"INTERIOR
BILL WINS PRAISE FROM ENVIROS"
WASHINGTON, DC, October 24, 2001 (ENS) - Environmental groups are
praising the environmental funding included in the fiscal year 2002
appropriations bill for the Department of Interior.
The final, House and Senate conference committee version of the bill
earmarks $1.32 billion for land conservation and biodiversity
protection projects managed by the Department of Interior and the
U.S. Forest Service. The funding legislation, which also contains
other accounts for conservation activities, now awaits President
George W. Bush's signature.
"In this time when the words of America the Beautiful take on
an even more poignant meaning, we are grateful that Congress is
taking positive action to help conserve some of the best of the
American landscape," said Steve McCormick, president and CEO of
the Nature Conservancy, which celebrated its 50th anniversary
Monday. "This funding is a tremendous gift to Americans who
care deeply about preserving our nation's great natural
heritage."
Among funding categories which received record levels of support are
Forest Legacy ($65 million), the federal program that helps states
protect forest land threatened with conversion to non-forest uses,
and the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund ($44 million). The
Land and Water Conservation Fund, the principal source of funding
for expansions and additions to national parks, national wildlife
refuges and national forests, will receive $429 million.
The Cooperative Endangered Species Fund, a source of funding for
states and counties to purchase habitat needed for the long term
conservation of endangered species, will receive $96 million.
The bill also includes continued protection against expanded
offshore drilling in key coastal waters, via a one year extension of
the existing moratorium on new offshore drilling lease sales in
sensitive coastal waters. The moratorium will now be in place until
October 1, 2002.
"We are heartened that the congressional negotiators determined
that this was not the time to arbitrarily jeopardize our coastal
natural treasures," said Richard Charter, marine conservation
advocate with Environmental Defense. "The conservation ethic is
deeply rooted in America's core values and preservation of our
national parklands and spectacular coastlines remains a high public
priority."
But conferees stripped the bill of a House provision that would have
delayed new offshore leasing in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico,
including off of Florida's Panhandle and Gulf Coast, for six months.
As a result, the Interior Department is now cleared by Congress to
proceed with a 1.5 million acre lease sale in a controversial new
area where endangered sperm whales are often found.
"While we are disappointed that the Eastern Gulf of Mexico will
now be open to new drilling activities, it is our hope that the
Department of Interior will apply sound science in taking the steps
necessary to protect sensitive biological resources in that
area," Charter said.
