[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MS. AUDREY BERRY

                                 ______
                                 

                            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.

                          ____________________