Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: September 26, 2000

Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416
Joan Anzelmo 307/739-3415

MEDIA ADVISORY

Babbitt to Conduct Wildland Fire Briefing for the National Association
of Counties at Grand Teton National Park, September 28

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will conduct a wildland fire briefing and fire area tour for the National Association of Counties (NACo), Western Interstate Region Board of Directors, September 28, 2000, in Grand Teton National Park. The briefing will include a tour of the Alder wildland fire site and a discussion of the recent wildland fires that burned millions of acres in the West this year.

"Disaster begets opportunity and this summer's wildland fires are no different," said Babbitt. "We now have an opportunity for comprehensive restructuring."

The Interior Secretary will talk about the Administration's blueprint for new land management practices to help eliminate the risk of catastrophic wildland fires in the future. The briefing will be held at Jenny Lake Lodge at 5:30 p.m. MDT. Following the briefing, Secretary Babbitt will tour the Alder wildland fire area.

Who: Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior
Javier Gonzales, NACo President-Elect and Commissioner of Santa Fe County, N.M.
NACo Board members
Jack Neckels, Superintendent Grand Teton National Park

What: Wildland fire briefing and tour of Alder wildland fire site

When: Wildland fire briefing begins at 5:30 p.m. MDT, Thursday, September 28, 2000
Tour of Alder wildland fire area follows briefing
Press availability follows the tour

Where: Jenny Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park

Why: To discuss recent catastrophic wildfires and new land management practices

- DOI -