MEDIA ADVISORY

Interior Secretary Norton to Announce $21 Million in Grants to Fund Conservation Projects in 43 States

(WASHINGTON) - Interior Secretary Gale Norton will hold a press teleconference on Monday May 24, to announce $21 million in Challenge Cost-Share grants under President Bush's Cooperative Conservation Initiative for 377 conservation projects in conjunction with states, local communities, businesses, landowners and other partners.

The grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service will fund a wide range of conservation projects in 43 states. These projects range from conserving bighorn sheep to combating invasive species.
Overall funding for the projects totals more than $52 million, including the matching contributions of partners. A press release and the full list of grants will be posted on the Interior Department web site (www.doi.gov) prior to the conference call on Monday morning.

The grants are being awarded in the following states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Who: Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior
Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildilfe and Parks
Lynn Scarlett, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Budget and Management
Rebecca Watson, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management

What: Teleconference announcing conservation grants in 43 states

When: 2:30 p.m. EDT, May 24, 2004

Call-In: News Media only at (866) 238-0637. Say you are calling in for the CCI grants press teleconference. Identify yourself and your publication to the operator.