President Bush will include $21 million in his 2003 budget for a new Environmental Protection Agency initiative to protect, preserve and restore waterways across the country.

President Bush will include $21 million in his 2003 budget for a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiative to protect, preserve and restore waterways across the country. EPA Administrator Christie Whitman announced the effort during a visit to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Whitman said that as a part of the community based initiative, EPA will target up to 20 of the country's most highly valued watersheds for grants. EPA will be working cooperatively with state governors, tribes and other interested parties. The program also will support local communities in their efforts to expand and improve existing protection measures with tools, training and technical assistance.