May 4, 2005 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 151, Pt. 6 8657 METRO WASTEWATER RECLAMA- HONORING MARTI JONES To those who would question these events, I TION DISTRICT LOGS 10 PERFECT point to the numerous reports contained in the YEARS HON. JEB BRADLEY U.S. National Archives detailing the process OF NEW HAMPSHIRE that systematically decimated the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. However, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. BOB BEAUPREZ old records are too easily forgotten—and dis- OF COLORADO Wednesday, May 4, 2005 missed. That is why we come together every IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire. Mr. year at this time: To remember in words what Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Marti Jones some may wish to file away in archives. This Wednesday, May 4, 2005 upon being named a finalist for the 2005 Con- genocide did take place, and these lives were taken. That memory must keep us forever vigi- Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today gressman John Joseph Moakley Award for Ex- lant in our efforts to prevent these atrocities to recognize an important accomplishment in emplary Public Service. from ever happening again. Colorado. The Metro Wastewater Reclamation Initiated in 2002, the Moakley Award is given to a staff member of the New England I am proud to note that Armenian immi- District earned its second consecutive Plat- grants found, in the United Sates, a country inum Award from the National Association of Congressional delegation who demonstrates strong innovative methods of thinking and ef- where their culture could take root and thrive. Clean Water Agencies (NACWA, formerly the Most Armenians in America are children or Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agen- fectively works on behalf of their constituents. Marti has worked in New Hampshire politics grandchildren of the survivors, although there cies) for its second consecutive five-year pe- are still survivors among us. In my district in for over 20 years. Before joining my office in riod without a single numerical violation of its Northwest Indiana, a vibrant Armenian-Amer- 2003, Marti worked for U.S. Senator BOB discharge permit. ican community has developed and strong ties SMITH (R–NH) for 18 years, starting when he The award was presented May 1, 2005 at to Armenia continue to flourish. My prede- was a member of the U.S. House of Rep- NACWA’s 35th Anniversary Annual Meeting in cessor in the House, the late Adam Benjamin, resentatives, and later, the U.S. Senate. Be- Washington, D.C. was of Armenian heritage, and his distin- fore working for Senator SMITH, Marti served guished service in the House serves as an ex- According to NACWA, earning two back-to- as Assistant to the Mayor for Manchester ample to the entire Northwest Indiana commu- back Platinum Awards has been achieved by Mayor Bob Shaw. nity. Over the years, members of the Armenia- only five other wastewater treatment agencies Marti’s commitment to the citizens of the American community throughout the United in the country. Two Platinum Awards rep- Granite State extends far beyond the walls of States have contributed millions of dollars and resent 10 perfect years, during which the our Manchester district office. Marti has been Metro District has discharged almost 530 bil- countless hours of their time to various Arme- involved in Granite State Ambassadors, the nian causes. Of particular note are Mrs. Vicki lion gallons of treated, high-quality water into Board of Directors for the Photographic Histor- the South Platte River and completed more Hovanessian and her husband, Dr. Raffy ical Society of New England, a past President Hovanessian, residents of Indiana’s First Con- than 100,000 chemical and biological analyses of the Board of Directors for the New Hamp- that verify there were no permit violations. gressional District, who have continually shire Junior Miss Scholarship Program and a worked to improve the quality of life in Arme- The Metro Wastewater Reclamation Dis- past member of the New Hampshire Commis- trict’s 345 employees have every right to be nia, as well as in Northwest Indiana. Three sion on the Status of Women. other Armenian-American families in my con- proud of this accomplishment. It places them I would also like to take a moment to thank gressional district, Dr. Aram and Mrs. Seta among the elite protectors of the environment the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board Semerdjian, Dr. Heratch and Mrs. Sonya in the nation. and the Moakley Family for recognizing Marti’s Doumanian, and Dr. Ara and Mrs. Rosy These accomplishments result from the ef- accomplishments and those of the other final- Yeretsian, have also contributed greatly to- forts of many. The District has an outstanding ists. I congratulate and thank Marti on her ward charitable works in the United States and maintenance department, a well-engineered years of hard work and dedication to New Armenia. Their efforts, together with hundreds plant, great support groups, and management Hampshire. of other members of the Armenian-American who always strive to do the best for their rate- f community, have helped to finance several im- payers. They also have a dedicated oper- MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO LOST portant projects in Armenia, including the con- ations staff that continually gives examples of struction of new schools, a mammography their ability to get things done no matter what THEIR LIVES IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE clinic, and a crucial roadway connecting Arme- the challenge. nia to Nagorno Karabagh. The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District In the House, I have tried to assist the ef- serves approximately 1.5 million people. Its HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY forts of my Armenian-American constituency service area includes most of metropolitan OF INDIANA by continually supporting foreign aid to Arme- Denver and encompasses 380 square miles, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nia. This past year, with my support, Armenia including all of Denver and parts of Adams, Wednesday, May 4, 2005 received $84 million in U.S. aid to assist eco- Arapahoe and Jefferson Counties. Arvada, Au- nomic and military development. In addition, Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today rora, Lakewood, Thornton, and part of West- on April 16, 2004, I joined several of my col- in solemn memorial to the estimated 1.5 mil- minster are included. leagues in signing the letter to President Bush lion men, women, and children who lost their urging him to honor his pledge to recognize The Metro District collects and treats about lives during the Armenian Genocide. As in the 130 million gallons of wastewater a day at its the Armenian Genocide. past, I am pleased to join so many distin- The Armenian people have a long and 185 million-gallon-a-day Central Treatment guished House colleagues on both sides of Plant five miles northeast of central Denver. proud history. In the fourth century, they be- the aisle in ensuring that the horrors wrought came the first nation to embrace Christianity. This plant is the largest wastewater treatment upon the Armenian people are never re- facility in the Rocky Mountain West. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire was peated. ruled by an organization known as the Young Formed under Colorado law in 1961, the On April 24, 1915, over 200 religious, polit- Turk Committee, which allied with Germany. Metro District provides wholesale wastewater ical, and intellectual leaders of the Armenian Amid fighting in the Ottoman Empire’s eastern transmission and treatment service to 57 local community were brutally executed by the Anatolian provinces, the historic heartland of governments, including both cities and sanita- Turkish government in Istanbul. Over the the Christian Armenians, Ottoman authorities tion districts in metropolitan Denver. The course of the next 8 years, this war of ethnic ordered the deportation and execution of all Metro District began treating metro Denver’s genocide against the Armenian community in Armenians in the region. By the end of 1923, wastewater in 1966. the Ottoman Empire took the lives of over half virtually the entire Armenian population of NACWA implemented the National Environ- the world’s Armenian population. Anatolia and western Armenia had either been mental Achievement Awards program in 1983 Sadly, there are some people who still deny killed or deported. to recognize the excellence that was occurring the very existence of this period which saw While it is important to keep the lessons of routinely at many wastewater treatment agen- the institutionalized slaughter of the Armenian history in mind, we must also remain com- cies across the country. people and dismantling of Armenian culture. mitted to protecting Armenia from new and

VerDate Nov 24 2008 09:13 Mar 11, 2009 Jkt 039102 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR05\E04MY5.000 E04MY5 erowe on PROD1PC63 with BOUND RECORD 8658 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 151, Pt. 6 May 4, 2005 more hostile aggressors. In the last decade, 3,270-acre tract of land adjacent to the North Brush Mountain East—The Brush Mountain thousands of lives have been lost and more Fork of the Powell River in Lee County. The East proposed Wilderness Area is adjacent to than a million people displaced in the struggle property is considered to be the least dis- the Brush Mountain proposed Wilderness Area between Armenia and Azerbaijan over turbed forest in all of Southwest Virginia and and is located in Craig County. This tract is Nagorno-Karabagh. Even now, as we rise to is home to populations of two rare salaman- 3,769 acres in size and shares many of the commemorate the accomplishments of the Ar- ders. The Stone Mountain and Payne Branch characteristics of its neighboring proposed Wil- menian people and mourn the tragedies they trails are included as part of the proposed Wil- derness Area. Brush Mountain East also pos- have suffered, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and other derness Area and provide convenient access sesses excellent views along Craig Creek and countries continue to engage in a debilitating for hikers and hunters wishing to visit the Wil- Brush Mountain’s steep mountain face. blockade of this free nation. derness Area. The trails are also connected to The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act also in- Consistently, I have testified before the For- an adjacent campground at Cave Springs. cludes the designations for two new National eign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Raccoon Branch—The Raccoon Branch Scenic Areas. Differing from Wilderness on the important issue of bringing peace to a proposed Wilderness Area is located in Smyth Areas, the guidelines protecting National Sce- troubled area of the world. I continued my County in the Mount Rogers National Recre- nic Areas allow mountain biking and limited support for maintaining the level of funding for ation Area. The property contains 4,223 acres motorized access in certain portions of the the Southern Caucasus region of the Inde- of extremely rugged country characterized by Scenic Areas. At the same time, the natural pendent States (IS), and of Armenia in par- high ridges and low streams. Eight major trails and historic resources within the proposed Na- ticular. In addition, on February 26, 2004, I provide excellent access for hunters, fisher- tional Scenic Areas would be protected to pre- joined several of my colleagues in sending a men, hikers and horseback riders and two serve the landscape. letter to President Bush urging him to ensure nearby campgrounds serve as convenient The proposed National Scenic Areas des- parity in military assistance between Armenia trailheads. In addition, 4.5 miles of the Appa- ignated in the legislation are: and Azerbaijan. lachian Trail also traverses the proposed Wil- Bear Creek—The Bear Creek proposed Na- Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my col- derness Area. tional Scenic Area is located in Smyth County leagues, Representatives JOE KNOLLENBERG Garden Mountain—The Garden Mountain and includes 5,503 acres. The area extends and FRANK PALLONE, for organizing this spe- proposed Wilderness Area contains 3,291 from the crest of Walker Mountain southward cial order to commemorate the 89th Anniver- acres of land which lies on the southern flank to the crest of Brushy Mountain and includes sary of the Armenian genocide. Their efforts of Garden Mountain in Bland County. The the enclosed valley of Bear Creek between will not only help bring needed attention to this area borders the unique geological structure of the two mountains. An extensive network of tragic period in world history, but also serve to Burkes Garden and possesses two developed trails is included in the proposed area, includ- remind us of our duty to protect basic human trails, totaling 8 miles when combined. Along ing more than four miles of the Appalachian rights and freedoms around the world. the northern boundary, the Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail. f leads across the summit of Garden Mountain, Seng Mountain—The Seng Mountain pro- INTRODUCTION OF THE VIRGINIA while the Lick Creek Trail provides access to posed National Scenic Area is 6,455 acres in RIDGE AND VALLEY ACT OF 2005 the area along the valley bottom. size and is located in the Mount Rogers Na- Hunting Camp Creek—The Hunting Camp tional Recreation Area in Smyth County. Row- Creek proposed Wilderness Area encom- land Creek Falls, a 45-foot cascading waterfall HON. RICK BOUCHER passes the headwaters of both Hunting Camp is a major scenic attraction in the area. The OF VIRGINIA Creek and Little Wolf Creek in Bland County area also includes a network of recreational IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and is characterized by its exceptionally pris- trails and convenient access is provided to Wednesday, May 4, 2005 tine nature. The area consists of 8,470 acres visitors via the Hurricane Campground and Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in that stretch from ridge top to ridge top. The Skulls Gap Picnic Area. support of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of Appalachian Trail traverses the area in addi- Finally, the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act 2005. Southwest Virginia possesses the tion to two informal trails along an old logging would expand six existing Wilderness Areas to State’s best outdoor experience, with the high- railroad grade next to Hunting Camp Creek further protect the unique and undisturbed est mountains, most interesting rivers and su- and along the crest of Brushy Mountain. landscape of the region. perb hunting, camping, fishing, hiking and Brushy Mountain forms the Southeast bound- Lewis Fork Wilderness Area in Smyth and backpacking opportunities. With the preserva- ary of the proposed wilderness, and Garden Grayson Counties will be expanded to include tion of our region’s natural assets in mind, I Mountain forms the northwestern edge. Vir- an additional 308 acres. have joined with U.S. Senator JOHN WARNER ginia Routes 623, 615 and 610 complete the Little Wilson Creek Wilderness Area in in introducing the Virginia Ridge and Valley area’s boundary. Grayson County will be expanded by 1,845 Act of 2005. If enacted, the legislation would Lynn Camp Creek—The Lynn Camp Creek acres. create 7 new Wilderness Areas, 2 new Na- proposed Wilderness Area is also located in Kimberling Creek Wilderness Area in Bland tional Scenic Areas and would expand 6 exist- Bland County and is 3,226 acres in size. The County will be expanded to include 612 addi- ing Wilderness Areas. The new or expanded area is characterized by three parallel ridges tional acres of wilderness. areas would be designated in portions of which enclose the major stream valleys of Lick Peters Mountain Wilderness Area, which is Bland, Craig, Grayson, Giles, Lee, Mont- Creek and Lynn Camp Creek and provide the located in Giles County, will be expanded to gomery and Smyth Counties within the Jeffer- opportunity for good views. From the top of include an additional 1,203 acres. son National Forest. Lynn Camp Mountain, hikers can view Chest- Mountain Lake Wilderness Area in Giles Designating a tract of land as wilderness nut Ridge and the Beartown Wilderness. From and Craig Counties will be expanded by 5,476 enables the U.S. Forest Service to preserve Brushy Mountain, hikers overlook the valley of acres. the scenic and undisturbed character of the Lynn Camp Creek on one side and Big Walker Shawvers Run Wilderness Area in Craig landscape. Recreational activities such as Mountain on the other side. In addition, both County will be expanded to include an addi- hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, kayaking, Lick Creek and Lynn Camp Creek are excel- tional 2,456 acres. swimming, picnicking, backpacking, bird lent brook trout waters. I am pleased to report that the new pro- watching, horseback riding, cross-country ski- Brush Mountain—The Brush Mountain pro- posed designations which are included in the ing, snowshoeing, spelunking, rock-climbing posed Wilderness Area is located in Mont- legislation which Senator Warner and I have and many other outdoor activities would be gomery County, adjacent to the Town of introduced have received local support. Each continued and encouraged in the new Wilder- Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. The area is of the proposed Wilderness and National Sce- ness Areas. At the same time, motorized traf- 4,794 acres in size and extends approximately nic Area designations has been endorsed by fic and mechanized equipment would be 8 miles along the northwest slope of Brush either the U.S. Forest Service or the Board of banned to prevent any disruption to the eco- Mountain. The property is characterized large- Supervisors of the County in which the area systems and diverse wildlife in the areas. ly by its remoteness, despite its proximity to would be located. The seven proposed Wilderness Areas are: the suburbs of Blacksburg, providing hunters The legislation has also garnered significant Stone Mountain (Cave Springs)—The Stone and hikers with a feeling of true wilderness support in the U.S. House of Representatives Mountain proposed Wilderness Area is a solitude. by several other Virginia Congressmen. U.S.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 09:13 Mar 11, 2009 Jkt 039102 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR05\E04MY5.000 E04MY5 erowe on PROD1PC63 with BOUND RECORD