In 2019, Murrysville officials retrofitted a half-dozen storm water detention ponds, with plans to do the same for about a dozen more.

That’s precisely the type of project that should be nominated for a Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards, given annually by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. The nomination period opened on Jan. 2.

“Every year, we get such a variety of applications,” said Sally Tarhi, development manager for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. “I can never tell how competitive a given application will be, because it depends on what else comes in during that year.”

The awards are presented to people and organizations from 29 Western Pennsylvania counties who have demonstrated a positive impact on the local environment.

Businesses, local governments, nonprofits and individuals all are eligible for nomination.

Successful nominations will demonstrate measurable results or the impact of a project.

“It’s more about things that have been completed,” Tarhi said. “Sometimes people will submit a project where they aren’t able the show its impact, and that can lower their scores.”

Nominations are evaluated by an independent panel of judges and awards program staff. Five awards will be given and a $5,000 cash award will be donated in honor of each winner to qualified nonprofit groups with environmental programs benefiting the region.

Pennsylvania Environmental Council Communications Director Josh Raulerson said the council received dozens of applications in 2018, and two years of seriously wet weather and flooding in Western Pennsylvania could boost that figure.

“I’d certainly hope that nominations would reflect that communities, organizations and citizens are taking steps to meet those types of challenges,” he said. “But we only just opened nominations, so it’ll be a while before we know what types of projects they represent.”

Nominations are due by Feb. 7 at PECPA.org/apply. Winners will be notified in March and recognized at a May dinner in Pittsburgh.

For more, call 412-481-9400 or email WPEA@pecpa.org.