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Southern Company Joins List of 5 Star Program Partners

Release Date: 06/21/2006
Contact Information: Benjamin N. Haynes, (404) 562-8027, [email protected]

(ATLANTA – June 21, 2006) Southern Company has become the newest corporate sponsor of the 5 Star Restoration Program, pledging a five-year $1.2 million commitment to education through community-based wetlands restoration projects in watersheds across the Southeast.

As the corporate sponsor for 2006 -2010, Southern Company will join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Association of Counties (NACo) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) in selecting and funding 5 Star projects. Primary program funding will be provided by the Wetlands Division of EPA and Southern Company. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, NACo and WHC will coordinate with EPA and Southern Company to select projects and distribute funds.

“EPA is proud to have Southern Company as the corporate sponsor of the 5 Star Restoration Program,” said Jimmy Palmer, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4. “This collaborative partnership provides an excellent opportunity for people in the Southeast to become better stewards of their environment by providing the funding and education to conserve our wetlands.”

The 5 Star Restoration Program brings together citizen groups, corporations, students, landowners, youth conservations corps, and local, state and federal government agencies to restore stream banks and wetlands across the country. By providing grants, technical support and information exchange, 5 Star helps communities build strong partnerships that work together on restoration projects. Through education, outreach, training activities, and old-fashioned hard work, communities learn to build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship.

“We’re pleased to forge this new partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency,” said Southern Company Senior Vice President of Research and Environmental Affairs Chris Hobson. “The funding Southern Company and EPA provide for the 5 Star program will build new and strengthen existing relationships with our environmental partners across the Southeast. It also will give our employees the opportunity to engage in environmental stewardship projects and improve the communities where they live and work.”

More information on the 5 Star Restoration Program: epa.gov/owow/wetlands/restore/5star