Governor Chris Gregoire announced yesterday she will designate $42 million to restore and protect Puget Sound. She also named a panel of Washingtonians to study clean-up efforts across the country and make recommendations about further clean-up efforts.

“Cleaning and protecting Puget Sound must be at the top of our state agenda,” said Gregoire. “But I know from experience that state government can’t do it alone.”

Gov. Gregoire told reporters the health of the sound is critical to the state economy and the environment. The investment in clean-up is one targeted investment in a legislative package that includes investments in early learning, school standards and alternative energy.

The Governor’s legislative package provides $42 million from existing, and available revenue sources to: clean up toxic sites; prevent oil spills and continuing toxic contamination; restore near-shore, estuary and salmon habitats; help homeowners with Sound clean-up; make state parks and other state facilities more environmentally sound, beginning with wastewater and sewer projects at six marine state parks.

The Governor introduced the Washingtonians who have agreed to serve on the Puget Sound Partnership.

“I am charging the Puget Sound Partnership with engaging a broad cross-section of agencies, tribes, and citizens to develop recommendations for me, the Legislature, and Congress for preserving the health and ecosystem of Puget Sound, and to help educate and enlist the public in achieving recovery of the Sound by 2020,” the Governor said.

Serving with Governor Gregoire on the Puget Sound Partnership are: Salmon Recovery Funding Board Chair William Ruckelshaus; U.S. Rep. Dicks; Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chairman Billy Frank, Jr.; Colin Moseley, President, Green Diamond Company and Chairman, Simpson Resource Company; King County Executive Ron Sims; University of Washington President Mark Emmert, Ph.D.; Western Washington Agricultural Association Executive Director Mike Shelby; Taylor Shellfish Farms Vice President Bill Taylor; and People for Puget Sound Executive Director Kathy Fletcher.

The Puget Sound Partnership will learn and use what has worked at other large ecosystem protection efforts around the country, and will engage an extensive cross-section of Washington citizens, business and governments in recommending how to improve protection and recovery of Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Initial recommendations are expected by June 15, 2006.