By Mark Edward Nero
The Federal Maritime Commission has opened nominations for its 2014 Chairman’s Earth Day Awards, which honors members of the maritime transportation industry for innovations and successes in developing environmentally sustainable shipping practices.
Specifically, the award highlights technologies, programs and practices of the maritime transportation industry that benefit the environment through efficiency or innovation.
The Chairman’s Earth Day Award is open to participants that meet certain requirements, including:
• Nominated private entities must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States.
• Nominated individuals, whether participating singly or in a group, must be citizens or permanent residents of the US.
• Nominees cannot be a federal entity or federal employee acting within the scope of their employment.
The submission period is from Jan. 13 to March 10. At the end of the period, eligible submissions are to be evaluated based on:
• Programs or practices that provide an environmental benefit or reduction in environmental harm, including but not limited to, efforts that encourage a reduction in emissions or pollutants.
• Programs or practices that are sustainable and also serve as models for others to follow or replicate.
• Efforts that increase the public’s awareness of the maritime transportation industry’s efforts to protect the environment.
Submissions should include a title and a description of the program or practice in a document of up to five pages or a presentation of up to 10 slides. Optional material includes a link to additional information on the program, as well as videos or pictures.
Submissions can be emailed to Mary Hoang at mhoang@fmc.gov or mailed to: Mary Hoang, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol St. NW, Washington, DC 20573.
More information about the FMC and the Chairman’s Earth Day Award can be gained by contacting Mary Hoang at (202) 521-5733 or visiting http://www.fmc.gov/news/maritime_environmental_issues.aspx.
