THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                          (State College, PA)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                      July 10, 2000

            PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES ROLLAND A. SCHMITTEN AS
       U.S. COMMISSIONER OF THE INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION

     The President today announced his intent to appoint Rolland A.

Schmitten to serve as U.S. Commissioner of the International Whaling Commission.

Mr. Rolland A. Schmitten, of Cashmere, Washington, is currently the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Interests, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In this position, he is responsible for all of NOAA's international activities, participation in international fishery agreements, international satellite agreements, exchange of environmental data with other countries, whaling and other marine mammal agreements, as well as representing NOAA on global environmental issues. Prior to this position, Mr. Schmitten was the Assistant Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service at NOAA where he was responsible for the promotion of the conservation, management and development of living marine resources for commercial and recreational use.

Mr. Schmitten received a B.A. from Washington State University.

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was established by the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling to provide for the continuing review of the condition of whale stocks and for such additions to or modifications of the agreed conservation measures as might appear desirable. The IWC normally meets once a year.

30-30-30