Assistant Attorney General Sue Ellen Woodridge recognized 11 State and Federal employees for their "outstanding performance and invaluable assistance in support of the activities of the Environment and Natural Resources Division" of the Department of Justice, during a November 2 ceremony. 

The recognition came as the result of the case team's work on an Ohio River toxic pollution case.

Employees from the Department of Interior, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and States of Ohio and West Virginia, were presented with framed certificates at a luncheon. 

The investigation of the release of toxic chemicals into the Ohio River, which killed hundreds of thousands of freshwater mussels and fish at, and adjacent to, the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, lasted several years and culminated with a settlement in February. 

The settlement will fund restoration efforts for native mussels in the Ohio River. 

Recognized were:  David DeVault and Frank Horvath, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office; Patricia Morrison, Ohio River Islands NWR; John Carlucci and Steve Barcley, U.S. Department of Interior Office of the Solicitor; Ignacio Arrazola, U.S. EPA Region 5 Office of Regional Counsel; Larry Strattan, U.S. EPA National Enforcement Investigations Center; Margaret Malone and Stephen Wells, State of Ohio; Kelly Goes and Scott Morrison, State of West Virginia.