LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Clinton today announces an initiative to protect America's sea coast, its coral reefs, and its beaches that are now threatened by pollution. Let's get more on this now from CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace. Good morning, Kelly.</s>KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Leon. This is the latest example of President Clinton trying to use his executive powers to achieve what he hasn't been able to through the Congress. You may recall that earlier this year, Mr. Clinton issued executive orders to protect some of the nation's forests and public lands. Well, today, he puts the spotlight on beaches and coastal areas, places many Americans will travel to this holiday weekend. Mr. Clinton will announce that he is directing his agencies to take steps to develop, quote, "ocean conservation zones." Fishing, offshore oil drilling, or other activities that threaten the ocean's resources would be banned in these areas. Opposition to this idea is likely to come from the commercial fishing industry and other businesses that rely and use the ocean. The president will travel to Asseteague Island, just a few hours outside Washington, to announce that he is issuing an executive order to develop these marine-protected areas. This does not require congressional approval. He'll also call on the Environmental Protection Agency to develop Clean Water Act regulations that reduce coastal pollution and to come up with other protections that are needed to keep the waters clean. And he'll call on his agencies to take steps to permanently protect the coral reefs of the northwest Hawaiian Islands, which represent 70 percent of the coral reefs in U.S. waters. Administration officials say these actions are needed for a couple of reasons. They say that nearly half of the development in the U.S. occurs along the coast. They also say that the increasing demand for seafood is driving some species towards extinction. And they say that polluted run-off is threatening marine life and human health. Kelly Wallace, CNN, reporting live from the White House.
Clinton to Announce Ocean Conservation Initiative