ANCHORAGE, AK– Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett will visit the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve visitor center and take a flyover tour of the park today and tomorrow, followed by a town meeting at the Kennecott Recreation Hall on Friday, August 17, 2007.
Deputy Secretary Scarlett will discuss the rebuilding efforts from previous flooding, as well as the extent of storm damage to buildings, roads and bridges in the park. Much of the damage was caused by severe flooding on October 9 and 10, 2006.
On Friday night at 8:00 p.m., following the tours and briefings, Deputy Secretary Scarlett will hold a town meeting at the Kennecott Recreation Hall to discuss ongoing efforts at the park and issues surrounding its rebuilding and conservation. The town meeting is open to the public.
Deputy Secretary Scarlett’s visit is part of a week-long trip to Alaska to meet with local officials and tribal leaders and to get a first-hand look at the numerous Department of the Interior projects and programs in the state.
The Department of the Interior is responsible for more than 50 percent of the 365 million acres in Alaska. Under the stewardship of Interior, Alaska has almost 77 million acres of refuge lands, 54 million acres of national parklands, and more than 87 million acres of public lands. Alaska also has more than 230 million acres of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in current arctic and sub-arctic planning areas. Alaska is home to 229 Native entities.
| Who: | Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett |
| What: | Tour of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Town Meeting |
| When: | Tour of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Thursday, August 16, 2007 and Friday, August 17, 2007 Town Meeting 8:00 p.m., Friday, August 17, 2007 |
| Where: | Town Meeting Kennecott Recreation Hall |
| Media: | For additional information on Deputy Secretary Scarlett’s visit
or to arrange a time to talk with Deputy Secretary Scarlett, members of the media should contact Chris Paolino at (202) 208-6416. |