Media Advisory

June 4, 2002

Media Advisory

Waterkeeper Alliance President Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Backstreet Boys’ Kevin Richardson Join With Coalfield Residents and Groups in Opposition to Bush Weakening Clean Water Act Rules

WASHINGTON, DC— Waterkeeper Alliance President Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and musician Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys, a native Kentuckian, will join with residents of the coalfields of Kentucky and West Virginia at a news conference and “citizen speak out” in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 6, 2002. The event will focus on recent changes to longstanding Clean Water Act regulations made by the Bush administration to benefit coal companies and other mining interests. The Bush administration’s rule change will accelerate and worsen the destruction caused by mountaintop removal coal mining. The news conference and “speak out” will follow a hearing of US Senator Joseph Lieberman’s Environment and Public Works subcommittee that will examine the regional and national effects of the Bush administration’s efforts to weaken protections for clean water.

WHEN: Thursday, June 6, 2002 1:00 pm Eastern (or directly after the conclusion of the subcommittee hearing should it run later than 1 p.m.)

WHERE: Dirksen Senate office building, Room 406

WHO: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Kevin Richardson, residents of the coal mining regions of Kentucky and West Virginia, representatives of local groups

VISUALS: Photographs of the environmental and human toll of mountaintop removal coal mining, including recent flooding in the region, will be displayed; b-roll will be available.

Note: The Environment and Public Works subcommittee hearing is at 10 am in Dirksen 406.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

• Just Within Reach Foundation, Kevin Richardson, 818-487-8425
• Waterkeeper Alliance, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., 914-422-4343
• Waterkeeper Alliance, Scott Edwards, 914-422-4410
• Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Vivian Stockman, 304-927-3265
• Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, Kevin Pentz, 606-632-0051
• Coal River Mountain Watch, Judy Bonds, 304-854-2182
• West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Nathan Fetty, 304-637-7201
• Kentucky Riverkeeper, Heather Crawley, 859-622-1622
• West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Cindy Rank, 304-924-6263
• Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment, Joe Lovett, 304-645-9006

This event is also sponsored by Earthjustice, Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, Clean Water Network, and Citizens Coal Council.