Troy, NY - Audubon leaders from across New York met in Saratoga Springs to present the annual William B. Hoyt Environmental Excellence Award to Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman for his dedication to protecting New York’s environment. The award is named in honor of former Assemblyman Hoyt a committed environmental advocate who passed away in 1992 and was presented March 18th as part of the spring meeting of the Audubon Council of New York State.
“Attorney General Schneiderman has distinguished himself as a conservation champion and a strong ally to Audubon and we are proud to present him with the 2017 William Hoyt Environmental Excellence Award,” said Erin Crotty, Executive Director of Audubon New York. “Throughout his tenure, Attorney General Schneiderman has remained steadfast in his commitment to New York’s environment by defending and supporting critical conservation and clean energy issues across the state, including the successful defense of New York State’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. It’s an honor to work in close partnership with such a dedicated leader and conservationist and we are proud to present this award for his unwavering support of the future of New York’s birds, people, and communities.”
The Hoyt Award is presented annually to federal or state officials in recognition of work above and beyond the normal call of duty to advance critical solutions to the most pressing environmental issues. Throughout his time in office, Attorney General Schneiderman has been a champion for environmental conservation in New York. From dedicating settlement funds to local efforts to improve water quality in the Bronx River, combat water pollution in Lake Champlain, and fund projects aimed at restoring lakes and streams in the Adirondacks to helping secure a Supreme Court ruling regarding the amount of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide pollution that is allowed to cross state lines, Attorney General Schneiderman has been a leading voice in addressing New York’s most pressing environmental conservation issues and a staunch advocate for Audubon’s mission.
New York Attorney General Schneiderman said, “I thank Audubon New York and the Audubon Council of New York State for honoring me with its 2017 William B. Hoyt Environmental Excellence Award. It is a great privilege to be recognized by your organizations and to join the ranks of past awardees. Our state continues to face environmental challenges ahead, but my office remains committed to working diligently on the local, state, and federal level to ensure that New York’s precious environmental and natural resources receive the protection they demand.”
Past award recipients include then Assemblyman Maurice Hinchey (1990), Assemblyman William Hoyt (1991), Assemblyman Pete Grannis (1992), Senator Owen Johnson (1993), Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (1995), Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (1996), Assemblyman Steven Englebright (1997), Senator Carl Marcellino (1998), DEC Commissioner John Cahill (2000), Assemblyman Sam Hoyt (2001), Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (2002), Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli (2003), Governor George E. Pataki (2004), OPRHP Commissioner Bernadette Castro (2005), Congressman Maurice Hinchey (2007), Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano (2008), Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (2009), Assemblywoman Ginny Fields (2010), Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (2011), Senator Mark Grisanti (2012), Commissioners Rose Harvey and Lucy Waletzky (2013), Senator Betty Little (2014), Congressman Chris Gibson (2015) and Assemblyman Steve Otis (2016).
About Audubon New York: As a leading state program of the National Audubon Society, Audubon New York (Audubon NY) leads our network of 50,000 members, 27 local Audubon Chapters, seven sanctuaries and nature centers and our thousands of annual visitors, volunteers, and partners throughout the state. Audubon achieves its mission to protect birds and their habitats by connecting our vast and powerful network along the migratory flyways of the Americas through science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation programs. Learn more at ny.audubon.org and @audubonny
