Environmental Excellence Award For Nova Scotia
TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS--Environmental Excellence Award For Nova Scotia
Two provincial government departments, Dalhousie University and a federal department have won a prestigious environmental award from the U.S.-based International Erosion Control Association.
The winning submission, titled Nova Scotia: An Erosion Control Success Story, profiled 20 years of collaboration by governments, contractors, developers, consultants and students. Various projects and studies led to significant reduction or elimination of construction sediments in urban developments, pipeline projects and highway construction.
The Environmental Achievement Award, the association's highest honour, was recently presented to Don Waller, director of the Centre for Water Resources Studies at Dalhousie University, at the 11th Annual Awards for Environmental Excellence in Orlando, Florida.
"I was proud to accept the award on behalf of my colleagues," said Mr. Waller. "Nova Scotia has benefitted greatly from the work of many people in the field of erosion and sediment control. It's gratifying to see our province recognized at this level."
The award-winning submission was a joint effort of Dalhousie's Centre for Water Resources Studies, Nova Scotia's departments of Transportation and Public Works and Environment and Labour and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Mr. Waller said that a number of significant training materials have been produced in recent years to help government departments, contractors and consultants deal with erosion and sediment control.
The Department of Transportation and Public Works, for example, now requires that grading contractors provide on-site staff who are trained in a course organized and presented by the Centre for Water Resources Studies, to deal responsibly with erosion challenges.
"I want to congratulate the project team," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "This award will prompt a great deal of positive coverage that reinforces the significant accomplishments that have taken place within government, the research community and within industry. We are proud of their efforts."
Details of Nova Scotia's award will be published in the bimonthly magazine Erosion Control, in the International Erosion Control Association's quarterly newsletter, News To Use, and on its Web site at www.ieca.org.
The association is a non-profit member organization that provides education, resource information and business opportunities for professionals in the erosion and sediment control industry. The association's 2,400 members represent 52 countries and 17 fields of professional practice.