PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release – February 15, 2019
Contact: Sean Cooley, Communications Director, (850) 999-1030, scooley@audubon.org 
Twitter: @AudubonFL

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In response to the appointment of Noah Valenstein as Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Audubon Florida Executive Director Julie Wraithmell celebrated the move and said:

“This is a great move by Governor DeSantis for Florida’s environment. Secretary Valenstein is a Florida-grown conservationist and has the experience with the science and politics of Florida’s environment to make real progress for our state.”

“During his brief tenure at DEP, we’ve already seen Florida Forever funding restored to $100M, strategic springs restoration projects implemented, and DEP stepping up to drive state efforts on sea level rise adaptation. He made creative and effective hires to head state parks and the Division of State Lands, reenergized the agency’s regulatory functions, and has grown DEP’s culture of transparency, accountability and stakeholder inclusion.

“Secretary Valenstein was a breath of fresh air when he arrived at DEP, and I can’t wait to see what he’ll accomplish in an administration with such a commitment to meeting Florida’s water and other conservation challenges.”

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