Legislation sponsored by U.S. Lisa Murkowski calls for $150 million annually to be deposited into an account the National Park Service could tap for "critical deferred maintenance" in the National Park System.
The measure, the Sportsmen's Act of 2015, passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this past Wednesday and promises to be on a collision course with House legislation pertaining to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Sportsmen's Act, designed to enhance recreational opportunities for hunting and fishing on public lands, also addresses the LWCF in a manner different than the version drafted by U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-UT.
Under Sen. Murkowski's bill, the $150 million earmarked for Park Service maintenance work, would come from revenues generated by energy exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf and be spent on maintenance projects "that support critical infrastructure and visitor services."
The Alaska Republican's approach towards reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund would set aside "not less than" 40 percent of the $900 million fund for federal uses, and "not less than" 40 percent "to be used collectively" for state uses, cooperative endangered species grants, and for the American Battlefield Protection Program. Not less than 1.5 percent, or $10 million, whichever is greater, of LWCF funds would be directed to "projects that secure recreational public access to Federal public land for hunting, fishing, or other recreational purposes."
Rep. Bishop is proposing a much greater overhaul of the LWCF, which was created in 1965 and envisioned as a mechanism to fund state and federal conservation and recreation projects. The Utah Republican, however, has said that in recent years too much money has been used to acquire additional federal lands.
While the original bill provided at least 60 percent of available funding to States, subsequent amendments and influence by special interests resulted in 62 percent of the total $16.8 billion appropriated throughout the history to the program going not to the States, but for federal land acquisition. During this time, the Stateside Assistance Grant Program, which provides matching grants to States for locally supported recreation projects and has been an effective program, received only 25 percent of appropriated LWCF funds. In fiscal year 2014, just 16 percent of funds went to the Stateside Program.
Rep. Bishop would set aside "not more than" 3.5 percent of the $900 million, or $31.5 million, each year for addressing deferred maintenance and cleanup on all federal lands, and would dedicate at least 20 percent for "promoting off-shore energy exploration, innovation, and education."
Interestingly, during the past five years more LWCF dollars were spent in Republican congressional districts than in Democratic districts, and GOP districts also had double the amount of acreage purchased and preserved than Democratic districts, according to an analysis performed by E&E Publishing reporters.
Data provided by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service show that the government spent at least $574 million acquiring about 600,000 acres of land in hundreds of projects spread across every state.
About $400 million -- more than two-thirds of overall spending -- was used to buy lands in districts that are currently held by Republicans.
In addition, about 413,000 of the acquired acres were in GOP districts, which is more than two-thirds of the total.
The story went on to note that the purchases were made under a Democratic administration, that of President Obama, and that purchase decisions are made without regard to politics but rather focused on conservation needs.
Comments
Okay, what's the catch? There has to be something hiding in the shadows.
Lee, The "catch" is called the "Sportsmen's Act of 2015" which has more to with opening Federal Lands to hunting and shooting. It also places severe if not impposible restrictions on an agencies ablitiy to close those lands to those activiites if needed. Click here: Sportsmen's Act of 2015
Dave,
Could you identify the "severe if not impossible restrictions" in the bill and elaborate when those restrictions might be "needed"
And yet it will never be enough money for Jarvis. His constant poor mouthing and passing of the collection plate is never filled with tax dollars or schemes to charge the public once he receives more funds. Please give me more so I can charge you to use these lands. We are the embattled NPS, "doing so much with so little" Looks like 150 million is a drop in his "little" bucket. (never mind the millions in stimulus funds that seem to be conveniently forgotten when glad handing)
Please refer to Section 203 of the Bill, it has all the details. The hypelink is in my ordiginal comment and in the bosy of the article.
SEC. 203. CLOSURE OF FEDERAL LAND TO HUNTING, FISHING, AND RECREATIONAL SHOOTING.
I think you have right Dave.