POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS  that THE GOLDMAN  SACHS  GROUP,  INC.  (the
"Company")  does hereby make,  constitute and appoint each of Roger S. Begelman,
Yvette Kosic, Andrea Louro DeMar, John M. O'Rourke,  Felicia J. Rector,  Michael
T. Seeley, and Stephen Wong, (and any other employee of The Goldman Sachs Group,
Inc.  or  one  of  its   affiliates   designated   in  writing  by  one  of  the
attorneys-in-fact),  acting  individually,  its true  and  lawful  attorney,  to
execute and  deliver in it name and on its behalf  whether the Company is acting
individually or as representative of others,  any and all filings required to be
made by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (as amended,  the
"Act"),  with respect to securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned
by  the   Company   under  the  Act,   giving  and   granting   unto  each  said
attorney-in-fact  power and authority to act in the premises as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the Company might or could do if  personally  present by
one of its authorized signatories, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY  shall  remain in full force and effect until either
revoked  in  writing  by the  undersigned  or until  such time as the  person or
persons to whom power of  attorney  has been  hereby  granted  cease(s) to be an
employee of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. or one of its affiliates.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned has duly subscribed these presents as
of May 23, 2006.


THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, INC.



/s/ GREGORY K. PALM
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GREGORY K. PALM
Executive Vice President and General Counsel