Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: March 31, 1997

Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416

Hayes, a prominent environmental attorney will counsel Secretary

Babbitt on legal issues of primary importance to the Department

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today announced the appointment of David J. Hayes as Counselor to the Secretary. Hayes will work directly with Secretary Babbitt on key legal issues associated with water rights, federal land management, and the national parks. He succeeds John Duffy who resigned July 17, 1996.

“David will be an invaluable addition to the Interior team,” said Babbitt. “His work as a leading environmental lawyer for many years will bring important insight and expertise to our mission.”

Hayes worked as a leading environmental lawyer for the D.C. law office of Latham & Watkins. He is a former chairman of the Board of the Environmental Law Institute, a non-profit organization that serves as a forum for discussion on environmental issues and conducts significant environmental research on behalf of the U.S. Government, individual states and foreign countries. He also conceived and developed the International Environmental Network, which is available on a secured Latham Worldwide Web Site.

“I look forward to being an integral part of Secretary Babbitt’s dynamic team and contributing to the preservation of our country’s natural resources, national parks, and federal lands for future generations,” Hayes said.

The appointment of David J. Hayes as Counselor to the Secretary becomes effective March 31, 1997.

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