Posted by Jane Clark

            --Natural Resources Defense Council--Sierra Club--
   --Union of Concerned Scientists--US Public Interest Research Group--

For Immediate Release:                        Contact:
June 1, 2001                             David Willett, 202-675-6698

               Environmental Groups to Meet with White House

The Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, U.S. Public Interest
Research Group and Union of Concerned Scientists will meet with the
Administration at the White House on Tuesday, June 5 to discuss a set of
energy efficiency, renewable and other cleaner responsible supply options
that would assist America in creating and enacting a balanced approach to
meeting our energy needs.

The Vice President has stated repeatedly that the Bush energy policy
contains 11 of 12 proposals recently outlined by the Sierra Club. Our
discussions are intended to identify any areas of agreement and to explore
how these initiatives can be pursued without further delay.

We of course recognize that the environmental community and the
Administration continue to disagree on major issues.  We object to fossil
fuel programs that will exacerbate global warming. We oppose plutonium
reprocessing and believe that solutions have yet to be found to the waste
disposal and safety concerns associated with other nuclear technologies. We
oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other
environmentally critical areas; and we believe that we should strengthen,
not weaken, clean air enforcement.

Congressional debate over areas where we disagree may be contentious and
prolonged, but we  should not delay immediate implementation of any common
ground programs we both support. The more we do with efficiency, with
renewables, and with other cleaner, responsible fossil fuel proposals, the
less our nation will be asked to consider more harmful and risky options.

Contacts are available from each of the participating groups:

David Hawkins, Natural Resources Defense Council--202-289-6868
Daniel Becker, Sierra Club--202-547-1141
Alden Meyer,   Union of Concerned Scientists--202-223-6133
Anna Aurilio,  US Public Interest Research Group--202-546-9707

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