U.S. Department of the Interior

Office of the Secretary
Contact:
Alisha Harrison 
           202 720-4623
For Immediate Release: July 22, 2002
   Mario Lopez
202 208 6416

Media Advisory

VENEMAN AND NORTON TO KICK-OFF 3,000-MILE TREK
HIGHLIGHTING PUBLIC LANDS HERITAGE
 
WASHINGTON - July 29, 2002 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton will help kick-off the first-ever cross-country trek. The 3000-mile trip, called American Frontiers: A Public Lands Journey, is designed to educate all Americans about the abundant benefits gained from America's public lands and the tremendous beauty they possess. During their two-month journey, the trekkers will participate in a number of events designed to highlight the history, geography, recreational opportunities, and value of public lands.

WHAT: Bush administration officials will help kick-off the first
              ever trek entirely on public lands. The two teams of adventurers,
              including a firefighter, a teacher and a retired Marine, will journey some
              3,000 miles, crossing six states by foot, horseback, bicycle, canoe, SUV,
              and boat. One team will depart from New Mexico's border with Mexico, and
              the other from Montana's border with Canada, and they will meet in Salt
              Lake City on National Public Lands Day, Sept. 28., never having left
              national forests and parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands.
              Their story will be told with the help of video-phones and the Internet. 

WHO:    Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman
              Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton
              National Geographic Society CEO and President John Fahey
              White House representatives and other partners
              The Trekkers, live via satellite, from their starting locations on
              the Canadian and Mexican borders. 

WHEN: Wednesday, July 31, at 9 a.m. EDT 

WHERE: National Press Club
              PETER LISAGOR ROOM
              529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor Washington, DC, 20045 No parking provided; Metro
             Center metro station is one block away. HOW:    The National Press Club event is open to
             all media. A limited number of media credentials also are available to join portions of the
             two-month journey of parklands, forests, historic sites and other public lands. For more
              information on join the trek, contact Debbie Payton at (404) 245-8500 or
              Jim Jewell at (404) 681-9746.


            -DOI-



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