PROVIDENCE - Angelo S. Liberti III, chief of surface water protection in the Department of Environmental Management's Office of Water Resources, is the recipient of Save The Bay's Environmental Achievement Award. Liberti was among six individuals recognized for their environmental work by the group last week during its annual meeting in Providence.
Liberti has directed DEM's surface water quality permitting and restoration programs for the past 16 years. He also oversees programs dealing with wastewater treatment facilities, including operation and maintenance, design and construction, and wastewater discharge permitting.
"Angelo Liberti has been a driving force in DEM's efforts to preserve and protect Narragansett Bay and the state's coastal waters," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "His knowledge, expertise and commitment are central to the tough permit limits and dramatic reduction in nutrients and other pollutants going into our waterways. He is passionate, stalwart and effective, and I'm delighted that his hard work and achievements are receiving the recognition they deserve."
In presenting the award, Save The Bay commended Liberti for his work to reduce nutrient loadings to the Bay through strengthened permit limits on wastewater treatment facilities and his efforts to assist municipalities with wastewater facility planning to guide construction of sewer infrastructure. The award also recognized Liberti for working closely with the US Environmental Protection Agency to set stricter limits on the amounts of pollutants discharged by Massachusetts wastewater treatment facilities because of their impact on Narragansett Bay, and for the leadership he has demonstrated in the areas of shellfish monitoring /pollution related-closures and storm water strategy. Save The Bay's policy team nominated Liberti for the award.
"Angelo has a had a profoundly important and positive impact on the restoration of Narragansett Bay," said Topher Hamblett, Save The Bay's Director of Policy. "With great determination, and sometimes in the face of immense pressure, he has been a major driver in Rhode Island's efforts to build and upgrade wastewater treatment facilities that have made the Bay safer for fishing, kayaking, boating and shell fishing. Save The Bay greatly appreciates Angelo and his accomplishments."
"I am grateful to Save The Bay for this award, which I accept on behalf of a great team of co-workers with whom I've had the privilege of working with at DEM," said Liberti. "The progress in water quality protection and restoration that we have made in Rhode Island would not be possible without strong advocacy from the professional staff and volunteers at Save The Bay and other organizations."
Liberti has worked for DEM for 28 years. Prior to his appointment as chief of surface water protection, he served as a supervising sanitary engineer for the Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program, where he was responsible for reviewing environmental impact studies, developing storm water and wastewater permits, reviewing groundwater remediation treatment system designs, reviewing storm water and erosion control system designs, and overseeing implementation of industrial pretreatment programs.
A Bristol resident, Liberti holds a Master of Science degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Rhode Island and a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology from Roger Williams University. He spends his free time boating, scuba diving and harvesting quahogs recreationally on Narragansett Bay.