For Release: November 12, 1997 *NOTE TO EDITORS: SEE LOCAL INTEREST

Contact: Stephanie Powell 277-2771 ext. 4418

PROVIDENCE - Eleven Department of Environmental Management staffers have been given special recognition for outstanding public service at a career awards/distinguished service awards program hosted by DEM Director Andy McLeod.

"Those who choose public service are seldom recognized for the exceptional work they do day in and day out," McLeod said. "I am delighted to have this opportunity to highlight some of the individuals at DEM and the hard and creative work they do to protect our environment and the welfare of all Rhode Islanders."

Recognized and nominated by their peers for outstanding work on behalf of the State's environment and DEM's mission were Robert Ballou of Narragansett and Paul Dolan of Foster.

Ballou, a senior environmental planner in DEM's Office of Water Resources watersheds section, revised the State's Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Plan which standardizes the process for protecting Rhode Island's priority watersheds and calls for a team approach to watershed management. That plan is now a part of the State's Guide Plan. He also was the catalyst for a volunteer watershed wet-weather study to assess and rank pollution in the Runnins River Watershed and spearheaded an extensive study of pollution sources in the Stafford Pond Watershed. In his community, Ballou serves on the Narragansett Conservation Commission where he has championed improved wastewater management.

Dolan, supervising forester in DEM's Office of Forest Environment, coordinates educational programs for thousands of Rhode Island students and hundreds of teachers in addition to his already full-time responsibility for supervising all of the forestry operations for the Northern part of the state including Pulaski Park, George Washington Management Area, the George Washington cross-country ski program and fire suppression. Dolan has served as President of the RI Environmental Education Association and Director for the New England Environmental Education Alliance, and recently was named Educator of the Year by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.

Martin Cappelli of Johnston, Chief of DEM's Office of Criminal Investigation received the Director's Excellence Award, and Kurt Schatz of Burrillville, an investigator in that office, received the Director's Distinguished Service Award for outstanding performance in bringing the criminal investigation of the North Cape Oil Spill of January 1996 to a successful conclusion. Their involvement resulted in the largest environmental fine in New England history, a $3.5 million award received by DEM for oil spill prevention and response in addition to Federal penalties.

Their performance has been widely recognized by other authorities. For instance, Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island noted their many hours contributing to the success of the investigation. "Especially noteworthy," Whitehouse stated, "was their enthusiastic participation in all aspects of the investigation, including the unglamourous detail work that is at the heart of every successful case. For that they have my deepest gratitude."

Members of DEM's Shellfish Monitoring Program, under the direction of Joseph Migliore of Barrington received the Director's Distinguished Service Award for their efforts on behalf of receiving the unique distinction of federal designation as a "no discharge zone" for all of Rhode Island coastal waters. In presenting the award, McLeod said, "Although technically the state has yet to receive approval on U.S. Designation, I am confident, as are Environmental Protection Agency officials, that Rhode Island's efforts and its application will be approved. Nonetheless, the leadership and dedication which members of the Shellfish Monitoring Program, under the direction of Joseph Migliore, has demonstrated warrants an award of excellence."

Working together with marina owners, the monitoring program staff has established 42 sewage pump-out stations in harbors throughout the state, providing boaters with an alternative to emptying sewage holding tanks in otherwise clean waters. In addition to Migliore, shellfish monitoring staff include Tom Iarossi of Coventry, Gregory Goblick of Providence, John Speaker of Lincoln, and Liz Padenski of West Warwick.

Awards were also given to two DEM conservation officers.

Sgt. Edward C. Jaques of Glocester, a 30 year veteran officer and the chief range officer and department armorer for the past 15 years, received the Shikar Safari International 1996 Wildlife Officer of the Year Award for developing one of the most comprehensive firearms training programs in Rhode Island. This ongoing training includes a cold weather shoot, in which officers wear their float suits and gloves while shooting; an injured officer shoot, in which the officers wear a boxing glove on their strong hand and are trained to clear jams and reload using other parts of their body; and a night/stress shoot as well as the standard pistol qualification. Jaques spent a great deal of off duty hours and personal resources developing the program.

Conservation Officer Steven Criscione of Cranston, who has been with DEM's Enforcement Division for seven years, received the Northeast Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association 1996 Officer of the Year Award for outstanding commitment and involvement in every aspect of the Division's mission. His knowledge and enforcement of hunting and fishing regulations have been recognized by his fellow officers as exceptional, and he has spent much of his own time increasing his knowledge and abilities. Among his accomplishments noted by Enforcement staff, Criscione, with the assistance of other officers, after learning that a felon wanted by three law enforcement agencies was digging shellfish in a south shore pond, located and arrested him after a brief foot chase.

Career DEM service awards were also given to 11 employees with 30 years of state service, 12 with 25 years of service, 21 with 20 years of service, 16 with 15 years of service, and 39 with 10 years of service.