[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E38]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AT THE RIVERBANK ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT

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                          HON. GARY A. CONDIT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 1998

  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the hard work and 
environmental cleanup effort at the Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant in 
Riverbank, California. Only eight short years ago, this plant was 
listed as the highest priority site within the Department of Defense's 
National Priority List for environmental contamination and remediation.
  What has transpired since then is nothing short of miraculous. It is 
with a great sense of pride that I report that Secretary of the Army 
Togo West recently awarded Riverbank with a first place Secretary of 
the Army 1997 Environmental Award.
  The award represents accomplishment and the crown jewel in an 
impressive list of ``firsts'' in the field of toxic waste cleanup which 
have been accomplished at Riverbank.
  In response to President Clinton's challenge to the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency to achieve complete construction and 
operation of remediation systems at 900 toxic sites by the year 2000, 
Riverbank is the first federal installation to comply. Along the way, 
Riverbank became the first federal installation to implement a base-
wide record of decision and long term solution to cleaning contaminated 
ground water which in large part resulted from World War II-era 
manufacturing at the plant.
  Meeting the challenge head on, under the leadership of Jim Gansel and 
his staff, Riverbank distinguished itself by developing a proactive 
community relations program that has not only been praised and but has 
also been implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency at all 
other DoD cleanup sites. Currently, I am proud to report, the plant is 
in the final phase of long term remediation and monitoring after 
becoming the first federal installation to receive a construction 
completed report.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a story of hard work and success. It reflects 
great credit on the dedicated men and women at the Riverbank Army 
Ammunition Plant as well as the entire 18th Congressional District.

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