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Government Agencies AwardsOKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 
Oklahoma's Department of Environmental Quality has managed to weave two distinct problems into a win-win solution that has saved communities more than two million dollars since its inception two years ago.
The innovative Land Reclamation Program diverts the debris from cleared abandoned buildings and then uses it to reclaim lands that have been eroded or scarred by mining, drilling and other activities.
Instead of the expense of disposing of blighted structures in a modern landfill, sites are being restored with new potential for productivity.
Our judges applaud the foresight of DEQ's partnerships with communities and conservation districts. We salute it as good news for recycling eyesores into assets all across Oklahoma. Beautification & Landscaping: OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
When an errant barge slammed into the supporting columns of the Interstate 40 bridge over the Arkansas River a year and a half ago, the ensuing collapse claimed 14 lives. Although the people of nearby Webbers Falls quickly erected a simple memorial to help begin the healing process, they also requested and received funding from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for a permanent memorial.
Completed in time for the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, it consists of a bronze statue of a small child -- symbolizing the innocence of the victims -- releasing a dove into the air. The statue is mounted on an original bridge beam section placed on a 14-sided base, and on each side is inscribed a victim's name. Adjacent are 14 evergreen trees as well as five columns representing those who survived the catastrophe.
Our judges say "thank you" to those who participated in creating this simple, beautiful memorial. There is no "good news" that could be connected to this awful tragedy, but for family members, survivors, rescuers and others there is now a peaceful place to reflect and remember along a forested river bank thanks to a special partnership between Webbers Falls and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. 
 
 
 
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