Draft Reply to: Senators Sarbanes and Mikulski. Potomac American Heritage River Initiative

RD Log Number 6/3

Draft Reply to: Senators Sarbanes and Mikulski,

Dear Senators Sarbanes and Mikulski,

This letter responds to your correspondence of May 21, 2003 regarding your support for the Potomac American Heritage River Initiative (AHRI) and the continuation of the National Park Service’s(NPS) commitment to this locally led effort.

After discussions with the Friends of the Potomac and our leadership we have made a commitment to extend our assistance to the Potomac AHRI.  We are able to provide $50,000 in funding from the headquarters portion of the  “NPS Challenge Cost Share Program” to match projects associated with the Potomac effort.  These funds will require a match of dollars or inkind services by the Friends of the Potomac.  

We are also able to commit funding to cover the NPS share for Dale Medearis of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to work with us through a detail and serve as the River Navigator.  Our office will make arrangements with EPA as quickly as possible to detail Mr. Medearis to our office so that he can begin to provide services to Potomac communities.

We are able to make this commitment for one additional year beyond the existing agreement that we have with the Friends.  However, given current funding levels we are unable to make any commitment for FY 2004.

We greatly appreciate your interest and past support of the Potomac initiative.  Should you have any questions please contact me.

Sincerely,

Fran Mainella

Director