[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING TOM LESHENDOK

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Tom 
Leshendok of Sparks, MV, on his selection by the Department of Interior 
for the Meritorious Service Award. It is my honor to recognize the 
contributions of this dedicated public servant.
  Mr. Leshendok's career has spanned more than three decades and 
several Federal agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey, the 
Minerals Management Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and 
the Bureau of Land Management. In each of these positions, he has 
contributed tremendously to the effective and responsible management of 
our public lands and natural resources.
  Mr. Leshendok's work as Deputy State Director of Minerals for the 
Nevada BLM was particularly important to the economy and welfare of my 
State. Not only does the BLM administer almost 48 million acres of 
public land in Nevada, it also overseas the production of 72 percent of 
our Nation's gold and silver.
  As the leader of the BLM's largest mining law administration program, 
Mr. Leshendok was responsible for the leasing and development of 
geothermal, oil, and gas resources, the Abandoned Mine Lands program, 
and hazardous material detection and remediation. His ability to craft 
effective collaborative approaches to these important issues was a 
hallmark of his leadership at the Nevada BLM.
  Please join me in thanking Tom Leshendok for his strong commitment to 
public service and congratulating him on his selection for the 
Department of Interior's Meritorious Service Award.

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