Press

Thursday, April 26, 2007

The EPA has honored more than 40 individuals and organizations from New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with its Environmental Quality Awards. Honorees were singled out for their outstanding achievements in protecting the environment. At today's NYC awards ceremony, Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Regional Administrator was joined by keynote speaker Cory A. Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey in presenting the awards.

Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker, Hopewell Junction resident Debra Hall and EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg

Photo courtesy: Fred Robbins

Debra Hall, Hopewell Junction Citizens for Clean Water, Hopewell Junction, NY received the EPA's highest public award for her efforts.

Debra has become an outspoken advocate for a number of environmental concerns including indoor air standards and well testing. Living above the contaminated plume at the Hopewell Precision Superfund site, she played a key role in getting EPA to place the site on the National Priorities List of the most hazardous waste sites. Her various public testimonies have promoted the use of specialized equipment to characterize the presence of hazardous vapors that make their way into homes from contaminated sites. She is also conservation chair of the Mid-Hudson Sierra Club and a proponent of better protective standards for the chemical TCE.

Honored to attend Debra's award ceremony in NYC was her husband David Hall, Dutchess County Legislators Marge Horton, Sandra Goldberg and William McCabe; Fred Robbins of Neighbors for a Safe Community, and Tim Leed of Save Wiccopee Organization.