Office of the Secretary |
CONTACT: Hugh
Vickery
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For Immediate Release:July 28, 2004 |
202-208-6416
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MEDIA ADVISORY Secretary Norton to Speak on State of National Parks, Hold Press Availability |
(SEATTLE) - Interior Secretary Gale Norton will speak on the state of the National Park System and the progress made under the Bush administration to address longstanding repair and maintenance needs at our national parks at American Legislative Exchange Council's annual meeting on July 29. "Under President Bush's
leadership, National Park employees have undertaken 4,000 maintenance
and repair projects in parks across the country," Norton said.
"Visitors are seeing improved trails, more accessible campgrounds,
rehabilitated visitor centers, better roads, stabilized historic structures
and reduced environmental threats through better sewer, water and drinking
systems." "We have
more money today per acre, per employee and per visitor in the National
Park system than at any time in the history of the parks," she said.
At Mount Rainier National Park, for example, the Parks Service recently completed restoration of the Paradise Guide House and installed new underground power lines to replace overhead lines among other projects. Secretary Norton
will hold a press availability immediately before the speech.
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