FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 23, 2002

Regarding the Announcement of Programmatic Regulations for Everglades Restoration

--Statement from DEP Secretary David B. Struhs--

“The procedural rules proposed today by the U.S. Army for the governance of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan meet the letter and spirit of the law that launched the effort to save America’s Everglades 18 months ago. They create the procedural framework for the many relevant state and federal government agencies to coordinate and cooperate on this historic task. These rules make sure that responsibilities are clear and progress is measured and reported, which will ultimately ensure the project stays on schedule and on budget.

“We are particularly pleased that these rules recognize Florida as a full partner in this endeavor and that the responsibility and accountability for the project’s success is shared equally between a single federal entity and a single state entity. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection looks forward to working with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Interior and other partners to ensure the ultimate success of this effort.

“These rules are an important milestone of progress. Future steps, including specific project designs, cooperative agreements and guidance manuals, will provide even more assurances that the specific environmental restoration goals of this project are achieved, measured and reported to the public and Congress. These rules represent a positive step forward.”