Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: December 13, 2000

Contact: John Wright: 202/208-6416

MEDIA ADVISORY

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will travel to Casa Grande, Arizona, December 14, 2000 to continue discussions with various interest groups and local representatives regarding their views on future management plans for a portion of the desert area located south of Phoenix, Arizona.

"I promised that I would return and continue our dialogue on the future management of this pristine and unique area," said Babbitt. "I had an informative eye-opening tour of this amazing area during my last visit and look forward to a productive meeting and discussion on Thursday."

The area includes a portion of the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range (Area A), the North Maricopa Mountains, South Maricopa Mountains, and Table Top wildernesses, the Vekol Valley Grassland Area of Critical Environmental Concern along with public land between these areas.

Who: Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior


Tribal Representatives

Conservation Representatives

Hunting Representatives

What:Roundtable Discussion on the future management of a select Sonoran desert area

When:Thursday, December 14, 2000


2:30 p.m. (Local Time)

Where:Elks Lodge


909 East Florence Blvd.

Casa Grande, Arizona
- DOI -


U.S. Department of the Interior