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Note to Correspondents

Release Date: 04/24/2009
Contact Information: Anne Rowan, 312-353-9391, rowan.anne@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA073

(Chicago, Ill. - April 24, 2009) As the Freeland Walleye Festival begins this weekend, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 recognizes the importance of everyone in the community having current and accurate information when making decisions about eating local fish. To that end, we applaud the Saginaw County Public Health Department for distributing updated fish advisory information at the Festival.

Also, on April 1, EPA and the Michigan Department of Community Health launched a partnership with the Saginaw County Public Health Department and three other local organizations to make sure that vulnerable populations are better informed and more aware of any potential risks associated with fish consumption. Vulnerable populations include women of childbearing years, children and those who rely on local fish for sustenance. EPA provided $75,000 for the "Fish Smart, Eat Smart" program, which will be more than matched by in-kind contributions from local partners. EPA and MDCH officials will participate in the next Tri-Cities Dioxin Community Meeting on May 6 and will discuss this outreach program in more depth with interested residents.