Application Period Extended for Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards

For Immediate Release: July 14, 2014

Contact: Amy Norris (916) 324-9670

SACRAMENTO – The deadline to apply for the State’s most prestigious environmental achievement honor is extended to Friday, July 18. Applications for the 2014 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards (GEELA) program are available at
www.calepa.ca.gov/Awards/GEELA/.

The GEELA program recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership for voluntary achievements in conserving California’s resources, protecting and enhancing the environment, building public-private partnerships, and strengthening the state’s economy.

GEELA recipients are chosen in 14 different categories, from climate change to environmental justice to waste reduction. This year’s awards include a new category:

• The new category is titled Agricultural Ecosystem Services and was created to recognize farmers and ranchers for the multiple benefits gained from farming and ranching. These benefits include innovative and sustainable approaches to water conservation, food crop production efficiency and management of working lands.

Established in 1993, the GEELA is a competitive program administered by the California Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the Natural Resources Agency; the Department of Food and Agriculture; the State Transportation Agency; the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency; the Labor and Workforce Development Agency; the Health and Human Services Agency; and the Governor’s Office.

For more information about GEELA, please visit www.calepa.ca.gov/Awards/GEELA/.

# # #

• California Air Resources Board • Department of Pesticide Regulation • Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) • Department of Toxic Substances Control • Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment • State Water Resources Control Board • Regional Water Quality Control Boards

CalEPA, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 • P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812 • (916) 323-2514 www.calepa.ca.gov