OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 11, 2000

Contact: Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/501-4633
(FWS) Doug Zimmer (O) 360-753-4370

INTERIOR SECRETARY TO CELEBRATE UNIQUE HABITAT CONSERVATION
AGREEMENT WITH SIMPSON TIMBER ON OLYMPIC PENINSULA

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will participate in the signing ceremony for a new Habitat Conservation Plan with Simpson Timber Company on the Olympic Peninsula near Shelton, Washington. The ceremony is scheduled on Friday, October 13, at 10:00 a.m.

The Simpson HCP covers about 262,000 acres and will protect about 51 species of salmon, native fish and wildlife species. It is also the first HCP that was designed to actively address both endangered species and water quality issues.

This HCP has been done in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

"This unique approach is a model for future cooperative partnerships," Babbitt said. "We are able to protect a number of species that are currently at risk but not listed under the Endangered Species Act. By taking actions like these, we may be able to avoid future listings. In addition, Simpson Timber has agreed to comply with both state and federal Clean Water Act requirements, not only creating healthy stream and riparian habitats but providing great benefit to the rich shellfish populations downstream in the Hood Canal region."

Secretary Babbitt will join the President Ray Tennison and Chairman Colin Mosely of Simpson Investment Company and officials from the other federal agencies at the signing event on Friday. Tribal representatives and representatives from local community organizations have also been invited to participate.

-DOI-

Directions from Seattle: Take Interstate I-5 South to Exit 104 (Tumwater) which becomes 101 North - continue to Shelton exits. At 2^nd Shelton exit (Matlock/City Center) signs will direct ceremony participants and media west to Goldsborough Creek. Event site is approximately 10 minutes from 101 exit.