FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
September 10, 2002

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ANNOUNCES CHESAPEAKE BAY STUDY
First Public Workshops to be Held Throughout September

ANNAPOLIS, MD -- The National Park Service (NPS) has been asked by Congress to conduct a "special resource study" focusing on the Chesapeake Bay. The study will explore if and how the NPS could and should further efforts to celebrate and conserve the Chesapeake, particularly whether adding Chesapeake Bay resources to the National Park System might be appropriate.

The study opens with a series of public workshops around the Bay region in September 2002. The workshops, open to all who are interested, will include an overview of initial study concepts,
followed by discussion groups with attendees to help develop and refine these or other concepts. Public workshops will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the following locations:

Suggestions, comments and ideas collected at the public workshops and via the study web site (http://www.chesapeakestudy.org/) will help refine or revise concepts for a draft report. The draft will be
presented for discussion and feedback at a second set of public workshops in early 2003.

Overall, the Chesapeake Bay Special Resource Study will:

· Examine whether having additional Chesapeake Bay resources within the National Park System would make sense and would advance partnership efforts to conserve and celebrate the Bay.

· Define whether there are concepts or ways that areas of the Bay might fit appropriately within the National Park System. Any concepts might match existing types of park system units (now numbering 385) or may be something new and appropriate to the unique resources of the Chesapeake Bay. Or the study may find it inappropriate to create a new unit focused on the Bay.

· Make recommendations regarding these findings.

The National Park Service will present a final study report in mid-2003 for submission to Congress. If creating a unit of the National Park System focused on representative areas of Chesapeake Bay is
recommended, moving forward would require legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President. However, the study begins by exploring initial concepts and whether they make sense and might enhance efforts to conserve and celebrate the Chesapeake Bay as a
national treasure.

-NPS-
Chesapeake Bay
Special Resource Study
www.chesapeakestudy.org
Media Contact: Chris Conner
Chesapeake Bay Program Office
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109
Annapolis MD 21402
410 267 5758

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