OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mary Helen Thompson (O) 202/208-6416

April 23, 1995 Stephanie Hanna

Bob Walker

MEDIA ADVISORY

Babbitt Mid-Atlantic Tour Highlights Local Environmental Successes; Calls Attention to New & Immediate Threats

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt will be in the Baltimore and Annapolis area Thursday, April 25, on his fourth day touring the mid-Atlantic region. His tour, which began in New York harbor with local fishermen, highlights some of the region's most significant accomplishments in environmental restoration and preservation. At the same time, Babbitt is underscoring severe regional and local impacts that pending Congressional proposals may have.

Babbitt will begin Thursday's activities discussing the Regional Clean Water Action Plan and participating in water quality testing of the Patapsco River at Patapsco Valley State Park. He will then visit a prototype of the Chesapeake Bay tributary fish restoration plan, participating in the release of blue-back herring and shad over the Bloede Dam using fish ladders. Federal, state and local efforts are committed to restoring more than 1,350 miles of Chesapeake Bay tributaries and spawning areas for fish habitat.

Secretary Babbitt will then meet with the Phillips family, local watermen and restaurant owners, at the Phillips Harborplace Restaurant in Baltimore to discuss the economic benefits of environmental improvements to Chesapeake Bay. In the afternoon, Babbitt will board a boat from Kent Island, near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, to inspect both crab and oyster areas with local watermen.

Babbitt's tour started April 24 in New York Harbor, where provisions of the Clean Water Act have helped bring about a strong recovery in fish populations. He then traveled through New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Local and national experts, community leaders and homeowners have joined Babbitt for portions of the time. In addition to the major scheduled events, Babbitt is stopping in at smaller points along the way.

"I am pointing out the incredible environmental successes that are obvious to anyone who cares about the region," said Babbitt. "And I am challenging this new Congress to explain why they would weaken standards that protect our air, our water, our health and our wildlife."

Babbitt said he is deeply concerned by congressional proposals to weaken the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

"The new Congress began this debate by proposing to tear down essential environmental standards. And so we'll have the debate," said Babbitt. "We've just chosen a more appropriate forum than the narrow confines of Capitol Hill. We are going on the road and giving people a chance to explain, in very local terms, how successful these laws have been.

NOTES TO MEDIA:

Local and national media is invited to attend all of these events, and are welcome to travel with the Secretary by prior arrangement with the Office of Communications. For more information, contact Mary Helen Thompson, Bob Walker or Stephanie Hanna at 202-208-6416.

9:00 am: Patapsco Valley State Park pavillion and parking area.

Walk to waterfront. Participate in water quality testing and discuss Regional Clean Water Action Plan. Babbitt will be joined by Secretaries of Maryland Department of Resources and Department of Environment.

Directions to park and dam events:

Take I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) to Route 1 South. Follow Route 1 past the Calvert Distillery and under I-195 to Sutton Avenue. Turn right on Sutton, the left at entrance to Park (yellow gate with sign) Follow entrance road past ranger station. Turn left at stop sign. Cross a bridge and turn right at Avalon Area parking lot. Event begins at pavillions.

10:00 am: Bloede Dam on the Patapsco River to view a recently constructed fish ladder and discuss progress made in improving water quality and reopening fish spawning habitat blocked by dams, culverts and other obstructions.

12:00 pm: Lunch at Phillips Harborplace, Inner Harbor, Baltimore

2:00 pm: Kent Narrows Marina on Chesapeake Bay. Board boat for visit to areas important to the crab and oyster industries. Media space available by prior arrangement.

U.S. Department of the Interior