Congress to Fund Each State's Land and Water Conservation Fund
12/23/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Congress allocates conservation funds
Source: Environmental News Network
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: December 23, 1999
Byline: Robinson Shaw
After four years of nays, Congress has voted to allocate money from
the Land and Water Conservation Fund for every state in the country.
The lion's share of the full $465 million allocation for the year
2000 will be used to acquire land inside national parks, forests and
other publicly-owned areas. Another portion will be used to buy land
with high recreational and natural value.
"These are precious gifts to future generations," said William
Meadows, president of The Wilderness Society, which spearheaded the
effort to secure significant appropriations for states. "The American
people are increasingly concerned about sprawl, and this fund is one
of the best weapons to fight (it)."
The LWCF annually receives $900 million in royalties from offshore
oil and gas activities. Congress decides how the money is allocated.
Any surplus goes into the U.S. Treasury for various expenditures.
For the year 2000, $40 million is earmarked for state and local
governments to protect land and create or improve recreational
opportunities.
Over the years, the LWCF has funded more than 37,000 such projects.
In the past four years, however, Congress declined to approve any
such funding.
"It's a two-part funding process. The baseline amount and then a
second infusion of money based on population, because the grant money
is aimed at recreation," said Sue Gunn, who heads The Wilderness
Society's budget and appropriations program.
Most of the LWCF money goes toward acquisition (from willing sellers)
of acreage inside or near national parks, national forests and other
publicly-owned lands. For the year 2000, $425 million was allocated
to preserve public lands in 42 states.
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Idaho is one of many sites
across the country that will benefit from LWCF funds. Big Cypress
National Preserve in Florida is another.
Buying private parcels inside the boundaries of national parks and
forests improves public access and reduces management costs. Often,
if the National Park Service or other federal agency does not
purchase the land, developers buy the property and turn it into
subdivisions.
"We believe the full $900 million should be put to work," said
Meadows. "But $465 million is $135 million more than last year's
appropriation and almost double the average of the past 20 years. So
we're making important progress.
"Citizens who share our view that every available dollar in the fund
should be invested in land protection should urge Congress to pass
the Young-Miller bill (H.R. 701), which would guarantee that,"
Meadows added.
The Young-Miller measure cleared the Resources Committee of the House
of Representatives in November. The bill could move to a vote in the
House after Congress reconvenes next spring.
Congress has yet to earmark about $35 million of the money set aside
for national parks and other public land. "There are worthy
investments available all over this country," said Gunn. "Parcels
that fail to secure protection may go to the highest bidder and end
up as luxury subdivisions. We're running against time."
This week, the Clinton administration sent Congress a detailed list
of recommendations for the $35 million. The list includes areas in
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming and
the Virgin Islands.
"We want to create a lasting national network of wild lands,
including everything from sweeping Alaskan vistas to city parks, and
the LWCF is the biggest source of money to make that a reality," said
Meadows.