OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2000
Stephanie Hanna (O)
202/501-4633
(Cong. Forbes) Ernest
Baynard (O) 631/451-2200
SECRETARY BABBITT AND
CONGRESSMAN FORBES TOUR SIGNIFICANT
CONSERVATION RESOURCES ON EASTERN LONG
ISLAND
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will be on Long Island on Thursday, July 6, to see the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, tour a proposed land acquisition at Warbler Woods and take a tour of the Carmans River watershed. In the afternoon, he will take a boat trip on Peconic Bay. Secretary Babbitt will be accompanied by Congressman Michael Forbes.
"Warbler Woods is an area that Congressman Forbes and I believe should be protected to conserve important wildlife habitat and protect the Carmans River watershed," Babbitt said. "This land acquisition, which is one of President Clinton's FY 2001 budget priorities, points to the compelling need to secure permanent funding through the Land & Water Conservation Fund for significant state and federal conservation needs. There is an historic opportunity for the Congress to act this year to provide this permanent funding, at no cost to American taxpayers, as it was intended in law."
Secretary Babbitt and Congressman Forbes will arrive for a walking tour of the Warbler Woods acquisition area at 10:00 a.m., followed by a press conference with the Friends of Wertheim at the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge at 11:00 a.m. After the press conference, the Secretary and Congressman will take a boat tour of the Carmans River watershed from the boat dock in the Refuge. All these activities are open to the media, although there is limited space on boats.
In the afternoon at 2:00 p.m., Secretary Babbitt and Congressman Forbes will leave from the Suffolk County Marina for a tour of Peconic Bay. This will be the first opportunity for Secretary Babbitt to see Peconic Bay and its outstanding wildlife and wetland resources. Media may accompany the Secretary, but should make prior arrangements for space on boats through the local office of Congressman Forbes. The boats will return about 3:00 p.m. and there will be a media availability with Secretary Babbitt at the Suffolk County Marina.
Specific directions for the location of any of these events may be obtained from the local office of Congressman Michael Forbes at 631-451-2200.
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