Governor Perdue Meets with Secretary of Interior, White House Council on Environmental Quality

Governor Perdue Meets with Secretary of Interior, White House Council on Environmental Quality

Governor and U.S. Senators Argue Case for Modification of IOP to Reduce Flows from Reservoirs

ATLANTA – Today Governor Sonny Perdue met with United States Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality James Connaughton to discuss Georgia’s drought and the implications of the Corps of Engineers’ Interim Operations Plan (IOP), which governs the release of water from the state’s reservoirs into Florida’s Apalachicola Bay.  Governor Perdue was joined by Senator Saxby Chambliss, Senator Johnny Isakson and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.

“Today we held very productive, candid and frank discussions over a complex issue,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “I believe the basis for continued discussion has been laid this morning.  I have come away with a renewed respect for Secretary Kempthorne, and frankly, a renewed respect for our federal partners, who I believe are willing to work with us on this critical issue of sustaining enough water for all of us.  I also come away willing to call the question during these times of scarcity over the priority of water allocation between humans and animals in this watershed.”

Governor Perdue plans to attend a meeting on Thursday, November 1 in Washington, D.C. with Alabama Governor Bob Riley and Florida Governor Charlie Crist, as well as congressional delegations from each state.

An audio recording of today’s press conference can be found online at the following site:  http://www.gov.state.ga.us/2007_multimedia.shtml.