U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AWARDS $13.2 MILLION IN CLEAN VESSEL ACT GRANTS

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AWARDS $13.2 MILLION IN CLEAN VESSEL ACT GRANTS

U.S. Fish and Service Director H. Dale Hall today announced that 28 states
will receive more than $13.2 million in Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grants, made
available to state agencies and partners to construct and operate
facilities for sewage disposal for recreational boaters.

“As an avid outdoorsman, I know the importance of having safe, clean
water,” said Hall. “The Clean Vessel Act grants are a key part of our
efforts to keep America’s waterways healthy and safe for people and
wildlife.”

The CVA program is paid for by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust
Fund, which is supported by excise taxes on fishing and boating equipment
and on boat fuels.

The CVA program has awarded more than $130 million to states that have
installed thousands of sewage pumpout stations since the program’s
inception in the early 1990s.  In addition, many states now rely upon
mobile sewage pumpout boats to make the sewage collection process more
efficient and convenient.  Several states have begun installing floating
restrooms and pumpout stations in high use areas of lakes and coastal
locations.

Highlights of the funded proposals include:

Alabama — The Alabama Department of Environmental Management will receive
$251,075 to install 14 sewage pumpout stations throughout the state for its
inland and coastal waters and inform boaters about the importance of proper
sewage disposal and its benefits to the aquatic environment.

Arkansas — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will receive $51,786 to
install seven sewage pumpout stations and provide funds for the repair and
rehabilitation of existing sewage pumpout stations.

California — The California Department of Boating and Waterways will
receive $1,524,649 to install six sewage pumpout stations, purchase one
sewage pumpout boat and one sewage pumpout barge and install up to 12
floating restrooms throughout the state for its coastal and inland waters
as well as to continue to inform boaters about the importance of proper
sewage disposal.

Connecticut — The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection will
receive $952,686 to install one sewage pumpout station, purchase two sewage
pumpout boats, and to provide more than $600,000 in operation and
maintenance funds for existing sewage pumpout boats and facilities
throughout the state’s coastal waters as well as continue its educational
efforts to inform boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal
and its benefits to the aquatic environment.

Florida — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will receive
$1,666,054 to install more than 140 sewage pumpout stations throughout the
state for its inland and coastal waters as well as continue its education
and outreach efforts.

Georgia — The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will receive $17,976
to install two sewage pumpout facilities in the state’s coastal waters.

Idaho —  The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation will receive $53,018
to renovate approximately six existing sewage pumpout stations, conduct a
survey of boaters in order to develop an improved sewage pumpout program
plan and educate boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal.

Illinois — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will receive
$100,000 to install up to five sewage pumpout stations throughout the state
dependent upon the requests and needs of the state’s marina operators.

Indiana — The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will receive
$145,249 to install up to six sewage pumpout stations throughout the state.

Kentucky — The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will
receive $93,389 to install five sewage pumpout stations and purchase two
sewage pumpout boats for use at marinas along the Ohio River, Lake
Cumberland, Kentucky Lake and Paintsville Lake.

Maine — The Maine Department of Environmental Protection will receive
$294,920 to install 10 new sewage pumpout stations and to provide
operations and maintenance funding for existing facilities and pumpout
boats throughout the state’s coastal waters as well as continue its
educational efforts.

Massachusetts — The Division of Marine Fisheries will receive $1,021,838
to install three new or replacement sewage pumpout facilities, purchase
four sewage pumpout boats, to provide operation and maintenance funding for
existing sewage pumpout boats and facilities throughout the state’s coastal
waters as well as continue its educational efforts.

Michigan — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will receive
$400,000 to work with local governments and private marina operators to
install new or renovate existing sewage pumpout facilities at ports along
the state’s Great Lakes’ waters.

Mississippi — The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will receive
$144,980 to install nine sewage pumpout facilities throughout the state in
its coastal and inland waters.  Many of these facilities will be used to
replace equipment that was damaged or destroyed by hurricanes.

Missouri — The Missouri Department of Conservation will receive $48,000 to
install new or replacement sewage pumpout facilities at four marinas in the
state’s waters, as needed.

New Hampshire — The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
will receive $55,131 to install one sewage pumpout facility and to continue
its educational efforts to inform boaters about the importance of proper
sewage disposal in the state’s coastal and inland waters.

New Jersey — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will
receive $516,878 to purchase 18 sewage pumpout facilities, provide
operation and maintenance funding for existing facilities and purchase one
sewage pumpout boat for the state’s coastal waters.

New York — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
will receive $635,062 to install new or replacement sewage pumpout
facilities at 27 locations throughout the state’s inland and coastal
waters, purchase a sewage pumpout boat and to continue their educational
efforts.

North Carolina — The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources will receive $118,500 to install 15 new sewage pumpout facilities
throughout the state’s coastal waters and to continue its educational
efforts.

Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will receive $330,592 to
install nine sewage pumpout stations at marinas in the state’s waters in
Lake Erie and add lighting to several of these facilities.

Oregon — The Oregon State Marine Board will receive $958,109 to purchase
and install 23 sewage pumpout stations and six floating restrooms for its
coastal and inland waters, provide funding for the operation and
maintenance of existing facilities and continue its educational efforts.

South Carolina — The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will
receive $1,607,598 to renovate or install new sewage pumpout facilities at
34 locations throughout the state in its inland and coastal waters,
purchase 13 floating restrooms and continue its educational efforts.

Tennessee — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will receive $420,336
to renovate or install 27 sewage pumpout stations throughout the state and
continue its educational efforts.

Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will receive $782,437 to
purchase or install 16 sewage pumpout stations, purchase floating restrooms
for boaters and continue its educational efforts.

Vermont — The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive $52,402
to upgrade existing sewage pumpout stations at four facilities, install new
facilities at several other locations and continue its educational efforts.

Washington — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Department will
receive $811,160 to install 25 sewage pumpout stations, provide maintenance
funds for existing facilities throughout the state’s coastal and inland
waters and continue its educational efforts.

Wisconsin — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will receive
$150,000 to install seven new sewage pumpout stations at marinas on the
state’s Great Lake waters and continue its educational efforts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System, which encompasses 547 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments
with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes
on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AWARDS $13.2 MILLION IN CLEAN VESSEL ACT GRANTS

U.S. Fish and Service Director H. Dale Hall today announced that 28 states
will receive more than $13.2 million in Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grants, made
available to state agencies and partners to construct and operate
facilities for sewage disposal for recreational boaters.

“As an avid outdoorsman, I know the importance of having safe, clean
water,” said Hall. “The Clean Vessel Act grants are a key part of our
efforts to keep America’s waterways healthy and safe for people and
wildlife.”

The CVA program is paid for by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust
Fund, which is supported by excise taxes on fishing and boating equipment
and on boat fuels.

The CVA program has awarded more than $130 million to states that have
installed thousands of sewage pumpout stations since the program’s
inception in the early 1990s.  In addition, many states now rely upon
mobile sewage pumpout boats to make the sewage collection process more
efficient and convenient.  Several states have begun installing floating
restrooms and pumpout stations in high use areas of lakes and coastal
locations.

Highlights of the funded proposals include:

Alabama — The Alabama Department of Environmental Management will receive
$251,075 to install 14 sewage pumpout stations throughout the state for its
inland and coastal waters and inform boaters about the importance of proper
sewage disposal and its benefits to the aquatic environment.

Arkansas — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will receive $51,786 to
install seven sewage pumpout stations and provide funds for the repair and
rehabilitation of existing sewage pumpout stations.

California — The California Department of Boating and Waterways will
receive $1,524,649 to install six sewage pumpout stations, purchase one
sewage pumpout boat and one sewage pumpout barge and install up to 12
floating restrooms throughout the state for its coastal and inland waters
as well as to continue to inform boaters about the importance of proper
sewage disposal.

Connecticut — The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection will
receive $952,686 to install one sewage pumpout station, purchase two sewage
pumpout boats, and to provide more than $600,000 in operation and
maintenance funds for existing sewage pumpout boats and facilities
throughout the state’s coastal waters as well as continue its educational
efforts to inform boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal
and its benefits to the aquatic environment.

Florida — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will receive
$1,666,054 to install more than 140 sewage pumpout stations throughout the
state for its inland and coastal waters as well as continue its education
and outreach efforts.

Georgia — The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will receive $17,976
to install two sewage pumpout facilities in the state’s coastal waters.

Idaho —  The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation will receive $53,018
to renovate approximately six existing sewage pumpout stations, conduct a
survey of boaters in order to develop an improved sewage pumpout program
plan and educate boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal.

Illinois — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will receive
$100,000 to install up to five sewage pumpout stations throughout the state
dependent upon the requests and needs of the state’s marina operators.

Indiana — The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will receive
$145,249 to install up to six sewage pumpout stations throughout the state.

Kentucky — The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will
receive $93,389 to install five sewage pumpout stations and purchase two
sewage pumpout boats for use at marinas along the Ohio River, Lake
Cumberland, Kentucky Lake and Paintsville Lake.

Maine — The Maine Department of Environmental Protection will receive
$294,920 to install 10 new sewage pumpout stations and to provide
operations and maintenance funding for existing facilities and pumpout
boats throughout the state’s coastal waters as well as continue its
educational efforts.

Massachusetts — The Division of Marine Fisheries will receive $1,021,838
to install three new or replacement sewage pumpout facilities, purchase
four sewage pumpout boats, to provide operation and maintenance funding for
existing sewage pumpout boats and facilities throughout the state’s coastal
waters as well as continue its educational efforts.

Michigan — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will receive
$400,000 to work with local governments and private marina operators to
install new or renovate existing sewage pumpout facilities at ports along
the state’s Great Lakes’ waters.

Mississippi — The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will receive
$144,980 to install nine sewage pumpout facilities throughout the state in
its coastal and inland waters.  Many of these facilities will be used to
replace equipment that was damaged or destroyed by hurricanes.

Missouri — The Missouri Department of Conservation will receive $48,000 to
install new or replacement sewage pumpout facilities at four marinas in the
state’s waters, as needed.

New Hampshire — The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
will receive $55,131 to install one sewage pumpout facility and to continue
its educational efforts to inform boaters about the importance of proper
sewage disposal in the state’s coastal and inland waters.

New Jersey — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will
receive $516,878 to purchase 18 sewage pumpout facilities, provide
operation and maintenance funding for existing facilities and purchase one
sewage pumpout boat for the state’s coastal waters.

New York — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
will receive $635,062 to install new or replacement sewage pumpout
facilities at 27 locations throughout the state’s inland and coastal
waters, purchase a sewage pumpout boat and to continue their educational
efforts.

North Carolina — The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Resources will receive $118,500 to install 15 new sewage pumpout facilities
throughout the state’s coastal waters and to continue its educational
efforts.

Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will receive $330,592 to
install nine sewage pumpout stations at marinas in the state’s waters in
Lake Erie and add lighting to several of these facilities.

Oregon — The Oregon State Marine Board will receive $958,109 to purchase
and install 23 sewage pumpout stations and six floating restrooms for its
coastal and inland waters, provide funding for the operation and
maintenance of existing facilities and continue its educational efforts.

South Carolina — The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will
receive $1,607,598 to renovate or install new sewage pumpout facilities at
34 locations throughout the state in its inland and coastal waters,
purchase 13 floating restrooms and continue its educational efforts.

Tennessee — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will receive $420,336
to renovate or install 27 sewage pumpout stations throughout the state and
continue its educational efforts.

Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will receive $782,437 to
purchase or install 16 sewage pumpout stations, purchase floating restrooms
for boaters and continue its educational efforts.

Vermont — The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive $52,402
to upgrade existing sewage pumpout stations at four facilities, install new
facilities at several other locations and continue its educational efforts.

Washington — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Department will
receive $811,160 to install 25 sewage pumpout stations, provide maintenance
funds for existing facilities throughout the state’s coastal and inland
waters and continue its educational efforts.

Wisconsin — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will receive
$150,000 to install seven new sewage pumpout stations at marinas on the
state’s Great Lake waters and continue its educational efforts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System, which encompasses 547 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments
with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes
on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.