Date: June 13, 2008 

Contact: Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office
(216) 902-6020 office
(216) 310-2608 cell

U.S. COAST GUARD COMMANDANT TO VISIT NORTHEAST OHIO 14TH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN 

CLEVELAND - U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad W. Allen will join Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-14) during visits to Coast Guard Stations Fairport and Ashtabula on Monday, June 16, 2008.

Adm. Allen and Rep. LaTourette will tour the units, meet with Coast Guard members assigned there and present several service awards.  Adm. Allen and a representative of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will also attend a town hall meeting with members of the local recreational boating community hosted by Rep. LaTourette at the Fairport Harbor Senior Center.

At the conclusion of each station visit, Adm. Allen and Rep LaTourette will hold a brief joint media availability to discuss Coast Guard priorities for preventing boating deaths and injuries, enhancing the Coast Guard's marine safety program, and protecting the marine environment.

According to statistics released by the Coast Guard May 15, recreational boating accident deaths fell in 2007, from 710 in 2006 to 688 in 2007, the lowest figure since 2004 and third lowest since the Coast Guard began collecting statistics specifically related to recreational boating.  Despite the decrease in fatalities seen the past year, the numbers of accidents, injuries and cost of property damage rose significantly.  Details are available at http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/786/203057.

WHO:   U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Thad W. Allen and Rep. Steven C. LaTourette
WHAT:   Media availabilities to discuss Coast Guard priorities for boating safety, enhancing marine safety, and protecting the marine environment. 
WHEN:  Monday, June 16, 2008
WHERE:  Coast Guard Station Fairport - 10:30 a.m., 2 Coast Guard Road, Painesville, OH; and Coast Guard Station Ashtabula - 1:45 p.m., 401 Morton Drive, Ashtabula, OH. 

In 2007, the Coast Guard saved more than 5,000 lives, seized $4.7 billion worth of cocaine at sea, and interdicted approximately 6,000 migrants attempting to enter the country illegally.

The Commandant's official bio is available at http://www.uscg.mil/comdt

Media wishing to attend one or both availabilities should contact the Ninth Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (216) 902-6020.

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