Federal Parks & Recreation

Editor: James B. Coffin Subscription Services: Gerrie Castaldo Volume 33 Number 4, Febrtuary 27, 2015

In this issue. . . LWCF praised at Senate panel hearing; some in GOP question Senators give and take on LWCF. In fiscal 2016 Interior budget Senate Energy Committee Chairman hearing. Murkowski suggests Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Secretary reforms need, such as use of of Interior Sally Jewell February 24 money for maintenance. But laid out quite different visions for the Jewell, Cantwell praise use Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). of money for acquisition.... Page 1 At a hearing on the fiscal year 2016 Interior budget, Murkowski told Portman positive on Centennial. Tells Jewell matching grant Jewell an unspecified portion of the fund program could do ‘exciting’ should be used for “reforms” i.e., to things. Murkowski: Where are attack a maintenance backlog on federal lands. the 2016 budget offsets?.... Page 3 But Jewell suggested LWCF money Three new monuments in the books. should continue to be used for land NPS will get Pullman in Chicago acquisition and said that the budget and Honouliuli in Hawaii. BLM had a separate component to address a gets Browns Canyon, Colo.... Page 4 maintenance backlog.

Although the two differed on ‘Every Kid’ program promoted. By White House at three monuments future uses of the money, they have announcement. $20M request to agreed in the past that the law should be extended beyond its current move kids to NPS sites...... Page 7 expiration date of September 30. Murkowski earlier this month promised 2014 NPS visitation sets record. to take up reauthorization in her Jarvis hopes it is a signal of committee, but with a catch. even more visits ahead. Numbers far better than odd 2013.... Page 8 She wants to consider revisions to the law, such as diverting LWCF to land management agency maintenance. States acting on transportation. Tired of waiting for help from Highway Trust Fund, they are She told Jewell at the hearing, “The department did not identify raising money on their own.. Page 9 realistic offsets for its spending requests – such as the National Parks Poll: Public lands matter in West. Centennial – and has proposed no Colorado College report says 95 serious reforms for the Land and Water percent of voters visited... Page 11 Conservation Fund.”

But Jewell made the case for Easements fight now in Senate. Obama opposes tax bill because of something approaching the status quo. lack of spending offsets.... Page 12 “Not only does every dollar invested in (LWCF) provide a very strong investment but we have many willing sellers and Page 13 Notes...... inholders within the national parks and access areas where hunters and fishermen Conference calendar...... Page 15 can get to and areas for connectivity

P.O. Box 41320 • Arlington, VA 22204 Published by Resources Publishing Co. • Annual subscription $257 for 24 issues and 10 bulletins• © 2015 EIN 52-1363538 Phone: (703) 553-0552 • Fax: (703) 553-0558 • Website: www.plnfpr.com • E-Mail: [email protected] Page 2 February 27, 2015 and ecosystems,” she said. “This balance is almost $20 billion,” she program has been used successfully said. over 40,000 times and has benefitted 98 percent of the counties in the country Cantwell added, “I note that and we think it is a brilliant piece of since this fund expires in September, legislation that has worked well.” and we had a pretty good vote on the Senate floor about this, that we will Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) asked work together in a bipartisan fashion to Jewell how she could justify additional address these issues.” land acquisition when the National Park System park maintenance backlog is high. Buoyed by the 59-to-40 vote of “How do you square this maintenance January 29 the lead sponsor of the backlog and the funding that we have amendment, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), with the fact you continue to create introduced stand-alone legislation (S more work for NPS by expanding areas 338) February 3 to make LWCF permanent. of responsibility and proposing new Of note, the bill would not guarantee stewardship?” he asked. the $900 million per year the program would be authorized to spend. Previous Jewell said there is a separate iterations of a Senate reauthorization appropriation request in the fiscal bill would have guaranteed the money. 2016 budget proposal to take care of the maintenance backlog. “This budget Burr attempted to bring S 338 to proposes over 10 years to clean up the floor a second time February 5 under the maintenance backlog on our highest a suspension of the rules procedure but priority assets,” she said. “We have in Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) objected. He the budget a proposal to make progress said LWCF is too important an issue to over 10 years by cleaning all that up.” take up without a thorough scrubbing in committee and on the floor. So Burr and The fiscal 2016 budget request company will have to wait another day. does propose a $300 million per year program for three years to improve However, Burr said revisions to “high priority, non-transportation park the law can be considered later. Job assets.” one is to get the law extended now.

At the moment Jewell may hold the With that backdrop the Obama upper hand on LWCF because the Senate administration once again February 2 came within a whisker January 29 of proposed full funding for LWCF for fiscal approving a clean extension of the 50 year 2016 without the restructuring year-old law, voting 59-to-49 for it. suggested by Republican critics. Sixty votes were needed to pass. In submitting the annual budget th But a probable 60 vote, Sen. request to Congress the administration Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), was recommended that Congress (1) not present that day because he was ill. appropriate $400 million for LWCF The vote came on an amendment (SA 92) to in fiscal 2016 and (2) by separate a Keystone Pipeline System bill (S 1). authorizing legislation guarantee an Significantly, thirteen Republicans voted additional $500 million through an for the LWCF extension. extended rewrite of the law.

At the February 24 hearing Sen. Here are some of the LWCF-related Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking fiscal 2016 administration budget minority member of the committee, requests: endorsed mandatory funding for LWCF, as proposed in the fiscal 2016 Obama budget. * LWCF FEDERAL APPROPRIATION: “This is something that many of our For federal land acquisition the colleagues on the committee agree with administration recommended $235.8 but every year Congress appropriates million compared to a final fiscal 2015 only a fraction of the authorized appropriation of $165.7 million. The funding and right now the unappropriated breakdown: NPS acquisition, $64.3 February 27, 2015 Page 3 million; BLM, $38 million; FWS, $58.5 fiscal 2016 budget request. million; FS, $63 million; and DoI Valuation Services, $12 million. But Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a key figure on Park Service policy, gave a * LWCF FEDERAL (NEW GUARANTEED quasi-endorsement to a key provision of PROGRAM): This presupposes Congress the request – a matching grant program. approves new legislation to guarantee $900 million per year for LWCF. These “I’ve been working with you and recommendations are in addition to the we’ve been talking about in 2016 if we regular appropriations above. The can do some exciting things to generate breakdown: NPS acquisition, $106.7 more interest in the parks and deal with million; BLM, $55.4 million; FWS, $106.3 some of the budget challenges,” he told million; FS, $64.7 million; and DoI Jewell. “I am pleased to see you are Valuation Services, $6 million. proposing something like it.”

* LWCF STATE APPRORIATION: For Said Jewell, “The National Park state LWCF grants the administration Service is arguably the most recognized recommended $53.2 million, compared to a and valued brand within the federal fiscal 2015 appropriation of $48 million. government. Research has shown there is tremendous interest in private * LWCF STATE (NEW GUARANTEED philanthropy. We also know a match is PROGRAM): This allocation presupposes a great incentive to give two, three, Congress approves new legislation to four times as much. . . We are confident guarantee $900 million per year for that with a match we can multiply that LWCF. For state grants the proposal several times over.” would add $47 million, for a total of $100 million. The administration’s budget request includes a $326 million hike * URBAN PARKS AND RECREATION in regular appropriations for the RECOVERY: For urban parks the Centennial and $500 million in a new administration recommended $25 million fund to address maintenance. The from a reauthorization of LWCF, compared maintenance program would require to no appropriation in fiscal 2015. Congressional approval. Some of the $500 million could be used by other Interior land management agencies, as NPS Centennial greeted with well as the Forest Service. praise, concern in Senate The $500 million allocation Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell would have three components – a $100 took the administration’s plans for million matching challenge program, a the Park Service’s 2016 Centennial to $300 million high-priority, maintenance the Senate Energy Committee February backlog program and a $100 million 24, and was met with less than all-out competitive Public Lands Centennial enthusiasm from Republicans. Fund. All Interior land management agencies and the Forest Service could Above all committee chairman Lisa tap that last fund. Murkowski (R-Alaska) worried about the price tag. The administration has asked The $100 million matching for a significant, $826 million spending challenge proposal drew the most increase for the Centennial in fiscal interest in the Senate committee. year 2016. The department may not be able “The department did not identify to count on much help from Murkowski, realistic offsets for its spending who also chairs the Senate subcommittee requests – such as the National Parks on Interior appropriations. When we Centennial – and has proposed no contacted Murkowski’s office recently the serious reforms for the Land and Water staff would not comment on her possible Conservation Fund,” said Murkowski at backing of any Centennial bill. Said a hearing on the Interior Department’s Murkowski spokesman Robert Dillon, Page 4 February 27, 2015

“Sens. Murkowski and (Tom) Coburn were sold, the program would bring in (R-Okla.) raised the issue of how we $13,625,000. manage the public lands last year. I am sure it is going to be a focus of the On its own behalf the Park Service committee this year.” March 24, 2014, presented an overarching theme to guide the implementation of the But, he added, “I’m not talking of 2016 Centennial. It’s called ‘Find Your any specific legislation. The committee Park.’ will be looking at the Park Service to see if changes need to be made in its NPS will use the theme in management.” partnership with the National Park Foundation and other entities to boost Portman’s support is not visitation to the national parks. That guaranteed either. He had been expected theme will have NPS, the foundation, to assume the chairmanship of the concessioners, conservationists and House subcommittee on National Parks, other partners use the Find Your but passed it up for chairmanships of Park theme to, as NPS said, “produce economics subcommittees elsewhere in the programs, events, and activities that Senate. will drive broad awareness, deepen engagement, and increase support for And on February 8 he posted an America’s national parks, the work of economic message that suggested he may the National Park Service, and its not be willing to tolerate the Park partners.” Service portion of President Obama’s budget. In that message he complained In a related development, as we of excessive new federal spending reported last month the Park Service proposed for fiscal 2016. will be featured in the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2016, in However, as he said this week Pasadena, Calif. The parade will at the hearing with Jewell he has sort of kick off the Centennial. The been discussing the possibility of Pasadena Tournament of Roses® said the introducing Centennial legislation, theme will be “Find Your Adventure,” a particularly dealing with a matching takeoff on the Park Service Centennial grant challenge program. them of Find Your Park.

Congress in December approved modest boosts for the Centennial in a Three new monuments in the fiscal 2015 appropriations law (PL 113- books; some in GOP object 235 of Dec. 16, 2014) and in an omnibus public lands law (PL 113-291 of Dec. 19, The Obama administration February 2014.) 19 designated three new national monuments, two of which the Park The appropriators approved $25 Service will manage. One is a Pullman million for NPS operations and $10 National Monument in Chicago, the site million for matching endowment grants. of historic manufacturing, labor and That’s new money. African-American events.

Separately in the public lands The second is a Honouliuli omnibus Congress authorized the Treasury National Monument in Hawaii, the site Department to mint $5 gold coins, $1 of a Japanese-American internment camp silver coins and half-dollar coins during World War II. during calendar year 2016 for the Centennial. The Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service will jointly operate The provision would also assess the third – a Browns Canyon National a significant surcharge on each minting Monument in Colorado. - $35 for each dollar coin, $10 for each silver coin and $5 for each half- Conservationists, historic dollar coin. By our math if all coins preservationists, most local officials February 27, 2015 Page 5

and, of course, the administration responders to manage and fight wildfires endorsed the designations, made under in the area have never been addressed.” the Antiquities Act of 1906. However, several Republican leaders sharply House Natural Resources Committee criticized the actions. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) castigated the White House and said Congress On the supportive side the should have been consulted. “Congress National Trust for Historic Preservation has demonstrated that it can work in a said of the Pullman site, “Today’s collaborative fashion to fully vet and designation gives official recognition approve designations that have support and protection to what has long been one from the public and their elected of our nation’s most significant historic representatives,” he said. places. Moving forward, Pullman will serve as a model for how urban national Besides, Bishop said, “The Obama parks can attract visitors while Administration claims these designations boosting economic development.” have public support, but we know that is a complete stretch of the truth. The Of the Honouliuli monument Hawaii cost to taxpayers is anyone’s guess and Rep. Mark Takai (D) said, “This is a the impacts upon local communities are great victory for civil liberties. unknown.” The preservation of Honouliuli has been a goal of Hawaii’s congressional However, support groups such delegation for years, and the first as the National Parks Conservation legislation introduced by the late Sen. Association (NPCA) said the Pullman Daniel Inouye (D) in 2009 has been monument enjoys strong local support and followed by strong support from Hawaii’s will be a net moneymaker for Chicago. delegates.” The association said more than 200 organizations and 15,000 individuals Of Browns Canyon former Rep. Joel endorsed the designation. Hefley (R-Colo.) praised the President’s action. “The people of Chaffee County As for the economics NPCA said the have been working together for many site would “generate more than 300,000 years to protect this scenic landscape visitors each year, support more than and the important river corridor that 350 jobs annually, including $15 million runs through Browns Canyon,” said Hefley, in annual wages and sustain $40 million who served in Congress until 2007. in economic activity, mostly from “This new national monument will mean visitor spending.” a lot to Chaffee County and also for future generations as they enjoy this The three sites: special place. I am thrilled that after all these years it is finally happening.” Pullman: The Pullman Company manufactured railroad cars at the site But Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), in the last century. Black workers who now represents Hefley’s old district at the company rebelled in the 1920s Number 5, questioned the advisability and organized the Brotherhood of the of designating Browns Canyon. He said Sleeping Car Porters, the first African- local citizens were concerned about American labor union. How much federal, numerous unresolved issues. private and other land goes into the monument is not clear, but NPCA said it “I am outraged; this is the anticipates NPS would own and operate a type of executive order that upsets 13-acre Pullman Factory Complex at the Americans,” he said. “This is a top- heart of the monument. down, big government land grab by the President that disenfranchises the And the National Park Foundation concerned citizens in the Browns Canyon announced it has raised almost $8 region. I’ve heard from multitudes of million from individual donors and local citizens whose concerns about organizations for a new visitor center. grazing rights, water rights, outdoor recreation, and the inability of first Honouliuli: The White House said, Page 6 February 27, 2015

“Honouliuli Internment Camp, located and responsible resource development is in a steep canyon not far from Pearl not put at risk – and family incomes Harbor, opened in March, 1943 and was damaged – by a stroke of the President’s the largest and longest-used confinement pen.” site for Japanese and European Americans and resident immigrants in The Wilderness Society said the Hawaii, eventually holding 400 civilian Murkowski bill would place unnecessary internees and 4,000 prisoners of war. administrative and procedural hurdles The camp was largely forgotten until in front of potential new national uncovered in 2002, and the President’s monuments. “Our parks and national designation will ensure its stories are monuments are the fabric of America,” told for generations.” said Matt Keller, national monuments campaign director at The Wilderness Said Secretary of Interior Sally Society. Jewell, “The unjust internment of Japanese Americans in Hawaii during “This measure is entirely out World War II is a difficult chapter in of step with what the American people our nation’s history, but it is a story are asking of their elected officials that needs to be told.” Jewell said she and says, in effect, that our nation visited the site in September 2013. doesn’t need any more national parks and conservation lands. Browns Canyon: The site is located in the upper Arkansas River Valley near Several other bills to bar the town of Salida, Colo. The 22,000- monument designations are already on the acre monument will include granite table. Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) on cliffs, rock outcroppings and mountain February 11 introduced a bill (HR 900) vistas, according to the White House. that would bar designation of monuments The site is used by hikers, rafters, unless Congress and a state approved. hunters and fishermen. It is the counterpart of a Senate bill (S 228) introduced by Sen. Mike Crapo Meanwhile, leading Congressional (R-Idaho) January 21. Both are similar Republicans this month introduced to Murkowski’s bill. sweeping legislation that would curb a President’s authority to designate Labrador singled out the national monuments on public lands under possibility of a monument designation the Antiquities Act of 1906. in his state: “In Idaho, the current threat of a presidential designation of Senate Energy Committee Chairman a Boulder-White Clouds National Monument Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led the way has distorted the debate on how to February 10 with a bill (S 437) that manage those lands. It’s high time that would require not only Congressional Congress move to restore the balance approval of any monument but also between the branches.” state approval and preparation of an environmental review document. Indeed, conservationists have long supported legislation from Rep. Michael Although as many as a dozen Simpson (R-Idaho) to protect more than such monument-restriction bills are 200,000 acres in the Boulder-White expected in this Congress, Murkowski’s Clouds area as wilderness. Simpson has bill matters most because of her not reintroduced that bill this year. chairmanship. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) began “It is clear that this White House the monument-restriction campaign is more concerned with securing its January 13 by introducing a bill (HR environmental legacy than protecting the 330) similar to Murkowski’s requiring economic well-being of Alaskans,” said Congressional and state approval of any Murkowski. national monument. However, Young would not require an environmental review “My legislation is designed to first. make sure economic activity like fishing February 27, 2015 Page 7

White House gives prominence federal land management agencies will be involved, including the Bureau of to ‘Every Kid in a Park’ Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic President Obama fleshed out his and Atmospheric Administration, and the administration’s promise to bring the Department of Education. nation’s youth to the public lands February 19. He laid out a multi- The administration also tied the headed plan that would include a new, “Every Kid in a Park” initiative, as it $20 million appropriation to bring is formally known, to the Park Service’s one million fourth-grade, low-income Centennial in 2016. In a fiscal 2016 children to the national parks. budget request the administration recommended a significant $826 million Keying the program to the upcoming spending increase for the Centennial. 2016 Centennial of the National Park System, the White House said in an The Every Kid in a Park program announcement, “America’s public would be funded within the Park Service lands and waters offer space to get Visitor Services line item that would outside and get active, and are living increase by $34 million over fiscal 2015, classrooms that provide opportunities to from $243 million to $277 million. And build critical skills through hands-on yes Congress would have to appropriate activities. the money.

“To inspire the next generation In a statement provided to FPR to discover all that America’s public House Appropriations Committee Chairman lands and waters have to offer, the Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) said, “I Obama Administration will provide all certainly welcome efforts to encourage 4th grade students and their families all Americans, including our youth, to free admission to all National Parks take advantage of the extraordinary and other federal lands and waters for a experiences our national parks have full year, starting with the 2015-2016 to offer. Like other programs and school year.” initiatives, we will balance it with the other needs and priorities in our The White House had already funding bill.” announced the $20 million program in the release of its fiscal year 2016 budget The National Park Hospitality request February 2. It added momentum Association singled out for praise the by re-endorsing the proposal at an event $20 million Centennial proposal in the in Chicago to announce the designation budget that would introduce urban youth of three national monuments (see previous article). to national parks and public lands, i.e. Every Kid in a Park.

The program is part of an overall “The nation’s recreation community administration campaign to help youths applauds the President’s action,” said learn to enjoy the outdoors, and to Derrick Crandall, president of the become active in the outdoors. Urban American Recreation Coalition and member kids in particular have little access to of the National Park Service Centennial the outdoors and, the White House and Advisory Committee. “We have stressed specialists say, spend too much time on for two decades that there has been a electronic media, an average of 56 hours decline in outdoor activity by America’s per week. kids. We noted declines in kids’ bike sales and overall park visits, a surge So the administration has launched in obesity among youth and dramatic a multi-headed program to help parents, increases in hours spent by kids staring and children without parents, to visit at screens.” the outdoors. One piece of the proposal would pay for transportation grants to He added, “We helped build bring youths to public lands sites. partnerships to lure kids outdoors – While NPS will manage the program other offering ideas to parents and schools Page 8 February 27, 2015 and youth organizations and park can even make it to the national park, agencies. We have united groups around perhaps it’s time to reevaluate whether action through Great Outdoors Month™, the federal government is making land including efforts by governors of both management decisions wisely.” political parties. The President’s proposal will supplement and energize Dillon noted, “In fact, these programs like these.” national parks don’t even have visitor centers or fixed entrances.” (It should be noted that Murkowski also chairs NPS visitation sets record in the Senate subcommittee on Interior 2014; are more expected? appropriations that puts up the money for visitor centers.) As the Park Service prepares for its Centennial in 2016, recreation The three unvisited parks in visits to park units hit an all-time northwest Alaska are Cape Krusenstern high in 2014. And NPS Director Jon National Monument, Kobuk Valley National Jarvis wants that trend to continue. Park and the Noatak National Preserve. Alaska media said that NPS is certain “As we look ahead to our the parks had visitors; they just didn’t Centennial in 2016, I am looking forward get counted. to announcing a new record-breaking number of visitors coming to experience The national statistical national parks next year and beyond,” he comparison to 2013 is a little said. misleading because that was an unusual year: Hurricane Sandy shut down several By the numbers, the National Park popular East Coast sites such as the System hosted 292,800,082 visitors in Statue of Liberty and Congress shut down 2014 compared to 273,630,895 in 2013, the government altogether for several or an increase of 19,169,187. That’s days in October. more than a seven percent increase. The previous record was 287.1 million The October numbers are visitors in 1999. instructive. From October 1 to October 16 of 2013 Congress halted The statistics may be misleading. appropriations for the national parks, For instance Park Service concessioners causing visitation that month to say much of the increase in 2014 came dwindle to 15,752,295 nationwide. By from foreign visitors. That suggests comparison in October 2014 visitation that domestic visitation might well have was 23,221,515, a whopping 47.4 percent decreased in 2014. increase.

However, NPS says it doesn’t Five states did step up in October categorize visitors by nationality. 2013 and pay NPS to keep national park “We track visitor numbers, but not units open, with NPS personnel operating where those visitors live,” said an NPS the parks. However, the transition took spokesman. time and National Park System units in Arizona, Colorado, New York, South Alaska problem. In a separate Dakota and Utah were closed for varying complaint, the office of Senate Energy periods, despite the state assistance. Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said that three national The Park Service and concessioners parks in northwestern Alaska received no estimated that the 2013 government – that’s goose egg – visitors in 2014. shutdown set the parks back at least $7 million and the concessioners some $50 Said Murkowski spokesman Robert million. That’s fees the Park Service Dillon, “America’s national parks should would have collected and revenues the be visited and should be preserved concessioners would have received. so that generations of Americans can experience these national treasures. While Hurricane Sandy hit the East When you reach a point where no one Coast back in October 2012, highly- February 27, 2015 Page 9 visited sites such as the Statue of week that Highway Trust Fund allocations Liberty were still closed for much of decreased by 3.5 percent in a five-year 2013. Thus NPS statistics show an period ending in 2013. At the same time increase in visitation to the statue AP said as many as one-third of state of 2,315,271 from 1,883,544 in 2013 to legislatures will be searching for added 4,198,815 in 2014. money this year, some through taxes. And one-quarter of the states increased Still NPS said the total 2014 fees last year. visitation of almost 293 million was an all-time record, well above the previous The focus of the states’ record of 287.1 in 1999. concern is the inability of Congress to find money for a long-term surface National visitation to the parks transportation bill, given a decline in has long been a sensitive subject with gasoline taxes paid by drivers. gateway communities, concessioners and others pushing the Park Service to The existing law, Moving Ahead aggressively promote visitation. for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), is scheduled to expire in At the same time some NPS two months at the end of May. No officials, environmentalists and others legislation is on the table yet to have cautioned the service against extend or revise it. inviting in more visitors than the system can tolerate without damaging the But at a Senate Environment and resource. Public Works (PEW) Committee hearing February 25 chairman James Inhofe The NPS statistics are available (R-Okla.) reiterated his position at https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/. that moving a highway bill is his top priority this year. Here are the top 10 most visited places in the National Park System: He added, “My staff has been working with Sen. Boxer’s staff on Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a long-term bill that will give our 15,004,420; partners the certainty they need to plan Blue Ridge Parkway, 13,941,749; and construct important transportation Great Smoky Mountains National Park, projects.” 10,099,276; George Washington Memorial Parkway, We hear that one game plan now 7,472,150; circulating on the Hill would (1) Lincoln Memorial, 7,139,072; approve a three or four-year patch to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, keep MAP-21 or its successor going with 6,942,150; a combination of existing gasoline taxes Gateway National Recreation Area, and tax repatriation reforms. At the 6,021,713; same time Congress would (2) establish Natchez Trace Parkway, 5,846,474; a blue ribbon commission to recommend Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National sources of money in the out-years. Historical Park, 5,066,219; and Grand Canyon National Park, 4,756,771. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Democrat Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Rand States impatient with Hill on Paul (R-Ky.) said a month ago they surface transportation dough would introduce legislation shortly to capture the foreign tax revenues, called With federal highway money repatriation. The Obama administration shrinking state legislatures across the is already on board. country are looking to increase state funding to make up the difference, At the Senate EPW hearing February Associated Press. according to the 25 Boxer said, “We must move quickly to pass a bipartisan transportation bill, The news organization said this because without action we are facing a Page 10 February 27, 2015 transportation funding shutdown in just $27 million from a fiscal 2015 allocation a few short months.” of $820 million. The program pays for a group of outdoor initiatives. Whichever way Congress goes outdoor programs financed by MAP-21 are Of the program, which receives two going to be at risk from critics who percent of highway account money from charge that spending on recreational the Highway Trust Fund, the Department trails at a time when road and bridge of Transportation budget said, “The money has been depleted is not wise. program creates safe, accessible, attractive, and environmentally At a surface transportation sensitive communities where people want hearing in the House February 11 Rep. to live, work, and engage in recreation. Brian Babin (R-Texas) set the template This program provides resources to when he criticized the use of surface expand transportation choices and transportation money for trails. enhance the transportation experience.”

“We have a percentage of the The Transportation budget also Highway Trust Fund that is being spent recommended a $277 million increase in on beautification, bike trails and spending on federal agency and Indian nonessential things,” said Babin at a roads, from $1 billion in fiscal 2015 to hearing of the House Transportation $1.277 billion in fiscal 2016. Much of Committee. “We have bridges that that increase would be used for large, are literally falling apart. It is expensive projects. distressing to the folks (in his district) when we see a large big Congress extended MAP-21 Aug. 8, project going on a ten-mile bike trails, 2014, through May 31 of this year with a millions of dollars being spent.” temporary law (PL 113-159). That puts Congress and the President under the gun Babin doesn’t necessarily to come up with a multi-year replacement represent mainstream Republican for MAP-21 over the next four months. thinking. For instance he withheld his vote for Speaker of the House And the key to a renewal of the John Boehner (R-Ohio) last month when law – and a key to the extension of Republican chose a speaker for this recreation programs – is as always Congress. Still, he voiced a “concern finding a source of money to supplement about spending highway money for dwindling gasoline tax revenues. trails and enhancements that has long circulated in rural areas.” The administration would use new tax money to supplement the existing Secretary of Transportation 18.5 cents per gallon gasoline tax that Anthony Foxx stood up for bike and gins up about $34 billion per year for pedestrian trails at the hearing. surface transportation. The tax money “I happen to thing these are good would come from corporations that have investments, but I understand the transferred many billions of dollars to point,” he told Babin. “I think bike foreign countries. If they agreed to and pedestrian investments – the small bring their money home, they would face amount the federal government is putting reduced taxes. in those things – is actually worth it.” Other proposals for raising the In a fiscal year 2016 budget billions needed that have emerged in request the Obama administration recent months include an increase in the recommended February 2 that Congress gasoline tax rom Rep. Earl Blumenauer continue to finance the Department of (D-Ore.) Transportation program that feeds park and recreation activities. For the last 20 years the gas tax has remained at 18.5 cents per gallon, The administration asked not even keeping up with inflation. On Congress to allocate $847 million to a February 3 Blumenauer again introduced Transportation Alternatives Program, up a bill (HR 680) that would increase the February 27, 2015 Page 11 gasoline tax by 15 cents per gallon over lands like national parks and forests.’ the next three years. The cost of living or economic opportunities are lower-rated drivers Blumenauer said last month that he of location choice than these lifestyle has identified eight senators from both factors,” says the report. parties who in recent days have said they were at least open to an increase By comparison the poll says that in the gasoline tax and in some cases 44 percent of western voters say the endorsed it. cost of living is a significant factor in living where they do and 41 percent The proposals are crucial to cite quality of public schools. Only 27 outdoor programs because without percent say the amount of taxes was a significant new sources of money significant reason. Congressional leaders will be tempted to limit surface transportation spending Given that attachment to the to core highway construction. And they public lands, it is therefore not might terminate recreation programs surprising that 82 percent of western such as transportation enhancements and voters say protection of natural areas recreational trails. is very important, but only 40 percent say making sure energy resources on public lands are available is very Poll says public lands important. And just 35 percent back important to westerners making the land available for livestock grazing. A new survey of voters in the West demonstrates a strong attachment to the The poll was conducted by Lori public lands there. Weigel of Public Opinion Strategies and Dave Metz of Fairbank, Maslin, The poll, conducted for a Colorado Maullin, Metz & Associates. This is the College State of the Rockies report, fifth consecutive year the College has found that 95 percent of western voters published the results of the survey. It visited public lands in the last is available at: year. “Voters in the West ought to https://www.coloradocollege. have frequent visitor cards, they have edu/stateoftherockies/ been to public lands managed by U.S. conservationinthewest/. agencies so many times,” says the report published in early February. The poll surfaces just as several western state legislatures are demanding “In every single state, the the transfer of millions of acres of proportion of non-visitors is in public lands to their states. As we the single digits. Instead, we see have often documented movements are incredible use of these public lands, afoot in several states to obtain such as national parks, national federal lands. They include Arizona, forests, national monuments, national Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New wildlife refuges or BLM lands.” Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.

The poll also found that voters Most notably, Utah passed a law give proximity to public lands more of in 2012 (H.B. 148) that lays claims a reason for choosing where they live to 31 million acres of federal land than any other factor, far more often in that state. But the sportsmen say than the cost of living, tax rates or that states often employ policies for schools. managing lands that are fundamentally different than the multiple use mandate “Majorities say ‘clean air, clean governing federal lands. water and environment’ (57%) and the ‘healthy, outdoor lifestyle’ (56%) are Said Jeremy Garncarz, senior significant factors in living where they director of designations at The do, and 49% say the same of ‘ability to Wilderness Society, “Americans are very live near, recreate on and enjoy public clear - public lands play an important Page 12 February 27, 2015 role in their lives. It is up to land heritage we share with America’s Congress and the President to respond farmers, ranchers and foresters – and to the will of the American people and the land heritage we wish to pass on to ensure that the public lands they rely our children – must be conserved.” on are properly protected.” The alliance said that when the provision was in effect from 2006 Campaign to extend easement through December 2013, farmers and tax breaks moves to Senate other landowners protected as many as 1 million acres per year. Land trust advocates are asking the Senate to act quickly on a House- Despite the administration veto passed tax package that includes a threat 39 House Democrats were among the provision to make permanent a deduction 279 members voting for HR 664. The 279 for conservation easements. votes amount to 67 percent support, or enough to override a threatened White The Land Trust Alliance called House veto. on its members to contact senators to support the conservation easement Rep. Thompson, although the lead portion of the package, if not the whole Democratic sponsor of the easements package. bill, opposed the package of tax breaks because they would not be offset by The House approved the measure additional revenues. (HR 644) February 12 by an overwhelming 279-to-137 vote, but the Obama First, Thompson explained his administration promised a veto. The support for easements. “I have been the administration actually likes most Democratic lead in every Congress to of the provisions in the package but make conservation easements permanent,” objects to a lack of offsets. he said. “Conservation easements are good public policy. They protect open Said the Office of Management and space. They protect important ag Budget in a Statement of Administration lands. They protect important wildlife Policy, “(T)he Administration strongly habitat. They are essential for clean opposes House passage of H.R. 644, air and clean water. They are essential which would permanently extend three for locally sourced good, healthy current provisions that offer enhanced food. They are important to hunters, to tax breaks for certain donations and fishermen, to conservationists.” add another similar provision without offsetting the cost.” Then he explained his opposition to the package at hand after his The estimate of the amount of lost proposed amendment to offset the tax revenues that would not be offset tax breaks was not taken up. His ranges up to $93 billion. amendment would have dunned scofflaws for nonpayment of taxes. “Unfortunately,” But for now the Land Trust he said, “my friends on the Republican Alliance is backing HR 664, which side of the House rejected that includes a former stand-alone easements amendment. So instead, we are here bill (HR 641) from Reps. Mike Kelly (R- with this bill, not paid for. Instead, Pa.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) today, we are going to vote on $93 billion worth of unpaid-for tax bills Said Rand Wentworth, the that will add $93 billion to our Alliance’s president, “Federal lawmakers deficit.” made clear today they share our firm belief that land conservation is good The Land Trust Alliance says the for America and Americans. As we work easement provision would help landowners with our Senate allies to advance this by: bipartisan bill, we will continue to emphasize the value of keeping “* Raising the maximum deduction a donor working lands in working hands. The can take for donating a conservation February 27, 2015 Page 13 easement from 30% of their adjusted request for excessive spending. By gross income (AGI) in any year to 50%; implication, the Centennial would cause “* Allowing qualified farmers and new spending. Nonetheless, at a Senate ranchers to deduct up to 100% of their Energy Committee hearing February 24 AGI; and Portman praised portions of the Obama “* Increasing the number of years over administration’s proposed Centennial which a donor can take deductions from 6 program. (See related article page to 16 years.” 3.) In the administration’s fiscal year 2016 budget request it asked for a large The alliance offered this $826 million increase in Park Service example: “Without the enhanced easement spending to prepare for the Centennial. incentive, an agricultural landowner Murkowski’s assistant said there was no earning $50,000 a year who donated a ground for “speculation” that his boss conservation easement worth $1 million advised Portman she was not enamored could take a total of no more than with a Centennial bill. However, $90,000 in tax deductions! Under the Murkowski, who also chairs the Senate enhanced incentive, that landowner subcommittee on Interior Appropriations, can take as much as $800,000 in tax is at war with the Obama administration deductions – still less than the over energy policy in Alaska and full value of their donation, but a may be reluctant to promote any new significant increase.” landmark programs, such as spending on the Centennial. Portman will chair In December in a last-second the Senate subcommittee on Fiscal legislative maneuver (PL 113-295 of Responsibility, and Economic Growth of Dec. 19, 2014) Congress extended the old the Senate Finance Committee and the easements tax credit through 2014. subcommittee on Investigations of the Homeland Security Committee.

Notes Tahoe goes to work on FS oversnow Even before the ink was dry Senate parks subcommittee EIS. requiring it, the Tahoe National Forest situation. It had been widely assumed that Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a long- said February 23 it will write an EIS time friend of the national parks, was on oversnow use by powered vehicles. in line to chair the Senate subcommittee Based on the EIS the forest said it on National Parks in this Congress. will institute a new policy on managing Instead the post went to rookie Sen. oversnow vehicles. The Forest Service Bill Cassidy (R-La.) Staff members for January 28 completed a national policy both Portman and Senate Energy Committee that directs field offices to write Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) local guidance for the use of oversnow describe the decision as a simple matter vehicles. That policy doesn’t go into of seniority. Portman’s office said he effect until February 27, but the Tahoe had exceeded the number of subcommittee forest is getting ahead of the game. chairs Senate rules allow. A spokesman The new policy may not affect lands for Murkowski said much the same thing. already open to oversnow vehicles. “The subcommittee assignments are done Under existing management practices on purely by seniority. Members list the 829,510-acre forest 236 miles are their top three choices and they are designated open to oversnow use; the assigned by seniority based on their proposed action would open the same selection preferences,” said spokesman mileage. Similarly 188 miles now are Robert Dillon. Portman was expected available for grooming and the forest to - and still may yet - take the would continue to groom 188 miles. In Senate lead in writing legislation that 2005 the Forest Service published a would authorize matching contributions national regulation that led to the for the National Park System on its designation of roads, trails and other Centennial in 2016. However, as we areas that were either available to reported in the last issue of FPR “off-road vehicles (ORVs)” or off Portman has also taken a leading role limits to ORVs. However, that rule in the Senate in criticizing the Obama did not apply to snowmobiles and other administration’s fiscal year 2016 budget oversnow vehicles. Winter Wildlands Page 14 February 27, 2015

Alliance, which represents backcountry new regulations to guide snowmobile winter recreationists, sued. On March and snowcoach use. The regulations, 29, 2013, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald published Oct. 24, 2013, authorize up to E. Bush in the District of Idaho ruled 50 groups of guided snowmobiles daily to for the recreationists that the Forest enter the park with up to seven vehicles Service could not exclude oversnow in a group and up to 60 snowcoaches. vehicles from the rule. Now the Forest That’s a total of 110 “transportation Service has complied. The Forest events.” Last winter (2013-2014) the Service says that it manages more than park allowed up to 318 snowmobiles per 200,000 miles of roads and 47,000 miles day and up to 78 snowcoaches per day. of trails that are open to motorized vehicles. Huge Rockies wilderness bill back. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) ‘Open Fields’ grants available. reintroduced legislation (HR 996) The Department of Agriculture said February 13 that would designate more February 23 that $20 million in grant than 20 million acres of wilderness money is available to state and Indian across the northern Rocky Mountains. tribes that adopt initiatives to make Maloney and other House and Senate private lands open to hunting, fishing members have introduced the Northern or other wildlife-related recreation. Rockies Environmental Protection Act The program was continued in a 2014 (NREPA) several times since 1992. The Farm Bill (PL 113-79 of Feb. 7, 2014). bill would designate wilderness in States and tribes use the money to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon and encourage owners of private farms, Washington state national forests ranches or forest to voluntarily open and Bureau of Land Management land. their land to sportsmen. In 2014 the Maloney said without the legislation Natural Resources Conservation Service the ecosystem would be in danger. “The issued 10 grants totaling $20 million, Northern Rockies are rich in native with the Pennsylvania Game Commission plants and animals that are worthy the big winner with a grant of $6 of our country’s highest protective million. Sportsmen naturally like status for wildlands,” she said. “This the program. “The investments made in land should be designated as permanent fostering private-lands access will wilderness. NREPA will protect natural benefit hunters and anglers across the biological corridors and connect whole country well into the future,” said ecosystems.” Thirty-one House members the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation cosponsored the bill, most of them Partnership’s Agriculture and Private Democrats from the East, except for Rep. Lands Director Ariel Wiegard. The Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) deadline for applications for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Three GOP senators have fire Incentives grants is April 24 at http:// plan. Three western Republican www.grants.gov/view-opportunity. senators introduced legislation (S 508) html?oppId=274734. February 12 to authorize the transfer of emergency fire-fighting costs out of Yellowstone snowmobiles lack appropriations bills and into disaster snow. Snowmobilers wishing for access funding. Their proposal differs from a to Yellowstone National Park continue popular bill already on the table (HR to be plagued by a lack of snow. The 167, S 235) by linking the spending park has had to bar snowmobiles from to timber harvests. That is, the one of its most popular routes from all-Republican bill would direct the Western Yellowstone to Old Faithful. Forest Service to “mechanically treat” Since February 17 the park has limited 7.5 million acres of forest to reduce access to commercial snowcoaches with the chances of fire. The treatment rubber tracks or commercial wheeled would include timber sales. The bill vehicles. But the park will not allow would limit environmental reviews to private wheeled vehicles to use the environmental assessments with no more road. The park said other interior than two alternatives – the proposed park routes have satisfactory amounts action and one other. Sens. John McCain of snow. The park this winter is using (R-Ariz.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and February 27, 2015 Page 15

Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced the 1146 19th Street, NW, Suite 700, bill. The other legislation, backed by Washington, DC 20036. (202) 371-1808. the Obama administration, was introduced http://www.wildlifemanagementinstitute. under the lead of Rep. Mike Simpson org. (R-Idaho) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) with bipartisan support. 17-21. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Bird backers back new wind regs. National Convention & Expo in Seattle, The American Bird Conservancy February Wash. Contact: AAHPERD, 1900 Association 13 petitioned the Interior Department Drive, Reston, VA 20191(703) 476-3400. to write new wind energy regulations http://www.aahperd.org. that would protect migratory birds. The conservancy projects that when a 21-25. National Association of Counties mature wind energy industry is in place Legislative Conference in Washington, it would kill 1.4 million-to-2 million D.C. Contact: National Association of birds each year. The petition would, Counties, 440 First St., N.W., 8th among other things, have the Fish and Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001. (202) wildlife Service (FWS) establish a new 393-6226. FAX (202) 393-2630. http:// permitting process. FWS may already be www.naco.org. moving in that direction. It filed a notice of intent to take action on the APRIL issue with the Office of Management and 12-16. National Outdoor Recreation Budget a fortnight ago, according to Conference in Annapolis, Md. Contact: the conservancy. FWS posted voluntary The guidelines for the industry in 2003 and, Society of Outdoor Recreation in response to a previous conservancy Professionals, P.O. Box 221, petition, said it first wanted to see Marienville, PA 16239. (814) 927-8212. how those guidelines worked. The 115- http://www.recpro.org page petition is available here: http:// www.abcbirds.org/PDFs/Wind_petition_ 15-19. Society for American Archaeology letter&petition.pdf. Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. Contact: Society for American Backcountry group hires two. Archaeology, 900 2nd St., N.E., Suite The Backcountry Hunters & Anglers 12, Washington, D.C. 20002-3557. (202) sportsmen’s group is beefing up its 789-8200. http://www.saa.org. staff as the association plays an increasingly large role in outdoor 27-29. National Hydropower Association policy. Backcountry Executive Director Annual Meeting in Washington, Land Tawney said the group has hired D.C. Contact: National Hydropower John Gale, a nine-year veteran with Association, 25 Massachusetts Ave., the National Wildlife Federation, as N.W., Suite 450, Washington, D.C. 20001. conservation director. And it has hired (202) 682-1700. http://www.hydro.org. Katie McKalip, long-time spokeswoman for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation MAY Partnership, as communications director. 3-6. National Ski Areas Association Backcountry Hunters and Anglers was National Convention and Trade Show in formed ten years ago to serve as a San Francisco, Calif. Contact: National voice for the nation’s wild public Ski Areas Association, 133 South Van lands. The group is headquartered in Gordon St., Suite 300, Lakewood, CO Missoula, Mont., and has 17 state-based 90228. (303) 987-1111. http://www.nsaa. chapters. The web address is www. org. backcountryhunters.org. 3-6. National Sporting Goods Association Management Conference in Austin, Conference calendar Texas. Contact: National Sporting Goods MARCH Association, 1601 Feehanville Drive, Suite 300, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056-6035. 8-13. North American Wildlife & Natural (847) 296-6742. http://www.nsga.org. Resources Conference in Omaha, Neb. Contact: Wildlife Management Institute,