Governor Gregoire, Premier Campbell Sign Agreement on Climate Change

For Immediate Release: June 8, 2007

Governor and Premier announce second round trip Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver

SEATTLE � Governor Chris Gregoire and Premier Gordon Campbell today announced an agreement between British Columbia and Washington that sets out joint actions on climate change and Pacific Ocean conservation and further strengthens collaboration between the two jurisdictions.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Pacific Coast Collaboration to Protect Our Shared Climate and Ocean was signed in Seattle, following the second annual British Columbia-Washington summit between the Governor, the Premier and their respective cabinet directors and ministers.

�Collaboration with British Columbia has brought significant results, notably this important step to improve passenger rail transportation between Washington and British Columbia,� said Governor Gregoire. �The agreements signed today establish further actions to help us meet our climate change goals and sustain the health of our air, water and land.�

�This climate change agreement builds on the memorandum of understanding British Columbia signed with California last week and is another significant step towards our commitment to forge a Pacific Coast Collaborative,� said Premier Campbell. �I want to thank Governor Gregoire for her leadership on this issue and for working with us to develop an action plan that can benefit our economies, our climate and our ocean.�

Washington and B.C will work together to cap and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and collaborate on the innovation and implementation of clean technologies. The agreement will bring Pacific Coast governors and their key cabinet members together to forge a new Pacific Coast Collaborative, establishing a framework for leadership and cooperative action on additional areas of mutual interest and benefit for the Pacific coast region.

The agreement sets forth specific actions on Pacific Ocean conservation, notably synchronizing environmental protection at ports to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and protect ocean resources around port complexes; and establishes a Washington-British Columbia Coastal and Ocean Task Force to coordinate and act on these and other coastal and oceans issues. The agreement also commits BC and Washington to work together to improve forest health.

Washington and B.C. have made significant progress on the agreements reached at the 2006 summit in Vancouver, B.C. Cooperation has increased on border security and cross-border transportation, including progress on the enhanced driver license project, and agreements to improve the marketing and physical infrastructure at the border of NEXUS/FAST.

The jurisdictions have also pursued shared economic, Olympic and tourism opportunities, seeking ways for Washington to participate in events leading up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Governor Gregoire and Premier Campbell also announced a second round trip of the Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver, B.C., which will begin mid-2008. The two leaders exchanged symbolic Seattle-to-Vancouver, B.C. train tickets on the platform, next to an Amtrak Cascades train.

�We are extremely pleased to continue our long-term partnership with the Washington Department of Transportation, BNSF and the British Columbia Provincial Government,� said Alexander J. Kummant, Amtrak President and CEO. �This project allows us to advance corridor development along an already highly successful Amtrak route. We look forward to enhancing our services to our passengers by extending a second frequency to Vancouver, B.C., in the near future.�

Other agreements signed at the 2007 British Columbia-Washington Summit:

• Forest Memorandum of Understanding
• British Columbia/ Washington Coastal and Ocean Task Force Terms of Reference
• Memorandum of Understanding on Clean-Technology Market Opportunities and the Pacific Gateway
• Joint Resolution Regarding Early Learning
• Memorandum of Understanding on Communication about Highway and Border Station Incidents
• NEXUS/FAST Action Plan

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