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EPA Administrator McCarthy Joins Senior Obama Administration Officials in Fort Collins to Discuss Local Climate Change Efforts

Release Date: 02/10/2014
Contact Information: Taryn Tuss (CEQ), 202-456-6998; Caroline Behringer (EPA), 202-760-1732; David Young (Fort Collins), 970-221-6882

WASHINGTON – Tomorrow, Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; and David Agnew, Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs will join Fort Collins Mayor Karen Weitkunat to tour projects to restore the Cache la Poudre River and strengthen its resilience to climate change impacts such as higher temperatures and extreme weather events. When floods struck the Front Range of Colorado in September 2013, the City’s proactive planning and river habitat conservation efforts helped mitigate the impacts on Fort Collins. Following the tour, the officials will hold a press conference at the Natural Resources Research Center in Fort Collins, which is one of seven Climate Hubs launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week to offer the practical, science-based tools and strategies farmers and ranchers need to adapt and succeed in the face of a changing climate.

Supporting state and local efforts to protect communities from the effects of climate change – such as more frequent and severe extreme weather – is an important part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. In recognition of Mayor Weitkunat’s leadership in helping Fort Collins prepare for climate impacts, last November she was named as a part of President Obama’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience to advise the Administration on how the Federal Government can respond to the needs of communities nationwide that are dealing with extreme weather and other climate impacts. The Task Force held its first meeting in December at the White House.

WHO:
Gina McCarthy, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
David Agnew, Director, White House Intergovernmental Affairs
Karen Weitkunat, Mayor of Fort Collins, Colorado

WHAT:
Tour of Cache la Poudre River restoration projects

WHEN:
February 11, 2014, 10:00 a.m. MST

WHERE:
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
408 Mason Court
Fort Collins, CO 80524
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WHO:
Gina McCarthy, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
David Agnew, Director, White House Intergovernmental Affairs
Karen Weitkunat, Mayor of Fort Collins, Colorado

WHAT:
Press Conference

WHEN:
February 11, 2014, 11:00 a.m. MST

WHERE:
Natural Resources Research Center (NRRC)
2150 Centre Ave, Building D, Fort Collins, CO 80526