The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it has launched EarthDay.gov, a Web site which provides Americans a comprehensive guide to environmental service opportunities and Earth Day events sponsored by the federal government. The site is the first interagency effort to create a comprehensive federal resource for citizens who want to participate in Earth Day and other year-round environmental activities.

President Bush has asked all federal agencies to support volunteer service this Earth Day. "In the three decades since the first Earth Day celebration, our air is cleaner, our water is purer, and our natural resources are better protected. We have learned from our successes and are putting that experience to work at the Federal, state and local government level. Additionally, all Americans can help protect our natural resources by being good stewards of our air, water, and land," said President Bush.

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman said, "We have all been entrusted with the stewardship of this shared planet, and it is our responsibility to leave it cleaner for our children and grandchildren. Earth Day is a great opportunity to renew our commitment to creating partnerships and finding creative and innovative solutions to our environmental concerns. Working together, we can to achieve the next generation of environmental progress."

Visitors can search the EarthDay.gov Web site by state and region to find community service opportunities and Earth Day events where they live. In addition to events, it allows visitors to download classroom curricula and find additional information about the environment. EarthDay.gov also allows visitors to directly access the large database of environmental service opportunities that are part of the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network. The USA Freedom Corps is President Bush's initiative to engage Americans in volunteer service.

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