OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 16, 2001

Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/501-4633

SECRETARY NORTON AND SENATOR HATCH RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING
CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS IN INTERMOUNTAIN WEST

(WASHINGTON) - Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton will join Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) near Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday to present the annual Great Blue Heron Award for joint venture conservation partnerships. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan that result in significant benefits to ducks, waterfowl and other migratory birds.

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan's Intermountain West Joint Venture is headquartered in Salt Lake City, and partners include representatives from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as well as other federal, state and local government agencies, Tribes, sportsmen's organizations, conservation groups, private businesses and interested citizens.

This year's Great Blue Heron Award will be presented to PacifiCorp for its long-term and consistent support of the Intermountain West Joint Venture, its assistance in wetlands and waterfowl habitat development and restoration, and its contributions of more than $1 million in direct and in-kind funding for habitat projects, particularly in the Bear and Mud Lakes area that are part of the Southeast Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

"PacifiCorp offers us a living example of my philosophy of partnership and cooperation in the service of conservation," Secretary Norton said. "Its contributions to our National Wildlife Refuges and wetland habitat in this region have been of enormous value to waterfowl and migratory birds. Together, partnerships like the Intermountain West Joint Venture are significant contributors to the encouraging statistics showing nationwide increases in populations of ducks and other migratory waterfowl."

Media is welcome to join Secretary Norton and Senator Hatch in a brief tour of a wetlands project near Salt Lake City Airport and then proceed to the Ambassador Duck Club for presentation of the Great Blue Heron Award.

WHO: Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, Senator Orrin Hatch, members of the Intermountain West Joint Venture Management Board and representatives from PacifiCorp.

WHEN: Friday, August 17, 10:30 am. Tour and award presentation conclude about 11:30 am.

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WHERE: Media is invited to accompany the Secretary in a van that will proceed past a locked gate off Amelia Earhart Drive. Directions from Salt Lake City: take I-80 west to exit 113. Go north on 5600 West, turning left (west) at the Holiday Inn onto Amelia Earhart Drive. Turn right (north) at T onto John Glenn Drive and proceed to the end of the pavement. Turn left onto gravel road at Compeq building, parking by a locked white gate and transferring to vans.

WHAT: Presentation of National Great Blue Heron Award for waterfowl habitat and conservation achievement, highlight regional joint venture partnerships and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

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