Mitsubishi Motors Sponsors Colorado National Forest Restoration

25 April 2000
Mitsubishi Motors Sponsors Colorado National Forest Restoration
        Auto Company Helps the Environment as a Tread Lightly! Partner
                   In Education, Recreation and Restoration

    CYPRESS, Calif., April 24 With its deep commitment to
support environmental issues, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. (MMSA)
breathes new life into a damaged Colorado National Forest recreational site.
    MMSA will partner with Tread Lightly!, a not-for-profit educational
organization dedicated to promoting responsible outdoor recreation and
protecting the great outdoors.  MMSA is an official sponsor of Tread
Lightly!'s "Restoration for Recreation" program.  This program helps ensure
that damaged lands become enjoyable recreation havens.  It accomplishes this
through land rehabilitation and public education on outdoor ethics to minimize
future impacts.
    The Colorado project, the first in a planned series of national
restoration projects sponsored by MMSA, consists of the construction of a new
bridge, several stream crossings and restoration of nearby trails.  The
project, scheduled to begin this summer, is located in the Stillwater Pass
area of the Sulphur Ranger District in Grand County, Colorado.  The Colorado
State Parks Trails Program has also provided a grant for this project.
    A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the project's completion is
tentatively scheduled for Sept. 23, 2000, to coincide with "National Public
Lands Day."
    "We care about the environment and we're very proud to support this
critical restoration project, especially at a time when government budgets
have been cut by as much as 80 percent," said Ellen Gleberman, MMSA senior
vice president, legal, government relations and public affairs.  "The program
not only protects and preserves our land for future responsible use, but it
also creates valuable partnerships with government agencies, private
corporations and the public.  It's a win-win situation for everyone involved,"
she added.
    The bridge will feature a natural, "cobblestone" look and will be built
from recycled stone and steel materials.  Another environmental benefit comes
into play during construction -- the bridge will be built in pieces that are
easily transported to the project site for assembly.  These pieces won't
require the use of heavy construction equipment, thereby eliminating the
associated environmental impacts.
    The bridge will be installed on the Grand Lake Multiple-Use Trail System,
one of the states' most heavily used trail systems.  The trails provide
recreational opportunities for riders of motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles and
four-wheel drive vehicles as well as skiers, snowshoers, horseback riders,
mountain bikers, backpackers and hikers.
    With the increase in popularity as well as its multi-use nature, the trail
system is showing the impact of heavy use.  Loss of vegetation coupled with
stream bank erosion has caused excess sediment to be deposited into the stream
at the current crossings.  This in turn reduces water quality and presents
hazards to the public and the wildlife, especially the cutthroat trout, a fish
recognized by Colorado as a "sensitive" species.  Installing a new bridge and
water crossings will dramatically reduce the amount of sediment being
deposited, allowing more eco-friendly use of this recreational area.

    Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. was established in 1982 by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles,
including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles.  The
website address is http://www.mitsubishicars.com.
    Tread Lightly!'s website address is http://www.treadlightly.org.