Dick Mallion, former Coos County Advisory Council member, was one of three Granite Staters honored Tuesday in Boston when the Environmental Protection Agency presented the 2008 Environmental Merit Awards.

This year's competition drew approximately 77 nominations from across New England. "These awards are among the highest honors EPA can bestow to recognize environmental accomplishments," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England Office. "The work of these individuals, organizations and businesses reflect the best attributes of New Englanders, working to find solutions to environmental issues. I offer my gratitude for their extraordinary contributions in protecting the environment." The merit awards, given out since 1970, honor individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts to preserve the region's environment.

Dick received the Lifetime Achievement Environmental Award. He is well-known in New Hampshire as a tireless advocate of the environment. As a member and recently chair of the Whitefield Conservation Commission, he has led efforts to create a town-wide inventory of natural resources, worked to protect the town's water resources and built coalitions with neighboring conservation commissions. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Pondicherry Division of the Silvio Conte National Wildlife Refuge.

Dick also played a lead role while serving on our advisory council in Coos County and the Weeks State Park Board of Directors. He chairs the board of the Nature Conservancy's New Hampshire chapter, working to clean major blowdowns from trails, carrying heavy timbers to construct bog bridges and monitoring the forests condition. He is as willing to share his ideas as his labor.

Our congratulations to Dick on this award!