A nonprofit, a state agency, and a state employee from the Great Lakes region were recently recognized by the Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative Leadership (MCDI) Group for being role models in reducing diesel emissions.

Two MCDI awards were presented to organizations that have taken outstanding measures or actions to reduce diesel emissions. The winners are the Minnesota Environmental Initiative and Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

This year, the Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative Leadership Group presented the "High Horsepower" Award for Individual Excellence to a person who demonstrated outstanding leadership and has made an appreciable difference for cleaner air in the Midwest. The award winner in this category is Darwin Burkhart of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

The MCDI Leadership Group consists of 33 public sector, nonprofit, and private industry organizations that share the goal of cutting emissions from 1 million diesel engines in the Region 5 states by 2010. MCDI will do this through operational changes, technological improvements, and use of cleaner fuels. The Initiative also supports EPA Region 5 states' clean diesel coalitions in order to foster clean diesel activities that reduce fuel use and emissions.

INFO: Contact Steve Marquardt at 312-353-3214.