[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17256]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                     CONGRATULATING FRAZIER LOCKART

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 25, 2007

  Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
exemplary constituent and public steward, Mr. Frazer Lockart of 
Evergreen, Colorado. Mr. Lockart is a finalist for the 2007 Service to 
America Medals, a prestigious national awards program designed to pay 
honor to those individuals who have demonstrated great accomplishment 
in public service. Presented by the Partnership for Public Service, 
these awards highlight the successes of Federal employees who have made 
significant contributions to the country. This year, Mr. Lockart's 
achievements in completing the first successful cleanup of a former 
nuclear weapons production facility are commended.
  Rocky Flats, located near Denver, Colorado, was a nuclear weapons 
production facility which closed in 1989 after Federal investigators 
discovered grave amounts of radioactive pollutants in surrounding soil 
and water sources. The extent of the pollution was so severe some 
officials deemed the facility beyond the point of recovery, even 
suggesting the site should be abandoned outright. A 1995 cleanup 
estimate of the facility was projected at $35 billion over a 70-year 
span.
  Mr. Lockart, managing an intergovernmental and private-sector 
contingent, began work to clean and restore the site. It took just 10 
years and $7 billion to complete. To date, the Rocky Flats project is 
the largest and most successful Federal cleanup, with over 95% of 
formerly contaminated land now reopened for public use. In fact, 
Congress passed the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001, 
setting aside 6,400 acres for protection and public enjoyment. None of 
this would have been possible without the efforts of Mr. Lockart.
  The ability to effectively and efficiently handle this great 
undertaking is a profile to Mr. Lockart's abilities and vision. Through 
his efforts, all Americans are now able to enjoy the natural beauty of 
Colorado, and local residents now live in a healthy environment. In 
addition, his management style and leadership abilities have become 
prime examples for the success of future restoration projects.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in paying tribute and congratulating 
Mr. Lockart for his great contribution to this Nation.

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