PRESS
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
May 18, 2007
2007 COASTWEEKS
CELEBRATION IS SEPTEMBER 5-22
Organizations along Lake Erie encouraged to plan now for this 18-day event
TOLEDO,
OH - Restoring and protecting Lake
Erie, Ohio's Great Lake,
will again be the focus of the Coastweeks observance, scheduled this year from
Wednesday, September 5, to Saturday, September 22.
Ohio's
Coastweeks is part of an annual nationwide effort to educate the public about
protecting America's
coastlines. Coordinated by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC), Ohio's focus is Lake Erie
and its watershed.
Last year, beach walks,
cleanups, and nature programs were examples of the activities that took place
during Coastweeks. This year, Ohio's
Coastweeks will again focus on cleanup events. International Coastal Cleanup
Day takes place on Saturday, September 15; it is the world's largest one-day
volunteer effort to clean up coastlines and waterways. The Maumee Remedial
Action Plan (RAP) is coordinating its Annual
Clean Your Streams Day on September 15 and will feature several
clean-up locations in northwest Ohio.
Coastweeks will also include the annual Put-in-Bay
underwater cleanup, Dive! Put-in-Bay Harbor
Cleanup, taking place September 17th.
Environmental
organizations, schools, scout groups, clubs, community groups and individuals
throughout Ohio's Lake
Erie watershed are encouraged to make a difference and get
involved in this year's Coastweeks by organizing an event.
Visit the OLEC web site
at www.epa.state.oh.us/oleo
or call 419-245-2514 to learn more about
Coastweeks, or to obtain an event application form to organize an event. The
OLEC will provide the tools needed to promote Coastweeks events.
The Ohio Lake Erie
Commission was established to preserve Lake Erie's
natural resources, protect the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promote
economic development of the region. The director of the Ohio Department of
Natural Resources serves as the commission's chairman. Additional members
include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health,
Development, Agriculture, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
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For Further
Information Contact:
Edwin Hammett, Ohio Lake Erie Commission
419-245-2514