Release No.4021.02

USDA: Heidi Valetkevitch (202) 720-6767
DOL: Elissa Pruett (202) 693-4676
DOI: John Wright (202) 208-6416

USDA, DOI AND DOL TO SIGN AGREEMENT FOR FIRST-EVER INTERAGENCY FIRE
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2002 -- The Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Labor, the Interior and Agriculture will sign the first ever National Apprenticeship Standards for the National Interagency Joint Apprenticeship Program for Wildland Fire in support of the National Fire Plan.

WHAT: A signing ceremony establishing a new interagency fire apprenticeship program to provide a pool of trained firefighters and fire


managers vital to the implementation of the National Fire Plan. The apprentice program assures professional development and

quality of training in fire management.

WHO: U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman


U.S. Department of Labor Elaine L. Chao

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton

USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey

National Federation of Federal Employees Representative, Rick Brown

Apprentice Graduate Craig Howell

WHEN: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 at 1:15 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Jamie Whitten Building


U.S. Department of Agriculture

12^th and Jefferson Dr., SW, Room 107-A

Washington, D.C.

No parking provided; Smithsonian metro station one block away.

DETAILS: Reporters in and around the Washington area are invited to attend the briefing. Media credentials are required. Media wishing to "listen in" to a live broadcast should call (202) 554-1742, passcode 9999# (trouble number 202-720-8560). The signing ceremony and news conference will also be live-streamed on the Web at http://www.usda.gov/.