FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 19, 2005) – The Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission (EQC), Kentucky League of Cities and Kentucky Association of Counties have joined together for Earth Day to honor 12 community initiatives that exemplify principles of sustainability.

“Some of these initiatives are innovative, some are bold, some are plain common sense,” EQC Chair Lindell Ormsbee said. “But all will enhance the productivity and prosperity of our communities without compromising the integrity of the environment.”

Twelve award winners will be honored Friday, April 22, in a ceremony to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Earth Day. LaJuana S. Wilcher, secretary of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, and Kateri Callahan, president of the national Alliance for Energy Efficiency, will join in the celebration and offer remarks.

The 2005 Earth Day Award recipients are:

• Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails – Eastern Kentucky University
• Carnation/Nestle/Silgan Mitigation and Redevelopment Project – City of Maysville
• The Preston Project – Bath County
• Partnership for a Green City – University of Louisville, Jefferson County Public Schools, Metro Government
• Indoor Clean Air Ordinance – Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government
• Regional Community Stewardship – Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties
• Strodes Creek Watershed Conservancy – Clark County
• Elkhorn City Adventure, Where Nature Meets Culture – Pike County
• Concerned Citizens of Russellville and Logan County and KP Hall
• Lower Town Artist Relocation – City of Paducah
• Kenton County Brownfield Initiative
• Greenbelt System – Bowling Green and Warren County Greenways Commission

During the ceremony, EQC also will honor Tom Bennett, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, with a public service award. A special lifetime achievement award will also be presented by the Commission.

Reporters must register with EQC by Thursday, April 21 to attend the event. The ceremony will be held at the Governor’s Mansion in Frankfort.  Presentations will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude at approximately 3:30 p.m. EDT.

This ceremony is part of a series of environmentally related events scheduled by state agencies to celebrate Earth Day. Spearheaded by the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, a number of state agencies, local governments, businesses and organizations have joined to celebrate Earth Day.   For more information, visit the state Earth Day Web site at www.environment.ky.gov/earthday to learn more about Kentucky's Earth Day celebration.