Contact:  Dane Konop               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   10/23/96

NOAA CHIEF SCIENTIST RECEIVES GREAT LAKES SERVICE AWARD

Acting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chief Scientist Al Beeton received the Great Lakes Commission Outstanding Service Award at the commission's annual meeting Oct. 17 in Erie, Pa.

The award is presented to an individual who has "demonstrated an outstanding spirit of cooperation and interagency support for the Great Lakes."

Beeton, the former longtime director of NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., was commended by commission chair Donald Vonnahme for forging a strong partnership between NOAA and the commission. Vonnahme cited Dr. Beeton as "an outstanding example of a rare breed of individual that is comfortable as a member of both the science and policy communities."

In accepting the award Beeton said, "This award means something very special to me because I have long admired the Great Lakes Commission for all the good things they have done."

The Great Lakes Commission is an interstate agency that promotes orderly, integrated and comprehensive development, use, and conservation of the Great Lakes Basin water resources. Commission members are gubernatorially appointed and legislatively mandated representatives from the eight Great Lakes states.

                           ###f

NOTE: All NOAA press releases and links to other NOAA material can be found on the Internet at . http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs Journalists who wish to be added to our press release distribution list, or who wish to switch from fax to e-mail delivery, can send an e-mail to releases@www.rdc.noaa.gov , or fax to (202) 482-3154. NOAA constituents can send an e-mail to constaff@www.rdc.noaa.gov, or fax to (202) 501-2953.