Welcome to Skagit County

October 27th, 2006

SKAGIT COUNTY FOREST ADVISORY BOARD SPONSORS ROUNDTABLE
Discussion with U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey

MOUNT VERNON – The Skagit County Advisory Board is sponsoring a roundtable discussion on issues affecting forests, farms, and natural resource conservation in Skagit County to be held on Thursday, November 2, 2006, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at the Cottontree Inn in Mount Vernon, featuring Mark Rey, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, United States Department of Agriculture.

The purpose of the roundtable discussion will be to focus on the wide variety of issues affecting public and private land management and conservation in Skagit County. Rey was invited to participate in the event by Skagit County Commissioner Ted Anderson, who has worked frequently on the challenges facing forests and farms through his involvement serving as the Chairman of the National Association of Counties Public Lands Steering Committee and as a member of the Washington State Board of Natural Resources.

As Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Rey directs the programs and activities of the U.S. Forest Service, including the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He has oversight responsibility for 191 million acres of national forests and grasslands, as well as a range of private forestry and agriculture-related conservation programs.
Prior to his current appointment, Rey served as a staff member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He has been involved in forestry and conservation related bills considered in the last several sessions of Congress.
This talk is sponsored by the Skagit County Forest Advisory Board and is free and open to the public.

For further information, contact:

Kendra Smith at 360-336-9300