[MPWG] Opportunities to Discuss Conservation and Partnerships with the DOI

[Megan_Haidet at fws.gov]

AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO POLICY MAKERS ABOUT THE CONSERVATION OF NATIVE 
PLANTS . . .  


Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne is joining with the Secretaries of 
Commerce and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, and the Chairman of the White House Council on 
Environmental Quality to host listening sessions on cooperative 
conservation and environmental partnerships.   

The listening sessions will give citizens an opportunity to exchange ideas 
on incentives, partnership programs, and regulations that can improve 
results and promote cooperative conservation and environmental 
partnerships.   

The meetings will focus on issues, programs, and policies mentioned 
frequently at the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation. 
Discussion topics will include:   

How can the federal government enhance wildlife habitat, species 
protection, and other conservation outcomes through regulatory and 
voluntary conservation programs?   
How can the federal government enhance cooperation among federal agencies 
and with states, tribes, and local communities in the application of 
environmental protection and conservation laws?   
How can the federal government work with states, tribes, and other public- 
and private-sector partners to improve science used in environmental 
protection and conservation?   
How can the federal government work cooperatively with businesses and 
landowners to protect the environment and promote conservation?   
How can the federal government better respect the interests of people with 
ownership in land, water, and other natural resources? 



The following cities will be hosting listening sessions (for additional 
information visit http://cooperativeconservation.gov/sessions/index.html)  


Spokane, Washington, 10 a.m., August 9  
Roanoke, Virginia, 10:30 a.m., August 14  
Helena, Montana, 1 p.m., August 14  
Columbus, Ohio, 4 p.m., August 21  
Redmond, Oregon, 8:30 a.m., August 22  
Omaha, Nebraska, 1 p.m., August 24  
Muncie, Indiana, 10 a.m., August 26 
Fairbanks, Alaska, 10 a.m., August 28  
Jefferson City, Missouri, 1 p.m., August 29  
Enid, Oklahoma, 1 p.m., August 30   
Redding, California, 1 p.m., September 13 
Colorado Springs, Colorado, 9 a.m., September 15  
Brewer, Maine, 4 p.m., September 20  
Brunswick, Georgia, 1 p.m., September 21  
Colton, California, 10 a.m., September 28  


These meetings are the latest in a series of discussions the 
Administration has hosted since the White House Conference on Cooperative 
Conservation in August 2005. The conference identified three broad 
approaches to improving conservation results: promoting cooperation within 
the federal government, promoting cooperation between the federal 
government and others, and eliminating barriers to cooperation in existing 
policy. Some of these ideas are reflected in a recently released summary 
of new legislation. In short this summary reviews the following bills  

The Good Samaritan Clean Watershed Act - This bill is designed to allow 
individuals and organizations who are not responsible for the pollution, 
but are willing to participate in voluntary remediation projects, to do so 
without fear of undue liability under the CWA and CERCLA. This bill would 
also streamline the permitting process associated with voluntary cleanup 
activities. 

Cooperative Conservation Enhancement Act - This legislation would 
establish several DOI Cooperative Conservation program and clarify 
existing partnerships and cooperative agreement authorities and reduce 
barriers to such authorities where appropriate to encourage greater 
cooperation among Federal agencies, local communities, and citizens. 

Healthy Forests Partnership Act - This act would authorize the Secretaries 
to enter into new partnerships with State and local governments and Indian 
tribes. It would also authorize the designation of "Healthy Forests 
Partnership Zones in priority areas to foster investment by non-Federal 
parties to build in local industry capacity and public infrastructure 
needed to restore forests and rangelands.  

Cooperative Conservation of Marine, Estuarine, Coastal and Riverine 
Habitat Act - This bill would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to enter 
into cooperative partnerships and regional plans to support marine, 
estuarine, coastal and riverine habitat protection and restoration.  

For more information about this proposed legislation please visit 
http://cooperativeconservation.gov/pdfs/JointLetteronProposedLegislation.pdf 


For additional information regarding the Cooperative Conservation program 
visit http://cooperativeconservation.gov/ 




Megan Haidet 
Communications Coordinator 
Plant Conservation Alliance  
US Fish & Wildlife Service 
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750 
Arlington, VA  22203
Phone: 703.358.2120 
Fax: 703.358.2276 
  
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