Subject: US Senate Sanctuary Expansion Introduced

For Immediate Release:        Contact: Natalie Ravitz or Sarah Misailidis,
                                          Boxer, (202) 224-8120
                                       Scott Gerber, Feinstein, (202) 224-9629

February 13, 2008                           

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   BOXER AND FEINSTEIN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO EXPAND MARINE SANCTUARIES
                           OFF CALIFORNIA'S COAST



Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both
D-CA) today introduced legislation that would permanently protect the
coastal waters and estuaries of Sonoma County and portions of Mendocino
County by extending the boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones and
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries.

Boxer said, "California's coast and marine waters are one of America's
great natural treasures.  By extending the boundaries of these National
Marine Sanctuaries to include the Sonoma and southern Mendocino coast,
this legislation will help protect and conserve this spectacular part of
our coast for generations to come."

"The waters off of the majestic Sonoma coastline are home to one of the
world's most diverse and plentiful marine ecosystems," Senator Feinstein
said."  This legislation would expand the Marine Sanctuaries of the Gulf
of Farallones and the Cordell Bank to include roughly 2,700 square
nautical miles - virtually extending federally protected waters all along
the Northern California coast.  This will provide lasting protection from
oil spills and pollution to the many species of marine life that call
these waters home."

The Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries
Boundary Modification and Protection Act would expand the boundaries of
the two existing National Marine Sanctuaries to protect the entire
coastline in Sonoma County and as far north as Point Arena in Mendocino
County. Senators Boxer and Feinstein introduced similar legislation in
the 109th Congress.  This year's bill includes even larger boundaries
than originally proposed, adding a total of 2,678 square nautical miles
to the sanctuaries. The new boundaries would protect the Russian and
Gualala River estuaries and the nutrient-rich Bodega Canyon from
off-shore oil drilling and pollution.  The bill does not impose any
additional regulations on fishing, which is under the jurisdiction of the
State of California and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council.

The Sonoma and Mendocino coasts are one of the planet's most biologically
productive marine environments.  These areas support many species of
marine mammals, birds and fishes, including endangered blue and humpback
whales.
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