Secretary Norton Responds to Release of CERP Programmatic Regulations

(Washington) - Interior Secretary Gale Norton today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' release of its programmatic regulations for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan:

"We have begun to review the Corps' initial draft of programmatic regulations for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. This represents a starting point, and all interested parties, including the Interior Department, which has a role in concurring on the final regulations, will have ample opportunity to participate fully in the rulemaking process. In the course of finalizing these regulations, which provide a critical first step, we will work closely with the Corps to ensure the final regulations are fully consistent with the goals of the CERP, which are to restore the Everglades while meeting the related water needs of the South Florida ecosystem."

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 U.S. Department of the Interior