Federal Land Managers Propose Policy to Help Cleanup America's Waters
                                                               
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0053.00
                                                               
                     Media Contacts: Susan McAvoy, 202-720-4623
                                          susan.mcavoy@usda.gov
                                        Tim Ahern, 202-208-5089
                                          tim_ahern@ios.doi.gov

FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS PROPOSE POLICY TO HELP CLEAN UP AMERICA'S WATERS

     WASHINGTON,  Feb.18, 2000--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and
Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt announced a proposal to unify federal efforts
to protect water quality on federal lands.  The proposal is a starting point
for obtaining input from local, state and tribal governments, citizen groups,
and others with a stake in clean, healthy watersheds.
     
     The proposal, titled Unified Federal Policy to Ensure a Watershed
Approach to Federal Land and Resource Management, will be published in the
Federal Register Feb. 22, 2000.  It is a framework to protect public health,
reduce polluted runoff, improve natural resources stewardship, and increase
public involvement in watershed management on federal lands.  

     "Healthy watersheds mean healthy people," said Glickman. "Improving
water
quality on federal lands will enhance the quality of life in communities all
across America and bring cleaner water for generations to come." 
  
  "Our goals are simple," Babbitt said.  "We are asking the American
people to join with us in improving America's watersheds and reducing
pollution to our most precious resource--water." 

  The proposed policy is designed to benefit the public by:

              Managing the lands and resources entrusted to the federal government on
       a watershed basis and improve stewardship of federally-managed
       watersheds;

              Providing better coordination among federal agencies, states, tribes,
       and interested stakeholders;

              Making it easier for states, tribes, local governments, and others to
       work with federal
              agencies on a watershed basis; and

    Helping focus and leverage the resources of various federal agencies to
  solve problems on priority watersheds.

  Public comments on the draft policy will be solicited for 60 days from
February 22, through April 21, 2000.  Based on these public comments, a final
policy will be developed later this year.   

  A series of public meetings will be held in Milwaukee, Wis., Portland,
Ore., Denver, Colo., and Atlanta, Ga., to present and discuss the draft policy
and receive formal comments.   Separate informational meetings for tribes will
be held in each of these cities as well.

  Additional information is available on the Clean Water Action Plan
website-- http://www.cleanwater.gov/ufp

  Comments on the proposal should be sent to USDA Forest Service, Content
Analysis Enterprise Team, Attn:  UFP, Building 2, Suite 295, 5500 Amelia
Earhart Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116, or fax to (801) 517-1021; email to
cleanwater/wo_caet@fs.fed.us 
  
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