Salem has a number of champions for the environment, and the U.S. government knows it. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Salem Alliance for the Environment (S.A.F.E.) and Salem resident Barbara Warren among a handful of organizations, businesses and individuals chosen from across New England for the Prestigious Regional EPA Environmental Award.

The award ceremony took place in Faneuil Hall on April 18, a few days before Earth Day.  The merit awards, which have been given since 1970, recognize those who have significantly contributed to environmental awareness and problem solving.  This year’s winners were culled from a pool of 54 nominations from throughout New England.  “This is our first award, and we are really thrilled,” said Patricia Gozemba, a S.A.F.E. board member. “It came as a shock when we received the notification. We are really shocked and pleased.”

Mayor Kim Driscoll nominated S.A.F.E. for its award, which was in the category for environmental and nonprofit organizations. The co-presidents of S.A.F.E., Jeffrey Barz-Snell and Caroline Nye, went into Boston to accept the award.  S.A.F.E., said Gozemba, “is a grassroots group of residents who are committed to making Salem as healthy as can be, given the number of pollutants that exist in historic communities.”  S.A.F.E. also dedicated to infusing the city with clean, renewable energy, working with National Grid in their GreenUP program.  As a result of S.A.F.E.’s fundraising efforts, the city of Salem has recently purchased five solar powered trash compactors, called “Big Bellies.”  Two are located downtown, and three will hit the Willows this summer.

Gozemba has been with S.A.F.E. since its inception, soon after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The members have been working to enlighten Salem residents to the benefits of investing in renewable energy.  Gozemba, for instance, has changed all her light bulbs in her house to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They have reduced her electricity usage by 20 percent, which covers the premium she pays for renewable energy.  With the success of acquiring the solar trash compactors behind them, S.A.F.E. is next setting their sights on wind power.  Their next project will be working to establish one or two wind turbines in the South Essex Sewer District, which will power the machines that clean water in Salem.  “It will be kind of ironic to see the old technology of the power plant right next to the new wind turbines,” said Gozemba.

S.A.F.E. has a group of about 10 to 15 core board members who meet on the last Tuesday of each month at the First Church in Salem on Essex Street. At fundraising events they tend to see at least 100 members show up.

The water way Barbara Warren was one of seven individuals from across New England to receive an EPA merit award. She is executive director of Salem Sound Coastwatch (SSCW) and a strong advocate to keep Salem’s waters clean.  “It was an honor to be there,” said Warren, who went to Boston to pick up her first EPA merit award.  Warren works with several EPA employees, who nominated her for the award, in the Clean Beaches and Streams Program. She has been working closely with Salem Sound, which is the water body encircled by Salem, Marblehead, Manchester and Beverly.  “We work with these communities to find out why the bacteria levels are high, if the tests indicate so,” Warren explained. Since 1993, she said, bacteria levels have vastly improved.

Warren is also trying to work to make Salem Sound a “no discharge” area, which would prevent boaters from dumping the human waste from boat toilets into the ocean. They are encouraging boaters to use pump out facilities and will be conducting demonstrations on how to use them in June.

Warren and the EPA hope to make all of New England a “no discharge” area by 2010.