Environmental Excellence Awards

Eligibility | Requirements | Award Categories | Scoring Guidelines | Past Winners


The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) seeks nominations each year for our annual National Environmental Excellence Awards. Applicants who are eligible to win represent a national or major achievement involving national organizations, Federal, State, tribal, or local agencies or companies; achieve a national or international contribution to the environment with verifiable results and evidence, and achieve innovation in compliance methodology and/or integration of decision-making with environmental regulatory processes.

2023 Awards Recipients

Selected Award Winners receive a beautiful award plaque; an invitation to briefly address participants at the Annual NAEP National Conference; complimentary article space in the summer NAEP newsletter; and recognition on the NAEP website. 

You do not need to be a member of NAEP to submit a nomination or to receive an award!

Nominations for 2024 are closed.

However, everything you need to prepare your nomination for next year is on this webpage! 

Nominations Deadline: November 30, 2023 


Eligibility

To be eligible for the Environmental Excellence Awards a project or program must:

  • Be located, implemented, or constructed in the United States of America (USA) and/or its territories.  The project team developing the project or program does not need to be located within the USA or territories.
  • Be relatively new, meaning it was worked on, developed, implemented, or completed within the last five years.
  • Be in any stage of the project development process, meaning the project or program does not have to be implemented or constructed to be eligible. 
  • Be any type of private or public local, state, or federal project or program.

Submission Requirements

  • You may submit the same project/program nomination in more than one category.  Each nomination must be a separate submission through the nomination form.
  • Members and non-members of NAEP may submit nominations.
  • You do not need to be a member of NAEP to receive an award. 

Nominators must provide the following information regarding the project, program, or action being nominated for the Environmental Excellence Award. All nominations must be submitted through the 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards nomination form. 

Nominee/Project Contact Information

  • Point Person for Application Process (The committee may reach out to this person if they have any questions regarding this project, program, or action)
  • Phone number and email address for Point Person
  • Name of Project/Program/Action being nominated
  • Agency, Company, or Work Group being nominated
  • Mailing address where we can send the award if the nominee wins the award

Questions regarding the nominated Project, Program, or Action

  1. Identify the environmental challenge or problem statement that your program, project,  or action addresses (up to 100 words)
  2. Describe how the project, program, or action emphasizes creative or novel approaches. What makes the nominated project, program, or action stand out in the selected award category? (up to 200 words)
  3. Describe the best verifiable evidence of significant results and achievement as a result of this project, program, or action. (up to 100 words)
  4. Identify the beneficiaries of the project, program, or action. (up to 100 words)
  5. Describe the unique features or methodologies used in this project, program, or action (up to 100 words)
  6. If applicable, describe the committed public/private implementation funding, monetary benefits, and cost savings from the project, program, or action. (up to 100 words)
  7. Does this project, program, or action have any pending legal actions concerning the project, program, or action?
    1. If yes, please explain. 

You may also include optional supporting documents in your submission including an abstract description of the program, project, or action, publications, supportive letters from stakeholders, and/or other documentation to support the nomination. *All documents must be submitted in a single PDF


Award Categories

Best Available or Innovative Technology

Projects or programs that implement new or emerging technology or utilize existing technology in unique and innovative ways.  

Environmental Management, Stewardship, Conservation, and/or Protection

Projects or programs that effectively manage, conserve, preserve, repair, or prevent deterioration of natural resources or ecosystems in a long-term sustainable manner.

NEPA Planning Integration 

Projects or programs that apply an interdisciplinary planning process to comply with federal or state environmental planning laws resulting in clear documentation to help agencies and the public make informed decisions.

Public Involvement and Education

Projects or programs that engages or educates the public in ways that are meaningful, informative, effective, creative, and innovative.


Scoring Guidelines

  • Description of environmental problem – 10 points
  • Creative or novel approach of project/program – 10 points
  • Verifiable evidence that project/program is successful – 10 points
  • Description of the beneficiaries of project/program – 10 points
  • Unique features or methodologies – 10 points
  • Implementation of the project/program – 10 points
  • Supporting documentation – 10 points 

Nominations Closed

Nominations Window: September 1 - November 30, 2023 


Past Environmental Excellence Awards Recipients

Learn about past award winners! Select a conference year below to read about award-winning projects and participants:

2022 Winners
2023 Winners
2020 Winners
2021 Winners
2018 Winners 2019 Winners
2016 Winners 2017 Winners
2014 Winners 2015 Winners
2012 Winners
2013 Winners
2010 Winners
2011 Winners

View Previous Years