Contact: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)
For immediate release: June 23, 2000; Release # 00-06-27
BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency New England office today announced a partnership with the National Park Service, Island Alliance, and the Boston Harbor Cruise company to provide narrated tours on daily ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands.
These tours, narrated by a National Park Service Ranger, will take place on the weekday ferries to George's Island run by Boston Harbor Cruise Company. The narrated ferries leave at 10 am and 2 pm from Long Wharf and will continue through Labor Day.
As part of this program, EPA New England employees are working with the National Park Service ranger to educate tourists, campers and organized groups about the cultural and environmental history of Boston Harbor and its islands. The Harbor Educator Program promotes public awareness of the cleanup and restoration of Boston Harbor and fosters appreciation of the harbor as a valuable natural resource.
"In the past 10 years, the Boston Harbor has gone from a contaminated embarrassment into one of New England's great recreational treasures," said Mindy S. Lubber, Regional Administrator for EPA New England. "The narrated Boston Harbor ferry gives visitors an inside look at the work that went into cleaning the harbor as well as a lively description of the history and culture of the islands."
The tours feature::
Boat ticket prices are $8 for adults, $6 for children (same price as the standard round-trip ferry to George's Island). Tickets can be purchased at the Long Wharf Boston Harbor Cruise ticket office at Long Wharf. Groups can also make reservations in advance by calling (617)227-4321 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For more information about the tours, contact the National Park Service at 617/223-8666 or stop by their information kiosk at Boston's Long Wharf. For information about Boston Harbor Islands, visit Island Alliance's website at http://www.bostonislands.com