Washington D.C.-- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will release $3,785,000 for the acquisition of Deer Island in Harrison County by the State of Mississippi. Deer Island will be included in Mississippi's Coastal Preserve System.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Cochran was successful in having this funding added to the Fiscal Year 2002 Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary Appropriations bill. The funds will be used in conjunction with state matching funds to purchase Deer Island which will create a state-operated recreational and scenic preserve.

Senator Cochran said, "I am pleased that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released the funding to help the State of Mississippi acquire Deer Island. This will ensure the continued preservation of this area on the Mississippi Gulf Coast."

The funding was provided through NOAA's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. This program is intended to protect those coastal and estuarine areas with significant conservation, recreation, ecological, or historical value, or those that are threatened by conversion from their natural state to other uses.