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Office of the Secretary UCAL: Michele McCoy 724-938-4155
MEDIA ADVISORY DOI: Joan Moody 202-208-6416
Feb. 4, 2003 FWS: Diana Weaver (cell) 413-695-1019

PITTSBURGH NATIVE AND INTERIOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY SCARLETT WILL TOUR LOCAL HABITAT PROJECTS WITH CAL U EXPERTS TOMORROW

Assistant Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett will tour restored local streams with California University's Wildlife Conservation Specialist Jose Taracido starting with a briefing at 9 a.m. in Meadowlands. The tour will highlight the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Service program, which has been increased under President Bush's 2004 budget, and Cal U's partners program.

Members of the press are invited to accompany the tours of the Buffalo Creek and Pike Run watersheds. Scarlett has led many partnership efforts nationwide and says
the work of Taracido in restoring Washington County's Pike Run has become a national model for watershed protection.

As Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, Pittsburgh native Scarlett is responsible for providing policy guidance and administrative oversight of the department.
"Throughout her career, Lynn has forged innovative partnerships between government, environmental groups, industry and everyday citizens committed to protecting and conserving our environment," says Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.

The group's itinerary follows. Credentialed media are welcome to the media availability and the tour by notifying Michelle McCoy at 724-938-4155

9 a.m. - Media availability for Assistant Secretary Scarlett and UCAL's Jose Taracido at NRCS Office, 2800 N. Main Street Extension, Meadowlands, Pennsylvania 15347 - from Pittsburgh, take I-79S to Racetrack Road exit towards Meadlowlands Exit #41. Turn right on Racetrack Road, stay in lefthand lane, take left at first light onto Pike Street.; at next light, take right and follow to end; at stopsign, turn right and make immediate left into complex, go to front of building, last office at end of hall on left.

10 a.m. - Visit Buffalo Creek Watershed - Meet with Steve Yilitz, Dairy Farmer, and Oran Smith, Black Angus Breeder. The Buffalo Creek project in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and Brooke County, West Virginia, is a cooperative effort among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California University of Pennsylvania, Natural Resources Conservation Service, FishAmerica Foundation, Washington County Conservation District, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, local governments, agricultural landowners, and others to install stream bank fencing, cattle crossings, and alternate watering sources for livestock. Restored areas will increase fish and wildlife habitat and reduce pollution.

2 p.m. - Visit Pike Run Watershed - Meet with four farmers involved in the partnership. The Pike Run habitat restoration program has been called a national model conservation project. It involves fencing stream bank, fencing and restoring wetlands, and establishing grasses to reduce pollution. Partners include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California University of Pennsylvania, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever,and agricultural landowners.
4 p.m. - Return to Upper St. Clair

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