Contact:   Virginia Tippie                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                               9/3/98

The Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center Workgroup, an outstanding team effort dedicated to the health of America's coastal and marine environment, will be honored by the Coastal America Partnership as a recipient of its1998 Partnership Award. Terry Garcia, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, will present the award on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 11 a.m., in the Secretary's Conference Room, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.

In a letter congratulating each team member, Vice President Gore wrote that, "as an award winner, you exemplify the benefits that can be accomplished through partnerships that bring together our collective resources to meet a common goal. By extending the federal partnership to aquaria and marine educational facilities, a more efficient and effective coastal information network has been created."

Dr. Jerry Schubel, president of the New England Aquarium, and David Pittenger, executive director of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, will speak at the event.

Coastal America works to protect, preserve and restore America's coastal heritage by integrating federal actions with tribal, state and local public and private efforts. Projects include habitat restoration, endangered species protection and pollution mitigation. By establishing a nationwide network of Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers, Coastal America combines the resources of outstanding regional educational centers with those of federal partners. The aim is to raise public awareness of critical coastal issues and boost involvement in activities that benefit coastal ecosystems. Millions of people visit the Learning Centers each year.

Honored at the luncheon will be representatives from federal partner agencies and five Learning Centers. Dr. Barbara Elkus, of the Environmental Protection Agency and Coastal America Education/Outreach Coordinator, and Gene Cope, of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and former Coastal America Education/Outreach Coordinator, will receive team plaques on behalf of the group. Team members include Mary Cressel, Natural Resources Conservation Service; David Gross, formerly with The National Aquarium; Dave Hewitt, Corps of Engineers; Macara Louseberg and Betsy Tam Salter, Environmental Protection Agency; Gary Stolz, Fish and Wildlife Service; Catherine Stokes Wazniak, formerly with the Navy; Ellie Fries, New York Aquarium; Dr. Joseph Geraci, National Aquarium in Baltimore; Dena Leavengood, formerly with The Florida Aquarium; Billy Spitzer; New England Aquarium; and Jim Stone, the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.