EPA Recognizes McMahon and Three Others in RI for Environmental Achievement

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

 

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Bob McMahon, PHOTO: Flickr

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Robert McMahon, Arpin Group, Inc., Clean Ocean access and Terry Gray of the RI Department of Environmental Management with Environmental Merit Awards for environmental achievement. These four winners were among three dozen recipients across New England that were honored for helping to improve the environment. 

“We are proud to honor those citizens, businesses and organizations who have gone the extra mile to help protect and preserve our region’s natural resources. These New England award winners are committed to making our towns, cities and countryside of New England healthy, vibrant places with clean air, land and water,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.

The Environmental Merit Awards are awarded in the categories of individual, business, local, state or federal government and environmental, community, academia or nonprofit. The EPA also presents lifetime achievement awards for individuals. 

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Lifetime Achievement - Robert McMahon 

Bob McMahon retired as superintendent of Providence’s Parks Department in 2015 after nearly 30 years of public service, most of them with the city of Providence. During his time, McMahon oversaw and often led projects that contributed to a better quality of life for Providence, especially for communities that were burdened by pollution and neglect.

Business, Industry, Trade or Professional - Arpin Group, Inc 

Arpin specializes in domestic and international moving, global information storage management and environmental stewardship, through its subsidiaries, Arpin Van Lines, Arpin International Group, Creative Storage Solutions, and Arpin Renewable Energy. Arpin continues to advance toward a more sustainable future to ultimately manage a company that is in balance with the economy and the environment. 

Environment, Community, Academia & Nonprofit - Clean Ocean Access 

Clean Ocean Access was founded in 2006 as a grassroots movement of surfers and outdoor enthusiasts concerned about public access to water and water quality at beaches. Today, Clean Ocean Access helps organize coastal cleanups to remove marine debris and provide water testing for water quality. It also helps monitor public rights-of-way to protect public access to shorelines. In nominating the organization, Judith Swift and Tom Borden of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program also recognized its co-founder and executive director, Dave McLaughlin.

Governmental - Terry Gray, RI Department of Environmental Management 

Gray is part of the State Performance Partnership Improvement Team.

The State Performance Partnership Improvement Team made the concept of E-Enterprise a reality. The team used 21st century tools to streamline work plan negotiations and ultimately strengthen oversight and management of the Performance Partnership Grant progress for New England state partners. 

 

For more on the EPA's Environmental Merit Awards, click here. 

 

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