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THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                          (Chicago, Illinois)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                      April 8, 1998

                   PRESIDENT NAMES CHAIR AND MEMBERS
     OF THE AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVERS INITIATIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

A group of Americans with diverse expertise in the cultural, historical, environmental and economic importance of America's rivers has been selected by President Clinton to serve as members of the American Heritage Rivers Advisory Committee ("Advisory Committee"). The Advisory Committee is charged with recommending rivers to the President for the selection of ten as American Heritage Rivers. The White House received 126 applications from communities nominating rivers across the country vying for the distinction.

"America's great rivers are an important link between all parts of our nation's history and culture. I am pleased that we have assembled such a uniquely qualified group to assist me in selecting the first American Heritage Rivers," the President said. "I'm very proud that the American Heritage Rivers Initiative will put the federal government at the service of local communities, who have responded so enthusiastically to this program. Working together we can help strengthen the connections between America's cities and towns and the rivers that run through them."

The President today announced his intent to nominate Dayton R. Duncan as Chair, and Gerald E. Galloway Jr., William L. Graf, Anthony P. Grassi, Debbie Jaramillo, Charles R. Jordan, Daniel Kemmis, David Olsen, Yolanda Rivera, Donald G. Sampson, Maria F. Teran, P. Kay Whitlock, as Members of the Advisory Committee.

The Advisory Committee consists of members appointed by the President, from both the public and private sectors. It represents natural, cultural and historic resources, scenic and recreation interests and and economic development and industrial interests.

Kathleen A. McGinty, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said the benefits of focused federal support for locally generated river action plans is highly coveted by the applicants.

"Each of the applicants has drawn up a detailed plan for the improvement of their rivers and riverfronts," McGinty said. "Some communities are looking for enhanced economic development on the river, others seek environmental restoration for wetlands, others want better facilities for boating and fishing. Most are looking for assistance on a whole menu of activities. We want to help make the dreams of the winning communities a reality. The Advisory Committee we name today has the diversity of experience to make excellent recommendations to the President. We're very excited about getting the Committee to work immediately."

The American Heritage Rivers Initiative supports community-led efforts related to rivers that spur economic revitalization, protects natural resources and the environment, and preserves historic and cultural heritage. According to the needs identified, the respective communities along these rivers will receive special assistance under an umbrella initiative designed to more effectively use the federal government's many resources. Environmental, economic and social concerns will be addressed through a plan designed by each local community.

The Advisory Committee is expected to meet in May and, following their recommendations, the President is expected to name the American Heritage Rivers.

Following is biographical information on the committee's members:

Mr. Dayton Duncan, of Walpole, New Hampshire, is an author and writer/producer of documentary films. From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Duncan wrote and co-produced "Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery", co-wrote and was the consulting producer for "The West", wrote "Miles From Nowhere: Tales from American Contemporary Frontier", and was consultant on the documentaries "Baseball", "Thomas Jefferson", "The Fate of the Plains" and "Last of the One-Room Schools." From 1989 to 1991, Mr. Duncan wrote "Grass Roots: One Year in the Life of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary", was the script consultant for "The Civil War". He was also a research fellow at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at the J.F.K. School of government. Mr. Duncan is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A., cum laude, in German Literature.

Dr. Gerald E. Galloway, Jr., of Arlington, Virginia, is currently Dean of the Faculty and Academic Programs at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), National Defense University. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Water Resources Association (AWRA), and the International Water Resources Association (IWRA). He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and received a Master of Science in Engineering from Princeton, a Master of Public Administration from Penn State, and a Ph.D. in Water Resources Geography from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).

Professor William L. Graf, of Tempe, Arizona, is currently Regents' Professor of Geography at Arizona State University and President-Elect of the Association of American Geographers. His specialties include fluvial geomorphology and policy for public land and water. He has published more than 100 papers, articles, book chapters, and reports regarding the mechanics and management of rivers. He has served as a science/policy advisor in numerous capacities for federal, state, and local agencies and organizations including chairing the Workshop to Advise the President's Council on Sustainable Development and the Committee on Innovative Watershed Management. Professor Graf received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a major in physical geography and a minor in water resources management.

Mr. Anthony P. Grassi, of Wilton, Connecticut, is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Rivers in Washington, D.C. He recently retired from First Boston Corporation in New York where he was an investment banker with expertise in corporate finance. He is active in the Wilton Land Trust and the Connecticut chapter of The Nature Conservancy where he serves on the National Board of Governors. Mr. Grassi received a B.A. from Princeton and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Ms. Debbie Jaramillo, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, served as Mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico from 1994 to 1998. Ms. Jaramillo was the first woman to be elected to the post in the 400-year history of the city of Santa Fe. Prior to being elected Mayor, she served on the Santa Fe City Council for six years.

Mr. Charles R. Jordan, of Portland, Oregon, currently serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Conservation Fund and is the Director of Parks and Recreation in Portland, Oregon. He served as Co-Chair for the National Park Service, Land and Water Conservation Review Committee, as Chair of the National Committee on "The Use of National Parks" for the 75th Anniversary of the National Park Service and as Commissioner for the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. Mr. Jordan received his B.S. from Gonzaga University.

Mr. Daniel Kemmis, of Missoula, Montana, is the Director for the Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana. From 1990 to 1996, he was the Mayor of Missoula, Montana. From 1988 to 1990, he was a City Councilman in Missoula. Concurrently, from 1986 to 1990, Mr. Kemmis was a Senior Fellow and Project Director for the Northern Lights Research and Education Institute. From 1975 to 1976, and later from 1979 to 1984, he was a legislator in the Montana House of Representatives, serving as Minority Leader from 1981 to 1982, and Speaker of the House from 1983 to 1984. Mr. Kemmis received his B.A. in Political Science from Harvard University, magna cum laude and his J.D. from the University of Montana.

Mr. David Olsen, of Ventura, California, is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Patagonia, Inc. in Ventura, California. Before his work with Patagonia, Mr. Olsen was responsible for worldwide marketing and business development for Magma Power Company as well as president of Peak Power Corporation, a Magma subsidiary. Mr. Olsen received his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts.

Ms. Yolanda Rivera, of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, is currently the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association, Inc. Since 1980, Ms. Rivera has worked to build a new community for the people of the South Bronx. She has been instrumental in building over 2,500 units of housing, half of which are now cooperatively owned. She has been a community organizer for 26 years, has 20 years of property management experience and 15 years experience in private and non-profit management. Ms. Rivera graduated from the Herbert H. Lehman College and the Pratt Institute.

Mr. Donald G. Sampson, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, is currently the Watershed Department Manager for the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission in Portland, Oregon. From December 1993 to December 1997, Mr. Sampson was Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Pendleton, Oregon. Mr. Sampson received a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries Resource Management from the University of Idaho.

Ms. Maria F. Teran, of El Paso, Texas is currently the General Manager and Vice President of Sierra Machinery, based in El Paso, Texas. In 1996, Ms. Teran received the Women in Business Advocate of the Year and Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year for the Small Business Administration, El Paso District Office. She serves as Chair of the Transportation Committee for the El Paso Chamber of Commerce. She attended the University of Texas at El Paso.

Ms. P. Kay Whitlock, of San Jose, California, serves as the Assistant General Manager of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Ms. Whitlock is responsible for oversight of the flood control program serving 1.6 million residents and 1300 square mile area known as the Silicon Valley. From 1990 to 1995, she was the Flood Control Manager for the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Ms. Whitlock received her B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana, and her M.A. in Environments and People from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

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