The Department of Commerce Office of General Counsel recently recognized seven employees of NOAA General Counsel's Office with the 2004 Legal Office Award for Outstanding Attorney and/or Support Staff. These awards recognize outstanding and significant contributions to the Department of Commerce Office of the General Counsel and to the NOAA Office of the General Counsel. The NOAA GC employees who were recognized at the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on December 15, 2004, are listed below. Pictured above are the honorees who were able to attend the ceremony, along with the NOAA General Counsel and a supervisor of one of the honorees (from the left: Michele Kuruc, Trina Heard, Gene Martin, Gail Siani, Karen Raine, Jim Walpole, Caroline Park, and Marjorie Sams). Trina Heard (Long Beach office) was being recognized for her superb administrative support to the Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, particularly with regard to the Montrose site restoration efforts. Lisa Lindeman (Juneau office) was recognized for her extraordinary leadership in resolving legal issues in connection with the crab rationalization program in Alaska. Gene Martin (Gloucester office) was recognized for his excellent work defending NOAA in the New England Groundfish litigation. Caroline Park (Silver Spring office) was recognized for her exceptional work on rulemakings addressing Highly Migratory Species, including a recent rulemaking to implement sea turtle bycatch reduction measures. Karen Raine (St. Petersburg office) was recognized for her outstanding enforcement efforts, particularly with regard to turtle excluder devices, and consistently first-rate legal advice provided to Fishery Management Councils in the Southeast region. Marjorie Sams (Washington, D.C. office) was recognized for her superlative service in ensuring the smooth administration of NOAA/GC's headquarters office. Gail Siani (Seattle office) was recognized for her expert paralegal assistance to the Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, particularly with regard to her work on the Commencement Bay Superfund site. NOAA General Counsel congratulates them all on this significant honor!