Syracuse, NY—Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environmental and Public Works Committee, congratulated the President of the Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI), Dr. Edward Michalenko, for winning the 2012 Environmental Quality Award. for his commitment and significant contributions to greening New York State. Senator Gillibrand nominated Dr. Michalenko this past February.
“I congratulate Dr. Michalenko for his dedication to creating a cleaner New York,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “Dr. Michalenko’s significant research contributions and his leadership in elevating the quality of life for our communities will go a long way towards a green energy future for our state.”
“On behalf of the Onondaga Environmental Institute, I am thankful and honored to receive this award. This is testimony to the hard work, dedication, and service that OEI’s staff provide the community,” said Edward Michalenko, President of the Onondaga Environmental Institute.
As president of the OEI, a non-profit dedicated to public education, scientific research, planning and restoration of the environment, Dr. Michalenko is currently overseeing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) grant for the revitalization of Onondaga Creek and water quality monitoring on behalf of the Onondaga Nation.
Dr. Michalenko has performed research on the effects of chemicals in the environment including the Solvay waste beds, which form the western shore of Onondaga Lake. He has co-authored five books and over 40 technical publications on the environmental fate and effects of chemicals for the USEPA, National Library of Medicine, and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry.
As the Town Supervisor of Dewitt, NY, Dr. Michalenko designed Dewitt’s tiered Solid Waste Removal System that promotes recycling and waste reduction, helped establish a Town Park at Fiddler’s Green along Butternut Creek, and serves as a founding Director of the Fiddlers Green Park Association.
Dr. Michalenko received his doctoral degree from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse.
Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations that have improved the environment and public health in EPA Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven federally-recognized Indian Nations), will be formally presented to New York organizations in a ceremony on Friday, April 27th at the EPA Regional Headquarters in New York City.