April 23, 2003
Contact: Sarah Ray
802-443-5794
sray@middlebury.edu
Posted: April 23, 2003
MIDDLEBURY,
VT - The New England Office of the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected Middlebury
College to receive an annual Environmental Merit Award. Middlebury will
receive the award based on its use of green certified wood and the subsequent
impact of the College’s demand for this product on Vermont’s
environment and economy. To be green certified, wood must meet standards
that conform to sustainable forest management practices. In a letter to
Nan Jenks-Jay, Middlebury College director of environmental affairs, Robert
W. Varney, regional administrator for the EPA, stated, “The award
recognizes outstanding environmental advocates who have made significant
contributions toward preserving and protecting our natural resources.”
David Ginevan, Middlebury College executive vice president of facilities
planning; Churchill Franklin, chairman of the Middlebury College board
of trustees; Jenks-Jay and several other representatives of the College
attended an Earth Day ceremony in Boston on April 22 to receive the award.
Over the past five years, Middlebury has created a demand for green certified
Vermont wood by using nearly 200,000 board feet of it - harvested
from both
the College’s own land as well as family-owned forests in the state.
In 2002, the College opened three buildings - a residence and a
dining hall
that incorporated 58,000 board feet of green certified wood and a recycling
center that utilized 16,000 board feet. The dining and residence halls
include classrooms and study lounges that are also furnished with tables,
chairs, display cases and sofas crafted by three Vermont furniture manufacturers
from green certified Vermont wood.
In December 2002, College officials signed a contract for more than $509,000
with Island Pond Woodworkers, whose employees will provide various custom
designed items for Middlebury’s new library, including book stack
end panels, media stations, and study carrels. Construction of the new
library began in the spring of 2002 and will be complete in the summer
of 2004. Don Maiolo, president of the company, said that the College’s
contract for millwork was instrumental in supporting the resurrection
of the Island Pond operation, which was founded by a local group of former
Ethan Allen employees who wanted to start their own operation in Island
Pond, a town in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, after the furniture
maker shut down its plant there in July 2001.
To construct items for Middlebury’s library, Island Pond Woodworkers
will use approximately 55,000 board feet of wood. All of this wood will
be harvested in Vermont and at least 75 percent of it will be green certified.
Middlebury College officials require that the processing of wood take
place within the region so that Vermont businesses log, haul, mill and
prepare the wood for campus projects.
Jenks-Jay said, “Being recognized by the EPA to receive this distinguished
award is a distinct honor for the College. While the unyielding support
of this institution’s administration has been paramount to Middlebury’s
success and advancement as an environmental leader, many people have contributed
to creating a shared environmental vision at Middlebury and in Vermont,
and can be proud of receiving this award.”