OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lisa Guide (O) 202/208-6416

December 12, 1996

STATEMENT OF INTERIOR SECRETARY BRUCE BABBITT

FIRST GRANT AGREEMENT FROM 1996 FARM BILL FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION

Today is an important day in the latest phase of history for the Florida Everglades. We spent the last 100 years draining and paving it. We spent the last few decades talking about fixing it. Today our commitment to restoring the Everglades takes a big, tangible leap forward.

Today the South Florida Water Management District and the Department of the Interior will enter into a grant agreement for the first installment on an expenditure of $200 million provided for Everglades Restoration in the 1996 Farm Bill.

With this agreement, $18.4 million in matching federal funds will be made available to the District to buy lands in the East Coast Buffer. The four properties purchased are a 1,658 acre parcel in Palm Beach County, a 197 acre parcel in northwestern Dade County, and two parcels of 94 and 277 acres in southwestern Broward County. These lands, and others the District has and will acquire in this area, will serve critical water storage and other restoration purposes, including rehydration of the Everglades.

The purchase of these properties will give the Everglades a new lease on life.

The acquisition of these lands for water preserve areas, along with lands in the Everglades Agricultural Area, was the highest priority recommendation of the intergovernmental South Florida Everglades Restoration Task Force for the use of the Farm Bill funds. These acquisitions were also the highest priority of the Governor's Commission for a Sustainable South Florida which represents all levels of government and leaders in the environmental community and agricultural and development industries in Florida.

This action represents my commitment to follow the recommendations of these Floridians involved in preserving and restoring the Everglades. It also furthers the Clinton Administration's full partnership with the State of Florida announced by Vice President Gore at Everglades National Park last February.

The partnership we began with the State of Florida three years ago to join forces and save the Everglades is strengthened by this agreement we reach today with the South Florida Water Management District.