[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING DENNIS M. DIEMER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise with my 
colleagues Congressman John Garamendi, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, 
Congressman Jerry McNerney, and Congressman Pete Stark to recognize 
East Bay Municipal Utility District General Manager Dennis M. Diemer 
and congratulate him as he approaches his well-earned retirement.
  Mr. Diemer's career in public service demonstrates his lifelong 
commitment to the citizens and communities of the East Bay. We are 
grateful to him for his service to our constituents.
  He began his career with EBMUD in 1981 as a senior environmental 
engineer, and over the ensuing years he was promoted to positions of 
increasing responsibility at the agency. In 1995, the board of 
directors selected him to serve as acting general manager, and he was 
appointed as general manager on February 13, 1996.
  In California, where our water fights are legendary, Dennis' 
collaborative approach helped EBMUD make strides toward a secure water 
future. Working with the district's board of directors, Dennis and his 
team focused on identifying and working with partners for water supply 
projects. He played a significant role in ending years of water wars 
between the East Bay, the Sacramento area, and the environmental 
community, an effort which evolved into the Freeport Regional Water 
Project.
  Dennis' work has made a long-term difference in the environmental 
quality of the Bay Area. He has long promoted protection of San 
Francisco Bay, from his work in the 1980s managing a collaborative 
effort with local communities to abate uncontrolled sewage discharges 
into San Francisco to more recent efforts to forge agreements that put 
EBMUD and local communities on a long term path toward controlling wet 
weather discharges to the Bay. In addition, under his watch, the 
district's new long range plan included a pioneering analysis of the 
potential impacts of climate change on future water supply. These 
actions will result in better protection of public health and the 
environment.
  Dennis has demonstrated exceptional leadership for EBMUD, making the 
organizational and process improvements necessary to anticipate and 
adapt to changes in regulations, technology, the environment, and the 
world around us.
  Madam Speaker, I invite our colleagues to join us in honoring General 
Manager Dennis Diemer for his dedicated service to the people of 
California and the Bay Area. We are pleased to join with his family, 
colleagues, and friends in congratulating Dennis on a long and highly 
successful career and wish him a happy and healthy retirement.

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