ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 11, 2009

MEETING SET ON McLEAN COUNTY NATURAL AREA PURCHASE

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has scheduled a meeting of the Natural Areas Acquisition Advisory Committee (NAAAC) to develop a recommendation for the governor on the Ducks Unlimited proposal to acquire property known as the Tishinski Tract in McLean County.

The meeting will be held by conference call at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, May 14.

The 321-acre tract is owned by Ted Tishinski, Irvine, CA, and is located in southeastern McLean County near Mercer. Ducks Unlimited wants to buy the property to conserve its natural areas and animal habitat. The McLean County Commission has voted in opposition to the proposed purchase.

After the meeting, the committee will provide the advisory recommendation to Gov. John Hoeven, who will decide if the acquisition can proceed.

In addition to Goehring, who chairs the NAAAC, the committee includes Terry Steinwand, director of the State Game and Fish Department; Doug Prchal, director of the State Parks and Recreation Department; Robert Carlson, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union; Eric Aasmundstad, president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau; Jack Reich, president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and Larry Kotchman, state forester. Ronald Krebsbach, Garrison, chairman of the McLean County Commission, will represent the commission on the advisory committee.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.

Media representatives who wish to monitor the meeting should call Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 by May 13 for a number and pass code. Bismarck-area media are asked to monitor the call at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture conference room on the sixth floor of the State Capitol.