ISAS and IDOT Win 2011 Environmental Excellence Award
Thomas Emerson (ISAS Interim Director) and John Walthall (IDOT Chief Archaeologist) received the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Environmental Excellence Award.
The Environmental Excellence Awards were designed to recognize and reward the commitment to deliver projects that protect and enhance the environment, but that shorten project delivery, advance innovative technology, and “go greener.” These awards officially recognize the partners, projects, and processes that enhance FHWA’s awareness of the environment and how they do business.
As one of the 12 winning entries, ISAS and IDOT were selected by an independent panel of judges recognizing efforts on the New Mississippi River Bridge Project.
For more information about the awards, visit: http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/eea2011/index.htm
And to learn more about the New Mississippi River Bridge Project visit: http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/eea2011/historical_resources.htm
(L to R) Gerry Solomon, John Walthall (IDOT), Tom Emerson (ISAS), Daniel Mathis (FHWA)
“Our stellar Cultural Resources Unit from the Environment Section has won yet another award for their groundbreaking archaeological work on the New Mississippi River Bridge in District Eight. Once again, they have shown that we can prosecute our core mission of planning, designing, building and maintaining a highway system while still documenting, respecting, preserving and understanding our most precious cultural resources. Congratulations on a continuing job well done.”
Scott E. Stitt, P.E.
Acting Engineer of Design and Environment
Bureau of Design and Environment / Division of Highways / Illinois Department of Transportation
“It was a great pleasure and honor to receive, on behalf of the staff of ISAS, the biannual 2011 Environmental Excellence Award from the FHWA at the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, in Seattle last week for the New Mississippi Bridge Project. The project was selected as one of twelve so honored from national group of over 125 nominees. To be selected is a testament to the quality and hard work of the American Bottom Field Station and all of the ISAS support staff. Thank you for our past and ongoing efforts.” —Thomas E. Emerson, Director of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey
[posted August 30, 2011]