Secretary of the Interior Appoints Maine Nonprofit Director to Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC)
Nobleboro, Maine - (April 3,2002) Shippen Bright, Executive Director of the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute, has been appointed by Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, to serve on the Federal Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The ISAC was established to advise the federal government on the issue of invasive species and to act as representatives of the many stakeholders who are affected by invasives. The Committee is composed of thirty-two representatives from state organizations, industry, conservation groups, scientists, academia and other interests who serve two-year terms.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton congratulated Bright on his selection and said, "We are confident that your contributions to the goals of the Council will be significant"

When informed by Secretary Norton of his appointment, Bright said, "I'm glad that Maine will have a seat at the table as we continue to fight the introduction of invasive species and the economic costs they impose on all of us as the environment and the economy are inextricably intertwined. Our landmark anti-invasive aquatic plant legislation last year [the "milfoil bill"] has put Maine in a national leadership position and I'm honored to play a part in the overall effort". Bright is the only representative from New England.

Bright is the Founder and Executive Director of the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute a nonprofit lake science environmental education organization. Bright holds Masters in Public Administration from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Southern New Hampshire. A 1978 graduate of Bates College, Bright has served in the McKernan [R] and King [I] Administrations as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Conservation.

Click here for a pdf of the press release from Senator Snowe. (112k pdf)