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Three Rhode Island Residents Win Environmental Educator Awards

Release Date: 05/10/2001
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - Three residents of Rhode Island will be recognized this weekend by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for demonstrating exceptional work in drinking water education.

The three Rhode Island Environmental Educator Awards will be given out at a ceremony at 1:30 pm Saturday, May 12, at the Rhode Island Earth Day Family Festival 2001 at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick.

"These citizens have made a huge contribution in educating Rhode Islanders about the importance of clean and safe drinking water," said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. "EPA New England applauds and honors them for their work in protecting drinking water."

The recipients in Rhode Island are:

• Kathleen Bouffard, a science teacher at the Kickemuit Middle School in Warren, is being recognized for arranging special tours of the local water treatment plant to give students a close-up view of how drinking water is treated.
  
• Carl Destremps, superintendent at the Stone Bridge Fire District in Tiverton, has voluntarily visited schools to talk about effluent from the treatment plant, drinking water quality and the importance of protecting this resource. In addition, he gives guided tours of the plant to area youth.
  
• Patricia Sullivan, of the Stafford Pond Steering Committee in Tiverton, is being recognized for her guidance as a member of the Stafford Pond Steering Committee and her leadership in educating residents about the importance of protecting their water supply.