The Rockland County Division of Environmental Resources is officially accepting nominations for the 28th annual Rockland County Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award.

To be eligible to receive the award an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a Rockland County resident. Individuals who have been nominated in the past, but not chosen, are eligible to be re-nominated.

Rockland County is a beautiful place that my administration, on top of protecting our people, is always striving to do more to preserve our environment and guide Rockland towards a greener future. My administration is proudly ranked one of the top local governments nationwide by the Environmental Protection Agency for utilizing 100% U.S. green electricity. 

My administration also launched Rockland’s Sustainability Project. Under this initiative almost two dozen departments are working together on generating a long-term plan to improve the County’s rankings in the New York State Climate Smart Communities and Clean Energy Communities programs. The more milestones we achieve in these programs the more grant funding we are eligible for, ultimately opening the door for more green investments without impacting the wallets of local taxpayers. 

In addition, we purchased and preserved over 300 acres over the past year under our Open Space Acquisition Program including a historic house and barn located at 101 Old Rt. 304 in New City, known as the DePew House.

But protecting the beauty of Rockland cannot be accomplished by this administration alone; residents must also do their part. 

Which is why every year we try to find one of those environmental heroes and honor them for their prestigious efforts with the County Executive’s Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award. This award recognizes exceptional individuals who care for our parks, champion our watershed programs, encourage recycling, and work every day to enhance the natural beauty of our county’s open spaces.

Submission deadline is Friday, August 29th with the winner then honored by me with a tree dedication ceremony at Kennedy Dells Park on Wednesday, October 8th @ 11 a.m. 

For more information, contact the Division of Environmental Resources at 845-364-2670 or via email at ENV@co.rockland.ny.us.