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Pennsylvania Middle School Teacher Wins International Conservation Award

52nd Annual Chevron Conservation Awards Honors Dauphin County’s Ed Wytovich for Environmental Protection Efforts of the State’s Rivers and Habitat

SAN RAMON, Calif., October 6, 2006 – Ed Wytovich is a student of nature. For his legendary volunteer efforts, which have led to the preservation of hundreds of miles of rivers and thousands of acres of habitat in Pennsylvania, Wytovich was named one of six winners of the 52nd annual Chevron Conservation Awards.

US Congressman Tim Holden wrote that Wytovich demonstrates “how optimism can build partnerships with government, the private sector, and community volunteers to achieve success in conserving and restoring our environment.”

An eighth grade science teacher in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Wytovich has been a founding member of a myriad of watershed associations dedicated to treating Abandoned Mine Drainage. This year, Wytovich, who serves as volunteer president of the Eastern Pennsylvania Collation for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, celebrated the completion of the largest water lands restoration project in the state.

In 1998, his 100 mile “Riverwalk” along the state’s Schuylkill River raised funds for the Schuylkill Headwaters Association and generated awareness of the need to clean the River. He also helped start the Annual Schuykill River Sojourn, a one-week canoe trip down the Schuykill, to draw attention to habitat preservation.

In 2001, he convinced state lawmakers to designate May as Statewide Watershed Awareness Month, which lead to annual clean-ups at sites throughout Pennsylvania. “Ed instills within others the need to serve as stewards of the environment and community within which they live,” said Dave Zanis, a longtime friend.

Other 2006 Chevron Conservation Award winner are: California Trout, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring wild trout and steelhead waters throughout California; The late William H. Howard, president, Wildlife Habitat Council for his innovative approach to pairing industry and conservationists to find balanced solutions to natural resource protection; Iain Kerr, CEO, Ocean Alliance, for research and educational efforts to improve the health of the world’s oceans; Jeunesse Park, founder of Food and Trees for Africa, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for disadvantaged South Africans through natural resource programs; Dr. Pilai Poonswad, for her work to save Asian hornbills and habitat in the forests of Thailand.

Winners are selected by an independent panel of conservationists. Originally created by outdoors writer Ed Zern in 1954, the program has recognized more than 1,000 conservationists from around the world. A contribution of $15,000 is made by Chevron to each winner’s conservation work.

Chevron is committed to contributing to the social and economic development of the communities in which the company operates. In 2005, Chevron invested $73 million in community initiatives around the world, nearly 65 percent of which was directed toward long-term, capacity-building projects.

Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading energy companies. With more than 53,000 employees, Chevron subsidiaries conduct business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing and distributing fuels and other energy products. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information on Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

For more information on the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, see http://www.orangewaternetwork.org.

Contact: Alex Yelland, Chevron media relations -- + 1 925 842 0456

Note: Note from Ed: "Its a small world" , the fellow who accepted for California Trout and is the Executive director of Ca Trout is one Brian Stranko, originally from Selingsgrove. One of the fellows who accepted on behalf of another group is friends with Alan Comp. Ya can't hide anywhere!


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