REMINDER: Mid-Atlantic Governors to Join Together Today On Historic Agreement to Protect Atlantic Ocean

Senior Obama Administration Officials and "Law and Order" Star Sam Waterston to Participate at Press Conference

On Thursday, June 4th, Mid-Atlantic Governors will sign an interstate agreement committing to improve the health of the Atlantic Ocean. Governors from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia are creating a structure for the States to work together on: development of offshore renewable energy; increased protection of the most unique and sensitive offshore habitats; improved energy security and independence in the region; climate change and sea level rise; and, increased federal support for water quality infrastructure improvements.

The agreement will create a Governors Mid-Atlantic Council on Oceans to continue advocacy for and leveraging of greater state influence on the management of offshore ocean areas and to direct federal and interstate actions and resources.

New York Governor David Paterson

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine

Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, New York Secretary of State

Sam Waterston, "Law and Order" actor and ocean advocate

Sarah Chasis, Natural Resources Defense Council, Peter Mandelstam, American Wind Energy Association,

Jay Odell, The Nature Conservancy, Leslie Tamminen, Office of California Lt. Governor John Garamendi

Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, Princeton University

Where and When:

12:00 pm, June 4th, at the Borough of Manhattan Community College at 199 Chambers Street, NYC. Enter through the Chambers Street entrance and proceed left to the Richard Harris Terrace for the press conference. Press is allowed access at 11:30 a.m.

Contact: Joel Barkin, Deputy Secretary of State for Public Affairs - 212-417-3137

Participants include: