Press Release

Governors will be joined by key administration officials and other dignitaries including, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton; Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman; White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairman James L. Connaughton; and Fred Krupp, Executive Director, Environmental Defense. Agenda topics include:

• Species conservation while assisting landowners in maintaining working landscapes

• Meeting growing and competing demands for water
• Expanding the use of renewable energy resource
• Cooperative siting of interstate energy infrastructure
• Reducing wildland fire risks to communities while restoring forest health
• Industrial environmental innovation: value for the community, globe and bottom line
• Assessing Western perspectives on multi-pollutant proposals for utilities and carbon dioxide strategies
• Successful partnerships and new tools to conserve open lands

“We believe that much can be learned from these success stories,” said Gov. Jane Dee Hull of Arizona, WGA Chairman.  “By hearing what others have done, participants will go home with some new tools for addressing their own issues.”

"The Bush Administration is pleased to join the Western Governors' Association in sponsoring this Second Environmental Summit on the West," said White House CEQ Chairman James L. Connaughton.  "The President is committed to working in partnership with tribal, state and local governments, as well as private citizens, organizations and businesses to foster stewardship and advance our common environmental goals. Gatherings such as this are an important opportunity to share ideas and experiences that may guide future environmental conservation policies."

Govs. John Kitzhaber of Oregon and Mike Leavitt of Utah are WGA’s co-leads for Enlibra.

“The principles of Enlibra help reframe issues so that we can move collectively and collaboratively toward actions that have beneficial environmental outcomes while meeting social and economic needs,” Kitzhaber said.  “The cases we review will illustrate the progress that can be made by taking this approach.  Just as important, stakeholders will help us assess opportunities for moving forward on a number of current, complex issues facing the country and the West.

Gov. Mike Leavitt said, “Environmental progress is our goal.  To increase the velocity of this progress we need new tools, more collaboration and fresh approaches.  This summit will bring all three to stakeholders."

The Environmental Summit on the West will be held at the Little America Hotel.  Logistical information and on-line registration are available on WGA's Web site.

An organization, company or governmental agency interested in participating in a poster session, may submit a proposal and e-mail it to kdeike@westgov.org. There are a limited number of spaces for presentations, so please respond early to be considered.

The Western Governors’ Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 18 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific.  Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.

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