BALTIMORE, MD (February 26, 2008) – The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) recently awarded Barbara Brown of the Environmental Restoration and Redevelopment Program Employee of the Year. Barbara gave unselfishly of her time to the Oil Control Program in providing expert geological support.

“The employee of the year is recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve Maryland and ensure that our environment and the safety of our citizens is protected,” said MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson. “Ms. Brown's devotion and expertise has allowed the Oil Control Program and MDE to ensure that proper remediation systems are now running and protections to our citizens are in place.

Barbara has given unselfishly of her time to the Oil Control Program in providing expert geological support. Barbara has and continues to support her sister program in the high profile gasoline release cases of Upper Crossroads, Harford County and Jacksonville, Baltimore County. Both of these releases are in areas with very complex geological formations. The groundwater contamination at both sites threatened hundreds of supply wells and therefore hundreds of citizens.

"I am honored to be part of a team that developed a plan to protect public health and the environment," said Ms. Brown. "It is truly rewarding to work with such a great group of people."

Ms. Brown's devotion and expertise has allowed the Oil Control Program and MDE to manage these cases in a manner so that proper remediation systems are now running and protections to our citizens are in place. Without Ms. Brown, MDE's quick and professional response would not have been possible.

MDE honored three other Employee of the Year Nominees. They are:

Cindy Dailey of the Water Management Administration for her dedication and effort associated with the recruitment and filling of the new Bay Restoration Fund positions for water quality and septics.

Denise Hartzell of the Air and Radiation Management Administration for her contributions in providing guidance to the Waste Management Administration in simplifying their FMIS organization structure to enable them to obtain financial information at the Program level.

Matthew Rowe of the Technical and Regulatory Services Administration for demonstrating outstanding leadership and technical skills as he completed tasks relating to the production of the 2006 biennial Clean Water Act Section 303 (d) List of Impaired Water bodies.

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