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Contact: Sean Mahar
Audubon New York
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George Drapeau
Construction Industry Council
914-631-6070

Congressman Tim Bishop and Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward Honored for Leadership to Restore Long Island Sound
Congressman Nadler Presented Prestigious Long Island Sound Guardian Award on behalf of the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition at the Water Club on April 16th.

New York, NY April 16, 2009 - To celebrate the continued recovery of Long Island Sound, two of the most prominent leaders in the restoration efforts, Congressman Tim Bishop and Christopher O. Ward, The Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, were honored as the 2009 recipients of the Sound Guardian Award. This Award is given on an annual basis to outstanding policy makers whose actions have made a difference in the protection, restoration and stewardship of Long Island Sound.

The 2009 Sound Guardian Award was presented by Congressman Jerrold Nadler on behalf of the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition, a unique partnership among conservation, construction industry and labor organizations, working together to create jobs and to restore the Long Island Sound, lead by Audubon New York, the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley Inc., and the New York State Laborers. Congressman Bishop and Mr. Ward received the awards at the Water Club on Thursday April 16th.

Congressman Tim Bishop is receiving the 2009 Sound Guardian Award for his leadership in urging Congress to prioritize the restoration of Long Island Sound's water quality and beaches. Serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, Congressman Bishop has worked tirelessly to protect the Long Island Sound, and has been a leading advocate fighting to secure increased funding for our wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, which keeps New Yorkers working and improves water quality

"Congressman Bishop and Chris Ward are true champions of the Sound, working hard to make sure that New York gets its fair share of federal funds to clean up the sewage treatment plants around Long Island Sound and other priority ecosystems," said Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director of Audubon New York. "The dedication and perseverance of both these distinguished individuals have made it clear to the leaders in Washington and New York that Long Island Sound is an ecosystem not only critical for birds, marine life, and the people who live on its shores, but is both a national ecological and economic treasure that must be protected."

"The Long Island Sound is a resource which must be maintained for future generations. I have fought in Congress to obtain funding for efforts keep the Sound healthy and beautiful for years to come," said Congressman Bishop. "I am honored to receive the Sound Guardian Award and will continue to fight to preserve and protect the Sound."

Christopher O. Ward, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is receiving the 2009 Sound Guardian Award for his legacy of restoring Long Island Sound while serving as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Managing Director of The General Contractors Association of New York, Inc.. During his tenure with DEP, Mr. Ward helped broker a landmark agreement with the State of New York, committing the City to reduce nitrogen flowing into the Sound, and also made upgrading the City's wastewater infrastructure a top priority which carried through to his time with the GCA.

"Among his many accomplishments when Chris Ward served in private industry, he was a vital link to government that identified and secured millions of dollars in needs for pollution control and wastewater treatment needs as well as improvements to our drinking water infrastructure," said Ross J. Pepe, President of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc. "The project work that that stemmed from these initiatives created and saved hundreds of thousands of jobs and generate many more millions of dollars in economic activity across the region and the state. We congratulate both Mr. Ward and Congressman Bishop for being true Sound Guardians."

"This coalition demonstrates how the construction industry, labor unions, and environmental advocates can work together to restore Long Island Sound. The major beneficiary of this effort will be the millions of people who live near the Sound," James Melius, Administrator, New York State Laborers' Tri Funds. "We thank Congressman Bishop and Christopher Ward for all their efforts to advance our coalition's priorities and make the Sound a cleaner, healthier place."

"The millions of dollars in public investment being spent in this region require an equally bold initiative to preserve key natural resources. As we move forward, it's important that the strong bond between the public and private sectors continue to allow critical habitats such as the Long Island Sound to be restored and preserved, and I am honored to be receiving the 2009 Sound Guardian Award" said Christopher Ward, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Long Island Sound contributes more than $8 billion annually to the region's economy, and 10 percent (28 million people) of the nation's entire population lives within 50 miles of its shores. The restoration of its water quality and the protection of its shores has been the joint mission of the Clean Water/Jobs Coalition. This broad coalition has achieved several important milestones including, passage of the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act, which established a stewardship initiative to identify, protect, and enhance significant open space, ecological and recreational sites along the Sound, and passage and reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Restoration Act which provides funding for projects to protect the water quality of the Sound through waste water treatment plant upgrades, and projects to meet the goals of nitrogen reduction.

Past recipients include Governor George E. Pataki, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Congressman Christopher Shays, Congressman Sherwood L. Boehlert, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Congressman James T. Walsh, Erin Crotty, Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Senator Hillary Clinton, Congressman Steve Israel, and Congressman Maurice Hinchey.

Audubon New York, the 50,000 member State program of the National Audubon Society, is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitats that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences.

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