[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 31, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1111-E1112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ROBERT GHIRELLI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2018

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
retirement of a distinguished constituent of mine, Robert P. Ghirelli, 
of West Covina, CA. Mr. Ghirelli is retiring after almost four decades 
of public service to the citizens of Southern California. His career 
exemplifies the work of water quality professionals who every day 
advance the health of our nation's waters to provide economic, 
recreational, and environmental benefits to us all. He is a graduate of 
the University of California, Los Angeles with an undergraduate degree 
in bacteriology and a doctorate in environmental science and 
engineering, and he holds a master's degree in health science from 
California State University, Northridge.
  Most recently, Mr. Ghirelli has served as the Assistant General 
Manager at the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), the third 
largest clean water agency west of the Mississippi River. In this role, 
he has overseen the day-to-day operations of six hundred employees and 
a $164 million annual operating budget that delivers water quality 
improvements to the regions rivers, streams, and coastal waters for the 
2.6 million residents served by OCSD .
  Prior to joining OCSD, Mr. Ghirelli had a distinguished role serving 
for 13 years as the Executive Director of the California Regional Water 
Quality Control Board, Los Angeles/Ventura Region. He reported directly 
to a nine-member board of directors appointed by the California 
Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. In this position, he 
administered the region's clean water programs and the management of 
one hundred water quality professionals that ensured the approval of 
water and waste discharge permits, compliance with federal and state 
water quality mandates, and effective monitoring of water quality. 
Following the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Mr. Ghirelli 
entered the private sector to provide his expertise in demystifying the 
regulatory process and enhancing efficient and effective compliance 
with our state's water quality protection programs.
  Mr. Ghirelli returned to the public sector in 1998 when he joined 
OCSD as its Director of Technical Services where his responsibilities 
included managing the District's environmental affairs and regulatory 
compliance programs, environmental laboratories, and industrial waste 
control programs.
  Mr. Ghirelli has dedicated his life to advancing the professionalism 
of his vocation by actively participating in regional, state, and 
national public agencies and trade associations related to water 
quality, water resources, and utility management. He has served in the 
following organizations: Board of Directors of the San Gabriel River 
Watermaster; Board of Directors of the California Association of 
Sanitation Agencies; Member of the California Association of Sanitation 
Agencies; Valencia Heights Water Company, West Covina; Commissioner and 
Past President of the Southern California Coastal Water Research 
Project; Board Member and Past President of the Southern California 
Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works; Board Member of the 
National Water Research Institute; Board Member of the Southern 
California Salinity Coalition; Board Member of the Orange County 
Business Council; Member of the Science Advisory Panel of the American 
Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists; Member of the 
National Association of Clean Water Agencies; Member of the American 
Public Works Association; Member of the Water Environment Federation; 
Member of the California Water Environment Association; and Member of 
the Executive Advisory Council of the Environmental Science & 
Engineering Program at the University of California, Los Angeles.
  Mr. Ghirelli has been a leader in providing common sense solutions to 
waste water problems and delivering the highest level of water quality 
to the citizens of Southern California. He has also mentored the next 
generation of water professionals. After decades of dedicating his time 
to improving our water resources, I wish Mr. Ghirelli the best in his 
retirement.

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