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U.S. EPA Hosts Pacific Islands Conference in Honolulu

Release Date: 6/25/2003
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, (808) 541-2711

EPA Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri, Earth Day founder Denis Hayes featured speakers at conference on Pacific Island Environmental Sustainability

     HONOLULU   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pacific Southwest Region's, Pacific Islands Office is hosting a three day conference in Honolulu for Pacific Island environmental officials focusing on "Leading Islands Toward Environmental Sustainability",  June 25-27, 2003.

     The conference will feature welcoming remarks by EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri, Hawai'i Governor Linda Lingle and City and County of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris on Wednesday.
         
     Earth Day founder Denis Hayes will be giving a presentation on sustainability and its alternatives and Mayor Harris will be the luncheon speaker addressing sustainability in island environments on Wednesday.  
             
     "This conference has always been an excellent way for environmental and government officials from the Pacific Islands to learn about and share new ideas on protecting and sustaining their environments." said John McCarroll, chief of the EPA Pacific Southwest Region's, Pacific Islands Office. "Sustainability is a very important concept to island environments with limited land area and natural resources. This conference will focus on providing island leaders with the latest ideas and tools on preserving fragile ecosystems."

     The conference will be attended by environmental officials and government representatives from the U.S., Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

     On Friday, Regional Administrator Nastri will be recognizing the Region's Environmental Award winners from Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands. To begin the awards ceremony, 'Ohi'a Productions, one of the award recipients, will be performing a song from their play "In the Clear Blue Sea".

     The conference will conclude on Friday with a roundtable discussion among the Pacific Island leaders on "Sustainability in the Islands".

     The conference is being held at the South Pacific Ballrooms I & II at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
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