AEP Student Scholarships ($2,000 each)
Jacqueleen Weeden
Nicholas Segovia
Diversity in the Environmental Profession Scholarship ($1,000 each)
Yasmin Corral
Emilio Martinez Ruiz
Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document: EIR or EIS
Fox Point Farms Environmental Impact Report - City of Encinitas Planning Division and Michael Baker International
Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document: ND, MND, or EA
Santee Cannabis Business Ordinance MND - City of Santee and Harris & Associates
Outstanding Technical Report
Midway-Pacific Highway Community Plan Coastal Height Limit Removal - City of San Diego, Estrada Land Planning, and Harris & Associates
Outstanding Public Involvement
Live Oak Springs Water System Improvements Project - County of San Diego Department of Public Works
Outstanding Innovation in Resilient or Sustainable Planning and Design
Watershed Protection Program for the Green Streets Clean Water Plan - County of San Diego Department of Public Works
Outstanding Contribution to the Environmental Profession
Lisa Capper
The AEP Awards Committee is excited to announce the 2022 Awards and Scholarship Event will be held in person(!) at VASA North Park on Thursday, October 13th from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Our theme this year is the Power of Community which is fitting as we transition back to celebrating our members the old fashioned way- sans Microsoft Teams and Zoom!
It also means it's time to show off what you've been working so hard on! If you have worked on CEQA or NEPA-related projects in San Diego, Imperial, Orange, or Riverside Counties in the past year, submit a nomination application to win a shiny, new AEP Award! It's easy, it's fun, and everyone likes trophies! See below for more information.
We are now accepting nomination applications for the best of the best environmental documents for CEQA or NEPA-related projects in Southern California. This year there will be a $60 application fee to submit nominations. This fee will directly fund this year's student scholarships. The nomination period closes on Friday, September 9, 2022, at 5pm.
Individuals, firms, or agencies can submit nominations for themselves or for others for projects located in San Diego, Imperial, Orange, or Riverside counties. Individuals and firms are limited to one nomination per category. The AEP Awards Jury will not be accepting self-nominations in the Outstanding Contribution to the Environmental Profession category. The AEP Awards Jury will review the nominations and announce up to three finalists for consideration to receive each award, except the Outstanding Contribution to the Environmental Profession award, in which only one recipient will be selected. All winners will be kept confidential until announced at the event. Finalists that are not selected as the winner will receive a Meritorious Award and be recognized for their achievement. AEP reserves the right to decline to give out an award in any category if a sufficient quantity or quality of submittals is not received. Final details regarding awards presentation and format will be provided to the finalists no later than two weeks prior to the awards event. The winners will be announced at the awards event.
Send nominations to: Avneet Sidhu, Awards Committee Member at avneet@gridlegal.com .
Please direct any questions, concerns, or other inquiries regarding this process to Avneet Sidhu at avneet@gridlegal.com.
Outstanding EIR/EIS
This award is given to the agency and/or firm that published an outstanding environmental analysis or assessment document in 2021 or 2022 including an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and joint CEQA/NEPA document involving an EIR and/or EIS. Supplemental, Subsequent, and Program versions of such documents may be considered appropriate for this award category. The primary authors of the document must be based in San Diego or Imperial counties; however, the subject area of the report/survey may include San Diego, Imperial, Orange, or Riverside counties. All documents submitted must be accompanied with a letter from the lead agency providing concurrence for the category nomination. The AEP Awards Jury evaluates these types of documents on the basis of the following criteria:
Clarity of Organization and Writing – Logical and comprehensive; readable by the public, decision-makers, and professionals alike; concise, direct, and to the point
Completeness – Adequate, reliable, and thorough presentation of documentation and data
Adequacy of Summary – Concise, complete and salient
Originality – Unique approach to analysis and data presentation and/or unique solution to environmental issues
Ease of Use – Electronic document that is easy to navigate and accessible to the public
The nomination form for this category can be found HERE.
Outstanding MND/EA:
This award is given to the agency and/or firm that published an outstanding environmental analysis or assessment document in 2021 or 2022 including a Negative Declaration (ND), Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), Environmental Assessment (EA), and joint CEQA/NEPA documents involving an ND, MND and/or EA. The primary authors of the document must be based in San Diego or Imperial counties; however, the subject area of the report/survey may include San Diego, Imperial, Orange, or Riverside counties. All documents submitted must be accompanied with a letter from the lead agency providing concurrence for the category nomination. Draft or Final documents will be accepted, as long as they have completed public review. The AEP Awards Jury evaluates these types of documents on the basis of the following criteria:
Clarity of Organization and Writing – Logical and comprehensive; readable by the public, decision-makers, and professionals alike; concise, direct, and to the point
Completeness – Adequate, reliable, and thorough presentation of documentation and data
Originality – Unique approach to analysis and data presentation and/or unique solution to environmental issues
Ease of Use – Electronic document that is easy to navigate and accessible to the public
The nomination form for this category can be found HERE.
Outstanding Planning Document- Plan, Policy, or Ordinance:
This award is given to an agency and/or firm that published an outstanding planning document that addresses environmental issues or gives special consideration to the environment in 2021 or 2022. Sample documents include but are not limited to General Plans, Transportation Plans, Development Plans, and Ordinances. The primary authors of the document must be based in San Diego or Imperial counties; however, the subject area of the document may include San Diego, Imperial, Orange, or Riverside counties. All documents submitted must be accompanied by a letter for the regulatory agency providing concurrence. The AEP Awards Jury evaluates these types of documents based on the basis of the following criteria:
Clarity of Organization and Writing – Logical and comprehensive; readable by the public, decision-makers, and professionals alike; concise, direct, and to the point
Completeness – Adequate, reliable, and thorough presentation of documentation and regulations
Public Outreach – Efforts made to engage public in the creation of the document
Environmental Design – Design elements were included to avoid environmental impacts or enhance the environment
Ease of Use – Electronic document that is easy to navigate and accessible to the public
The nomination form for this category can be found HERE.
Outstanding Technical Report:
This award is given to an agency and/or firm that published an outstanding technical report, or utilized a unique technical approach in 2021 or 2022. The primary authors of the document must be based in San Diego or Imperial counties; however, the subject area of the report/survey may include San Diego, Imperial, Orange, or Riverside counties. Submitted reports may focus on the following issues, but are not limited to, Agriculture, Air Quality, Biology, Climate Change/Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Cultural Resources, Geology, Drainage and Hydrology, Hazardous Materials (PEA or Phase I), Noise, Storm Water, Traffic, and Visual Impact Analysis. Reports must be in a Final version to be considered for this award. A letter from the approving agency providing concurrence for the category nomination is required as part of the submission. The AEP Awards Jury evaluates these types of documents on the basis of the following criteria:
Clarity of Organization and Writing – Logical and comprehensive
Technical Difficulty – Analysis of complex issues and the ability to synthesize the information into the report or survey
Originality – Unique approach to analysis and data presentation and/or unique solution
Regulatory Adequacy – Comprehensive identification of and response to applicable regulations
Ease of Use – Electronic document that is easy to navigate and accessible to the public
The nomination form for this category can be found HERE.
Outstanding Public Involvement Award:
This award is given to an agency and/or firm that displayed outstanding achievement in community outreach and engagement over the past three years (2018-2022) in San Diego or Imperial counties. This award recognizes the firm or agency that effectively engaged the public in the environmental planning process and created a greater awareness of the role of the public in the process. A letter from the approving agency providing concurrence for the category nomination is required as part of the submission.
Emphasis is placed on the success of the outreach and the level of public participation during the process.
The nomination form for this category can be found HERE.
Outstanding Innovation in Resilient or Sustainable Planning and Design:
This award is given to an agency and/or firm that published an outstanding document related to multidisciplinary innovation in green planning and design in 2021 or 2022. Appropriate documents for consideration in this award category may include, but are not limited to: Climate Action Plans, Sustainability Plans, Resiliency Plans, alternative energy programs, Resource Management Plans, environmentally-related Implementation Plans, Significance Thresholds Guidelines, and other non-impact analysis/assessment studies and reports. The primary authors of the document must be based in San Diego or Imperial counties; however, the subject area of the document may include San Diego, Imperial, Orange or Riverside counties. This award is for documents that have made an effort to create and implement sustainable planning and to improve the natural environment through green planning and design. This category does not include CEQA/NEPA documents or technical reports. A letter from the approving agency providing concurrence for the category nomination is required as part of the submission. The AEP Awards Jury evaluates these types of documents on the basis of the following criteria:
Creativity and Innovation – Originality of methodology, format, or approach to an issue
Clarity – User friendly presentation of methodology and technical information, with direct and concise language appropriate for the audience
Implementation – Useful and applicable methodology and components for effective implementation
Integration – Comprehensive identification of and response to applicable regulations, zoning, plans, and other related policies
Ease of Use – Electronic document that is easy to navigate and accessible to the public
The nomination form for this category can be found HERE.
Outstanding CEQA Streamlining:
This award is given to an agency and/or firm that utilized a unique technical approach in 2021 or 2022 to streamline a project. The primary authors of the document must be based in San Diego County or Imperial counties; however, the subject area of the report/survey may include San Diego, Imperial, Orange, or Riverside counties. Submitted reports may focus on the following streamlining provisions, but are not limited to, Exemptions, Ministerial Exemptions, Program EIR Tiering, Specific Plan Tiering, and Addendums. The project must be approved with streamlined review to be considered for this award. The AEP Awards Jury evaluates these types of documents on the basis of the following criteria:
Clarity of Organization and Writing – Logical and comprehensive; readable by the public, decision-makers, and professionals alike; concise, direct, and to the point
Technical Difficulty – Analysis of complex issues and the ability to synthesize the information into the report or survey
Originality – Unique approach to analysis and data presentation and/or unique solution
Regulatory Adequacy – Comprehensive identification of and response to applicable regulations
Ease of Use – Electronic document that is easy to navigate and accessible to the public
The nomination form for this category can be found HERE.
