NANJEMOY, MD – On Friday, May 22, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will join U.S. Congressman and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer to celebrate the success of the Land and Water Conservation Fund during its fiftieth anniversary with a visit to Douglas Point State Natural Resources Management Area in Maryland. Before holding a press conference, Jewell and Hoyer will take a short hike through Douglas Point, one of the most ecologically and culturally significant areas in Maryland and one of the nation's largest estuaries, which was acquired by the Bureau of Land Management in 2001 through the Fund.
The landmark law is set to expire this year without action from Congress. President Obama has called for full, permanent funding as part of his 2016 budget request.
Congress established the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1964 to ensure access to outdoor recreation resources for present and future generations and to provide money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands for the benefit of all Americans. The primary source of revenue for the fund is royalties from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped fund more than 40,000 projects nationwide and played a vital role in boosting local economies in every state. For every $1 invested through the fund, there is a return of $4 in economic activity.
Who
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Steny Hoyer, U.S. Congressman (D-MD)
Neil Kornze, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director
Mark Belton, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Marci Todd, Acting State Director for the BLM Eastern States Office
Joel Dunn, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy
What
Event to highlight the Land and Water Conservation Fund's contributions to conserving America's treasured landscapes and outdoor recreation
When
Friday, May 22, 2015
9:45 a.m. EST - Media Check-In and Hike Begins (opportunity for b-roll)
10:30 a.m. EST - Press Conference
Where
Douglas Point State Natural Resources Management Area, Nanjemoy
Chiles Homesite
9699 Riverside Road
Nanjemoy, MD 20662
Media
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here. There is a 15-minute hike/walk to the press conference site from the parking lot, so casual attire and sturdy, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Media members are also welcome to take b-roll and photos during a 1.75-mile hike at Douglas Point prior to the press conference. The hike will start at 9:45 a.m. at the north parking lot, 9275 Riverside Road, Nanjemoy, MD, and end at Chiles Homesite.
Source: Department of Interior
