seneca, he has been working with fisheries management people from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sea Grant, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Seneca Nation of Indians to lay the groundwork for a fisheries management plan for the Nation's water resources.
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