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#05-250 November 21, 2005

Nominations Now Being Sought For State Environmental Award

The state of South Carolina is seeking nominations for an award to recognize individuals who are doing extraordinary work for the natural environment.

The S.C. Environmental Awareness Award, now in its 14th year, was established by the S.C. General Assembly during the 1992 legislative session to recognize outstanding contributions made toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina's natural resources.

Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 15. Nomination guidelines and forms are available on the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Web site at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/awards/environmental.html; contact Ann Nolte at (803) 734-9093; or e-mail: enviroaward@dnr.sc.gov.

Each year the public is invited to submit nominations that are then reviewed by an awards committee, which includes representatives from the state's environmental and natural resource agencies. In judging nominees, the committee considers excellence in innovation, leadership and accomplishments that influence positive changes affecting the natural environment.

Members of the awards committee represent the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, S.C. Forestry Commission and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.

John L. Knott Jr., president and CEO of The Noisette Co. LLC, won the 2004 S.C. Environmental Awareness Award. A native of Baltimore, Md., Knott is a third-generation developer who specializes in ecologically sound development, such as the sustainable community of Dewees Island and the redevelopment of 3,000 acres in North Charleston. Knott is also co-founder of the nonprofit organizations The Harmony Project and The Sustainability Institute of North Charleston. Knott was chosen to receive the award due to his innovativeness, leadership, impact, promotion of educational opportunities, ability to influence positive changes, and short- and long-term benefits of his projects.

Previous award winners are: