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Vice President Gore Announces 14

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President


For Immediate Release: July 27, 1998

VICE PRESIDENT GORE ANNOUNCES 14
"AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER" DESIGNATIONS

Communities to Get Help Tapping Federal Resources

WASHINGTON, DC -- Vice President Gore announced today the 14"American Heritage River" designations that President Clinton will make,assuring that communities along these rivers will get help implementingtheir plans for restoring and protecting the environmental, economic, andcultural values of the rivers and riverfronts.

The designations will cover the Blackstone and Woonasquatucket Rivers(MA, RI), Connecticut River (in CT, VT, NH, MA), Cuyahoga River (OH),Detroit River (MI), Hanalei River (HI), Hudson River (NY), New River (NC,VA, WV), Rio Grande (TX), Potomac River (DC, MD, PA, VA, WV), St. JohnsRiver (FL), Upper Mississippi River (IA, IL, MN, MO, WI), Lower MississippiRiver (LA, TN), Upper Susquehanna and Lackawanna Rivers (PA), andWillamette River (OR).

"The message of this initiative is clear: there is nothing morepowerful than water as a catalyst for economic revitalization and culturalrenewal," the Vice President said. "Working together as partners, we canclean up America's rivers, create new jobs, and strengthen the communitiesthat surround them for generations to come."

The Vice President's announcement comes three days before he willaccompany the President to the New River in North Carolina, an AmericanHeritage River, to formally designate the rivers. The American HeritageRivers Advisory Committee last month recommended 10 designations, and thePresident added four.

In his 1997 State of the Union address, the President announced hisAmerican Heritage Rivers Initiative to recognize and reward local effortsto restore and protect America's rivers and riverfronts. The response wasoverwhelming. The Administration received 126 nominations from 46 statesand the District of Columbia. Nearly 200 members of Congress, over 500mayors, and 21 governors have expressed their support.

For each American Heritage River, a federal employee will bedesignated as a "River Navigator" to help communities identify federalprograms and resources to help carry out their plans. Federal agencieswill help match community needs with available resources. For instance,the agencies will work with the River Navigator and communities to attackpollution problems, build greenway and pedestrian paths, protectwatersheds, rebuild historic docks, identify native trees and plants, andseek out other economic opportunities.


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CEQ 1998 Archives

Presidential Remarks to The Annual Dinner of League of Conservation Voters

Vice President Gore Calls For Healthier, More Livable Communities

Safe Drinking Water For America's Families

Vice President Calls on Congress to Fund Environmental Priorities, Drop Anti-Environmental Riders

Presidential Remarks to Community Members on Climate Change

Earth Day 1998

Clinton-Gore Livability Agenda

Vice President's Remarks on U.S. Signing of The Kyoto Protocol

Statement By The Press Secretary - Kyoto Protocol Signing

Presidential Remarks - Resignation of Kathleen McGinty

Statement By Vice President Gore - Gratitude to Katie McGinty

Vice President Gore Announces 14

Vice President Gore Announces New Data Showing Warmest June on Record

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Radio Address of The President to The Nation - January 31, 1998

12 Rivers Nominated for American Heritage River Designation

Office of the Vice President