FRANK SESNO, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with President Clinton who is beach-bound today, launching a new effort to protect the nation's coasts and reefs just as parks are protected. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace joins us now with details. Kelly, the latest initiative from the president?</s>KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Frank, and the latest initiative where the president is trying to use his executive powers to accomplish what he hasn't been able to achieve with the U.S. Congress. Moments from now, Mr. Clinton will head to Assateague Island off the Maryland coast. There he will announce he is signing an executive order to develop new so-called ocean conservation zones. These will expand the number of marine areas that are protected from fishing and offshore oil drilling. The White House says that pollution, development and fishing are threatening more and more of the nation's oceans. He'll also announce that he's directing his agencies to permanently protect the corral reefs of the northwest Hawaiian Islands. Now, not everyone applauds these moves. A representative of the offshore oil drilling companies says that these actions will result in an increase in oil prices here in the United States. But you will recall that the president used his executive powers not too long ago to protect more and more public lands, signing an order in January to create more protected lands -- the Grand Canyon -- in just in April, protecting some Sequoia grove trees in California. Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting live from the White House.
President Clinton to Order New 'Ocean Conservation Zones'