OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 1999

Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/208-6416
Steve Adamske (O) 202/208-5205

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ANNOUNCES EVERGLADES SCIENCE REVIEW PANELINTERIOR SECRETARY BABBITT COMMENDS EFFORT

Washington, DC -The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences announced today the membership of the Committee on Restoration of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. The 16-member committee will serve as an advisory panel to review and advise on scientific matters related to implementation of the Central and Southern Florida Comprehensive Review Study (Restudy) and the restoration of the South Florida Ecosystem.

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Chair of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force said "I am very pleased that the Everglades restoration effort will have the benefit of these distinguished scientists. This committee will help ensure that the best possible science leads the way in our efforts to restore the Everglades. The restoration of the South Florida Ecosystem is a major goal of the Clinton-Gore Administration and high quality, credible science must guide our efforts. I welcome these experts to the greater partnership involved with Everglades restoration."

The Task Force earlier this year endorsed the establishment of an on-going outside scientific review panel to ensure effective adaptive management for South Florida ecosystem restoration. All Task Force members agreed that an independent scientific review panel is needed to provide advice on the implementation of the Everglades effort. Secretary Babbitt made the proposal to the National Academy to choose the composition of the committee.

The Committee is composed of scientists representing a broad range of expertise including biology, ecology, toxicology, hydrology, agronomy, economics and other disciplinary backgrounds necessary to evaluate the full range of scientific issues associated with implementation of the Restudy and the restoration of the South Florida ecosystem.

"Restoration efforts are dependent on good science. With a restoration effort as massive as the Everglades, science must drive our policy decisions. However, people must have confidence in the science itself, which is why the work of the panel is so important," Babbitt said.

"Sound Science is an integral part of the Administration's Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan that was submitted to Congress on July 1. We welcome the involvement of this independent scientific committee to enhance and improve our efforts as we begin the implementation of this important restoration effort." said Michael Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

"I want for the people of South Florida, as well as the nation, to have confidence in our science. The public needs to be assured that the our restoration efforts are going to be effective." said Patty Beneke, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of Interior.

The committee will first meet later this fall, as soon as schedules of the members of the committee can be coordinated. The committee proposes to meet approximately three to five times, in Florida, during the first year to conduct a broad scientific review. It will require briefings from restoration program managers and scientists. Members of the Committee are as follows:

Jean Bahr, University of Wisconsin

Linda Blum, University of Virginia

Patrick Brezonik, University of Minnesota

Robert Burchell, Rutgers University

Frank Davis, University of California, Santa Barbara

James Davidson, CHAIR, University of Florida (ret)

Wayne Huber, Oregon State University

Stephen Humphrey, University of Florida

Daniel (Pete) Loucks, Cornell University

Scott Nixon, University of Rhode Island

Gordon Orians, University of Washington

Kenneth Potter, University of Wisconsin

Larry Robinson, Florida A&M University

Steven Sanderson, Emory University

Rebecca Sharitz, Savannah River Ecology Lab

John Vecchioli, US Geological Survey (ret)

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