ALBUQUERQUE, NM – On Friday, August 8, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will join New Mexico Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director Dr. Benjamin Tuggle and state and local officials to make an announcement regarding the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge.
Jewell will also highlight the Land and Water Conservation Fund's contributions to urban parks, clean water, outdoor recreation and healthy economies in New Mexico.
Valle de Oro is the Southwest's first urban national wildlife refuge and one of eight refuges in New Mexico. Originally approved in September 2012, the refuge will provide educational and recreational opportunities as well as environmental benefits for the greater Albuquerque metropolitan area. More than 100 partners have contributed to the creation of the refuge.
Over the past 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which contributed more than $5.8 million to the refuge, has served as one of the most effective tools for conservation, outdoor recreation and economic growth in local communities; however, it is set to expire next year without action from Congress.
The program has re-invested a small portion of revenues from offshore oil and gas development into projects in all 50 states and U.S. territories, creating community parks and trails and protecting clean water sources.
The New Mexico visit is one in a series of events Jewell is holding across the country this week with local elected officials and stakeholders to support President Obama's budget proposal to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
WHO:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Tom Udall, U.S. Senator for New Mexico
Martin Heinrich, U.S. Senator for New Mexico
Michelle Lujan Grisham, U.S. Representative for New Mexico
Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director
Local Stakeholders and Community Partners
WHAT:
Announcement for Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
WHEN:
Friday, August 8, 2014
11:45 am MDT – Media check-in
12:00 pm MDT – Announcement followed by brief media availability
WHERE:
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
7851 2nd St SW
Albuquerque, NM
RSVP:
Credentialed members of the media interested in covering the announcement are encouraged to RSVP HERE by August 7, 2014, at 6:00 pm MDT.
Source: Department of Interior
