FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: STUART STRAHL
(305) 607-5995
(305) 371-6399

April 30, 2001

AUDUBON OF FLORIDA APPLAUDS GOVERNOR BUSH ON ASR DECISION

Miami, FL- Audubon of Florida today commended Florida's Governor Jeb Bush
for the position he has taken in providing leadership to both the house &
senate in ensuring that Florida's water quality continues to be a top
priority for the state.

The Governor's clear instruction to the Department of Environmental
Protection of pursuing additional research in ASR technology demonstrates
his commitment to the people of Florida as well as to the Everglades
restoration process.

"ASR needs a careful, well coordinated scientific evaluation before it can
be approved for general use in Florida and the Governor has wisely responded
to the high level of public concern about this," stated Stuart Strahl,
President & CEO of Audubon of Florida / Vice President, National Audubon
Society.

ASR is one of the components of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan,
with three pilot projects approved by Congress to test the emerging
technology. Under the ASR concept, surface water in rivers and lakes that
would ordinarily be lost through canals to the ocean would be injected into
deep saline aquifers. The injected water would have some contaminants in it
typical of those found in most Florida rivers and lakes; for this reason,
ASR injection may not meet federal and state drinking water standards for
aquifers.

"We commend Governor Bush for recognizing the importance of using sound,
objective science as the linchpin for moving forward with evaluation of ASR
technology.  We share his concern for the appropriate implementation of
water storage facilities throughout our state and agree that the South
Florida Water Management District can still carry out the CERP pilot
projects under more limited variances granted by DEP and the federal
Environmental Protection Agency. That is what ought to happen until we have
solid scientific data," concluded, Dr. Stuart D. Strahl.