Volume 151, No. 115 covering the 1st Session of the 109th Congress (2005 - 2006) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO MS. AUDREY BERRY” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1848 on Sept. 14, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO MS. AUDREY BERRY
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HON. MARK UDALL
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Audrey Berry. This week, Ms. Berry will be retiring from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) where she served for over 12 years at DOE's Grand Junction Office on Colorado's Western Slope.
Her work at DOE, as well as her long career in public service, demonstrates her dedication and commitment to community concerns and enhancing the quality of life for those in Colorado, the Rocky Mountain region and across the country.
Serving as a Public Affairs Specialist at DOE's Grand Junction Office since January 25, 1993, Ms. Berry consistently has demonstrated a high level of performance. At this position she successfully engaged the communities surrounding DOE's Fernald and Mound Sites in Ohio and the Rocky Flats Site near Denver, Colorado in the establishment of Local Stakeholder Organizations, which provide opportunities for the public to comment on and be involved with the ongoing monitoring of the cleanup at these former nuclear weapons production facilities. She also helped develop a successful transition strategy for public participation at DOE sites that are slated for closure.
Ms. Berry also was instrumental in establishing one of the first DOE Site Specific Advisory Boards (SSAB) in November 1993 for the Monticello uranium mill tailings remediation site in Monticello, Utah. She developed the application for perspective members and interviewed applicants; managed the budget for the duration of the SSAB; provided DOE-Headquarters with required reports and action; organized meetings, was the liaison between the members, DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the State of Utah; followed up on action items; was responsible in attempting to meet diversity requirements, and resolved issues of concern. Ms. Berry also was instrumental in disbanding the SSAB when the mission was completed. Her involvement with the community of Monticello continued for six years.
Also at the Monticello site, Ms. Berry organized, developed and implemented the plan to transfer DOE property located at the Monticello site to the City of Monticello for recreational use. Utilizing the General Services Administration and National Park Service's ``Lands to Park'' Program, the property was successfully transferred in June 2000.
Ms. Berry also supported numerous projects assigned to DOE's Grand Junction Office. During her tenure, she developed public participation plans and established outstanding relationships with numerous stakeholder groups, including congressional, state and local officials, tribal members, special interest groups, citizen's advisory boards, the media, and individual citizens. In order to successfully interface with the multiple contacts she enjoyed, Ms. Berry possessed a broad technical knowledge of all of the assigned projects.
Ms. Berry also organized and conducted numerous workshops and conferences for DOE's Grand Junction Office. Most notably, four Long Term Stewardship Workshops were held, each with 225 to 300 attendees. And, she organized a Stakeholders Conference on Worker Transition and Legacy Benefits for DOE's Office of Legacy Management. This effort was especially important and noteworthy. She recognized, as do many at DOE, that providing health care and benefits for people who worked at DOE sites--sites that involved the handling of hazardous materials--is an important obligation that we as a nation owe to these workers. Her attention to detailed plans has assured successful and well-attended events and helped promote policies to address worker transition issues and public involvement regarding the long-term integrity of cleanup and closure of DOE sites.
Ms. Berry has been the recipient of at least 16 various awards, namely Special Act Awards, Individual Incentive Awards, and Group Awards during her tenure with DOE's Grand Junction Office.
Before joining DOE in 1993, she served as the Western Slope Office Director for Colorado Senator Tim Wirth. At this position, she helped constituents address issues and concerns with federal programs and policies. Prior to working for Senator Wirth, she performed the same service to citizens of Colorado's Western Slope in Representative Ray Kogovsek's office when he represented the 3rd Congressional District in Colorado.
Ms. Berry's work at all of these offices underscores her deep commitment to service for the communities she has served. What's especially impressive has been her personal touch--the way that she interacts with people so that they are included in policy decisions and treated with seriousness and respect. In so doing, she has been effective in getting the job done and involving the public and various stakeholders. Her accomplishments and style are models for the type of quality in public service that we all can seek to emulate.
I am sure that Ms. Berry will remain active in issues of importance to communities along Colorado's Western Slope or wherever life takes her. I wish her much future success.
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