[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2054-E2055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF STEVEN CHAPPELL FOR HIS ACTIONS TO REDUCE THE IMPACTS 
          OF A DIESEL FUEL SPILL ON THE SUISUN MARSH WETLANDS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2004

  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Steven Chappell, 
of the Suisun Resource Conservation District, for his timely actions in 
protecting the Suisun Marsh wetlands.
  Steven Chappell began working for the Suisun Resource Conservation 
District in August 1994 as a district biologist, and was quickly 
promoted to executive director, a position he has held for almost 10 
years.

[[Page E2055]]

  On April 28, 2004, at 5:30 p.m. Steven Chappell received notification 
from the California Department of Fish and Game's Office of Spill 
Prevention and Response (OSPR) that a petroleum pipeline had released 
diesel oil into the Suisun Marsh.
  Mr. Chappell immediately drove to the site to offer his assistance 
and expertise to the Incident Command Team, comprised of State and 
Federal agency representatives. He explained how managed wetlands work 
and took immediate action to close all water control structures on the 
affected property.
  As a direct result of Steven Chappell's quick actions in closing the 
gates, the diesel oil remained contained within the area and did not 
enter the Roos Cut, an unimpeded waterway extension which feeds into 
the tidal sloughs and adjacent wetlands of the Suisun Marsh.
  In addition, Mr. Chappell prepared detailed aerial maps of the Suisun 
Marsh and returned to the spill site that same day. These aerials have 
been invaluable in OSPR's cleanup efforts.
  For weeks after the spill, Steven Chappell devoted an inordinate 
amount of time coordinating with OSPR, the United States Coast Guard, 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Kinder Morgan, the owner 
of the pipeline, in cleanup efforts and in the development of a 
restoration plan.
  Steven Chappell's timely actions helped to avert a major disaster at 
the Suisun Marsh wetlands. I am proud to commend him today for his 
leadership, dedication, and commitment to the Suisun Resource 
Conservation District and to the people of Solano County.

                          ____________________