Album: Laboratories
Select this album to view photos from our laboratories.

The Illinois EPA’s float won the top honor---the Governor’s Sweepstakes Award --- in the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade on August 7 in Springfield. Inspired by the Indiana Jones adventure films, the float featured a boulder of trash rolling down to destroy the “Temple of Earth” that is stopped by an environmentally responsible family working to reduce its carbon footprint.

During the Illinois State Fair Ag Day program on August 14, IEPA Director Doug Scott (right) presented a recognition award to the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) for their key partnership in the Illinois Conservation Climate Initiative to enlist the agricultural community and landowners in combatting global warming. Accepting the award was Terry Davis, AISWCD President (left) and Rich Nichols, Executive Director (second from right). Joining in were Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke (second from left) and 2007 Illinois County Fairs Queen Ashley Wilner (center).

The "Green Pearl"---the Illinois EPA's "pirate ship" made from recycled materials, sailed the streets of Springfield during the Illinois State Fair parade on August 9 and was recognized with the "Director's Award" for Non-Commercial Floats. These "pirates" are dedicated to protecting, not plundering our environment and when they say ""Aaar" they mean the Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle," calling on fairgoers to "Discover the Treasures in Your Trash." The float will be on display at the IEPA pavillion in Conservation World at the State Fairgrounds, along with other "pirate" related activities for youngsters, through August 19.

Recognizing outstanding participation by the agricultural community in the Illinois Conservation and Climate Initiative on April 12 were (left to right): IEPA Director Doug Scott, landowner participant Rollie Spaniol, landowner participant Terry Davis, Tim Brown of the Delta Institute, Rich Nichols of the Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Ron Meissen of Baxter International.

The distinguished career and contributions to Illinois environmental programs by retiring longtime Caterpillar Inc. environmental affairs manager Bill Compton (right) was honored on Feb. 15, 2007 with establishment of a new Corporate Environmental Stewardship Award in his name, presented by IEPA Director Doug Scott (left).

The Mid-Valley Neighborhood Improvement Assoc. (MVNIA) in Kane County was recognized with a Governor's PATH (People Are Today's Heroes) Award for their ReUseIt Center and other projects benefitting the community and environment. At the award presentation were (Left to right) Batavia Mayor Jeffrey Schielke; MVNIA Executive Director Monica Jenkins; IEPA Director Doug Scott; MVNIA Board President Cathy Barnard; and State Rep. Linda Chapa La Via.

Gene Peters (right) conducted a tour of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville as part of the program "Building an Ethanol Plant Workshop."

A workshop on ethanol plants will be held at the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville on May 24, 2006.