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Office of the Secretary
July 25, 2008

Contact: Chris Paolino
202-208-6416

MEDIA ADVISORY

Secretary Kempthorne to Visit Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge for Signing Ceremony

Washington, DC – On Saturday, July 26, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne will announce, with elected officials from Michigan and Ohio, the inclusion of the Plum Creek Bay into the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Kempthorne will be joined by Congressman John D. Dingell (MI-15), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) and Michigan Lt. Governor John D. Cherry Jr. for the signing ceremony at the Monroe County Community College.

Following the signing, Kempthorne will tour parts of the refuge, including Humbug Marsh.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and riverfront lands along 48 miles of the Detroit River and western Lake Erie, protects and restores habitat for 29 species of waterfowl, 65 kinds of fish, and 300 species of migratory birds.

Who: Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne
Congressman John D. Dingell (MI-15)
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)
Michigan Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, Jr.
What: Announcement of the inclusion of the Plum Creek Bay into the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
When: Saturday, July 26 beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Where: Monroe Community College atrium for signing
First Media availability at 1:15 p.m. after signing
Second Media availability at 3:30 p.m. at the Refuge Gateway in Trenton
Media Availability: Interested media may begin setting up at 11:30 a.m.

11:30am – Secretary Kempthorne, Congressman Dingell, Congresswoman Kaptur, Lt. Governor Cherry are scheduled to take part in a lunch with community leaders at the atrium at Monroe County Community College at 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe, MI 48161

12:30pm – The guests will move into the La-Z-Boy Theatre, adjacent to the atrium, where a signing ceremony will be held. There will be time to move and set up cameras before the program begins

12:45pm – Ceremonial Signing with Secretary Kempthorne and Chairman of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners Bill Sisk

1:15pm – Media availability

3:30pm – Secretary Kempthorne and Congressman Dingell will take questions from the media just before they take a helicopter tour of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, departing from the Refuge Gateway

Directions: To Refuge Gateway in Trenton: From I-75 either going north or south, exit at West Road heading east toward Trenton. Take West Road east for approximately three miles through Trenton to Jefferson Avenue (the main road along the Detroit River). Turn right on Jefferson Avenue and head south. The Gateway is past Elizabeth Park, the Trenton Channel Power Plant, and Solutia (both on the east side of Jefferson Ave.). Wayne County’s Refuge Gateway is immediately south of the Solutia Plant on the East side of Jefferson.

 

 
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