[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 69 (Tuesday, June 7, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        TRIBUTE TO GORDON DURNIL

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Mr. Gordon 
Durnil of Indianapolis, IN, for receiving the National Wildlife 
Federation's Conservation Achievement Award. I have had the distinct 
pleasure of knowing Gordon personally for more than 25 years, and I 
appreciate this opportunity to commend him for his work in the area of 
conservation.
  Gordon has dedicated many years to public service. Most recently, he 
retired as chairman of the United States Section of the International 
Joint Commission [IJC], a binational body that advises the United 
States and Canadian governments on transboundary environmental problems 
and solutions. As chairman, he led the campaign to ban from the Great 
Lakes toxins that cause birth defects, immune system problems, and 
neurological impairments. Gordon's work on the IJC has contributed 
greatly to protection of the environment of Indiana and the entire 
Great Lake region.
  During his tenure with the IJC, Gordon became an expert in many 
areas, including shared water resources, multijurisdictional approaches 
to water and air pollution, problems posed to human health as a result 
of exposure to persistent toxic substances, remedial action plans to 
restore severely degraded areas, and multinational exercises in 
environmental education. Gordon also was responsible for initiating 
several reports regarding persistent toxic substances and human health.
  Gordon's service to the IJC also includes serving as head of 
delegation at the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio 
de Janeiro, Brazil. As a result of Gordon's effort to streamline the 
IJC's binational office in Windsor, ON, more funds were made available 
for scientific programs.
  Gordon received his bachelor of science degree from the Indiana 
University School of Business and his doctor of jurisprudence degree 
from the Indiana University School of Law. In addition, Gordon has 
completed training in alternative dispute resolution and advanced civil 
mediation and he is a certified professional civil mediator. Gordon has 
the much needed ability to bring disputing parties to the negotiation 
table to agree on workable solutions.
  In addition, Gordon is a member of the alternative dispute resolution 
and environmental sections of the Indiana State Bar Association and the 
Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution. He is a member of the 
board of directors and finance chairman of the Indiana Ronald McDonald 
House.
  On June 11, 1994, the Indiana Wildlife Federation will be holding its 
annual meeting at Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, IN. It is at this 
meeting that the National Wildlife Federation will present Gordon with 
the Conservation Achievement Award. I congratulate Gordon for his 
achievement and thank him for his years of dedication to Indiana and 
the environment.

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