FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         ENR
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1996                              (202) 616-2771
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

                                 
Statement of Lois J. Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General in
charge of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S.
Department of Justice.


     On behalf of the Justice Department, I would like to express
our profound sadness over the death of Mollie Beattie, who was a
splendid and vigorous Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mollie was a great friend to the environment, to the flora and
fauna of this nation, and to the Department's Environment and
Natural Resources Division. Her energy, enthusiasm, and vision
for wildlife and the National Refuge System inspired us as we
worked on these issues in the Division.

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