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Maine DEP Recognized for Wastewater Training and Technical Help by EPA

Release Date: 01/31/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: Sheryl Rosner, EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1865

For Immediate Release: January 31, 2005; Release # sr050114

BOSTON - Four employees of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection were recently awarded the State Operator Wastewater On-Site Technical Assistance Provider Award by the New England office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA’s New England office formally acknowledged this team last week at the annual New England Water Environment Association Conference Awards’ Luncheon at the Boston Copley Marriott Hotel.

EPA New England recognizes state personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable technical assistance or training to municipal wastewater treatment facilities. This award is one way EPA can acknowledge the work of its state counterparts who provide technical and managerial assistance to municipal wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England.

The Regional State Wastewater On-Site Technical Assistance Provider Award recognized a consistently outstanding team effort involving four individuals who have provided invaluable on-site technical assistance and training to wastewater treatment operators and municipal officials throughout Maine. They were: Don Albert, Dick Darling, Ken Jones, and Sterling Pierce.

Albert, manager of the Maine DEP’s Wastewater Technical Assistance and Compliance Unit, has been involved with EPA’s Wastewater Operator Training Program since its inception over 20 years ago and has been a significant national contributor over the years. Pierce’s efforts in the area of pollution prevention, particularly in the area of mercury, have been beneficial not only to a wide range of industries, but also to many municipal waste water treatment facilities. Darling has provided basic wastewater training and been instrumental in developing essential computer tools for wastewater treatment operators that have been available in Maine and nationally. Jones has been providing timely and valuable on-site technical assistance in the area of process control to municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities for many years.

All four individuals have the professional respect of not only their peers, but more importantly, wastewater treatment plant superintendents and operators throughout Maine and New England.
“The professionals providing technical assistance to wastewater treatment plants play a crucial role in ensuring that our lakes and rivers are protected from unnecessary pollution,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England Office. AI am proud to give Don Albert, Dick Darling, Ken Jones, and Sterling Pierce the acknowledgment they richly deserve.”

For more information on wastewater treatment visit: https://www.epa.gov/region1/topics/water/wwater.html

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