[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 133 (Thursday, September 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11984-S11985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING JUDY HADLEY OF LINCOLN, RHODE ISLAND

 Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I wish to share with my colleagues 
a story demonstrating one person's ability to protect the environment 
from the threat of pollution, for the benefit of wildlife and human 
enjoyment alike.
  Thirty years after the passage of the Clean Water Act, the Blackstone 
River has shaken off a legacy of neglect and re-emerged as a vital 
community asset. The water quality has improved, a bikeway is under 
construction, and mill buildings are being restored as apartments and 
condominiums. The National Park Service is promoting a new appreciation 
for the work and culture of the families who have made the Blackstone 
Valley their home. And just last week, I joined the Army Corps of 
Engineers in celebrating the restoration of wetlands in a floodplain 
that had been paved over for 50 years. So there is a great deal of 
activity on the banks of the Blackstone.
  While the Federal Government has been a major player in the river's 
rebirth, none of these exciting developments would have been possible 
without the personal commitment of Blackstone Valley residents. It is 
their hard

[[Page S11985]]

work and, more importantly, their heightened vigilance and renewed 
sense of ownership of the river that have helped it to thrive.
  One such resident is Judy Hadley of Lincoln, RI a town of about 
21,000 people, located on the Blackstone River. As the chair of the 
Lincoln Land Trust, Judy is a staunch defender of her town's remaining 
open spaces and a passionate advocate on behalf of the Blackstone. She 
is active in a number of other local organizations, including the 
Friends of the Blackstone River, the Blackstone River Watershed 
Council, and the Lincoln Tree and Trail Commission. She has organized 
river cleanups and educated her fellow residents about the impact that 
stormwater has on the Blackstone and its wildlife population.
  For many years, a 60-ton excavator sat abandoned on a man-made island 
in the river a relic of an old gravel mining operation. It was an 
eyesore and a potential environmental hazard. Two years ago, Judy 
Hadley went to work: canvassing State and Federal authorities, trying 
to find the best solution for this problem. No agency seemed to have 
the right equipment or the resources to handle such an unusual request, 
but Judy persisted. If she could have dismantled it herself and taken 
it away piece by piece, I think she would have.
  Fortunately, it did not come to that. Last year, the Rhode Island 
Department of Environmental Management removed more than 300 gallons of 
diesel fuel and other fluids from the machinery. The excavator itself 
was finally taken away this summer by the Army Corps via a temporary 
land bridge, as part of the wetland restoration project I mentioned 
earlier.
  This was a great triumph, and Judy Hadley's dedication has been 
cheered by many local residents. Without her persistence, the excavator 
would still be slowly degrading, leaving open the possibility that oil 
and fuel would seep out, fouling valuable marsh habitat downstream. 
Walkers and canoeists would still be shaking their heads at the sight 
of a rusting hulk across the river. But Judy refused to accept the 
excavator as just another part of the landscape, insisting that it be 
removed. In so doing, she has reminded us of the Blackstone River's 
great worth, as well as its vulnerability, and inspired us to be better 
stewards of a rediscovered resource.
  I know my colleagues join me in saluting Judy Hadley on this 
achievement.

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