Awards & Accomplishments

2010

  • New York Construction Magazine names Narragansett Bay Commission’s Combined Sewer Overflow Project “Best Civil/Public Works Project.”
  • The American Council of Engineering Companies bestows a National Engineering Excellence Award to the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Combined Sewer Overflow Program.
  • The Narragansett Bay Commission's Environmental Safety and Technical Assistance (ESTA) staff receives the 2009 George W. Burke, Jr. Award from the New England Water Environment Association for the NBC's excellent Safety Program.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for FY 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

2009

  • The Narragansett Bay Commission's Pretreatment Program receives the EPA's Pretreatment Excellence Award for Region 1.
  • The Narragansett Bay Commission is awarded an Environmental Achievement Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for its book Narragansett Bay Commission: Combined Sewer Overflow Project.
  • The State Employees Charitable Appeal of Rhode Island presents the 2008 Campaign Award to the Narragansett Bay Commission for outstanding contributions to the community.
  • The Narragansett Bay Commission’s Combined Sewer Overflow Project is named Project of the Year by the Underground Construction Association.
  • The Narragansett Bay Commission wins Worksite Health Award from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
  • The Narragansett Bay Commission wins Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2008 Audit.

2008

  • The Narragansett Bay Commission completes Phase I of its Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Program on schedule and on budget.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2008 Budget.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2007 Audit.
  • Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services raised its underlying rating on NBC's revenue bonds one notch from "A+" to "AA-"with a stable outlook.
  • NBC is honored to receive a National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Excellence in Management Award, recognizing NBC for its innovation and achievements in effective utility management. 
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Worksite Health Award from the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
  • The Narragansett Bay Commission wins the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility.

2007

  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2007 Budget.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins NEWEA Wastewater Utility Management Award, honoring outstanding performance of a wastewater division in New England.
  • Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services assigned its ‘A+’ standard long-term rating, and stable outlook, to Narragansett Bay Commission, R.I.’s revenue bonds and affirmed its ‘A+’ Standard & Poor’s underlying rating (SPUR), with a stable outlook, on the commission’s wastewater system revenue bonds.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins National Public Education Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for the classroom program, Woon Watershed Explorers.  
  • Both the Field's Point and Bucklin Point facilities achieve Silver Awards for excellent effluent quality from the National Association of Clean Water Agenceis.

2006

  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2006 Budget.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins National Public Education Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for the DVD, The Biggest Project You’ll Never See, about the agency’s Combined Sewer Overflow Project.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins a Bell Ringer Award from the Publicity Club of New England for the Breakthrough for Clean Water in Rhode Island press event.
  • The State of Rhode Island passes legislation requiring the use of mercury amalgam separators in dental offices. The legislation credits the Narragansett Bay Commission’s groundbreaking work in mercury reduction as its impetus.

2005

  • Executive Director wins National Environmental Achievement Award from National Association of Clean Water Agencies.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins National Public Service Award for Dental Amalgam Best Management Practices from National Association of Clean Water Agencies.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2005 Budget.

2004

  • Executive Director wins National Environmental Achievement Award from Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Excellence in Management Award from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2004 Budget.

2003

  • Narragansett Bay Commission wins Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for Fiscal Year 2003 Budget. In addition, the NBC's bond rating by Standard & Poor's is upgraded to an A+.

2002

  • Narragansett Bay Commission Executive Director Paul Pinault, P.E., elected President of the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), a national group of wastewater treatment facilities that serve the majority of the sewered population in the United States, and collectively treat and reclaim more than 17 billion gallons of wastewater each day. AMSA maintains a key role in the development of environmental legislation, and works closely with federal regulatory agencies in the implementation of environmental programs.

2001

  • Narragansett Bay Commission breaks ground on Phase I of its Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Abatement Project, the most important clean water project in Rhode Island and the state's largest public works project.

2000

  • Narragansett Bay Commission receives Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies National Public Service Award for NBC's support of the 1999 Shellfish Transplant Program, which successfully moved 800,000 pounds of quahogs from restricted fishing waters in Narragansett Bay to unrestricted waters.

1999

  • Narragansett Bay Commission awarded $500,000 EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking) grant from the US EPA to develop a program for providing real-time water quality data to the public.
  • The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Narragansett Bay Commission's Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Plan.

1998

  • Narragansett Bay Commission Pretreatment Program receives US EPA's National Pretreatment Excellence Award in the Large Significant Industrial Users category. This award honors those organizations that are demonstrating their commitment to the protection and improvement of the nation's waters through their operation and exemplary pretreatment programs.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission receives Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies' Public Information & Education Award for documentary that chronicles the history of Rhode Island's largest wastewater treatment facilities and the important role they play in our community.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission Chairman receives Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies National Environmental Achievement Award for excellence in state public service.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission's Pretreatment Program has been nominated for the US Environmental Protection Agency's 1998 National Pretreatment Program Excellence Award.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission's Bucklin Point facility recognized by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for outstanding performance in operations and maintenance.

1997

  • Narragansett Bay Commission and its Field's Point facility named a success story of the Clean Water Act by the Water Environment Federation.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission and its Field's Point facility named an environmental success story and finalist in Renew America's annual national award for environmental sustainability.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission and its stakeholder workgroup reach consensus on plan to control combined sewer overflows in Rhode Island.

1996

  • Narragansett Bay Commission receives Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies' Public Service Award for the establishment of a Wildlife Management Program at the Bucklin Point facility.

1995

  • The Field's Point facility is selected the Best Operated and Maintained large secondary wastewater treatment facility in the country by the US Environmental Protection Agency and winner of its National Excellence Award. US EPA Administrator Carol Browner and US EPA Region I Administrator John DeVillars is shown at Field's Point with the national excellence award.
  • The Field's Point facility is recognized as the Best Operated and Maintained large secondary wastewater treatment facility in New England by the US EPA, Region I.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission receives Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies' Public Service Award for the establishment and furtherance of the Environmental Enforcement Fund (EEF) program.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission receives EPA's Environmental Merit Award for EEF program.
  • US EPA Administrator Carol Browner and US EPA Region I Administrator John DeVillars present the national excellence award at Field's Point.

1994

  • Laboratories become state licensed and laboratory personnel registered Environmental Laboratory Technologies by the National Registry of Environmental Professionals.
  • Field's Point sludge incinerator tested and issued US EPA's first sludge incinerator operating permit in the country since the passage of its 503 sludge regulations in 1993.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission and its Field's Point facility named an "environmental success story" and finalist in Renew America's annual national award for environmental sustainability.

1993

  • Narragansett Bay Commission receives national award from the Professional Engineers in Private Practice for its professional services selection system.
  • Narragansett Bay Commission sets own record for pollution removal at the Field's Point facility -- 84% reduction since 1982.
  • The Field's Point facility receives Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association's Maguire Group Award for Most Efficient Large Wastewater Treatment Facility in Rhode Island.
  • Completed comprehensive Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Abatement plan and started design on the $476 million project.
  • Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility receives Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association's Whitman & Howard Award for Most Improved Large Wastewater Treatment Facility in Rhode Island.
  • AMSA Silver Award for operation of the Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility.

1992

  • The Narragansett Bay Commission acquires Rhode Island's second largest facility, the Bucklin Point Wastewater Treatment Facility in East Providence.
  • The Bucklin Point Wastewater Treatment Facility receives Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association's Whitman & Howard Award for Most Improved Large facility in Rhode Island.
  • Applied for and received $300,000 US EPA grant for the establishment of a Pollution Prevention Program.
  • American Consulting Engineer's Council of New England Award for the design of the Ernest Street Pumping Station upgrade.
  • AMSA Silver Award for operation of the Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility.
  • Field's Point facility receives Save The Bay's highest designation for treatment performance.

1991

  • AMSA Silver Award for operation of the Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility.
  • Field's Point facility receives Save The Bay's highest designation for treatment performance.

1990

  • American Consulting Engineers Council of New England's Excellence Award for the Field's Point design.
  • US EPA National Excellence Award for Pretreatment Program for Plants Larger than 20 mgd.
  • AMSA Silver Award for operation of the Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility.
  • Field's Point facility receives Save The Bay's highest designation for treatment performance.

1989

  • Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility receives Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association's Whitman & Howard Award for Most Improved Large Wastewater Treatment Facility in Rhode Island.
  • AMSA Silver Award for operation of the Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility.
  • Field's Point facility receives Save The Bay's highest designation for treatment performance.

1988

  • Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility receives Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association's Whitman & Howard Award for Most Improved Large Wastewater Treatment Facility in Rhode Island.
  • Field's Point facility receives Save The Bay's highest designation for treatment performance.

1987

  • Save The Bay Award to Executive Director for Outstanding Commitment to Bay cleanup.

1986

  • Consulting Engineer's Council of New Jersey Engineering Excellence Award for the Allens Avenue Interceptor Repair.

1985

  • US EPA Laboratory Certification.
  • State of Rhode Island Governor's Triple E Award for Energy Efficient Operations Priority.

1984

  • Field's Point Wastewater Treatment Facility receives Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association's Whitman & Howard Award for Most Improved Large Wastewater Treatment Facility in Rhode Island.

Other

  • Applied for and received over $80 million in state and Federal grants.