Kentucky.gov

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) celebrated its success last week as the regional winner of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Performance and Innovation Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) Award.

“Ensuring Kentucky's natural beauty for generations to come requires protecting the environment today,” said Gov. Beshear. “Congratulations to KIA and their partner organizations for their national recognition in these efforts.”

The 2009 PISCES Awards recognized outstanding state programs that have achieved innovation and success in the past year. Specifically, this year’s awards honored states that have been effective in advancing performance and improving water quality protection through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. One award recipient was selected from each of 10 regions.

“We are honored to receive the Performance and Innovation Creating Environmental Success Award,” said John Covington III, executive director of KIA. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the coordinated efforts of the KIA and the Kentucky Division of Water, Energy and Environment Cabinet in streamlining the process for the program in making it easier for our borrowers.”

KIA has employed an effective outreach program with a watershed approach to ensure there is a large buffer of projects for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Green Project Reserve. These projects include a terraced reforestation project to eliminate highway runoff and a muck-burning bio-energy management unit at the Kentucky Horse Park. KIA has also joined in their efforts with a number of partner organizations, enabling more communities to benefit from the work.

All winners were announced at the national meeting of the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities (CIFA) in Seattle, Wash.

For more information about the PISCES Awards, visit http://www.epa.gov.

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