Cowan honored as protector of environment

Cowan honored as

protector of environment

Peachtree City's

Joel Cowan, chairman of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority,

has been honored for his work to protect the environment.

Cowan received

an Environmental Merit Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Southeast Region recently. He was one of 16 people in eight Southeast

states to receive the honor in its first year, along with 31 non-profit

organizations, government groups and businesses.

He was selected

from more than 250 nominees because of his efforts with GRTA as well as

a lifelong commitment to sustainable economic growth, said EPA regional

administrator John Hankinson. Cowan was one of the original developers

of Peachtree City, which set aside 20 percent of its land area as public

green space and has 80 miles of recreational paths.

Cowan also

headed the Georgia Growth Strategies Commission in the 1980s.

People like

Cowan make a big impact on the environment, said Hankinson. "One

of the real transformations we are seeing is an increasing emphasis of

citizens who have committed their professional and personal lives to the

environment," he said.

Gov. Roy Barnes

joined Hankinson in presenting the award, calling Cowan "one of the

most forward-thinking individuals I have ever met."

"I'm proud

to be here to honor Joel Cowan and all the other recipients of these awards,"

the governor added.

The awards

ceremony was at the Carter Center in Atlanta.