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106th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 106-646
======================================================================
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL,
2001
_______
June 1, 2000.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Regula, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
DISSENTING VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 4578]
The Committee on Appropriations submits the following
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making
appropriations for the Department of the Interior and Related
Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001. The
bill provides regular annual appropriations for the Department
of the Interior (except the Bureau of Reclamation) and for
other related agencies, including the Forest Service, the
Department of Energy, the Indian Health Service, the
Smithsonian Institution, and the National Foundation on the
Arts and the Humanities.
CONTENTS
_______________________________________________________________________
Page number
Bill Report
Department of the Interior:
Bureau of Land Management.......................... 2
7
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service..................... 10
18
National Park Service.............................. 15
28
U.S. Geological Survey............................. 20
44
Minerals Management Service........................ 22
48
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement.................................... 24
50
Bureau of Indian Affairs........................... 27
54
Departmental Offices............................... 35
63
General Provisions................................. 42
71
Related Agencies:
Forest Service, USDA............................... 52
72
Department of Energy............................... 66
96
Clean Coal Technology.............................. 66
96
Energy Conservation................................ 67
97
Fossil Energy Research and Development............. 67
97
Alternative Fuels Production....................... 68
104
Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves............. 68
105
Economic Regulation................................ 69
107
Strategic Petroleum Reserve........................ 69
107
Energy Information Administration.................. 69
108
Indian Health Service, DHHS................................ 71
108
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation................ 78
114
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and
Arts Development.......................................
115
Smithsonian Institution.................................... 79
115
National Gallery of Art.................................... 82
118
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts............. 84
121
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars........... 84
121
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities......... 85
122
Institute of Museum and Library Services................... 86
127
Commission of Fine Arts.................................... 87
129
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.................. 87
130
National Capital Planning Commission....................... 88
130
United States Holocaust Memorial Council................... 88
130
Presidio Trust............................................. 88
131
Title III--General Provisions.............................. 89
131
Comparison With Budget Resolution
Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as
amended, requires that the report accompanying a bill providing
new budget authority contain a Statement detailing how the
authority compares with the reports submitted under section 302
of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent
resolution on the budget for the fiscal year. This information
follows:
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec. 302(b)* This bill--*
---------------------------------------------------------------
Discretionary Mandatory Discretionary Mandatory
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority................................ $14,742 59 $14,742 58
Outlays......................................... 15,262 70 15,322 70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Includes House-passed supplemental appropriations.
Note.--The outlays in this bill are technically in excess of the subcommittee section 302(b) suballocation.
However, pursuant to section 314 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended, increases to the
Committee's section 302(a) allocation are authorized for funding designated as emergency requirements. After
the bill is reported to the House, the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget will provide an increased
section 302(a) allocation consistent with the funding provided in the bill. That new allocation wil eliminate
the technical difference prior to floor consideration.
Summary of the Bill
The Committee has conducted extensive hearings on the
programs and projects provided for in the Interior and Related
Agencies Appropriations bill for 2001. The hearings are
contained in 11 published volumes totaling nearly 11,000 pages.
During the course of the hearings, testimony was taken at
23 hearings on 21 days from more than 500 witnesses, not only
from agencies which come under the jurisdiction of the Interior
Subcommittee, but also from Members of Congress, State and
local government officials, and private citizens.
The bill that is recommended for fiscal year 2001 has been
developed after careful consideration of all the facts and
details available to the Committee.
BUDGET AUTHORITY RECOMMENDED IN BILL BY TITLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee bill
Activity Budget estimates, Committee bill, Compared with
fiscal year 2001 fiscal year 2001 budget estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I, Department of the Interior: New Budget $8,405,904,000 $7,263,152,000 -$1,142,752,000
(obligational) authority..............................
Title II, related agencies: New Budget (obligational) 7,913,868,000 7,346,268,000 -567,600,000
authority.............................................
--------------------------------------------------------
Grand total, New Budget (obligational) authority. 16,319,772,000 14,609,420,000 -1,710,352,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Appropriations for the Department of the Interior and Related
Agencies
In addition to the amounts in the accompanying bill, which
are reflected in the table above, permanent legislation
authorizes the continuation of certain government activities
without consideration by the Congress during the annual
appropriations process.
Details of these activities are listed in tables at the end
of this report. In fiscal year 2000, these activities are
estimated to total 2,861,378,000. The estimate for fiscal year
2001 is $2,777,202,000.
The following table reflects the total budget
(obligational) authority contained both in this bill and in
permanent appropriations for fiscal years 2000 and 2001.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES TOTAL BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEARS 2000-2001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item Fiscal year 2000 Fiscal year 2001 Change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interior and related agencies appropriations bill...... $14,911,650,000 $14,609,420,000 -$302,230,000
Permanent appropriations, Federal funds................ 2,215,134,000 2,158,004,000 -57,130,000
Permanent appropriations, trust funds.................. 646,244,000 619,198,000 -27,046,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Total budget authority........................... 17,773,028,000 17,386,622,000 -386,406,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue Generated by Agencies in Bill
The following tabulation indicates total new obligational
authority to date for fiscal years 1999 and 2000, and the
amount recommended in the bill for fiscal year 2001. It
compares receipts generated by activities in this bill on an
actual basis for fiscal year 1999 and on an estimated basis for
fiscal years 2000 and 2001. The programs in this bill are
estimated to generate $8.5 billion in revenues for the Federal
Government in fiscal year 2001. Therefore, the expenditures in
this bill will contribute to economic stability rather than
inflation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year--
Item --------------------------------------------------------
1999 2000 2001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New obligational authority............................. $14,297,803,0000 $14,911,650,000 $14,609,420,000
Receipts:
Department of the Interior......................... 6,138,188,000 6,509,697,000 7,898,558,000
Forest Service..................................... 588,094,000 648,608,000 626,382,000
Naval Petroleum Reserves........................... 5,236,000 4,432,000 3,976,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Total receipts................................... 6,731,518,000 7,162,737,000 8,528,908,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application of General Reductions
The level at which sequestration reductions shall be taken
pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Act of 1985, if such reductions are required in fiscal year
2001, is defined by the Committee as follows:
As provided for by section 256(l)(2) of Public Law 99-177,
as amended, and for the purpose of a Presidential Order issued
pursuant to section 254 of said Act, the term ``program,
project, and activity'' for items under the jurisdiction of the
Appropriations Subcommittees on the Department of the Interior
and Related Agencies of the House of Representatives and the
Senate is defined as (1) any item specifically identified in
tables or written material set forth in the Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, or accompanying committee
reports or the conference report and accompanying joint
explanatory Statement of the managers of the committee of
conference; (2) any Government-owned or Government-operated
facility; and (3) management units, such as National parks,
National forests, fish hatcheries, wildlife refuges, research
units, regional, State and other administrative units and the
like, for which funds are provided in fiscal year 2001.
The Committee emphasizes that any item for which a specific
dollar amount is mentioned in any accompanying report,
including all increases over the budget estimate approved by
the Committee, shall be subject to a percentage reduction no
greater or less than the percentage reduction applied to all
domestic discretionary accounts.
Land and Water Conservation Fund
Following is a comparison of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund by agency. More specific information can be
found in each agency's land acquisition account.
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Enacted fiscal fiscal year Recommended
year 2000 2001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assistance to States:
Matching grants.......................................... $20,000 $145,000 $20,000
Administrative expenses.................................. 1,000 5,000 1,000
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, assistance to States......................... 21,000 150,000 21,000
Federal programs:
Bureau of Land Management................................ 15,500 60,900 19,000
Fish and Wildlife Service................................ 50,513 111,632 30,000
National Park Service.................................... 99,700 147,468 44,000
Forest Service........................................... 79,835 130,265 50,000
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Federal programs............................. 245,548 350,265 143,000
==================================================
Total LWCF............................................. 265,548 500,265 164,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee has included $164,000,000 to cover the land
acquisition needs of the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the Forest
Service.
Indian Programs
Spending for Indian services by the Federal Government in
total is included in the following table:
FEDERAL FUNDING OF INDIAN PROGRAMS
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Budget authority Fiscal year Fiscal year 2001, budget
1999 actual 2000, enacted estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Agriculture....................................... $196,905 $197,512 $229,105
Department of Commerce.......................................... 6,651 5,796 54,146
Department of Defense........................................... 16,000 16,000 16,000
Department of Justice........................................... 181,928 194,686 278,563
Department of Education......................................... 1,530,000 1,576,932 1,702,665
Department of HHS............................................... 2,543,818 2,744,400 3,050,070
Department of HUD............................................... 693,000 693,000 725,000
Department of Veterans Affairs.................................. 515 520 532
Department of the Interior...................................... 2,013,981 2,195,343 2,549,274
Department of Labor............................................. 88,655 68,815 80,337
Department of Transportation.................................... 283,902 250,089 375,089
Environmental Protection Agency................................. 158,884 170,109 187,859
Small Business Administration................................... 0 0 5,750
Smithsonian Institution......................................... 25,000 32,000 41,000
Army Corps of Engineers......................................... 21,940 19,460 20,343
Department of Treasury.......................................... 0 0 5,000
Other Independent Agencies...................................... 44,937 36,741 59,043
-----------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... 7,806,116 8,201,403 9,379,776
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Constitutional Authority
Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives
states that:
Each report of a committee on a bill or joint resolution of
a public character, shall include a statement citing the
specific powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to
enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution.
The Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to
report this legislation from Clause 7 of Section 9 of Article I
of the Constitution of the United States of America which
states: ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in
consequence of Appropriations made by law. . . .''
Appropriations contained in this Act are made pursuant to
this specific power granted by the Constitution.
Allocating Congressional Funding Priorities
The Committee is concerned that the agencies funded by this
Act are not following a standard methodology for allocating
appropriated funds to the field where Congressional funding
priorities are concerned. When Congressional instructions are
provided, the Committee expects these instructions to be
closely monitored and followed. In the future, the Committee
directs that earmarks for Congressional funding priorities be
first allocated to the receiving units, and then all remaining
funds should be allocated to the field based on established
procedures. Field units or programs should not have their
allocations reduced because of earmarks for Congressional
priorities without direction from or advance approval of the
Committee.
Recreation on the Public Lands
Public participation in recreation programs funded in this
bill is an important and growing aspect of the land management
agencies under the jurisdiction of this Committee. These
agencies are responsible for the National Parks managed by the
National Park Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System
managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Nation's public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management,
and our National Forests and Grasslands managed by the Forest
Service. It is a little known fact that recreation in the
National Forests exceeds that of the National Parks. The Forest
Service manages 192 million acres, has over 850 million
visitors a year, and attracts 93 thousand volunteers. By
contrast the National Park Service manages 78 million acres,
has about 284 million visitors, and attracts 115 thousand
volunteers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 93
million acres, has 35 million visitors annually and attracts 29
thousand volunteers. The Bureau of Land Management has the
largest land base of the land management agencies with 264
million acres. BLM has about 65 million visitors annually and
attracts 17 thousand volunteers. The Committee continues to
place a high priority on maintaining these recreation programs,
ensuring that the American public has safe and uplifting
experiences on the Nation's public lands. The Committee is
grateful to all the volunteers who are helping to make the
public lands better places for the visiting public and for
generations to come.
Invasive Species Control and the Use of Native Plants
In several hearings this year, the land management agencies
testified regarding the widespread and very serious problem of
invasive exotic species. Many individuals and non-governmental
organizations echoed those concerns in public witness
testimony. In addition, numerous members of Congress voiced
their support for increased efforts to control invasive
species. Although a funding allocation lower than the fiscal
year 2000 enacted level precludes the Committee from
recommending expensive new initiatives, the Committee does
recognize that controlling invasive exotics is important for
natural resources management throughout the country.
The Committee is pleased with the efforts of the Bureau of
Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the
Forest Service to address the issues of invasive non-native
plants in their strategic plans and to eradicate or control
these species. The Committee urges the land managing bureaus to
be pro-active in providing their field managers and the public
with information on acceptable native alternatives to non-
native plant material, to increase public awareness of these
issues, and to emphasize partnerships in the eradication of
invasive non-native plants. Successful efforts to manage lands
to protect native fauna should likewise be continued and
expanded where possible. The Committee also urges all other
entities that receive funding for facilities under this bill to
increase their use of native plants in landscaping.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for the
multiple use management, protection, and development of a full
range of natural resources, including minerals, timber,
rangeland, fish and wildlife habitat, and wilderness on about
264 million acres of the Nation's public lands and for
management of 300 million additional acres of Federally-owned
subsurface mineral rights. The Bureau is the second largest
supplier of public outdoor recreation in the Western United
States, with an estimated 62 million visits totaling 788
million visitor hours of recreation use on the public lands
under the Bureau's management.
Under the multiple-use and ecosystem management concept the
Bureau administers the grazing of approximately 4.3 million
head of livestock on some 164 million acres of public land
ranges, and manages over 47,000 wild horses and burros, some
264 million acres of wildlife habitat, and over 150,000 miles
of fisheries habitat. Grazing receipts are estimated to be
about $14.2 million in fiscal year 2001, compared to an
estimated $14.2 million in fiscal year 2000 and actual receipts
of $14 million in fiscal year 1999. The Bureau also administers
about 4 million acres of commercial forest lands through the
``Management of lands and resources'' and ``Oregon and
California grant lands'' appropriations. Timber receipts
(including salvage) are estimated to be $83.9 million in fiscal
year 2001 compared to estimated receipts of $58.5 million in
fiscal year 2000 and actual receipts of $65.5 million in fiscal
year 1999. The Bureau has an active program of soil and
watershed management on 175 million acres in the lower 48
States and 92 million acres in Alaska. Practices such as
revegetation, protective fencing, and water developments are
designed to conserve, enhance, and develop public land, soil,
and watershed resources. The Bureau is also responsible for
fire protection on the public lands and on all Department of
the Interior managed lands in Alaska, and for the suppression
of wildfires on the public lands in Alaska and the western
States.
management of lands and resources
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $644,134,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 715,191,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 674,571,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +30,437,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -40,620,000
The Committee recommends $674,571,000 for management of
lands and resources, an increase of $30,437,000 from the fiscal
year 2000 enacted level and a decrease of $40,620,000 from the
budget request.
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
Land resources.--The Committee recommends $173,622,000 for
land resources a decrease of $16,830,000 from the budget
request and an increase of $11,882,000 above the 2000 enacted
level, including increases above the 2000 level of $4,632,000
for fixed costs, $9,000,000 for wild horse and burro
management, and $1,000,000 for the San Pedro Partnership
initiative in Cochise County, Arizona, and decreases of
$500,000 from the Montana State University weed program,
$750,000 from the Idaho weed program, $500,000 from the Pacific
Northwest lab, and $1,000,000 from the Colorado plateau.
Wildlife and fisheries.--The Committee recommends
$36,469,000 for wildlife and fisheries, a decrease of
$4,243,000 from the budget request and an increase of $96,000
above the 2000 enacted level, including increases above the
2000 level of $996,000 for fixed costs and a decrease of
$900,000 for Yukon river salmon.
Threatened and endangered species.--The Committee
recommends $19,352,000 for threatened and endangered species, a
decrease of $4,320,000 from the budget request and an increase
of $541,000 above the 2000 enacted level for fixed costs.
The Committee understands that the Bureau is anticipating
significant impacts to its ability to complete land health and
watershed improvements and to respond to public land use
authorization requests as a result of additional species
listings under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), particularly
in the sagebrush and prairie ecosystems managed by the Bureau.
For example, recent and potential species listings including
those of the Canada lynx, black-tailed prairie dog, sage
grouse, mountain plover, lesser prairie chicken, and swift fox,
will affect all activities in sagebrush and grassland habitats
on BLM public lands. The Bureau anticipates that these new
listings will result in the need to revise or complete
additional land use plans, complete more consultations with the
Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries
Service, result in an increased level of litigation, result in
the Bureau being less responsive to the permitting process, and
increase overall Bureau costs.
The Committee expects the Bureau to submit as part of its
fiscal year 2002 budget request the results of its ongoing
analysis and review of the impacts of ESA listings on the
ability of the Bureau to accomplish its mission while at the
same time responding to the growing demand for use
authorization requests. The Committee expects the Bureau to
provide a detailed roadmap of how it intends to address these
impacts, including the level of funds and other resources that
would be required to address these problem areas.
Recreation management.--The Committee recommends
$53,239,000 for recreation management, a decrease of $9,280,000
from the budget request and an increase of $2,086,000 above the
2000 enacted level, including increases above the 2000 level of
$1,486,000 for fixed costs and $600,000 for desert rangers.
The Committee understands that no funds were requested by
the Bureau of Land Management for wilderness reinventory
activities in its fiscal year 2001 budget request to the
Congress. The Committee further understands that the Bureau has
completed all of its wilderness reinventory activities begun in
prior years. The Committee directs that, should the Department
or the Bureau decide that additional wilderness reinventory
activities are warranted, it must first notify the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations through the normal
reprogramming process.
Energy and minerals.--The Committee recommends $78,587,000
for energy and minerals including Alaska minerals. This is a
decrease of $3,500,000 from the budget request and an increase
of $2,135,000 above the 2000 enacted level for fixed costs.
The Committee remains concerned that the Bureau is
introducing new burdensome and questionable requirements on
domestic oil and gas applications for permits to drill, and
directs the Bureau to cease requiring companies to apply paint
to ground that will be disturbed by drilling activities.
Realty and ownership management.--The Committee recommends
$76,603,000 for realty and ownership management, a decrease of
$3,392,000 from the budget request and a decrease of $1,091,000
below the 2000 enacted level, including an increase above the
2000 level of $1,309,000 for fixed costs and a decrease of
$2,400,000 from the Alaska conveyance program.
Resource protection and maintenance.--The Committee
recommends $42,860,000 for resources protection and
maintenance, an increase of $3,985,000 above the budget request
and $9,229,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including
increases above the 2000 level of $979,000 for fixed costs, and
$9,000,000 for land management planning, and a decrease of
$750,000 from the Coeur d'Alene Basin Commission.
The Committee is very concerned about the increased
litigation the Bureau now faces because they have not kept pace
in updating their land management plans. Therefore, the
Committee has provided an additional $9,000,000 for planning
activities and directs that the Bureau reallocate these funds
to the highest-priority land management plans based on the
Bureau's planning priority list.
Transportation and facilities maintenance.--The Committee
recommends $47,353,000 for transportation and facilities
maintenance, a decrease of $3,040,000 from the budget request
and an increase of $1,402,000 above the 2000 enacted level for
fixed costs.
Land and resource information systems.--The Committee
recommends $19,586,000 for land resource information systems,
the same as the budget request and an increase of $549,000
above the 2000 enacted level for fixed costs.
Mining law administration.--The Committee recommends
$33,366,000 for mining law administration. This activity is
supported by offsetting fees equal to the amount made
available.
The Committee directs that no later than January 31, 2001
the Bureau provide a report regarding underground mines on
public lands in New Mexico and what can be done to provide a
safer experience for visitors to the public lands where mines
present a safety problem.
Workforce and organizational support.--The Committee
recommends $126,900,000 for workforce and organizational
support, the same as the budget request and an increase of
$3,608,000 above the 2000 enacted level for fixed costs.
The Committee understands that dramatic population and
community growth throughout the west, and major advances in
technology, are having the effect of increasing the number of
authorizations the Bureau is issuing for uses on public lands
including rights-of-way, oil, gas, and coalbed methane
drilling. Authorizing these and other uses of the public lands
creates long-term commitments on the part of the Bureau to
conduct environmental monitoring, inspections, and compliance
reviews to ensure sustainable public land health and resource
availability. The Committee expects the Bureau to balance
appropriately the need to issue public land use authorizations
and to conduct required monitoring, inspection, and compliance
reviews within available funding.
The Committee once again commends the Bureau's efforts to
leverage its funds with non-Federal partners through its
challenge cost share (CCS) program. The Committee concurs with
BLM's current policy of not using CCS funds for purposes other
than establishing joint activities with tribal, State, and
private partners. Because each Federal dollar available for
cost sharing results in two or more dollars available for on-
the-ground activities, the Committee directs that a cap of 10
percent be placed on allowable BLM internal charges against CCS
funds. As a result, at least 90 percent of the funds
appropriated for CCS shall be available for matching partners
at the field level.
Bill language has been included under title III General
Provisions to allow the Bureau and the Forest Service to pilot
test their Service First initiative as a means of improving
customer service and efficiency.
wildland fire management
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $290,957,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 297,197,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 292,197,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +1,240,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -5,000,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $292,197,000
for wildland fire management, which is a decrease of $5,000,000
below the budget request and an increase of $1,240,000 above
the 2000 enacted level.
The appropriation includes $182,090,000 for preparedness
and fire use, the same as the budget request and an increase of
$6,240,000 above the 2000 enacted level for fixed costs. The
Committee has provided $110,107,000 for suppression and
operations, a decrease of $5,000,000 from both the budget
request and the 2000 enacted level. Within the funds provided
for wildland fire management $9,300,000 is available for
renovation or construction of fire facilities.
The Committee has included an additional $200,000,000 for
emergency wildland fire management under Title IV--Fiscal Year
2000 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations.
The Committee remains very concerned about the hazardous
fuel conditions on Federal lands and the potential impact these
conditions can have on neighboring State and private lands. The
Committee continues to support the interagency fire science and
management program, created by this Committee three years ago,
which has developed nation-wide fuel loading maps and maps
indicating areas having high risk of catastrophic fire. The
Committee directs the Forest Service and the Department of the
Interior to keep these maps up-to-date and publicly available.
The Committee also directs the Secretaries to make these maps
available to States and counties which contain areas of high
risk of catastrophic fires.
central hazardous materials fund
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $9,955,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 10,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 10,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +45,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Central Hazardous Materials Fund was established to
include funding for remedial investigations/feasibility studies
and cleanup of hazardous waste sites for which the Department
of the Interior is liable pursuant to the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and
includes sums recovered from or paid by a party as
reimbursement for remedial action or response activities.
The Committee recommends $10,000,000 for the central
hazardous materials fund, which is the same as the budget
request and an increase of $45,000 above the 2000 enacted
level.
construction
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $11,196,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 11,200,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 5,300,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -5,896,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -5,900,000
The Committee recommends $5,300,000 for construction, which
is a decrease of $5,900,000 from the budget request and
$5,896,000 below the 2000 enacted level. The Committee has
provided $5,300,000 for the construction of the Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument science center.
payments in lieu of taxes
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $134,385,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 135,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 134,385,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -615,000
Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) provides for payments to
local units of government containing certain Federally owned
lands. These payments are designed to supplement other Federal
land receipt sharing payments local governments may be
receiving. Payments received may be used by the recipients for
any governmental purpose.
The Committee recommends $134,385,000 for PILT, a decrease
of $615,000 from the budget request and the same as the 2000
enacted level.
land acquisition
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $15,500,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 60,900,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 19,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +3,500,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -41,900,000
The Committee recommends $19,000,000, an increase of
$3,500,000 above the enacted level and a decrease of
$41,900,000 below the budget request. This amount includes
$15,000,000 for line item projects, $1,000,000 for emergencies
and hardships and $3,000,000 for acquisition management.
The Committee recommends the following distribution of
funds:
Committee
Area and State recommendation
Cerbat Foothills (AZ)................................... $750,000
Gunnison Basin (CO)..................................... 2,000,000
North Platte River (WY)................................. 250,000
Organ Mtns. (NM)........................................ 2,000,000
Otay Mountain/Kuchamaa HCP (CA)......................... 1,000,000
San Pedro Ecosystem (easements only) (AZ)............... 3,000,000
Santa Rosa Mtns. NSA (CA)............................... 1,000,000
Upper Crab Creek (WA)................................... 2,000,000
Upper Missouri WSR (Lewis & Clark) (Multi).............. 3,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Subtotal.......................................... 15,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Emergency/hardship/inholding............................ 1,000,000
Acquisition management.................................. 3,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. 19,000,000
The funds provided for the San Pedro Ecosystem in Arizona
are for easements only.
oregon and california grant lands
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $98,775,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 104,267,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 100,467,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +1,692,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -3,800,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $100,467,000 for the Oregon and
California grant lands, a decrease of $3,800,000 from the
budget request and an increase of $1,692,000 above the 2000
enacted level for fixed costs. These funds are provided for
construction and acquisition, operation and maintenance, and
management activities on the revested lands in the 18 Oregon
and California land grant counties of western Oregon.
range improvements
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $10,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 10,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 10,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation of not
less than $10,000,000 to be derived from public lands receipts
and Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act lands grazing receipts.
Receipts are used for construction, purchase, and maintenance
of range improvements, such as seeding, fence construction,
weed control, water development, fish and wildlife habitat
improvement, and planning and design of these projects.
service charges, deposits, and forfeitures
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $8,800,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 7,500,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 7,500,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -1,300,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation
estimated to be $7,500,000, the budget request, for service
charges, deposits, and forfeitures. This account uses the
revenues collected under specified sections of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 and other Acts to pay for
reasonable administrative and other costs in connection with
rights-of-way applications from the private sector,
miscellaneous cost-recoverable realty cases, timber contract
expenses, repair of damaged lands, the adopt-a-horse program,
and the provision of copies of official public land documents.
miscellaneous trust funds
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $7,700,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 7,700,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 7,700,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation
estimated to be $7,700,000, the budget request, for
miscellaneous trust funds. The Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 provides for the receipt and expenditure
of moneys received as donations or gifts (section 307). Funds
in this trust fund are derived from the administrative and
survey costs paid by applicants for conveyance of omitted lands
(lands fraudulently or erroneously omitted from original
cadastral surveys), from advances for other types of surveys
requested by individuals, and from contributions made by users
of Federal rangelands. Amounts received from the sale of Alaska
town lots are also available for expenses of sale and
maintenance of townsites. Revenue from unsurveyed lands, and
surveys of omitted lands, administrative costs of conveyance,
and gifts and donations must be appropriated before it can be
used.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to
conserve, protect and enhance fish and wildlife and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of people. The Service has
responsibility for migratory birds, threatened and endangered
species, certain marine mammals, and land under Service
control.
The Service manages nearly 93 million acres across the
United States, encompassing a 521-unit National Wildlife Refuge
System, additional wildlife and wetlands areas, and 66 National
Fish Hatcheries. A network of law enforcement agents and port
inspectors enforce Federal laws for the protection of fish and
wildlife.
resource management
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $714,543,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 761,938,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 731,400,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +16,857,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -30,538,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $731,400,000 for resource
management, an increase of $16,857,000 above the fiscal year
2000 level and $30,538,000 below the budget request. The
Committee has provided full funding for fixed cost increases
and has continued to provide increases above current year
levels to address the Service's large operations and
maintenance backlogs. The changes discussed below are all
compared with the enacted budget for fiscal year 2000 as
adjusted for the 0.38% government-wide reduction. Unless
provided to the contrary herein, projects funded in fiscal year
2000 are funded at the same level for 2001. For example,
because it is not addressed to the contrary below, the
Committee recommendation includes $996,000 for the Sonoran
Desert Conservation Plan in candidate conservation, which is
the same amount the project received in fiscal year 2000, and
$1,096,000, the 2000 level for bull trout conservation in
Washington State, is continued under the Committee
recommendation for 2001, as part of the Partners for Fish and
Wildlife program in habitat conservation.
Ecological services.--The Committee recommends $197,422,000
for ecological services, an increase of $7,683,000 above the
fiscal year 2000 level.
Changes recommended for endangered species programs amount
to a net increase of $4,106,000. In candidate conservation
programs there is an increase of $195,000 for fixed costs and
decreases of $40,000 for borderlands and $399,000 for the
Alabama sturgeon program, now that the species has been listed.
For listing activities there is an increase of $195,000 for
fixed costs and a decrease of $8,000 for an internal transfer.
For consultation programs there are increases of $6,600,000 for
HCP and other consultations and $796,000 for fixed costs, and
decreases of $53,000 for an internal transfer, $299,000 for the
cold water fish HCP in Montana, $100,000 for the Broughton
Ranch HCP and $80,000 for borderlands. For recovery programs
there are increases of $1,047,000 for fixed costs, $500,000 for
Florida manatee protection and $399,000 as a general increase,
and decreases of $108,000 for an internal transfer, $3,842,000
for Washington State salmon and steelhead recovery, $298,000
for the Concho water snake, $200,000 for borderlands and
$199,000 for the Walker River/Weber Dam project.
Changes recommended for habitat conservation programs
amount to a net increase of $3,269,000. For the Partners for
Fish and Wildlife program there are increases of $456,000 for
fixed costs, $2,000,000 for invasive species, $500,000 for fish
habitat and passage restoration, and $500,000 for the Columbia
River Estuary Research program, and decreases of $747,000 for
Washington State salmon enhancement, $249,000 for Hawaii ESA
conservation plans, and $146,000 for the Reno, Nevada
biodiversity program. For project planning there is an increase
of $670,000 for fixed costs and a decrease of $100,000 for
borderlands. For coastal programs there are increases of
$187,000 for fixed costs and $400,000 for the establishment of
a field office in the Tampa Bay area and a field office in the
Florida Panhandle, and a decrease of $291,000 for the Long Live
the Kings program. There is also an increase of $89,000 for the
National Wetlands Inventory for fixed costs.
An increase of $308,000 for fixed costs is recommended for
the environmental contaminants program.
Refuges and wildlife.--The Committee recommends
$345,130,000 for refuges and wildlife, an increase of
$21,872,000 above the fiscal year 2000 level.
Changes recommended for refuge operations and maintenance
include increases of $10,766,000 for fixed costs, $5,000,000
for the operations backlog/minimum staffing needs, and
$5,000,000 for the maintenance backlog, and a decrease of
$274,000 for internal transfers. For migratory bird management
there are increases of $398,000 for fixed costs and $200,000
for joint ventures, and decreases of $71,000 for an internal
transfer and $74,000 for borderlands. For law enforcement
activities there is an increase of $993,000 for fixed costs and
a decrease of $66,000 for an internal transfer.
A total of $996,000, the budget request, is recommended to
continue the Salton Sea recovery program at the 2000 level,
contingent on matching funds from the State of California.
Fisheries.--The Committee recommends $69,786,000 for
fisheries, a decrease of $15,485,000 below the fiscal year 2000
level.
Changes recommended for hatchery operations and maintenance
include increases of $41,000 for an internal transfer, $974,000
for fixed costs, $324,000 for Lower Mississippi River
restoration, and $500,000 for the maintenance backlog, and
decreases of $199,000 for the White Sulpher Springs hatchery in
West Virginia and $3,586,000 for Washington State hatchery
improvements.
There is a decrease of $11,656,000 for the Lower Snake
River Compensation Plan, consistent with the Memorandum of
Agreement between the Service and the Bonneville Power
Administration.
For fish and wildlife management there is an increase of
$532,000 for fixed costs and decreases of $27,000 for an
internal transfer, $598,000 for the Washington State fish
marking machine purchase, $1,014,000 for Kennebec River
restoration in Maine, $367,000 for the Juniata Valley school
district in Pennsylvania, $200,000 for Yukon River management
studies, $100,000 for Yukon River salmon treaty education, and
$109,000 for Caribou Creek fish passage in Alaska.
General administration.--The Committee recommends
$119,062,000 for general administration, an increase of
$2,787,000 above the fiscal year 2000 level.
Changes include fixed cost increases of $534,000 for
central office operations, $768,000 for regional office
operations, $416,000 for service-wide support, $257,000 for the
training center, and $183,000 for international affairs. There
is also an increase of $629,000 in service-wide support for an
internal transfer.
Other.--The Committee notes that $3,400,000 has been
recommended in the U.S. Geological Survey, specifically to
provide additional research support to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
The Committee agrees to the following:
1. The Administration should submit a legislative
reauthorization proposal for the Endangered Species Act, which
realistically addresses needed reforms.
2. The Service should consider the concerns of the
Resources Committee in the House of Representatives when
determining the distribution of ESA funding.
3. The Service should continue to support the recovery
initiative for the black-capped vireo in Texas.
4. Fixed cost increases and proposed internal transfers are
included in full in the Committee's recommendations.
5. The Service should continue funding, at least at the
fiscal year 2000 level, for the Upper Colorado River Basin
program and the Peregrine Fund.
6. The Service should perform a thorough review of, and
develop a long-term strategy for, the fisheries program in
coordination with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and
other outside independent groups. The Committee believes
strongly that the focus of the program should be habitat based
rather than hatchery based and that mitigation work at
hatcheries should be performed on a cost reimbursable basis.
This direction was provided in last year's report and the
Committee urges the Service to expedite the review and planning
process and institute much needed reforms.
7. The Committee supports the efforts in New Mexico to
enhance the habitat of the endangered silvery minnow and the
blunt nosed shiner. The Service should use existing Federal
water allocations in New Mexico to the maximum extent possible
and work with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of
Engineers to enhance the habitat of these two species in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
8. The Committee continues to receive many expressions of
concern with respect to goose population problems, including
problems with resident Canada geese. These problems involve the
over-population of snow geese, the problem with dusky Canada
geese in the Pacific Northwest, and overabundance/nuisance
problems with Canada geese in various areas of the country. The
Committee has just received the Service's strategic plan for
dealing with these problems and urges the Department to
incorporate funding for this important initiative in the 2002
budget request.
9. The Committee continues to be concerned about predation
by Caspian Terns on outbound migrating juvenile salmon smolt in
the Columbia River. The Committee understands that current
efforts to address the problem have been stopped because of a
legal challenge. The Service should keep the Committee apprised
of the status of this program on a semi-annual basis.
10. The increase of $500,000 for manatee protection
provides a total of $1,000,000 for this program in 2001.
11. The Service has yet to issue the contract to obtain the
necessary data on the Concho water snake. This delay is
unacceptable and the Service should accelerate its efforts in
order to move as quickly as possible on a delisting decision.
12. Joint ventures have been one of the greatest successes
for the Service. Federal funds in this program are leveraged to
a greater extent than all other Service programs combined. The
Service should emphasize joint venture efforts in future
budgets.
13. Klamath River flow study funding will be considered
after the participants have identified funding commitments and
responsibility for each participating organization.
14. The Service should develop an environmental impact
statement prior to proceeding with the establishment of the
Little Darby NWR, OH.
15. The Service should use funding for hatchery facility
and program reform projects that are necessary to comply with
Biological Opinions and are consistent with the ``Review of
Artificial Production of Anadromous and Resident Fish in the
Columbia River Basin'' report to Congress by the Northwest
Power Planning Council.
16. The Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Little Pend
Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, located in Washington State,
appears to be inconsistent with Public Law 105-57, Section
5(4)(L) of the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997. The Service
should continue to facilitate the use of its lands for military
preparedness operations conducted by the Fairchild Air Force
Base Survival School, consistent with current permit
parameters.
17. The Service should report to the Committee on why it
continues to expend money on the endangered jaguar in
southwestern New Mexico when none exist in the area. The report
should outline for the Committee the number of meetings,
publications, involvement of personnel, number of agencies
involved, and full cost of the program including the portion of
the salary of Service employees involved with the jaguar.
18. The Department should report on the current status of
the Southwest Willow Flycatcher including a comparison of
numbers, and population trends since intervention by Federal
agencies took place. The report should include the cost of the
program to FWS, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management as well as the number of cattle that have been
impacted by the program. The report should also include a
timetable on when the population is expected to recover based
on the removal of cattle.
19. The Committee understands that the Fish and Wildlife
Service considers levee repairs in certain parts of the country
as subject to the requirements of the Endangered Species Act
since such repairs may cause an incidental taking of an
endangered or threatened species. The Committee is concerned
that levees throughout the country that are in imminent danger
of failure are not being repaired in a timely manner. The
Service is encouraged to recognize that manmade levees are
constructed to enhance public safety and that any habitat that
may be provided thereon may be secondary to the greater public
good. The Committee recommends that the Service exercise
greater discretion in providing expedited review of projects
that are designed to restore manmade levees to structural
soundness. The Committee suggests that the loss of habitat due
to timely repair of a levee in imminent danger of failure is
less important than the loss of life and habitat due to
catastrophic failure of a levee.
Bill language.--The Committee has included bill language,
as requested by the Administration, capping the amount of
funding available for certain endangered species listing
programs. The amount for fiscal year 2001 is $6,395,000. Bill
language also is included under General Provisions, Department
of the Interior, renaming a trail at the Mason Neck NWR, VA;
and limiting the use of funds to establish an NWR in the Yolo
Bypass of California.
construction
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $53,528,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 44,231,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 48,395,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000................................. -5,133,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................... +4,164,000
The Committee recommends $48,395,000 for construction, a
decrease of $5,133,000 below the fiscal year 2000 level and
$4,164,000 above the budget request.
The Committee agrees to the following distribution of
funds:
CONSTRUCTION
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee
Project Description request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alchesay/Williams Creek NFH, AZ.................... Environmental Pollution Control-- 927 927
Phase II (c).
Anahuac NWR, TX.................................... Bridge Rehab/Replacement--Phase 673 673
I (p/d/ic).
Bear River NWR, UT................................. Education Center (c)............ 0 3,600
Bear River NWR, UT................................. Water management facilities (c). 0 500
Blackwater NWR, MD................................. Carpentry/Auto Shop............. 300 300
Bozeman FTC, MT.................................... Laboratory/Administration 1,600 1,600
Building--Phase II (c).
Bridge Safety Inspection........................... ................................ 495 495
Cabo Rojo NWR, PR.................................. Replace Office Building 500 500
(Seismic)--Phase I (p/d).
Chincoteague NWR, VA............................... Headquarters & Visitor Center-- 3,500 3,500
Phase II (c).
Coleman NFH, CA.................................... Seismic Safety Rehab of 3 301 301
buildings--Phase I (p/d).
Dam Safety Inspection.............................. ................................ 570 570
Ennis NFH, MT...................................... Raceway Enclosure--Phase II (c). 1,000 1,000
Hagerman NWR, TX................................... Bridge Rehabilitation--Phase I 368 368
(p/d).
Innoko NWR, AK..................................... Hangar--McGrath--Phase I (p/d).. 129 0
Jackson NFH, WY.................................... Seismic Safety Rehab of 2 373 373
Buildings--Phase I (p/d).
Lake Thibadeau NWR, MT............................. Lake Thibadeau Diversion Dam-- 450 450
Phase II (c).
Leavenworth NFH, WA................................ Nada Dam--Phase II SEED Study... 300 300
Mason Neck NWR, VA................................. ADA accessibility (c)........... 0 130
National Repository, CO............................ Relocation of National Eagle 400 400
Repository--Phase II (d/c).
National Repository, CO............................ Renovation of National Wildlife 950 950
Property Repository--Phase II
(d/c).
NCTC, WV........................................... Fourth Dormitory (p/d/c)........ 7,500 7,500
NFW Forensics Lab, OR.............................. Forensics Laboratory Expansion-- 1,838 1,838
Phase II (d/ic).
Nowitna NWR, AK.................................... Hangar--Galena--Phase I (p)..... 106 0
Parker River NWR, MA............................... Headquarters Complex (c)........ 1,230 1,230
Pelican Island NWR, FL............................. Interpretive Center and Admin. 831 0
Facility--Phase I (p/d).
San Pablo Bay NWR, CA.............................. Renovate Office--Phase I (p/d).. 275 275
Six NFHs........................................... Water Treatment Improvement-- 2,500 2,500
Phase II (c).
Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR, CA...................... Seismic Safety Rehab of 1 55 55
Building--Phase I (p/d).
Tern Island NWR, HI................................ Rehabilitate Seawall--Phase III 8,600 8,600
(c).
Tishomingo NFH, OK................................. Pennington Creek Foot Bridge-- 229 229
Phase II (c).
--------------------------
Subtotal: Line item Construction............... ................................ 36,000 39,164
Nationwide Engineering Services:
Demolition Fund................................ ................................ 389 1,389
Environmental Compliance....................... ................................ 1,860 1,860
Other Engineering Services..................... ................................ 5,782 5,782
Seismic Safety Program......................... ................................ 200 200
--------------------------
Subtotal: Engineering Services............... ................................ 8,231 9,231
==========================
Grand Totals................................. ................................ 44,231 48,395
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee agrees to the following:
1. The funding provided for the Bear River NWR, UT is
contingent on a 50 percent non-Federal cost share for the
visitor center portion of the project. The Service should
notify the Committee of the total required cost share prior to
initiating construction.
2. Funding for the Tern Island Seawall will complete this
project.
land acquisition
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $50,513,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 111,632,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 30,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -20,513,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -81,632,000
The Committee recommends $30,000,000, a decrease of
$20,513,000 below the enacted level and $81,632,000 below the
budget request. This amount includes $21,750,000 for line item
acquisition, $250,000 for emergencies and hardships, $500,000
for exchanges, and $7,500,000 for acquisition management.
The Committee recommends the following distribution of
funds:
Committee
Area and State recommendation
Archie Carr NWR (FL).................................... $2,000,000
Atchafalaya NWR (LA).................................... 750,000
Bon Secour NWR (AL)..................................... 1,000,000
Buenos Aires NWR (AZ)................................... 1,000,000
Canann Valley NWR (WV).................................. 500,000
Edwin B. Forsythe NWR (NJ).............................. 1,000,000
Great Meadows Complex (MA).............................. 1,000,000
Great Swamp NWR (NJ).................................... 500,000
Lake Umbagog NWR (NH)................................... 1,000,000
Leslie Canyon NWR (AZ).................................. 2,000,000
Louisiana Black Bear NWR (LA)........................... 1,000,000
Minnesota Valley NWR, (MN).............................. 500,000
Rappahannock River NWR (VA)............................. 1,000,000
San Diego NWR (CA)...................................... 3,000,000
Silvio O. Conte NWR (CT/MA/NH/VT)....................... 1,000,000
Stewart B. McKinney NWR (CT)............................ 1,000,000
Walkill River NWR (NJ).................................. 1,000,000
Whittlesey Creek NWR (WI)............................... 500,000
Willapa NWR (WA)........................................ 2,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Subtotal.......................................... 21,750,000
Emergencies/Hardships................................... 250,000
Exchanges............................................... 500,000
Acquisition Management.................................. 7,500,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. 30,000,000
The Committee recognizes the sensitivities of the local
community pertaining to the creation of the Teche Black Bear
Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall continue to
acquire timberlands within the Bailey property contingent on a
mutually-acceptable land swap agreement between current
property users within the refuge and the Service.
cooperative endangered species conservation fund
Eighty percent of the habitat for more than half of the
listed endangered and threatened species is on private land.
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund provides
grants to States and Territories for endangered species
recovery actions on non-Federal lands and provides funds for
non-Federal land acquisition to facilitate habitat protection.
Individual States and Territories provide 25 percent of grant
project costs. Cost sharing is reduced to 10 percent when two
or more States or Territories are involved in a project.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $23,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 65,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 23,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -42,000,000
The Committee recommends $23,000,000 for the cooperative
endangered species conservation fund, which is equal to the
fiscal year 2000 level and a decrease of $42,000,000 below the
budget request.
national wildlife refuge fund
Through this program the Service makes payments to counties
in which Service lands are located based on their fair market
value. Payments to counties are estimated to be $16,377,000 in
fiscal year 2001 with $10,439,000 derived from this
appropriation and $5,938,000 from net refuge receipts estimated
to be collected in fiscal year 2000.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $10,739,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 10,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 10,439,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -300,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. +439,000
The Committee recommends $10,439,000 for the National
wildlife refuge fund, an increase of $439,000 above the budget
request and $300,000 below the fiscal year 2000 funding level.
The Committee continues to be concerned about the
priorities of the Service with respect to how they relate to
meeting its obligations under the National wildlife refuge
fund. In particular, the Committee questions why the Service
continues to acquire more land but does not request additional
funding for the National wildlife refuge fund.
north american wetlands conservation fund
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the North
American Wetlands Conservation Fund, leverages partner
contributions for wetlands conservation. Projects to date have
been in 46 States, 10 Canadian provinces and 17 Mexican states.
In addition to this appropriation, the Service receives funding
from receipts in the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
account from taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment,
pistols and revolvers, and from the Sport Fish Restoration
account from taxes on fishing tackle and equipment, electric
trolling motors and fish finders and certain marine gasoline
taxes. By law, sport fish restoration receipts are used for
coastal wetlands in States bordering the Pacific and Atlantic
Oceans, States bordering the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and
American Samoa.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $14,957,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 30,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 15,499,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +542,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -14,501,000
The Committee recommends $15,499,000 for the North American
wetlands conservation fund, an increase of $542,000 above the
fiscal year 2000 level and $14,501,000 below the budget
request. Increases include $500,000 for wetlands conservation
and $42,000 for administration.
wildlife conservation and appreciation fund
The Wildlife Conservation and Appreciation Fund provides
grants to States for inventory and population determinations of
fish and wildlife species, for identification of fish and
wildlife habitat and associated problems, and for actions to
conserve and restore habitat and to provide public use
opportunities.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $797,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 800,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 797,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -3,000
The Committee recommends $797,000 for the wildlife
conservation and appreciation fund, which is equal to the
fiscal year 2000 level and $3,000 below the budget request.
multinational species conservation fund
This account combines funding for programs under the former
rewards and operations (African elephant) account, the former
rhinoceros and tiger conservation account, and the Asian
elephant program.
The African Elephant Act of 1988 established a fund for
assisting nations and organizations involved with conservation
of African elephants. The Service provides grants to African
Nations and to qualified organizations and individuals to
protect and manage critical populations of these elephants.
The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994
authorized programs to enhance compliance with the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species and U.S. or
foreign laws prohibiting the taking or trade of rhinoceros,
tigers or their habitat.
The Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 authorized a
grant program, similar to the African elephant program, to
enable cooperators from regional and range country agencies and
organizations to address Asian elephant conservation problems.
The world's surviving populations of wild Asian elephants are
found in 13 south and southeastern Asian countries.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $2,391,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 3,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 2,391,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -609,000
The Committee recommends $2,391,000 for the multinational
species conservation fund, equal to the fiscal year 2000 level
and $609,000 below the budget request. The recommended funding
includes $996,000 for African elephant conservation, $697,000
for rhinoceros and tiger conservation and $698,000 for Asian
elephant conservation. The Committee expects these funds to be
matched by non-Federal funding to leverage private
contributions to the maximum extent possible.
National Park Service
The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve
unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the
national park system for the enjoyment, education, and
inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park
Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of
natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor
recreation throughout this country and the world.
The National Park Service, established in 1916, has
stewardship responsibilities for the protection and
preservation of the heritage resources of the National Park
System. The system, consisting of 379 separate and distinct
units, is recognized globally as a leader in park management
and resource preservation. The national park system represents
much of the finest the Nation has to offer in terms of scenery,
historical and archeological relics, and cultural heritage.
Through its varied sites, the National Park Service attempts to
explain America's history, interpret its culture, preserve
examples of its natural ecosystems, and provide recreational
and educational opportunities for U.S. citizens and visitors
from all over the world. In addition, the National Park Service
provides support to tribal, local, and State governments to
preserve culturally significant, ecologically important, and
public recreational lands.
operation of the National park system
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $1,363,764,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 1,454,098,000
Recommended, 2001 1,425,617,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +61,853,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -28,481,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $1,425,617,000 for operation of
the National park system for fiscal year 2001, an increase of
$61,853,000 above the enacted level and a decrease of
$28,481,000 below the Administration's request. The Committee
has focused on the highest Service priorities and has included
funds for park base operations and the core elements of the
Service's Natural Resource Challenge initiative. While the Park
Service has done an excellent job in outlining the need to
continue a planned, multi-faceted approach to addressing
natural resource management concerns, the budget allowance
provided to this Subcommittee has allowed only a portion of the
funds requested for the Challenge initiative to be approved. In
addition, the recommended level also provides for fixed costs,
as requested in the President's budget.
The bill provides a total increase of $24,050,000 for park
base operations, as requested in the President's budget. This
increase continues the Subcommittee's commitment to the day-to-
day operation of our National parks and allows accomplishment
of the Service's mission of protecting resources and providing
for visitor enjoyment.
The Committee has approved funds for fixed costs totaling a
net $28,410,000, as requested in the President's budget. Base
increases totaling $33,116,000 have been approved for funding,
and the Subcommittee has accepted base reductions totaling
$4,706,000 as requested in the budget. Technical adjustments to
reflect the establishment of a new subactivity for the United
States Park Police are accepted and result in no net change to
overall funding.
The Committee has included a total of $9,393,000 to
continue the Natural Resource Initiative begun last year. This
critical work aimed at identifying, monitoring and preserving
the natural resources within the parks focuses on programs such
as, controlling and eradicating evasive species, basic
inventory and monitoring of resources and recovery plans for
threatened and endangered species.
Resource Stewardship.--The Committee recommends
$275,124,000 for resource stewardship, an increase of
$21,121,000 above the fiscal year 2000 enacted level and a
reduction of $12,696,000 from the President's request. Included
in this amount are increases of $7,466,000 for park base
operations and $9,393,000 to allow partial funding of the
Service's Natural Resource Challenge. Approved within the
amount for the Natural Resource Challenge are increases for the
following components: $2,293,000 for Invasive Species Control/
Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery in park bases,
$4,200,000 for the inventory and monitoring program-Vital Signs
Monitoring, $200,000 to improve air quality at parks,
$1,100,000 for natural resource data management and
distribution, and $1,600,000 for Cooperative Ecosystem Study
Units. A net base increase of $4,262,000 is approved as
requested in the President's budget.
Visitor Services.--The Committee recommends $278,636,000
for visitor services, a decrease of $40,000,000 from the fiscal
year 2000 enacted level and a reduction of $1,957,000 from the
President's request. Included in this amount are an increase of
$7,661,000 for park base operations and a net base decrease of
$47,661,000 reflecting technical adjustments and fixed costs as
requested in the President's budget. Of the approved base
decrease, a transfer of $54,401,000 would allow establishment
of a new subactivity for the United States Park Police by
shifting funds for Park Police operations to the new
subactivity. There is a net base increase of $6,740,000 for
additional fixed costs.
United States Park Police.--The Committee recommends
$75,641,000 for the new subactivity, United States Park Police,
an increase of $75,641,000 from the fiscal year 2000 enacted
level and a reduction of $800,000 from the President's request.
Approved are an increase of $1,474,000 for park base operations
and a net increase of $2,062,000 for additional fixed costs.
The technical adjustments /transfers totaling $72,105,000 are
approved.
Facility Operations and Maintenance.--The Committee
recommends $446,661,000 for facility operations and
maintenance, an increase of $14,105,000 above the fiscal year
2000 enacted level and a reduction of $3,085,000 from the
President's request. Included in this amount are an increase of
$5,198,000 for park base operations and a net increase of
$8,907,000 for fixed costs.
Park Support.--The Committee recommends $254,628,000 for
park support, an increase of $7,129,000 above the fiscal year
2000 enacted level and a reduction of $7,227,000 from the
President's request. Included in this amount is an increase of
$2,251,000, for park base operations and a net increase of
$4,878,000 for additional fixed costs.
External Administrative Costs.--The Committee recommends
$94,927,000 for external administrative costs, a decrease of
$16,143,000 from the fiscal year 2000 enacted level and a
reduction of $2,716,000 from the President's request. Approved
reductions include $1,522,000 for unemployment compensation
payments and $17,704,000 for a technical adjustment to allow
establishment of a new subactivity for the United States Park
Police by shifting funds for Park Police pension payments to
the new subactivity. These are offset by approved increases of
$651,000 for Workers Compensation Payments, $1,489,000 for the
Working Capital Fund, and $943,000 for GSA space rental rate
increases.
GPRA.--The Committee recognizes the progress the Service
has made towards making performance management its business
system and strongly supports that progress. The Committee
believes that achieving measurable outcomes should be the basis
for Service decision-making and priority setting.
The Committee is concerned that management is still not
fully committed to the Government Performance and Results Act,
that systems for project funding, operating increase requests
and Strategic Plan goals are not adequately integrated, and
that data quality needs continued improvement. The Committee
expects these issues to be resolved.
Housing.--The Committee has agreed to release the
$20,000,000 in previously appropriated funds for park housing
rehabilitation and trailer replacement, as well as providing
$5,000,000 in new funding for fiscal year 2001. These funds are
only to be used for those 3700 specific housing projects listed
in the National Park Service Housing report dated January,
2000. These projects have been agreed to by the Service and
verified by the contracted housing needs assessment report.
While there is general agreement between the contractor and
the Service on 80 percent of the housing stock, the fate of the
remaining 20 percent of housing is unresolved due to several
policy issues including emergency response times and the staff
needed to fulfill this need and the inclusion of housing stock
for cooperators and volunteers. These are important issues that
need to be tackled head-on by the leadership of the Service.
The Committee expects a progress report by June 2001 which
outlines a specific timetable for resolution of these and other
issues so that the Committee can appropriately deal with the
Park Service housing problem.
Other.--The Committee expects the Service to continue to
provide $65,000 to the Claude Moore Colonial Farm along the
George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia to support
educational programs which foster public understanding and
appreciation of the importance of agriculture in the
development of American society.
The Committee again emphasizes the great value of
Cumberland Island's rich and diverse historic, cultural, and
natural resources and expects that all of these resources be
preserved in perpetuity. The Committee also expects that the
park's resource management plan reflects the formal agreement
signed in 1999 after many collaborative island stakeholder
meetings. The Committee endorses this agreement and directs the
Service to continue to implement both the letter and the spirit
of the agreement, which specifically calls for preservation of
the historic resources and providing public access.
The Committee provided $1.4 million last year for the
restoration of Plum Orchard mansion on Cumberland Island. The
Committee is concerned by reports of delays as well as
increased costs for this project. The Service is directed to
proceed with this work as quickly as possible within the funds
provided. In addition, the Service is reminded of their goal to
issue an RFP for occupancy of this structure. The Committee
expects a written report on the progress of this project by
December 1, 2000.
Although no additional funding has been provided at this
time, the Committee supports the Service's proposal to improve
the management of partnerships and business practices by
adjusting its organizational structure and redirecting existing
resources. The Committee will continue to keep this priority in
mind as the bill progresses through the fiscal year 2001
process.
The Committee is aware of the problem of an overpopulation
of white tailed deer at the Valley Forge National Historical
Park. Within available funds, the Service is directed to begin
work on cultural landscape research, and flora and fauna
inventories. The Service should also develop a landscape
management plan which includes objectives for deer impacts on
vegetation, complete an environmental assessment and, if
appropriate, an environmental impact statement which addresses
deer management at Valley Forge in the context of the cultural
landscape.
The Committee has provided over $9,000,000 in increases for
the Service's Natural Resource Challenge Initiative in this
budget. This program can meet some of the needs of this
project, and other servicewide funds are available to address
the balance of the requirements, such as the EIS planning fund
in the construction account. Because this project will require
several years to complete, the Committee urges the Service to
either provide the required base increase to Valley Forge NHP
in the fiscal years 2002 and beyond to complete this task or
provide funds from the Natural Challenge or other appropriate
servicewide programs. In any event, funds should be made
available in fiscal year 2001 to begin the task. The Committee
expects a report by June 30, 2001 which sets a timetable for
completing the project.
South Florida Restoration.--The Committee continues its
long-standing commitment to the environmental restoration of
the Everglades and other natural areas in South Florida.
Included in this bill is $70,237,000 contained in the budget
for four Department of the Interior bureaus to continue funding
the operations, science, construction and land acquisition
needs of the initiative.
The Committee continues to be concerned about reductions to
the science budget and the new emphasis on land acquisition
needs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Of the $30,000,000
requested for seven refuges in Florida, only three refuges for
a total of $6,700,000 are considered to be within the South
Florida ecosystem. This leads the Committee to conclude that
the other four refuges were only included to raise the Federal
contribution for the initiative.
The Committee has included bill language in the land
acquisition account that further addresses the Secretary's
responsibilities under this initiative.
The Committee expects the Service to continue providing
increases for the Global Information System map network for the
eight National Scenic Trails, and to report to the Committee by
January 30, 2001 on the progress made to date and future needs.
The Committee expects the Service's fiscal year 2002 budget
request to include increases for this project.
The Committee encourages the National Park Service to work
with local and State agencies in vector control efforts which
affect Federal park lands.
The Committee requests a report from the National Park
Service on the status of the negotiations for leasing the
Haslett Warehouse, an historic property within the boundary of
the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. In 1998, the
Pacific Western Regional Office announced a list of potential
lessors with which it proposed negotiating a lease for the
three-story brick structure for conversion to a hotel. The
report should include the status of the negotiations and the
current plans for the warehouse and projected costs and income
for maintenance of the historic ships. The report is due to the
Committee by November 15, 2000.
National recreation and preservation
The National recreation and preservation appropriation
provides for the outdoor recreation planning, preservation of
cultural and National heritage resources, technical assistance
to Federal, State and local agencies, administration of
Historic Preservation Fund grants and statutory and contractual
aid.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $53,399,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 68,648,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 49,956,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -3,443,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -18,692,000
The Committee recommends $49,956,000 for National
recreation and preservation, a decrease of $3,443,000 below the
fiscal year 2000 level and $18,692,000 below the budget
request.
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
Recreation programs.--The Committee recommends $542,000,
the same as the budget request and $14,000 above the enacted
level. The increase is provided for fixed costs.
Natural programs.--The Committee recommends $11,205,000,
the same as the budget request and $1,212,000 above the enacted
level. This includes fixed cost increases, $500,000 for
hydropower recreation assistance and $500,000 for the Rivers,
Trails and Conservation program.
Cultural programs.--The Committee recommends $19,853,000,
the same as the budget request and $428,000 above the enacted
level. This includes fixed costs and $400,000 for NAGPRA
implementation. The Committee accepts the $250,000 reduction
for the Revolutionary War Study.
International park affairs.--The Committee recommends
$1,706,000, the same as the budget request and $23,000 above
the enacted level. The increase is for fixed costs.
Environmental and compliance review.--The Committee
recommends $393,000, the same as the budget request and $24,000
above the enacted level. The increase is for fixed costs.
Grant administration.--The Committee recommends $1,557,000,
the same as the budget request and a decrease of $244,000 below
the enacted level. The Committee has provided fixed costs and
has accepted the $304,000 decrease for UPARR administration.
Urban parks and recreation fund.--The Committee has not
provided the $18,000,000 increase for the Urban parks programs.
The Committee has continued the $2,000,000 enacted level
funding.
Statutory or contractual aid.--The Committee has provided
$3,280,000, $7,500,000 below the enacted level and $1,192,000
below the request.
Heritage partnership program.--The Committee has provided
$9,420,000, an increase of $2,600,000 above the enacted level
and $500,000 above the budget request. The Committee has
provided $17,000 for fixed costs, $100,000 for administrative
overhead and $9,303,000 for the individual heritage areas.
The Committee has combined the technical assistance funds
requested in the budget into the account for Commissions and
Grants. These funds have been allocated by the Committee to the
individual heritage areas, which are in a better position to
decide their needs. These funds are for technical assistance to
local governments and partner organizations to help implement
locally supported projects consistent with the overall plans
for these designated areas. These funds may be used to contract
for government or private sector services to respond to local
requests for assistance. The Committee strongly encourages the
individual heritage areas to work closely with regional park
service offices.
In addition, heritage area leaders and Service staff are
reminded that there are existing Federal technical assistance
programs, such as the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation program,
that are also available to Congressionally designated heritage
areas.
The Committee recommends the following distribution of
funds:
Project Amount
America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership (Silos and
Smokestacks)........................................ $150,000
Augusta Canal National Heritage Area.................... 700,000
Automobile National Heritage Area....................... 338,000
Cache La Poudre River Corridor.......................... 50,000
Cane River National Heritage Area....................... 100,000
Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.......... 600,000
Essex National Heritage Area............................ 1,100,000
Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.............. 1,100,000
Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.. 240,000
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage
Center.............................................. 600,000
National Coal Heritage.................................. 250,000
Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor.......... 1,100,000
Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage
Center.............................................. 275,000
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.................. 1,100,000
Lackawanna Heritage Area................................ 500,000
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic
District............................................ 300,000
South Carolina National Heritage Corridor............... 800,000
Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area....................... --
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Project total..................................... 9,303,000
historic preservation fund
The Historic Preservation Fund supports the State historic
preservation offices to perform a variety of functions,
including: State management and administration of existing
grant obligations, review and advice on Federal projects and
actions, determinations, and nominations to the National
Register, Tax Act certifications, and technical preservation
services. The States also review properties within States to
develop data for planning use.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $74,793,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 72,071,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 41,347,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -33,446,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -30,724,000
The Committee recommends $41,347,000, which is $33,446,000
below the enacted level and $30,724,000 below the budget
request.
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The total amount provides $31,598,000 for state historic
preservation offices, $2,572,000 for tribal grants, and
$7,177,000 for historically black colleges and universities.
This amount completes the 12 ongoing projects and meets the
$29,000,000 authorized level.
Because the financial difficulties being experienced by
Selma University make it unable at present to contribute the
non-Federal matching share required for these grants, the
Committee is redirecting $750,000 of the $1,550,000 authorized
for Selma University under section 507 of P.L. 104-333. It is
the Committee's intent that the Service should make this
$750,000 available in fiscal year 2001 to repair historic
buildings on the campuses of historically black colleges and
universities.
construction
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $221,191,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 180,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 150,004,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -71,187,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -29,996,000
The Committee recommends $150,004,000, which is $29,996,000
below the budget request and $71,187,000 below the enacted
level. The Committee has funded all the Park Service's priority
projects, especially the health and safety projects.
The Committee recommends the following distribution of
funds:
Project Amount
Antietam NB, MD (stabilization)......................... $500,000
Apostle Islands NL, WI (erosion)........................ 1,360,000
Big Bend NP, TX (replace water system).................. 2,124,000
Canaveral NS (Seminole Rest)............................ 600,000
Cape Cod NS, MA (rehabilitation)........................ 2,753,000
Castillo de San Marcos NM, FL (stabilization)........... 828,000
Chiricahua NM, AZ (replace water system)................ 1,128,000
Colonial NHP, VA (erosion).............................. 3,064,000
Cuyahoga Valley NRA, OH (rehabilitation)................ 3,000,000
Dayton Aviation NHP, OH (west exhibits)................. 950,000
Delaware Water Gap NRA, DE (Depew site)................. 776,000
Everglades NP, FL (replace water system)................ 9,000,000
Fire Island NS, NY (rehabilitation)..................... 1,933,000
Fort Stanwix NM, NY (rehabilitation).................... 1,500,00
George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA (Belle Haven).... 100,000
George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA (Mt Vernon Trail) 300,000
George Washington Memorial Parkway, MD (rehabilitate
utilities).......................................... 2,000,000
Gettysburg NMP, PA (fire suppression)................... 1,323,000
Glacier NP, MT (rehabilitate water/sewer)............... 4,544,000
Hot Springs NP, AR (rehabilitation)..................... 1,000,000
Maggie Walker NHS, VA (stabilization)................... 1,867,000
Mammoth Cave NP, KY (replace electrical)................ 3,650,000
Manzanar NHS, CA........................................ 4,179,000
Minute Man NHP, MA (road safety)........................ 818,000
NCP--Central, DC (Jefferson Memorial)................... 936,000
North Cascades NP, WA (stabilization)................... 2,370,000
Olympic NP, WA (restore Elwha).......................... 7,500,000
Petersburg NB, VA (stabilization)....................... 666,000
Redwood NP, CA (remove failing roads)................... 713,000
St Croix NSR, WI (rehabilitation)....................... 914,000
Salem Maritime NHS, MA (rehabilitation)................. 1,002,000
Santa Monica Mountains NRA, CA (rehabilitation)......... 1,345,000
Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP, CA (restoration)............. 8,381,000
Southwest Pennsylvania Heritage, PA (rehabilitation).... 3,000,000
Wilson's Creek NB, MO (complete library)................ 38,000
Yellowstone NP, WY (waste-water treatment facility)..... 5,077,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Project total..................................... 81,239,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
Emergency/unscheduled................................... 3,500,000
Housing................................................. 5,000,000
Equipment Replacement................................... 18,000,000
Construction Planning................................... 8,000,000
General Management Plans................................ 11,225,000
Line Item Construction.................................. 81,239,000
Pre-Planning & Supp Services............................ 4,500,000
Construction Program Management......................... 17,100,000
Dam Safety.............................................. 1,440,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total Construction................................ 150,004,000
Within the total for General Management Plans, the
Committee has not provided the $500,000 increase for GMP's or
the $1,250,000 increase for special resource studies
Also included is $3,000,000 for continued rehabilitation
work at Cuyahoga NRA; $950,000 for the west exhibits at Dayton
Aviation NHP; $3,000,000 for the Southwest Pennsylvania
Heritage Commission; $300,000 for the George Washington
Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon Trail and $100,000 for work at
the Belle Haven Marina; $1,500,000 to complete the
rehabilitation work at Fort Stanwix NM; $776,000 to complete
work at the Depew site in the Delaware Water Gap NRA;
$1,000,000 for rehabilitation work at Hot Springs NP; $38,000
to complete the library at Wilson's Creek NB; $600,000 for
Seminole Rest; $914,000 for rehabilitation work at St Croix NSR
and $1,360,000 for stabilization work at Apostle Island NL.
In fiscal year 2000, the Committee placed a limitation on
Federal funds that could be used to construct the educational/
library facility at Wilson Creek National Battlefield This
restriction applies only to funds appropriated to the National
Park Service. Given the significance and magnitude of
commemorating the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, the first
English colony in the United States, the Committee directs that
$400,000 be allocated for planning and data collection. These
funds are to be matched with non-Federal funds. Within the
amount permitted for planning, $275,000 is for work at Cuyahoga
N.R.A.
The Committee encourages the Department of the Interior to
pursue a cooperative arrangement with the Department of
Agriculture to provide, administratively, the appropriate
timber for the purpose of restoring the C.A. Thayer, an
historic ship housed at the San Francisco Maritime National
Historical Park. In fiscal year 1999, the Committee requested a
report from the Department on the status of repairing the C.A.
Thayer and, subsequent to the report, the Department included a
request for funding in the President's Budget for fiscal year
2000. Given the serious funding limitations over these last two
cycles, the Committee urges the Departments to initiate steps
to secure the necessary timber to begin restoration of the C.A.
Thayer.
Land and Water Conservation Fund
(Rescission)
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... -$30,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. -30,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... -30,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends the rescission of $30,000,000 in
annual contract authority provided by 16 U.S.C. 460L-10a. This
authority has not been used in years, and there are no plans to
use it in fiscal year 2001.
land acquisition and state assistance
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $120,700,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 297,468,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 65,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -55,700,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -232,468,000
The Committee recommends $65,000,000, a decrease of
$55,700,000 below the enacted level and a reduction of
$232,468,000 below the budget request. This amount includes
$34,500,000 for line item projects, $3,000,000 for emergencies
and hardships, $4,500,000 for acquisition management,
$2,000,000 for inholdings, and $21,000,000 for the Stateside
program of which $1,000,000 is for administrative expenses.
The Committee recommends the following distribution of
funds:
Committee
Area and State recommendation
Acadia NP (ME).......................................... $600,000
Apostle Islands NL (WI)................................. 200,000
Big Cypress NP (FL)..................................... 3,000,000
Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP (CO).................... 700,000
Brandywine Battlefield (PA)............................. 750,000
Cape Cod NS (MA)........................................ 500,000
Chickamauga/Chattanooga NMP (TN)........................ 1,200,000
Cuyahoga Valley NRA (OH)................................ 1,500,000
Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA)............................. 1,000,000
Ebey's Landing NHP (WA)................................. 250,000
Everglades--Grant to the State of Florida............... 10,000,000
Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania NMP (VA).................... 1,500,000
Gettysburg NMP (PA)..................................... 2,000,000
Home of FDR NHS (NY).................................... 2,600,000
Indiana Dunes NL (IN)................................... 1,000,000
Manassas NB (VA)........................................ 1,000,000
Petroglyphs NM (NM)..................................... 1,000,000
Saguaro NP (AZ)......................................... 2,200,000
Santa Monica Mts. NRA (CA).............................. 2,000,000
Stones River NB (TN).................................... 1,500,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Subtotal.......................................... 34,500,000
Emergency & Hardship.................................... 3,000,000
Inholdings & Exchanges.................................. 2,000,000
Acquisition Management.................................. 4,500,000
Stateside Grants........................................ 20,000,000
Administrative Assistance to States..................... 1,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. 65,000,000
The Committee continues to believe that Federal funding for
land acquisition at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation
Area should be matched by a non-Federal effort. Simply put,
this means new land or new dollars dedicated to the protection
of parklands within the recreation area's boundaries. The
Federal portion in the current appropriation will be available
for immediate expenditure to maximize the ability to pursue an
orderly acquisition program. As of June 30, 2000, and each year
thereafter, the Service shall certify the level of non-Federal
contributions to land acquisition at Santa Monica Mountains. It
is the Committee's intent that land acquisition funds that may
be provided in subsequent appropriations will not exceed the
value of the non-Federal effort for the prior certification
period. The National Park Service is encouraged to review non-
Federal appraisals wherever possible in certifying the non-
Federal contribution.
The Committee has been concerned about the slow obligation
rate for Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania NMP, Gettysburg NMP and
Stones River NB. The Committee has provided additional funds in
this bill for these three areas but the Committee strongly
encourages these areas to obligate prior year funds in a more
expeditious manner. The demands on the Committee are high to
provide additional dollars to other National Park units that
have similar land acquisition needs.
The Committee is supportive of the efforts of the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians to enter into a land exchange with the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park for property known as Floyd
Bottoms in Swain County, North Carolina. The Tribe will use the
site to build a new school complex using their funds. The
Committee urges the cooperation of the National Park Service to
ensure the exchange with the Tribe takes place expeditiously.
The Floyd Bottoms offers the only suitable site on which the
Tribe can build their schools, and the exchange will serve to
consolidate the reservation, which is presently divided by
Floyd Bottoms.
Bill Language.--Bill language is recommended requiring that
State grants be used solely for land acquisition.
The Committee continues to be concerned about several
critical aspects of the South Florida Restoration Initiative.
The primary concern is that, under current plans, when the
restoration project is complete, the Secretary of the Interior
will have no binding authority over how and when water is
distributed to the Everglades ecosystem. Related to that
concern is the issue of adequate water quality and quantity.
The Committee has recommended bill language to address these
problems as explained below.
The Secretary of the Interior, as the primary Federal
official responsible for protecting and preserving the South
Florida ecosystem, must play a key role in restoring and
maintaining the Everglades. The Committee's recommended bill
language requires the concurrence of the Secretary of the
Interior in developing, implementing and revising any
regulations to allocate water made available from the Central
and Southern Florida Project, including modifications to the
project as proposed in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan. This language is consistent with the Administration's
proposal to authorize the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan. That proposal requires the concurrence of the Secretary
of the Interior in the programmatic regulations that provide
for a process to identify the amount of water that is to be set
aside, as a matter of Federal law, for the needs of the natural
system. The regulations allocating the water are key to
ensuring that all project features that are implemented over
the next 20-30 years will achieve the goals of the
Comprehensive Plan. The result must be a restored and healthy
ecosystem, which includes Federal parks and refuges in the
region. The Secretary of the Interior is the critical Federal
official responsible for ensuring that the negative impacts on
the ecosystem, caused by the operation of the Central and
Southern Florida Project over the last 50 years, are corrected.
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey was established by an
act of Congress on March 3, 1879 to provide a permanent Federal
agency to conduct the systematic and scientific
``classification of the public lands, and examination of the
geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the
National domain''. The USGS is the Federal Government's largest
earth-science research agency, the Nation's largest civilian
mapmaking agency, and the primary source of data on the
Nation's surface and ground water resources. Its activities
include conducting detailed assessments of the energy and
mineral potential of the Nation's land and offshore areas;
investigating and issuing warnings of earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, landslides, and other geologic and hydrologic
hazards; research on the geologic structure of the Nation;
studies of the geologic features, structure, processes, and
history of other planets of our solar system; topographic
surveys of the Nation and preparation of topographic and
thematic maps and related cartographic products; development
and production of digital cartographic data bases and products;
collection on a routine basis of data on the quantity, quality,
and use of surface and ground water; research in hydraulics and
hydrology; the coordination of all Federal water data
acquisition; the scientific understanding and technologies
needed to support the sound management and conservation of our
Nation's biological resources; and the application of remotely
sensed data to the development of new cartographic, geologic,
and hydrologic research techniques for natural resources
planning and management.
surveys, investigations, and research
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $813,376,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 895,379,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 816,676,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +3,300,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -78,703,000
The Committee recommends $816,676,000 for surveys,
investigations, and research, a decrease of $78,703,000 from
the budget request and an increase of $3,300,000 above the 2000
enacted level.
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
National mapping program.--The Committee recommends
$122,817,000 for the national mapping program, a decrease of
$32,465,000 from the budget request and $3,900,000 below the
2000 enacted level including $3,400,000 from the Hazard Support
System and $500,000 resulting from a transfer to the geologic
landscape activity.
The Committee has maintained the Gateway to the Earth--Ohio
pilot at the enacted level. However, within the funds provided
for the Gateway to the Earth project the Committee directs that
$200,000 be allocated to the Texas Natural Resources
Information System, $150,000 to the Mississippi Space Commerce
Initiative, $200,000 to the California Land Science Information
Partnership, and $200,000 to the National Interagency Fire
Center. With the inclusion of these groups, the Survey is
taking the first steps in transforming the gateway to the earth
from a pilot project into a national program.
The Committee has also maintained funding for hyperspectral
remote sensing at the 2000 enacted level to continue ongoing
research in and around Yellowstone National Park.
The Committee recommends a decrease of $3,400,000 from
Hazard Support System and directs instead that this funding be
used to address urgent research needs identified by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service
The Committee is extremely concerned that the Survey,
specifically the National Mapping Division, entered into a new
contract for the continued development of the Hazard Support
System without Committee knowledge and at the expense of
existing programs and contracts. This type of action will not
be tolerated. The Survey is expected to use the normal
reprogramming procedures like all other bureaus. Further, the
Survey is directed to report back to the Committee as soon as
possible detailing what actions they have taken to meet fully
their fiscal year 2000 commitments.
In the development of this new Hazard Support System, the
Survey is directed to work in close cooperation with Bureau of
Land Management and Forest Service fire program managers.
Before the Committee allocates any future funds for development
or deployment of this new system, the Survey will, at a
minimum, need to demonstrate that: (1) this is a cost-effective
program; (2) it provides additional coverage above and beyond
what is currently being provided by the fire program; and (3)
the system is capable of reducing long-term wildland fire
expenditures. Finally, the National Academy of Sciences should
review this new program before any deployment decisions are
made.
Geologic hazards, resources and processes.--The Committee
recommends $211,272,000 for geologic hazards, resources, and
processes a decrease of $13,537,000 from the budget request and
an increase of $50,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including
increases above the 2000 level of $1,000,000 for earthquake
hazards and $500,000 for volcano hazards as part of the real
time hazards initiative, $500,000 for the cooperative geologic
mapping program, $1,000,000 for a new coastal pilot program,
and a $500,000 transfer from mapping, and decreases of $250,000
from the Hawaiian volcano program, $2,000,000 from the minerals
at risk program, and $1,200,000 from the Nevada gold study.
The Committee has maintained funding for light distancing
and ranging (LIDAR) technology at the 2000 enacted level to
assist with the listing of Chinook Salmon and Summer Chum
Salmon under the Endangered Species Act. These funds should be
used in the Puget Sound region to contract for the continued
mapping of drainage systems, stream systems, and to identify
potentially unstable slopes.
The Committee has provided an increase of $1,000,000 above
the enacted level for the Coastal and Marine Geology program to
begin the process of developing a comprehensive multi-
disciplinary coastal program within the Survey. As population
growth expands along U.S. coasts, coastal ecosystems are
impacted by urban, industrial, and agricultural development.
These impacts have resulted in the degradation of Everglades
coastal wetlands and Florida Bay, coral die-off, hypoxia and
fish kills in the Gulf of Mexico, and imperiled marine mammals
and sea turtle populations to name a few. The Committee directs
that the Survey develop a coastal pilot program beginning with
the Southeast region with a research agenda designed to address
the most critical issues facing this region. The Committee
recommends that this work be conducted towards the goals and
objectives consistent with the discussion of ``Future Program
Emphasis'' contained in the recently released National Academy
review of the Survey's Coastal and Marine Geology program. The
Survey should report back to the Committee as soon as possible
detailing how it would allocate these funds among the growing
list of coastal problems. In addition, the Committee also
directs the Survey to develop a comprehensive national coastal
program as part of the fiscal year 2002 budget.
As was the case last year, the Committee continues to
believe that the Survey's highest hazards-related priority
should be to continue to upgrade its various hazards monitoring
networks, to acquire quality hazards information, and to engage
in quality research. Therefore, the Committee has provided
funding for the Survey's ``Real Time Hazards'' initiative.
The Committee encourages further collaborative research
between the Survey and the University of Arizona in Tucson,
concerning surficial geological processes.
Water resources investigations.--The Committee recommends
$187,949,000 for water resources assessments and research a
decrease of $9,627,000 from the budget request and an increase
of $2,130,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including increases
above the 2000 level of $1,730,000 for the Real Time Hazards
initiative, and $400,000 for the water resources research
institutes.
Biological research.--The Committee recommends $140,416,000
for biological research a decrease of $18,365,000 from the
budget request and an increase of $3,520,000 above the 2000
enacted level, including increases from the 2000 level of
$500,000 for the GAP program, $500,000 for amphibian research,
$3,400,000 for high-priority research for the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and $300,000 for the cooperative research
units, and decreases of $180,000 from the Yukon salmon study,
and $1,000,000 as a transfer to the facilities account.
The Committee has provided an additional $3,400,000 to
conduct mission-critical science support for the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. The Fish and Wildlife Service has identified
critical research needs in areas such as species at risk,
invasive species, inventory and monitoring protocols, and
fisheries and aquatic resources. Combined with $550,000 in the
Survey's base for the quick response program, this will
establish a program parallel with the Natural Resources
Preservation program that addresses the National Park Service's
urgent science needs.
The Committee recognizes the importance of the work being
accomplished through the National Gap Analysis program, and
directs the Survey to allocate this funding increase towards
the goal of expanding mapping coverage to the entire Unites
States as quickly as possible.
Science support.--The Committee recommends $67,104,000 for
science support, a decrease of $3,791,000 from the budget
request and the same as the 2000 enacted level.
Facilities.--The Committee recommends $87,118,000 for
facilities, a decrease of $918,000 from the budget request and
$1,500,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including increases
above the 2000 level of $1,000,000 as a transfer from
biological research and monitoring and $500,000 to address the
deteriorating conditions at the Wellsboro lab.
Minerals Management Service
The Minerals Management Service is responsible for
collecting, distributing, accounting and auditing revenues from
mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands. In fiscal year
2001, MMS expects to collect and distribute about $6.2 billion
from more than 80,000 active Federal and Indian leases.
The MMS also manages the offshore energy and mineral
resources on the Nation's Outer Continental Shelf. To date, the
OCS program has been focused primarily on oil and gas leasing.
Over the past few years, MMS has begun exploring the possible
development of other marine mineral resources, especially sand
and gravel.
With the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, MMS
assumed increased responsibility for oil spill research,
including the promotion of increased oil spill response
capabilities, and for oil spill financial responsibility
certifications of offshore platforms and pipelines.
royalty and offshore minerals management
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $110,200,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 134,128,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 127,200,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +17,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -6,928,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $127,200,000 for royalty and
offshore minerals management, a decrease of $6,928,000 from the
budget request and an increase of $17,000,000 above the 2000
enacted level. The Committee recommendation includes an overall
increase in appropriated funds due to a decline of $17,000,000
in excess receipts in the OCS lands activity.
The Committee has included bill language to enable the
Department to proceed with its royalty-in-kind pilot programs.
The Committee understands that it is the Department's intent
that the Treasury shall continue to receive at least as much
royalty income from the pilot programs as they would otherwise
receive from a royalty-in-value program.
Oil Spill Research
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $6,118,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 6,118,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 6,118,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends $6,118,000, to be derived from the
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to conduct oil spill research
and financial responsibility and inspection activities
associated with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law 101-
380. The Committee recommendation is equal to both the budget
request and the fiscal year 2000 level.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSM), through its regulation and technology account, regulates
surface coal mining operations to ensure that the environment
is protected during those operations and that the land is
adequately reclaimed once mining is completed. The OSM
accomplishes this mission by providing grants to those States
that maintain their own regulatory and reclamation programs and
by conducting oversight of State programs. Further, the OSM
administers the regulatory programs in the States that do not
have their own programs and on Federal and tribal lands.
Through its abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation fund
account, the OSM provides environmental restoration at
abandoned coal mines using tonnage-based fees collected from
current coal production operations. In their unreclaimed
condition these abandoned sites may endanger public health and
safety or prevent the beneficial use of land and water
resources.
regulation and technology
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... 95,585,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 97,801,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 97,478,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +1,893,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -323,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $97,753,000 for Regulation and
technology, including the use of $275,000 in civil penalty
collections, which is $323,000 below the request and $1,893,000
above the 2000 level. The increased funding will cover the OSM
fixed cost increases and help the States with their fixed cost
increases.
abandoned mine reclamation fund
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $195,873,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 211,158,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 197,873,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +2,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -13,285,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $197,873,000 for the Abandoned
mine reclamation fund, an increase of $2,000,000 above the 2000
funding level and $13,285,000 below the request. The Committee
recognizes the great amount of reclamation work that remains to
be done and has maintained the funding increase for this
program which was provided last year. The Committee has
continued the authority for the Appalachian Clean Streams
Initiative at a total of $8,000,000 and the minimum State
funding level at $1,500,000. The Committee has not approved the
Administration's request to insert bill language altering the
formula for distributing the increased funding provided for AML
activities. The Committee recognizes that the anthracite coal
producing region has been disproportionately affected by the
adverse effects of past coal mining practices and that acid
mine drainage has damaged the Susquehanna River which flows
into the Chesapeake Bay. The Committee also notes that
additional funding beyond the normal Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania basic abandoned mine land grant is needed to make
a significant impact on this problem. The Committee has
therefore provided an additional $2,000,000 to the Commonwealth
to address reclamation and remediation needs in the anthracite
region.
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs was created in 1824; its
mission is founded on a government-to-government relationship
and trust responsibility that results from treaties with Native
groups. The Bureau delivers services to over one million Native
Americans through 12 regional offices and 83 agency offices. In
addition, the Bureau provides education programs to Native
Americans through the operation of 115 day schools, 56 boarding
schools, and 14 dormitories. Lastly, the Bureau administers
more than 43 million acres of tribally owned land, and 11
million acres of individually owned land.
operation of indian programs
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $1,639,535,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 1,795,010,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 1,657,446,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +17,911,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -137,564,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $1,657,446,000 for the operation
of Indian programs, a decrease of $137,564,000 from the budget
request and an increase of $17,911,000 above the fiscal year
2000 enacted level. The Committee agrees to all internal
transfers by the BIA in the budget request. The Committee has
provided increases above the enacted level to continue to fund
the Administration's request to fix the long standing problems
associated with management of the Indian trust funds.
Once again the Committee has not provided any funds for the
Administration's Indian school bonding initiative. The
Administration needs to seek enactment of the tax credit
portion of this initiative through the legislative Committees
of jurisdiction in House and Senate. Without the tax
provisions, tribes have no authority to issue these types of
school bonds. At such time as the tax provisions are enacted
into law, the Committee will reconsider its decision not to
provide funding for the school bonding initiative.
The Committee directs the Bureau of Indian Affairs to
report on the delivery of services in Maverick County, Texas to
the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and the Kickapoo Traditional
Tribe of Texas. The report should include the current level of
services provided, the mechanisms by which the services are
provided and any recommendations for improving delivery of
services. The Committee expects the report to be completed by
March 1, 2001.
Indian Gaming Commission.--The Committee is concerned that
some Indian tribes may have violated the spirit of their trust
relationships by locating Indian gambling facilities on
property far removed from their reservation which they have
acquired or hope to acquire through the land-in-trust process
in areas where local communities do not support such gambling
enterprises. Under the land-in-trust process Indians may
acquire land and have it placed in trust by the Secretary and
have it treated as ``sovereign'' Indian lands exempt from
certain local regulations and laws. While the approval of the
State governor is required before the Secretary can approve a
land-in-trust proposal, no formal approval of local governments
is required. The Committee is concerned by this situation and
requests that the Secretary be sensitive to local concerns when
considering such land-in-trust applications in the future. The
views of all local government authorities directly affected by
the application should be considered before an application is
approved. Local authorities include the executive authority and
legislative bodies of counties, towns and municipalities in
which such gambling facilities are proposed to be located. The
Committee notes that this concern is not about the right of
Indian tribes to conduct such activities on traditional Indian
reservation lands. Further, the Committee directs the Secretary
of the Interior to conduct a review of the after-acquired, non-
contiguous, land-in-trust process as it relates to gambling
including all applications which have been considered or are
being considered at this time, and report back with
recommendations to deal with this problem.
Tribal priority allocations.--The Committee recommends
$702,207,000 for tribal priority allocations, a decrease of
$58,973,000 from the budget request and an increase of
$1,484,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including increases
from the 2000 level of $57,942,000 resulting from internal
transfers, $3,500,000 for real estate services, $1,100,000 for
real estate appraisals, and $3,000,000 to address the probate
backlog, and decreases of 57,058,000 resulting from internal
transfers, and $7,000,000 from the housing improvement program.
The Committee finds itself in a position of being unable to
fund all of the programs available to Indian Country through
the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This occurs at a time when it is
clear that the Bureau is in desperate need of additional
funding for trust-related programs. There is no other agency in
government that holds these trust land responsibilities. There
are, however, other agencies that have legislative authority to
provide services to Indian country. Therefore, the Committee
has reduced the housing improvement program (HIP) by $7,000,000
with the understanding the Department of Housing and Urban
Development has the responsibility to provide new homes while
the funds remaining in the HIP program should be used for
repairs and rehabilitation of housing only. No funds may be
used for new housing construction.
The Committee once again directs that real estate services
and real estate appraisal funds within Tribal Priority
Allocations are not to be reprogrammed without Committee
approval. Further, probate backlog reduction funds within Non-
recurring Programs and land records improvement funds within
Regional Office Operations are not available for transfer into
the base budget of any tribe.
Within the road maintenance budget the Bureau should
continue to fund the Inchelium Public Ferry on the Colville
reservation.
Other recurring programs.--The Committee recommends
$547,128,000 for other recurring programs, a decrease of
$34,829,000 from the budget request and an increase of
$5,082,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including increases
from the 2000 level of $5,000,000 for school operation ISEP
formula funds, and $1,000,000 for tribally controlled community
colleges, and a decrease of $918,000 resulting from internal
transfers.
Non-recurring programs.--The Committee recommends
$65,650,000 for non-recurring programs, a decrease of
$5,755,000 from the budget request and an increase of
$1,419,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including increases
above the 2000 level of $2,000,000 for real estate services and
$8,000 resulting from transfers, and a decrease of $589,000
from the Gila River Farms project.
Within the $3,000,000 provided for the ``jobs in the
woods'' initiative, $400,000 should continue to be used by the
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for the Wildstock
Restoration Initiative.
Central office operations.--The Committee recommends
$56,637,000 for central office operations, a decrease of
$1,227,000 from the budget request and an increase of
$4,000,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including increases
above the 2000 level of $4,000,000 for Bureau reorganization
efforts as recommended by the National Academy of Public
Administration, and $1,144,000 associated with internal
transfers, and a decrease of $1,144,000 associated with
internal transfers.
Regional office operations.--The Committee recommends
$48,095,000 for regional office operations, a decrease of
$8,699,000 from the budget request and an increase of
$5,854,000 above the 2000 level, including increases from the
2000 level of $2,500,000 for real estate services, $2,400,000
for the land title records office, $1,000,000 for land records
improvements, and $3,422,000 resulting from internal transfers,
and a decrease of $3,468,000 resulting from internal transfers.
Special programs and pooled overhead.--The Committee
recommends $237,729,000 for special programs and pooled
overhead, a decrease of $28,081,000 from the budget request and
an increase of $72,000 above the 2000 enacted level, including
increases from the 2000 level of $91,000 resulting from
internal transfers, and a decrease of $19,000 resulting from
internal transfers.
In fiscal year 2001, the Bureau should continue to pay for
and provide for current levels of service to the Office of
Special Trustee (OST) for Information Resource Management
systems and other contractual costs to support existing
mainframe computers, licenses, and other costs similar to 2000.
The Committee recognizes that BIA's IRM resources are limited
and that system enhancements may be needed by both BIA and OST
trust systems. The Committee expects that investments in
information technology will be implemented in a coordinated and
cost effective manner that ensures no duplication of resources
between BIA and OST, particularly in the area of
telecommunications.
construction
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $197,404,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 365,912,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 184,404,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -13,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -181,508,000
The Committee recommends $184,404,000 for construction, a
decrease of $13,000,000 below the fiscal year 2000 level and
$181,508,000 below the budget request.
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
Education.--The Committee recommends $120,199,000 for
education construction a decrease of $180,300,000 from the
budget request and $13,000,000 below the 2000 enacted level.
Replacement school construction is funded at $49,859,000 which
is sufficient to phase in construction of the Tuba City
Boarding School, AZ; the Second Mesa Day School, AZ; the Zia
Day School, NM; Baca Thoreau Consolidated Community School, NM;
Lummi Tribal School, WA; and Wingate Elementary School, NM.
Within the education construction activity, employee housing
and facilities improvement and repair are funded at the 2000
enacted level.
The Committee has continued the bill language related to
implementing the process to award grants for construction of
new schools or facilities improvement and repair projects in
excess of $100,000. The language ensures that the Department
can continue to implement the grant process while the permanent
implementation process is under development in fiscal year
2001. The Committee expects the Department and the Bureau of
Indian Affairs to continue to work cooperatively with the
tribes in the development of a final implementation process.
Given that the language is clear concerning negotiating the
schedule of payments, the Committee has not continued the
language limiting payments to two per year.
Public safety and justice.--The Committee recommends
$5,537,000 for public safety and justice, the same as the 2000
enacted level and $4,000 below the budget request.
The Committee directs that no later than January 31, 2001
the Bureau submit a comprehensive assessment of the need to
construct a juvenile detention facility for native American
youth in the Pacific Northwest. The Bureau should include the
merits and drawbacks of each potential location studied and an
attempt to estimate inmate population by location.
Resources management.--The Committee recommends $50,573,000
for resources management, a decrease of $72,000 from the budget
request and the same as the 2000 enacted level.
General administration and construction management.--The
Committee recommends $8,095,000 for general administration and
construction management, a decrease of $1,132,000 from the
budget request and the same as the 2000 enacted level.
indian land and water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to
indians
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $27,128,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 34,026,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 34,026,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +6,898,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends $34,026,000 for Indian land and
water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to Indians,
the same as the budget request and an increase of $6,898,000
above the 2000 enacted level, including $626,000 for White
Earth, $251,000 for Hoopa-Yurok, $24,883,000 for the Ute
settlement, $142,000 for Pyramid Lake, $8,000,000 for Rocky
Boys, and $124,000 for Walker River.
indian guaranteed loan program account
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $4,985,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 6,008,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 4,985,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -1,023,000
The Committee recommends $4,985,000 for the Indian
guaranteed loan program account a decrease of $1,023,000 from
the budget request and the same as the 2000 enacted level.
Departmental Offices
Insular Affairs
assistance to territories
The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) was established on
August 4, 1995 through Secretarial Order No. 3191 which also
abolished the former Office of Territorial and International
Affairs. The OIA has important responsibilities to help the
United States government fulfill its responsibilities to the
four U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin
Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands
(CNMI) and also the three freely associated States: the
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the
Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Palau. The permanent
and trust fund payments to the territories and the compact
nations provide substantial financial resources to these
governments.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $70,171,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 73,891,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 69,471,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -700,000
Budget estimate, 2000............................. -4,420,000
The Committee recommends $69,471,000 for assistance to
territories, $700,000 below the fiscal year 2000 level and
$4,420,000 below the budget request.
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
Territorial Assistance.--The Committee recommends
$18,697,000, $1,000,000 above the request and $700,000 below
the 2000 level. The Committee continues to feel that the small,
focused grants awarded through the technical assistance program
are some of the most cost-effective ways of helping the
territories and freely associated states. The Committee
disagrees with the Administration's proposal to guide increased
technical assistance funding solely to the Virgin Islands.
Increased technical assistance funding should be used for
priority efforts which stress financial management and control
for any of the territories or the freely associated States. The
Committee has provided $700,000 within the technical assistance
funding as a direct payment to the Prior Service Trust Fund
which provides benefits owed to former individuals who worked
for the Department of Navy, the Department of the Interior and
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Government during
the period 1944 through 1968. These Prior Service Trust Funds
may not be used for administrative purposes.
The Committee provides up to $300,000 within territorial
assistance to assist the Virgin Islands to repay previous
emergency loans. Under the terms of the Federal Credit Reform
Act of 1990, as amended, discretionary agency action to forgive
a portion of a borrower's obligation to make principal or
interest payments on a direct loan constitutes a modification
of such direct loan, and requires an appropriation to cover the
cost of such modification. Of the amounts made available for
technical assistance, up to $300,000 may be transferred to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover the cost of
FEMA's forgiveness of a portion of the interest which accrues
on Community Disaster Loan Program Account 841 during the
period of FEMA's forbearance on the collection of periodic
payments from the Government of the Virgin Islands on such
Account.
The Committee is encouraged by work on the brown tree
snake, and has maintained the increases previously provided.
The Committee encourages the Department to work diligently with
the Marine Resources Pacific Consortium coordinated by the
University of Guam to enhance management and preservation of
coral reefs among the Pacific Islands of the CNMI, Guam,
American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the
Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
American Samoa.--The Committee recommends $23,054,000,
which is equal to the request and the 2000 level for operations
grants. The Committee is still very concerned about continuing
fiscal problems in American Samoa. The Committee encourages the
American Samoa government to take decisive action to control
its costs and payroll, and enhance its revenues in accordance
with the previous recommendations and any new financial
recovery plan that may be developed as a result of the tobacco
loan program provided last year. The Committee expects the
Governor of American Samoa and the Secretary of the Interior to
complete an MOU, which clearly stipulates fiscal and
operational reforms and cost reductions with clear benchmarks.
If this is not completed and implemented by the time the
Committee considers the fiscal year 2002 Interior
appropriations bill, the Committee will seriously consider
reducing the next American Samoa government operations
appropriation. The Committee also notes the continued mandatory
Covenant grant funding of $10,140,000 for American Samoa
capital construction. The Committee directs the OIA to see that
the American Samoa government provides the Committee with a
comprehensive report describing its capital construction
efforts when the Department submits its next budget
justification.
Northern Mariana Islands/Covenant grants.--The Committee
recommends $27,720,000 for CNMI covenant grants, which is equal
to the 2000 level and $5,420,000 below the request. The
Committee is not able to fund the Administration's request to
provide $10,000,000 to Guam for Compact impact aid. The
Committee defers any changes to mandatory expenditures pending
further analysis of the Administration's request. The Committee
is encouraged by the recent accomplishments of the CNMI in
implementing its capital improvement program. The Committee
encourages the CNMI to enhance efforts to provide fair
treatment of guest workers and to continue its labor and
immigration initiative in earnest.
Guam.--The Committee notes the $4,580,000 payment to Guam
using Covenant grant funds is to address the impact resulting
from the implementation of the Compact of Free Association. The
Committee strongly encourages the government of Guam to work
closely with its legislature in allocating these impact funds.
The OIA should report to the Committee by March 31, 2001 on the
use of Compact impact aid by the Guam government and discuss
the merits of making the use of future Compact impact payments
to Guam subject to the approval of the Guam legislature. The
Committee is concerned about the results of recent Inspector
General audits which demonstrate poor financial practices by
the government of Guam. The Committee requests that the OIA
obtain thorough reports from the government of Guam on how it
expects to comply with recent OIG audits, such as the misuse of
Department of Defense contract funds by the Guam Department of
Education.
compact of free association
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $20,311,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 20,545,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 20,745,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +434,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. +200,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $20,745,000 for the compact of
free association, $200,000 above the request and $434,000 above
the 2000 level. The Committee has provided a $200,000 increase
to the Enewetak support payment to offset partially the
reduction in buying power which has occurred over the past
several years. The Committee is encouraged by the agricultural
program at Enewetak atoll but realizes more time is needed
before substantial food is produced on restored farmland. The
OIA and the State Department negotiators are encouraged to
provide the Committee semi-annual updates on the status of
Compact negotiations with the Federated States of Micronesia
and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Departmental Management
salaries and expenses
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $62,706,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 64,469,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 62,406,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -300,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -2,063,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $62,406,000 for salaries and
expenses, a reduction of $300,000 below the enacted level, and
$2,063,000 below the budget request.
Office of the Solicitor
salaries and expenses
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $40,196,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 43,952,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 40,196,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -3,756,000
The Committee recommends $40,196,000, the same as the
enacted level and $3,756,000 below the budget request.
Office of Inspector General
salaries and expenses
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $26,086,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 28,859,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 26,086,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -2,773,000
The Committee recommends $26,086,000, the same as the
enacted level and a reduction of $2,773,000 below the budget
request.
Office of Special Trustee for American Indians
federal trust programs
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $90,025,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 82,628,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 82,428,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -7,597,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -200,000
The Committee recommends $82,428,000 for the office of the
special trustee for American Indians a decrease of $7,597,000
from the 2000 enacted level and $200,000 below the budget
request. The Committee has provided $1,992,000 for executive
direction and $80,436,000 for program operations, support and
improvements.
indian land consolidation
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $5,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 12,501,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 5,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -7,501,000
The Committee recommends $5,000,000 for Indian land
consolidation, the same as the 2000 enacted level and
$7,501,000 below the budget request.
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
natural resource damage assessment fund
The purpose of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund
is to provide the basis for claims against responsible parties
for the restoration of injured natural resources. Assessments
ultimately will lead to the restoration of injured resources
and reimbursement for reasonable assessment costs from
responsible parties through negotiated settlements or other
legal actions. Operating on a ``polluter pays'' principle, the
program anticipates recovering over $43 million in receipts in
fiscal year 2001, with the vast majority to be used for the
restoration of injured resources. The program works to restore
sites ranging in size from small town landfills to the Exxon
Valdez oil spill of 1989 in Alaska.
This account, prior to fiscal year 1999, was included under
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service appropriation. The
account was moved to the Departmental Offices appropriation
because its functions relate to several different bureaus
within the Department of the Interior.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $5,374,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 5,403,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 5,374,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -29,000
The Committee recommends $5,374,000 for the natural
resource damage assessment fund, which is equal to the fiscal
year 2000 level and $29,000 below the budget request.
GENERAL PROVISIONS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The Committee recommends continuing several provisions
carried in previous bills as follows. Sections 101 and 102
provide for emergency transfer authority with the approval of
the Secretary. Section 103 provides for warehouse and garage
operations and for reimbursement for those services. Section
104 provides for vehicle and other services. Section 105
provides for uniform allowances. Section 106 provides for
twelve-month contracts. Sections 107 through 110 prohibit the
expenditure of funds for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing
activities in certain areas. These OCS provisions are addressed
under the Minerals Management Service in this report. Section
111 limits the investment of Federal funds by tribes and tribal
organizations to obligations of the United States or
obligations insured by the United States. Section 112 prohibits
the National Park Service from reducing recreation fees for
non-local travel through any park unit.
Section 113 makes permanent a provision carried last year
permitting the retention of rebates from credit card services
for deposit to the Departmental Working Capital Fund.
Section 114 continues a provision permitting the transfer
of funds between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of
Special Trustee for American Indians for the Trust Management
Improvement Project High Level Implementation Plan.
Section 115 makes permanent a provision carried last year
permitting the retention of proceeds from agreements and leases
at the Fort Baker, Golden Gate National Recreation Area for
preservation, restoration, operation, maintenance,
interpretation and related activities.
Section 116 requires the renewal of grazing permits and
leases by the Bureau of Land Management until the Secretary
completes processing of the permit or lease application.
Section 117 continues a provision allowing the hiring of
administrative law judges to address the Indian probate
backlog.
Section 118 permits the redistribution of tribal priority
allocation and tribal base funds to alleviate funding
inequities.
Section 119 continues a provision carried last year, under
Title III placing a limitation on establishment of a Kankakee
National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana and Illinois that is
inconsistent with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers' efforts to
control flooding and siltation in that area.
Section 120 renames the Great Marsh Trail at the Mason Neck
National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia as the ``Joseph V.
Gartlan, Jr. Great Marsh Trail''.
Section 121 continues a provision carried last year
requiring the allocation of Bureau of Indian Affairs
postsecondary schools funds consistent with unmet needs.
Section 122 prohibits the use of funds by the Fish and
Wildlife Service to establish a National Wildlife Refuge in the
Yolo Bypass of California.
TITLE II--RELATED AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service manages 192 million acres of public
lands for multiple use Nationwide, including lands in 44
States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Forest Service
administers a wide variety of programs, including forest and
rangeland research, State and private forestry assistance,
wildfire suppression and fuels reduction, cooperative forest
health programs, and human resource programs. The National
Forest System (NFS) includes 155 National forests, 20 National
grasslands, 20 National recreation areas, a National tallgrass
prairie, 4 National monuments, and 9 land utilization projects.
The NFS is managed for multiple use, including timber
production, recreation, wilderness, minerals, grazing, fish and
wildlife habitat management, and soil and water conservation.
The Committee has made several changes to enhance
accountability and increase Congressional involvement with
Forest Service management of funds. In addition, the Committee
has developed, following extensive consultation, a new budget
structure for the national forest system and the capital
improvement and maintenance accounts. The details of these
changes are discussed below under the individual account
headings. The Committee remains very concerned that too much
funding is taken off-the-top for various headquarters-driven
initiatives and special projects, all to the detriment of vital
on-the-ground conservation and public service activities. The
Forest Service needs to evaluate carefully its allocation of
funds to the various levels of the organization. The Committee
expects reforms that would link budget formulation and
allocation to local forest plan derived programs of work.
Further, the Committee is seriously concerned that the present
allocation process results in remixing and reprioritizing funds
before ultimately reaching the national forest level for
accomplishment of work intended by the Congress. As discussed
in detail by the GAO and the National Academy of Public
Administration (NAPA), a missing link is strong and effective
performance measurement and evaluation.
The Committee has included two significant budgetary
changes that it expects will facilitate the Administration's
promise to improve overall agency accountability and facilitate
Congressional oversight. These changes have a direct effect on
the Committee display of the fiscal year 2000 enacted amount.
First, the Committee concurs with the Administration's proposed
adjustments for ``Primary Purpose'' and fully expects the
agency to deliver on its promise to improve agency
accountability by providing for consistent expenditure of funds
based on national standards which result in charging
expenditures to a single budget line item based on an
activity's ``primary purpose.'' The Committee directs that
these accounting changes are in fact work neutral as promised
by the Forest Service, so that all fiscal year 2000 timber and
recreation targets directed by the Congress are achieved.
Second, the Committee agrees to the proposal to eliminate the
general administration funding activity. As discussed in
previous Senate and House Committee reports and the NAPA
report, this activity code was not useful for cost containment
or accountability. The Committee has agreed to this change and
directs the agency to provide detailed explanations and
displays of indirect costs, and adhere consistently to standard
accounting definitions determined by the Federal Accounting
Standards Advisory Board.
The following table displays the effects of implementing
the primary purpose accounting principle and the appropriate
general administration adjustments. The adjusted fiscal year
2000 levels are used as the basis for all comparisons in this
Committee report. The table also displays the fixed cost
increases, essentially the impact of inflation, by budget
activity.
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2000 FY 2000 Adjusted FY
Original FY primary general 2000 FY 2001 Budget
Activity 2000 purpose admin. enacted to fixed costs request
enacted adjust. adjust. date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research.......................... 202,510 -2,363 17,547 217,694 7,272 231,008
=============================================================================
State and Private Forestry:
Forest Health Federal Lands... 38,782 -709 2,230 40,303 1,080 41,724
Forest Health Cooperative 21,850 -181 103 21,772 139 21,118
Lands........................
Forest Resource Info & ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... 0
Analysis.....................
State Fire Assistance......... 24,733 -911 107 23,929 113 30,006
Volunteer Fire Assistance..... 3,250 -11 1 3,240 0 2,498
Forest Stewardship............ 29,398 -937 1,372 29,833 621 29,407
Stewardship Incentives........ 0 0 0 0 0 3,250
Forest Legacy Program......... 24,972 -64 25 24,933 47 59,768
Urban and Community Forestry.. 31,265 -527 158 30,896 125 39,471
Economic Action Programs...... 20,104 -192 286 20,198 67 17,267
Pacific Northwest Assistance.. 7,991 -373 238 7,856 54 6,822
International Forestry........ (3500) ........... ........... (3500) 0 10,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total--State and Private 202,345 -3,905 4,520 202,960 2,246 261,331
Forestry...................
=============================================================================
National Forest System:
Land Management Planning...... 39,738 5,365 5,064 50,167 2,021 77,957
Inventory and Monitoring...... 87,771 39,459 11,096 138,326 3,525 193,002
Vegetation & watershed mgmt... 155,942 -7,454 17,514 166,002 4,582 171,379
Wildlife & Fish habitat Mgmt.. 108,211 -6,752 13,398 114,857 3,971 135,542
Recreation, Heritage & 197,562 -20,930 27,232 203,864 8,318 249,348
wilderness...................
Forest Products............... 223,029 -21,757 36,619 237,891 7,253 230,417
Grazing Management............ 28,792 -916 4,955 32,831 1,025 32,892
Landownership Mgmt............ 62,609 12,218 7,738 82,565 1,433 73,297
Minerals and Geology Mgmt..... 36,956 4,154 5,062 46,172 1,273 49,899
Law Enforcement Operations.... 66,847 1,039 2,025 69,911 1,847 72,838
General Administration........ 248,362 -4,517 -243,845 0 7,109 0
Land between the Lakes NRA.... 5,365 0 0 5,365 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total--National Forest 1,261,184 -91 -113,142 1,147,951 42,357 1,286,571
System.....................
=============================================================================
Wildland Fire Management:
Preparedness.................. 359,840 3,085 45,843 408,768 8,409 404,343
Fire Operations............... 200,687 482 7,719 208,888 3,019 216,029
Land between the Lakes NRA.... 300 0 0 300 0 0
Emergency Conting. (non-add).. 90,000 0 90,000 90,000 0 150,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total--Wildland Fire 560,827 3,567 143,562 617,956 11,428 620,372
Management.................
=============================================================================
Capital Improvement & Maintenance:
Facilities.................... 134,075 12,429 7,144 153,648 1,477 144,797
Roads......................... 211,778 -12,592 20,448 219,634 3,551 217,853
Trails........................ 49,841 3,718 8,802 62,361 1,270 62,264
Land Between the Lakes NRA.... 1,200 0 0 1,200 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total--Cap. Improv. & Maint. 396,894 3,555 36,394 436,843 6,298 424,914
=============================================================================
Land Acquisition:
Acquisitions.................. 67,510 ........... ........... 67,510 0 118,000
Acquisition Management........ 8,492 -786 1,119 8,825 301 8,265
Cash equalization............. 1,500 ........... ........... 1,500 ........... 1,500
Emergency acquisition......... 1,500 ........... ........... 1,500 ........... 1,500
Wilderness protection......... 500 ........... ........... 500 ........... 1,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total--Land Acquisition..... 79,502 -786 1,119 79,835 301 130,265
=============================================================================
Other Appropriations:
Land Acquisition--Special Acts 1,069 -1 0 1,068 0 0
Land Acquisition--Exchanges... 210 24 0 234 0 0
Range Betterment Fund......... 3,300 0 0 3,300 0 0
Gifts, Donations & Bequests... 92 0 0 92 0 92
Southeast AK Assistance Fund.. 22,000 0 0 22,000 0 0
Subsistence Uses--Alaska...... 0 0 0 0 0 5,500
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total--Other Appropriations. 26,671 23 0 26,694 0 5,592
=============================================================================
Total--Discretionary 2,729,933 0 0 2,729,933 69,902 2,960,053
Appropriations without
emergency..................
Total with Emergency........ 2,819,933 0 0 2,819,933 69,902 3,110,053
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
forest and rangeland research
Research and development sponsors basic and applied
scientific research. This research should provide both credible
and relevant knowledge about forests and rangelands and new
technologies that can be used to sustain the health,
productivity, and diversity of private and public lands to meet
the needs of present and future generations. Research is
conducted across the U.S. through six research stations, the
Forest Products Laboratory, and the International Institute of
Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico as well as cooperative
research efforts with many of the Nation's universities. The
Committee stresses that this research and development should
support all of the Nation's forests and rangelands and that
technology transfer and practical applications are vital.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $217,694,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 231,008,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 224,966,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +7,272,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -6,042,000
The Committee recommends $224,966,000 for forest and
rangeland research, $6,042,000 below the budget request and
$7,272,000 above the 2000 funding level. The Committee held an
oversight hearing this year on the effectiveness and mission of
Forest Service research and development. The Committee stresses
the need for collaborative research with land managing
agencies, private and public forest managers, and especially,
universities. The funding allocation covers the 2000 research
program and provides an increase for uncontrolled cost
increases. This funding maintains the forest inventory and
analysis (FIA) funding at the 2000 level plus fixed cost
increases. The State and private forestry appropriation
includes $5,000,000 in new funds for a cost-share program to
accelerate the FIA program in those states providing matching
funds or in-kind services. The Committee continues the ``CROP''
project on the Colville National Forest at the $200,000 level.
The Coweeta ecological research site funding should be no less
than the previous year's funding level, plus fixed costs.
The Committee remains concerned about the cost and
efficiency of the consolidation of the former Intermountain
Research Station with the Rocky Mountain Research Station in
Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as the impact on scientific
research on the ground. The Committee is concerned that at the
same time that research projects are being cut throughout the
former Intermountain Station, requests are being made of the
Congress to provide additional funding for costs associated
with the new buildings for the Rocky Mountain Headquarters in
Fort Collins. The Committee is concerned that four NFS regions
may be too large of an area for one station to effectively
manage or to give proper attention to local research
requirements. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of
Agriculture to re-examine the consolidation of the
Intermountain and Rocky Mountain Research Stations and report
back to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
within nine months of enactment on options to de-consolidate
the station back into two separate research units. The report
should include specific comparisons of the fixed overhead costs
prior to consolidation, what those costs are now, and what they
might be with de-consolidation. This should include a direct
comparison between administrative staffs that were formerly
shared with Region 4 and what those same Rocky Mountain Station
staffs cost now, as well as the percent of appropriated funds
spent on overhead costs for the past 5 years, to include the 2
years prior to consolidation (1996-1997) and the 3 years since
(1998-2000). In addition, the report should include impacts to
specific research projects and dollars spent on those research
projects over the same 5-year period within the current Rocky
Mountain Station area and consider the benefits of collocating
research units with NFS regional offices in Ogden, UT and
Lakewood, CO.
state and private forestry
Through cooperative programs with State and local
governments, forest industry, conservation organizations, and
private landowners, the Forest Service supports the protection
and management of the nearly 500 million acres of non-federal
forests in the country. Technical and financial assistance is
offered to improve fire management; control insects and
disease; improve harvesting, processing and monitoring of
forest products; and stimulate stewardship of private forests
through planning, reforestation and timber stand improvement.
The Forest Service provides special expertise and disease
suppression for all Federal and tribal lands, as well as
cooperative assistance with the States for State and private
lands.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $202,960,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 261,331,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 197,337,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -5,623,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -63,994,000
The Committee recommends $197,337,000 for State and private
forestry, $63,994,000 below the budget request and $5,623,000
below the 2000 funding level.
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
Forest health management.--The Committee recommends
$63,794,000 for forest health management, $952,000 above the
request and $1,719,000 above the 2000 funding level for these
activities. The Committee reiterates its concern with forest
health in the broad sense; the funding level for Federal lands
forest health management maintains previous funding increases
and fully funds fixed cost increases as well as requested
program increases. It is vital that the Forest Service provide
all Federal land managers with quality, timely insect and
disease expertise, inventories, and where needed, control so as
to protect Federal lands and investments and also protect
neighboring private, tribal or State lands. The Committee
directs the Forest Service to keep insect and disease risk maps
up-to-date and provide the Congress with updated maps at least
on a semi-annual basis.
The Committee recommends $22,411,000 for cooperative lands
forest health management, $1,293,000 above the request and
$639,000 above the 2000 funding level. Funding for the
cooperative lands forest health management activity should
fully fund the Slow-the-spread gypsy moth program and provides
a $500,000 additional allocation for work to control and manage
the Asian long-horned beetle.
Cooperative fire protection.--The Committee recommends
$30,000,000 for cooperative fire protection, $2,831,000 above
the 2000 funding level and $2,504,000 below the budget request
for these activities. The Committee recommends an increase of
$1,071,000 for State fire assistance above the 2000 funding
level. The Committee recognizes and applauds the successful
partnership of the Forest Service and the States at wildfire
management. The Committee has more than doubled the
administration's requested allocation to the volunteer fire
assistance program to a funding level of $5,000,000. Volunteers
not only provide vital assistance to their home districts, but
it is in the Federal interest to have these firefighters
equipped with compatible gear so they can be effective members
of multi-agency wildfire teams during emergencies.
Cooperative forestry.--The Committee recommends $99,043,000
for cooperative forestry, $56,942,000 below the budget request
and $14,673,000 below the 2000 funding level. The Committee
recommends $31,454,000 for forest stewardship, $1,621,000 above
the 2000 funding level and $2,047,000 above the request. This
provides full funding for fixed cost increases, the budget
request, and an increase above the request of $500,000 for
activities in the New York City watershed and maintains the
Chesapeake Bay watershed program at $500,000. The Committee has
inadequate resources to fund the stewardship incentives program
at this time. The Committee does not have the resources
available to expand greatly the forest legacy program as has
been requested. The forest legacy program is allocated
$10,000,000, a substantial increase to the 1999 and earlier
year funding levels. The Committee directs the Forest Service
to allocate forest legacy funding to those projects which
enhance Federal lands, Federal investments or complement past
Federal assistance efforts. States should be prepared to
explain and justify projects before Federal funding is
provided. The Committee recommends $31,521,000 for the urban
and community forestry activity, $625,000 above the 2000
funding level and $7,950,000 below the request. This
recommendation includes $250,000 to support the Northeastern
Pennsylvania community forestry program. The Committee is
concerned about the Inspector General's recent report
documenting questionable practices, fraud, waste and abuse in
the urban resources partnership program. The Committee has
included bill language implementing a one-year moratorium on
the use of any funds for this program in a similar manner to
that proposed by the House agriculture appropriations
subcommittee.
The Committee is aware of the 1993 U.S. Forest Service
study on the Highlands region in New Jersey. The Committee is
encouraged by this initial effort and urges the Forest Service
to work with the States of New Jersey and New York to update
this study to include a multi-state approach to preserving the
Highlands region.
The Committee has provided $5,000,000 within the
Cooperative forestry account for a new effort, Forest resource
information and analysis. These funds should be used to
implement a cost-share effort in partnership with the State
foresters and others to enhance the forest inventory and
analysis program, which is managed within the forest research
and development branch. This funding increase should help
implement a recently signed MOU between the Forest Service and
the National Association of State Foresters. The funds should
be used to accelerate the inventory cycle time and should be
used in those States which can provide cost-shares of funds or
in-kind services.
The Committee recommends $14,246,000 for economic action
programs, $3,021,000 below the request and $5,952,000 below the
2000 level. The Committee has been provided no clear
explanation for the request to transfer $6,000,000 from the
economic action program to the USDA Rural Business Cooperative
Service. Once again, the Committee reiterates that requests of
this nature should be referred to the proper appropriations
subcommittee.
Within the economic action program the Committee recommends
the following distribution of funds:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 request 2001 Committee
Program component ($000) recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic recovery base program........ 3,642 3,642
4 Corners forestry................ 250 500
Graham County, NC econ. plan...... 0 10
---------------------------------
Subtotal econ recov............. 3,892 4,152
Rural development base program........ 2,192 2,192
NE & Midwest allocation........... 381 2,000
4 Corners forestry................ 250 500
Hawaii training................... 100 0
NY City watershed................. 150 300
---------------------------------
Subtotal rural dev.............. 3,073 4,992
Forest products conservation and
recycling:
FPCR base......................... 1,080 1,080
Wood Educ. & Res. Center, WV...... 2,300 0
---------------------------------
Subtotal forest prod cons. & 3,380 1,080
recy...........................
Wood in transportation................ 922 922
Smart growth loans.................... 6,000 0
---------------------------------
Programs subtotal............... 17,267 11,146
Special projects:
NY City watershed................. 0 500
Brevard College, NC Cradle of 0 300
Forestry envir. ed...............
Columbia River Gorge NSA Mosier 0 500
Beach facilities.................
Lake Tahoe erosion grants......... 0 1,500
Univ. WA landscape ecology........ 0 300
---------------------------------
Subtotal special projects....... 0 3,100
Total Economic Action........... 17,267 14,246
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee recommends $6,822,000 for the Pacific
Northwest Assistance programs as requested, a decrease of
$1,034,000 from the 2000 level. This funding includes $500,000
to continue the University of Washington and Washington State
University technology transfer extension activities begun last
year. The Committee encourages the Forest Service to consider
funding grant requests for economic development coming from
communities adversely impacted by the recent Presidential
declaration of a Giant Sequoia National Monument in California.
International forestry.--The Committee has provided
specific funding for international forestry program activities
as requested in order to depict clearly the budgetary
implications of this activity. International forestry is
provided $4,500,000, $5,500,000 below the request and
$1,000,000 above the funding level which was allowed in fiscal
year 2000. The Committee is encouraged by the successful
partnerships in the international program and expects the
increased funding to be allocated to invasive species control
and management and migratory species habitat conservation.
These international forestry program activities should focus on
efforts which have end results that include benefits to
domestic forest conditions and the American public.
National Forest System
Within the National Forest System, which covers 192 million
acres, there are 51 Congressionally designated areas, including
20 National recreation areas, and 7 National scenic areas. The
NFS includes a substantial amount of the Nation's softwood
inventory. More than 9,000 farmers and ranchers pay for permits
to graze cattle, horses, sheep and goats on 74 million acres of
grassland, open forests, and other forage-producing acres of
the National forest system. Recreational use of National forest
land amounted to approximately 859 million visits in 1997. The
NFS includes over 133,087 miles of trails and 23,000 developed
facilities, including 4,389 campgrounds, 58 major visitor
centers, and about one-half of the Nation's ski-lift capacity.
Wilderness areas cover 35 million acres, nearly two-thirds of
the wilderness in the contiguous 48 States. The Forest Service
also has major habitat management responsibilities for more
than 3,000 species of wildlife and fish, and 10,000 plant
species and provides important habitat and open space for over
300 threatened or endangered species. Half of the Nation's big
game and coldwater fish habitat, including salmon and
steelhead, is located on National forest system lands and
waters. In addition, in the 16 western States, where the water
supply is sometimes critically short, about 55 percent of the
total annual yield of water is from National forest system
lands.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $1,147,951,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 1,286,571,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 1,207,545,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +59,594,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -79,026,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $1,207,545,000 for the National
forest system, $79,026,000 below the budget request and
$59,594,000 above the 2000 funding level. The Committee has
presented a new budget structure for the National forest system
activities. This is the result of extensive consultation and
deliberation with the Senate, the GAO, the National Academy of
Public Administration and other knowledgeable bodies. The
Committee previously requested a detailed study by the NAPA on
Forest Service efforts to implement new accounting systems and
to achieve managerial accountability. The GAO has also
conducted a series of very useful evaluations of agency
decision making, accounting, and program implementation. The
Committee investigative staff also evaluated the agency's
ability to conduct integrated programs and found that reforms
were needed. The NAPA study presented four main findings: that
a simplified budget structure would aid integrated land
management and increase accounting efficiency; that
organizational change was needed along with substantive reforms
to budget formulation and allocation methods; that performance
measurement and executive leadership were inadequate; and that
financial system reforms being implemented may be on the right
track, but that the immediate office organization for the Chief
Financial Officer was excessive. The Committee finds the NAPA
report to be extremely useful and expects it to be carefully
evaluated by the Forest Service. The budget structure for the
National forest system recommended by the NAPA, and presented
by the Forest Service in its 2001 request, called for a
dramatic reduction of funding categories from 20 to just three.
The Committee is not prepared, nor does it feel that the Forest
Service is prepared, to implement such a dramatic change. The
Committee has developed a new budget structure which increases
integrated management of vegetation and watersheds, but retains
important, recognizable programs for major Forest Service
responsibilities, such as forest products, recreation, wildlife
and fish habitat, and law enforcement. The following table
explains the relationship between the previous and the
recommended budget structure:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former
Previous budget structure: Recommended budget subactivities
structure included
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land mgmt Planning.............. Land management ..................
planning.
Inventory and Monitoring........ Inventory and ..................
monitoring.
Minerals and Geology Mgmt....... Minerals and ..................
geology mgmt.
Law Enforcement Operations...... Law enforcement ..................
operations.
Recreation mgmt................. Recreation, Recreation mgmt.
heritage &
wilderness
Wilderness mgmt................. .................. Wilderness mgmt.
Heritage Resources.............. .................. Heritage
Resources.
Wildlife habitat mgmt........... Wildlife & Wildlife habitat
fisheries habitat mgmt.
mgmt.
Inland Fisheries habitat mgmt... .................. Inland Fisheries
habitat mgmt.
Anad. Fish habitat mgmt......... .................. Anad. Fish habitat
mgmt.
TE&S; species habitat mgmt....... .................. TE&S; species
habitat mgmt.
Real Estate mgmt................ Landownership Real Estate mgmt.
management.
Land Line Location.............. .................. Land Line
Location.
Timber Sales mgmt............... Forest products... Timber Sales mgmt.
Forest Vegetation mgmt. ..................
Grazing management.............. Grazing management Grazing
management.
Range Vegetation mgmt. ..................
Soil, Water & Air Operations.... Vegetation & Forest Vegetation
watershed mgmt. mgmt.
Watershed Improvements.......... .................. Range Vegetation
mgmt.
Watershed
Improvements.
Soil, Water & Air
Operations.
General Administration.......... (none, indirect costs limited by
legislative language, funds spread to
all accounts).
Total: 20 activities or 10 activities.....
subactivities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
[Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2000 enacted Committee
Activity to date Budget request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Forest System:
Land Management Planning................................. 50,167 77,957 52,188
Inventory and Monitoring................................. 138,326 193,002 141,851
Vegetation & watershed mgmt.............................. 166,002 171,379 176,984
Wildlife & Fish habitat Mgmt............................. 114,857 135,542 120,828
Recreation, Heritage & wilderness........................ 203,864 249,348 229,282
Forest Products.......................................... 237,891 230,417 245,144
Grazing Management....................................... 32,831 32,892 33,856
Landownership Mgmt....................................... 82,565 73,297 86,609
Minerals and Geology Mgmt................................ 46,172 49,899 47,445
Law Enforcement Operations............................... 69,911 72,838 73,358
Land between the Lakes NRA............................... 5,365 0 0
--------------------------------------------------
Total--National Forest System.......................... 1,147,951 1,286,571 1,207,545
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land management planning.--The Committee recommends
$52,188,000 for land management planning, $2,021,000 above the
2000 level and $25,769,000 below the request. This funding is
provided for National forest and grassland planning, including
plan amendments, revisions, and updates. The Committee is
retaining this as a separate activity because this offers the
best means of achieving some cost accountability and control
for the endless planning efforts engaged in by the Forest
Service. The Forest Service must limit planning activities to
these funds and not use other funds to support the land
management planning activity.
Inventory and monitoring.--The Committee recommends
$141,851,000 for inventory and monitoring, $51,151,000 below
the request and $3,525,000 above the 2000 level.
Recreation, heritage and wilderness.--The Committee
recommends $229,282,000 for recreation heritage and wilderness,
$20,066,000 below the budget request and $25,418,000 above the
2000 level. The Committee disapproves the Administration
request to transfer recreation funds to the construction
activity for tourism. The Committee has monitored closely the
Forest Service implementation of the recreation fee
demonstration program. Although there have been some
difficulties, the agency is congratulated for its flexibility
and innovation. The Committee stresses that recreation fees
should never be used to replace appropriated funds; the fees
should be used for direct improvements on-site that enhance the
recreation experience. The Committee has provided a substantial
funding increase that should be used to enhance service to the
public and protect National forest system lands and waters as
well as heritage sites and activities. The challenge cost share
(CCS) program funding for recreation use should be no less than
the 2000 level. The Committee recognizes the National
significance of the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and
Florida National Scenic Trails and the Nez Perce National
Historic Trail and directs that funding for their management be
no less than the 2000 level. Similarly, funding should be
maintained at least at the 2000 level for those parts of the
Appalachian, North Country and Ice Age National Scenic Trails
and the Lewis & Clark, Santa Fe, Iditarod, Oregon, California,
and Pony Express and Overmountain Victory National Historic
trails managed by the Forest Service. The Committee has also
added $100,000 to the recreation allocation for the Forest
Service to hire a full time Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) manager,
who should report to all three regional foresters responsible
for portions of the PCT, and who should coordinate the
activities all along the trail's two dozen national forests,
six national parks, four BLM management areas, five State parks
and more than 200 private land holdings.
Wildlife and fish habitat management.--The Committee
recommends $120,828,000 for wildlife and fish habitat
management, $14,714,000 below the request and $5,971,000 above
the 2000 level. The increase above the 2000 level is to offset
fixed cost increases. The Committee expects that these funds
will be used to implement effective habitat conservation and
restoration efforts and not be used as support for other
business. The CCS program funding should be at least at the
2000 levels and should not be subordinated to other internal
overhead or program management uses. The Forest Service should
collaborate with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and
other partners to see that effective conservation projects are
implemented on the ground.
Grazing management.--The Committee recommends $33,856,000
for grazing management, $964,000 above the budget request and
$1,025,000 above the 2000 funding level. The increased funding
over 2000 is provided for fixed cost increases. The Committee
has moved the former rangeland vegetation management
subactivity to the new vegetation and watershed management
activity to enhance integrated landscape and site treatments.
The Region 5 grazing monitoring cooperative program should be
maintained at the 2000 funding level. The Committee encourages
the Forest Service to ensure that decisions affecting the
establishment of AUM's on grazing allotments in the Lincoln NF,
NM, are based on field review and not just on the basis of
computer models.
Forest products.--The Committee recommends $245,144,000 for
forest products, $14,727,000 above the budget request and
$7,253,000 above the 2000 funding level. This activity includes
the program supported by the former timber sales management
subactivity. The Committee has moved the former forestland
vegetation management subactivity to the new vegetation and
watershed management activity to enhance integrated landscape
and site treatments. The Committee is very concerned about the
health of forests on National forest system lands and
accordingly has provided a variety of mechanisms to enhance
vegetation management activities. The Forest Service allocation
of timber sales and vegetation management funds should include
a mechanism to provide substantially more resources to those
areas of the Nation that are at risk to insect, disease or
wildfire loss. The Committee has provided adequate funding to
implement the end-result stewardship pilot projects. The
Committee urges the Forest Service to speed-up implementation
of the botanical forest products pilot program enacted last
year.
The Committee notes that the fuelwood and special forest
products programs, as well as stewardship timber sales, are
cost effective ways of servicing public needs and improving
forest stand conditions even though these programs cause the
overall timber sales program to have a higher cost than
monetary return. The Committee understands that these programs
are providing substantial public benefits, so the Nation is
well served with appropriated funds going for these purposes.
The Committee has funded the timber sales program to produce
the same total sale offer as should have been accomplished in
fiscal years 1999 and 2000, about 3.6 billion board feet (BBF),
consisting of 2.6 BBF of green sales. The remainder of the
expected timber sales consists of the administration-requested
level for the salvage sales program. The Committee notes that
this harvest level is greatly reduced from recent times and
that local economies cannot withstand further reductions to
this program. The Committee is discouraged by the failure of
the Forest Service to perform even up to this reduced level.
To ensure that Congress is adequately informed and notified
of progress or delays in implementing the fiscal year 2001
program, the Committee requests that the agency continue its
regular, quarterly reporting of timber sale preparation, offer,
sale and harvest accomplishments--including a region-by-region
status report. The Committee expects the reports to include
detailed information on the status of the timber sales pipeline
and an identification of the volumes offered, sold, and
harvested categorized as net merchantable sawtimber. Timber
program accomplishments should report timber actually sold and
transferred to purchasers, and the volume offered. The reports
are to be as comprehensive as possible and provide information
on both green and salvage sales. Any additional salvage
opportunities that may arise during fiscal year 2001 should not
impact green sale targets.
Vegetation and watershed management.--The Committee
recommends $176,984,000 for vegetation and watershed
management, $5,605,000 above the budget request for these
activities and $10,982,000 above the 2000 funding level. In
order to enhance watershed and vegetation management in an
integrated fashion, the Committee has moved the former
forestland and rangeland vegetation management subactivities to
be joined with the former soil, water and air operations and
watershed improvements subactivities. This should provide
greater flexibility to treat priority forest and rangelands
that need enhancement or restoration, and provide for more on-
the-ground work due to the decrease in administration and
accounting previously required. The Committee directs that
future budget justifications will display an integrated
approach which includes priority work in those areas of the
Nation with greater needs. The displays should also clearly
depict the role of other habitat and restoration funds, such as
wildlife and fish habitat, the KV fund, the reforestation fund,
and the road and trail fund. The Forest Service should
implement a CCS program for these activities that is no less
than the 2000 level, and a strong effort should be made to
increase this CCS effort in 2002 and thereafter. The Committee
directs the Forest Service to use the reforestation fund, as
authorized, in conjunction with other vegetation management
funds to provide an integrated, effective means of treating
forests in need of forest health restoration. The Committee
directs the Forest Service to report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations by March 1, 2001 on the specific
use of the reforestation fund for 2001 and provide a plan for
using these funds in an integrated fashion to help reduce the
great backlog of forests in poor conditions. The Committee has
included $300,000 to continue the CROP program to treat
stagnated stands on the Colville NF, $1,000,000 to continue the
priority acid mine watershed restoration work on the Wayne NF,
and $360,000 for the Rubio Canyon water line project on the
Angeles NF.
Minerals and geology management.--The Committee recommends
$47,445,000 for minerals and geology management, $2,454,000
below the budget request and $1,273,000 above the 2000 funding
level. The Committee recommended funding level should cover
fixed cost increases.
Land ownership management.--The Committee recommends
$86,609,000 for land ownership management, $13,312,000 above
the request and $4,044,000 above the 2000 funding level. The
Committee directs the Forest Service to report to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations by March 31, 2001 on its
progress at using new authority to recover the costs of permit
administration as well as its progress at working with the FERC
on funding necessary environmental analysis for hydropower dam
relicensing. The Committee has included $250,000 to support a
full time lands team to work on the Pacific Crest Trail project
and focus on those trail segments where access and public
service needs are greatest.
Law enforcement operations.--The Committee recommends
$73,358,000 for law enforcement operations, $520,000 above the
budget request and $3,447,000 above the 2000 funding level. The
Committee remains concerned about special law enforcement
problems associated with marijuana eradication in the Daniel
Boone National Forest and therefore has added $500,000 for
these efforts. These funds are to be provided for this activity
without reducing base services within the Region 8 law
enforcement program. The Committee encourages the Forest
Service and the Secretary of the Interior to work more closely
with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the EPA in
southeastern Arizona to develop a plan to coordinate activities
addressing illegal immigration crossing through Federal lands,
and additionally, to provide the Committee by October 1, 2001,
a plan coordinated with the EPA to mitigate environmental
damage caused by illegal immigrant crossings through these
Federal lands.
Land Between the Lakes NRA.--The Committee notes that the
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) (KY and
TN), was transferred to Forest Service management from the
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Accordingly, the Committee
has included $8,000,000 this year to provide for management of
the LBL by the Forest Service. The Committee has not selected
specific accounts but directs the Forest Service to report to
the Committee by March 1, 2001 on the funding mix used, by
appropriation account and activity. The Committee is generally
pleased with the transition as it is being accomplished by the
TVA and the Forest Service. The Committee expects that there
will not be a diminution of public service and conservation now
that the transfer has occurred. The Committee recognizes that
this transition will be difficult and take some time, and
accordingly, has included an administrative provision which
allows the Forest Service to use, for a two year transition
period, procurement authorities similar to those used in the
recent past by the TVA. The Committee expects the Forest
Service to resume revenue generating management programs, as
appropriate, in an expeditious manner.
General.--The Committee remains concerned about
accountability for funds. As discussed in last year's Committee
report, the Forest Service is to maintain all specific
Congressional designations, in any amount, or to submit a
reprogramming request if any such designation is proposed for a
change. The Committee is also concerned about ``National
commitments'' and ``Washington Office external'' charges. These
items should be clearly displayed and explained in the budget
justification and efforts should be made to reduce these
expenses. The Committee directs that no funds be used for the
natural resource conservation center without advance approval
by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. The
Committee is disappointed that the Forest Service leaders have
rejected the National Academy of Public Administration's
recommendations concerning the staffing of the Chief Financial
Officer's immediate office. Accordingly, the Committee directs
the Forest Service to limit the immediate office of the CFO to
6 employees as recommended by NAPA, and follow the
recommendations for the financial reports and analysis staff
(maximum staff of 10 employees) and for the financial
management staff (maximum staff of 35). The Committee notes
that none of these limits were exceeded at the time of this
report, so these limits should easily be followed.
Administrative provisions.--The Committee has included
language enhancing procurement flexibility at the Land Between
the Lakes National Recreation Area for a period of two years as
the transition from TVA management is institutionalized. The
Committee includes language allowing the Forest Service to
transfer up to $1,250,000 of available funds to the National
Forest Foundation, including up to $200,000 for administration,
and transfers $2,650,000, the same as during 2000, to the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. These funds are to be
used for matching funds as authorized, thereby leveraging
additional private funding and furthering the multiple use and
public service mission of the Forest Service.
The Committee is continuing its comprehensive approach to
guarantee accountability and efficiency for the Forest Service
Knutson-Vandenberg reforestation trust fund (KV fund), the
salvage sale fund and the brush disposal fund. The Committee
and the public remain concerned and watchful concerning the
expenditure and use of these funds. The Committee notes that
there is widespread agreement that the reforestation, watershed
improvement and wildlife habitat restoration work supported by
the KV fund are all vital to the management of the National
forest system. The Committee notes that the Administration has
yet to provide legislative language for their so-called
``HIRE'' fund that was purported to replace these existing
funds. The Committee also notes that sufficient legislative
authority already exists to use these funds to enhance
employment of local workers on contracts which complete needed
conservation and enhancement activities. The Committee agrees
to the following:
(1) Maintain the limitation on administrative costs, limiting
the use of indirect funds from the KV salvage sale, and brush
disposal funds to 20% of expenditures.
(2) National forest system funds shall not be used to
supplement administration of the KV, salvage sale or brush
disposal funds.
(3) The Forest Service is directed to submit a detailed plan
of operations regarding these three funds to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations within 90 days of
enactment. The Committee requires that this plan provide
sufficient detail to explain and justify the program of work
and expected accomplishments at each National forest unit using
KV funds.
(4) The plan of work should include understandable
performance measurements; monitoring of KV fund activities
should be an essential component of implementation; and
projected and actual unit costs should be clearly depicted.
(5) The Committee stresses that the work funded by the KV
fund shall only include those activities that are authorized by
law, such as reforestation, and improving the future
productivity of the renewable resources in the timber sale
area. This allows work on watershed improvements and fish,
wildlife, and plant habitat improvements as well as maintenance
and construction related to authorized activities.
(6) The Committee expects that the Forest Service will not
use the three trust funds at the regional or Washington office
level except for activities strictly related to program
management and oversight, fiscal management, and policy
development that relates directly to implementing activities
authorized by these funds.
(7) These trust funds shall not be used for Department of
Agriculture general assessments or for general assessments or
National commitments within the Forest Service.
(8) The Committee is discouraged that a National automated
system is not yet in place, and therefore the Forest Service is
directed to implement, by June 30, 2001, an automated process
for KV fund management, including all phases of KV fund
activities from planning to project implementation and project
monitoring. This system must be fully compatible with other
agency accounting systems.
(9) The Committee directs the Forest Service to include a
detailed display in all future budget justifications of the
anticipated program of work for these funds in the upcoming
year. This display should also provide a clearly understandable
presentation of how the forest and habitat improvement
activities supported by these funds relate to activities funded
with discretionary appropriations. This display should indicate
relative priorities and present an integrated approach to
forest management.
wildland fire management
Appropriation enacted, 2000 (excluding emergency)..... $617,956,000
Contingent emergency enacted, 2000.................... 90,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001 (excluding emergency)........... 620,372,000
Budget estimate, 2001 contingent emergency............ 150,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 614,343,000
Comparison:
Appropriation (excluding emergency), 2000 -3,613,000
Budget estimate, 2001 (excluding emergency)....... -6,029,000
The Committee recommends $614,343,000 for wildland fire
management, $6,029,000 below the budget request and $3,613,000
below the 2000 funding level for the non-emergency program. The
Committee has not included the requested emergency contingent
funds for fire operations but notes that such funds were
included in the House-passed fiscal year 2000 supplemental
appropriations act. The Committee has continued bill language
which transfers half of the remaining unobligated funds at the
end of the fiscal year, excepting hazardous fuels funding, from
this account to pay back previously advanced sums. The
Committee maintains the interdepartmental fire science program
at the 2000 funding level.
The Committee recommendation includes $404,343,000 for
preparedness and fire use, the same as the budget request and
$4,425,000 below the 2000 funding level. This funding provides
about 70% of the most efficient level, as determined by Forest
Service models. Additional funding in this activity, were it
available, would provide much more than a dollar for dollar
savings in subsequent wildfire suppression operations and loss
of valuable resources. The Committee recommends $210,000,000
for fire operations, $6,029,000 below the request and
$1,112,000 above the 2000 level. The Committee directs that
about $70,000,000 be reserved for hazardous fuels operations;
this is $5,000,000 below the request and is equal to the 2000
funding level. The Committee has also provided $150,000,000 for
emergency contingent wildfire operations under Title IV--Fiscal
Year 2000 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations. The Committee
directs the Forest Service to report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations by March 1, 2001, on agency
efforts to manage large fire incidents and indicate clearly the
status of agency action on the recent policy study on
implications of large fire management.
The Committee is concerned about the condition of forests
and hazardous fuels on National forest system lands, especially
in the more arid portions of the west. The Committee is also
concerned that the Administration has not been able or willing
to provide a strategic and tactical approach to dealing with
this problem. The Committee directs the Forest Service to
provide to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by
March 1, 2001 a description of the hazardous fuels situation on
NFS lands; the priorities, by National forest for their
treatment; the means for integrating this work with other
forest and habitat management goals and collaboration with the
Department of the Interior; performance measures and
anticipated accomplishments. The Committee encourages use of
fuels reduction funds in the wildland-urban interface and
expects that mechanical treatments will frequently be employed,
including the capture of commercial value of trees thinned for
fuels reduction and forestry purposes. The Committee is
encouraged by increased integration of the fuels program into
National forest system management, but there still is a need to
incorporate fuels work into a larger vision of habitat and
forest and rangeland desired future conditions. The Committee's
reorganization of National forest system vegetation and
watershed improvement funds should further facilitate the
coordination between those activities and the hazardous fuels
program. The use of these funds, and others, such as wildlife
and fish habitat funds, the reforestation fund, and the road
and trail fund should maximize multiple benefits to society by
reducing fire danger, improving watershed and habitat
conditions, and increasing forest health. The Committee directs
the Forest Service, in its future budget justifications, to
display the integrated use of these funding categories and to
indicate how these program goals and accomplishments can be
integrated into the overall agency mission, and its performance
measured.
The Committee remains very concerned about the hazardous
fuel conditions on Federal lands and the potenital impact these
conditions can have on neighboring State and private lands. The
Committee continues to support the interagency fire science and
management program, created by this Committee three years ago,
which has developed nation-wide fuel loading maps and maps
indicating areas having high risk of catastrophic fire. The
Committee directs the Forest Service and the Department of the
Interior to keep these maps up-to-date and publicly available.
The Committee also directs the Secretaries to make these maps
available to States and counties which contain areas of high
risk of catastrophic fires.
capital improvement and maintenance
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $436,843,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 424,914,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 424,466,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -12,377,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -448,000
The Committee recommends $424,466,000 for capital
improvement and maintenance, a reconfiguration of the former
reconstruction and maintenance account. The Committee has
consolidated the maintenance and capital improvement funding
for facilities, roads, and trails. This will make it easier for
managers and the public to track funding and progress at
maintaining the infrastructure which supports Forest Service
activities. The Committee supports the Forest Service use of
the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board policy to
define annual and deferred maintenance and capital improvement.
The ``maintenance'' entries in the detail table below represent
annual maintenance as well as minor deferred maintenance
projects. The ``capital improvement'' entries include both new
construction and reconstruction, as well as major deferred
maintenance projects. The Committee appreciates the project
detail provided in the budget justification and expects this
practice to continue.
The Committee agrees to the following distribution of
funds:
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2000 enacted Committee
Activity or project to date Budget request recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facilities:
Maintenance.............................................. 72,192 70,262 70,262
Capital improvement...................................... 65,599 74,535 74,535
Congressional priorities:
Allegheny NF visitor services, PA.................... ............... ............... 500
Allegheny NF Marienville RS, PA...................... ............... ............... 1,000
Coweeta research rehab, NC........................... ............... ............... 110
Cradle of Forestry projects, NC...................... ............... ............... 380
Grey Towers NHS site rehab, PA....................... ............... ............... 500
Nantahala NF Fontana Lake, NC........................ ............... ............... 600
Ouachita NF Camp Clearfork, AR....................... ............... ............... 400
Ouachita NF Albert rec area, AR...................... ............... ............... 600
Uwharrie NF Kings Mtn Pt., NC........................ ............... ............... 900
Waldo Lake rehab, OR................................. ............... ............... 500
Uwharrie NF Badin Lake, NC........................... ............... ............... 400
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal Congressional priorities...................... 15,857 ............... 5,890
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal Facilities.................................... 153,648 144,797 150,687
==================================================
Roads:
Maintenance.............................................. 116,882 129,549 120,000
Capital improvement...................................... 98,568 88,304 88,304
Congressional priorities............................... 4,184 ............... ...............
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal Roads......................................... 219,634 217,853 208,304
==================================================
Trails:
Maintenance.............................................. 30,119 28,239 31,000
Capital improvement...................................... 29,998 34,025 34,025
Congressional priorities:
FL National scenic trail............................. ............... ............... 250
Virginia Creeper trail repair........................ ............... ............... 200
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal Congressional priorities...................... 2,244 ............... 450
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal Trails........................................ 62,361 62,264 65,475
==================================================
Land between the Lakes NRA................................... 1,200 0 0
==================================================
Total.................................................. 436,843 424,914 424,466
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facilities.--The Committee recommends $150,687,000 for
facilities maintenance and capital improvement, $2,961,000
below the enacted and $5,890,000 above the request. The
Committee has fully funded the requested funds for facility
maintenance and capital improvement. The Committee has provided
no funding for the tourism initiative described in the budget
justification. The Committee directs that the funds for the
Grey Towers National Historic Site rehabilitation be contingent
upon receiving at least equal matching funds from the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or other sources. The Cradle of
Forestry funding is for volunteer campsite construction, trail
improvements, and rehabilitation at the nearby Davidson
campground.
Roads.--The Committee recommends $208,304,000 for road
maintenance and capital improvement, $11,330,000 below the
enacted level and $9,549,000 below the request. As provided in
fiscal year 1999, the timber purchaser road credit program is
eliminated. The Committee recommendation includes no
appropriated funds to improve or construct timber access roads.
Timber purchasers will reconstruct access roads if needed;
funds recommended by the Committee provide needed design and
National Environmental Policy Act mandated environmental
review, public involvement and disclosure. The Committee has
maintained the road decommissioning authority at $15,000,000
but notes that the Forest Service has never approached this
cap. The Committee directs that the road funding allocation is
sufficient to provide needed road support to maintain the
timber sales and salvage program at the fiscal year 2000 target
level. The Committee expects the Forest Service transportation
policy to focus on local needs as determined at the forest
planning level. Although there are insufficient resources
available to the Committee to provide a more substantive
approach to the large road treatment backlog, the Committee
does note the substantial funds available from the road and
trail fund to accomplish needed road, trail and bridge repair.
The Committee expects to continue to receive regular reports
and briefings on progress attacking the huge backlog of
deferred maintenance and repair, especially as it relates to
the activities funded through the road and trails fund.
Trails.--The Committee recommends $65,475,000 for trails
maintenance and capital improvement, $3,114,000 above the
enacted level and $3,211,000 above the request. This fully
funds the administration request for trails capital
improvement. The Committee expects that the National scenic and
historic trails will have priority in funding allocations.
Under the National forest system account specific provisions
are included for National scenic and historic trails
management, with special emphasis on the Pacific Crest Trail.
land acquisition
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $79,835,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 103,265,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 50,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -29,835,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -80,265,000
The Committee recommends $50,000,000 for land acquisition,
a decrease of $29,835,000 below the enacted level and
$80,265,000 below the budget request. This amount includes
$38,000,000 for line item acquisition, $8,500,000 for
acquisition management, $1,500,000 for cash equalization,
$1,500,000 for emergencies and $500,000 for wilderness
protection.
The Committee recommends the following distribution of
funds:
Area and State:
Angeles NF (CA)..................................... $2,000,000
Arapaho NF (Beaver Brook) (CO)...................... 2,000,000
Bar T Bar Ranch (Coconino NF) (AZ).................. 3,200,000
Big Sur Ecosystem (Los Padres NF) (CA).............. 3,000,000
Bonneville Shoreline Trail (UT)..................... 2,500,000
Chattooga WSR (GA/NC/SC)............................ 2,000,000
Daniel Boone NF (KY)................................ 2,000,000
Hoosier NF Unique Areas (IN)........................ 1,000,000
Lake Tahoe Ecosystem (CA/NV)........................ 2,000,000
Lewis and Clark Historic Trail (ID/MT).............. 2,000,000
Pacific Crest Trail (CA/OR/WA)...................... 3,000,000
Rye Creek (MT)...................................... 2,800,000
San Bernardino NF (CA).............................. 2,500,000
Sawtooth NRA (ID)................................... 2,000,000
Sedona Red Rock (Coconino NF) (AZ).................. 3,000,000
Wayne NF (OH)....................................... 1,000,000
White Mtn. NF (NH).................................. 2,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Subtotal............................................ 38,000,000
Emergency Acquisitions.............................. 1,500,000
Wilderness Protection............................... 500,000
Cash Equalization................................... 1,500,000
Acquisition Mgt..................................... 8,500,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Total............................................. 50,000,000
The Committee considers the Pacific Crest National Scenic
Trail, which extends through California, Oregon and Washington,
to be a high priority and has included $3,000,000 for land
purchases.
The Committee encourages the Pacific Crest Trail
Association to continue raising significant non-federal
matching funds to ensure that the most critical sections
threatened by development are protected. A continued, strong,
public/private partnership on this project will have an impact
on the future level of Federal support.
The Committee directs the Secretary of Agriculture, who has
overall responsibility for administration of this trail, to
work in close consultation with the Secretary of the Interior
and the Pacific Crest Trail Association to identify, assess and
prioritize the needs of the trail, including the preparation of
segment maps as quickly as possible.
The Committee directs both Secretaries to submit joint
progress reports to the Committee no later than May 30, 2001,
which outline the progress made to date and any outstanding
conflicts which may be hampering the effort.
The amount provided for acquisition of the Bar-T-Bar Ranch
completes the purchase.
acquisition of lands for National forests special acts
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $1,068,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 0
Recommended, 2001..................................... 1,068,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. +1,068,0000
The Committee recommends $1,068,000 for acquisition of
lands for National forests, special acts, which is equal to the
fiscal year 2000 level. These funds are used pursuant to
several special acts which authorize appropriations from the
receipts of specified National forests for the purchase of
lands to minimize erosion and flood damage to critical
watersheds needing soil stabilization and vegetative cover. The
Committee has not accepted the Administration's request to
blend these funds into the land acquisition account, funded
from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, because these funds
come from other sources and should be used for the authorized
purposes.
acquisition of lands to complete land exchanges
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $234,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 0
Recommended, 2001..................................... 234,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. +234,000
The Committee recommends $234,000 for acquisition of lands
to complete land exchanges under the Act of December 4, 1967
(16 U.S.C. 484a). Under the Act, deposits made by public school
districts or public school authorities to provide for cash
equalization of certain land exchanges can be appropriated to
acquire similar lands suitable for National forest system
purposes in the same State as the National forest lands
conveyed in the exchanges. The Committee has not accepted the
Administration request to abolish this account and blend its
funds into the land acquisition account because these funds
come from other sources and should be tracked and used
according to the authorized purposes.
range betterment fund
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $3,300,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 0
Recommended, 2001..................................... 3,300,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................... +3,300,000
The Committee recommends $3,300,000, the same as in 2000,
for the range betterment fund, to be derived from grazing
receipts from the National forests (Public Law 94-579, as
amended) and to be used for range rehabilitation, protection,
and improvements including seeding, reseeding, fence
construction, weed control, water development, and fish and
wildlife habitat enhancement in 16 western States. The
Committee has rejected the Administration request to abolish
this account. The Committee notes that the Administration has
yet to provide legislative language for their ``HIRE'' program,
which they claimed would replace the range betterment fund and
other conservation funds that utilize fees from National forest
system land users. The range betterment fund is a small but
effective means of enhancing rangeland habitats.
gifts, donations and bequests for forest and rangeland research
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $92,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 92,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 92,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends $92,000, the budget estimate, for
gifts, donations and bequests for forest and rangeland
research. Authority for the program is contained in Public Law
95-307 (16 U.S.C. 1643, section 4(b)). Amounts appropriated and
not needed for current operations may be invested in public
debt securities. Both the principal and earnings from the
receipts are available to the Forest Service.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Clean Coal Technology
(Deferral)
The Committee recommends deferral of $67,000,000 in
previously appropriated Clean Coal Technology budget authority
until fiscal year 2002 instead of a $221 million deferral and a
rescission of $105 million as proposed by the Administration.
To the extent funds are not needed because of premature project
terminations, the Committee will continue its practice of
rescinding excess funds. The Committee believes more
substantial deferrals or rescissions are not warranted at this
time.
The Committee agrees to the following:
1. Up to $14 million may be used for administration of the
clean coal technology program in fiscal year 2001.
2. The Committee does not object to the continued support of
the U.S./China Energy and Environmental Center, which promotes
the use of American energy technology that will greatly reduce
emissions and improve energy efficiency.
energy resource, supply and efficiency
(including transfer of funds)
The energy resource, supply and efficiency programs of the
Department of Energy make prudent investments in long-range
research and development that help protect the environment
through higher efficiency power generation, advanced
technologies and improved compliance and stewardship
operations. These activities safeguard our domestic energy
security. This country will continue to rely on traditional
fuels for the majority of its energy requirements for the
foreseeable future, and the activities funded through this
account ensure that energy technologies continue to improve
with respect to emissions reduction and control and energy
efficiency.
Fossil fuels, especially coal, are this country's most
abundant and lowest cost fuels for electric power generation.
They are why this country enjoys the lowest cost electricity of
any industrialized economy. The prospects for technology
advances for coal and other fossil fuels are just as bright as
those for alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and
geothermal. Power generation technology research programs
funded under this account are working toward the goal of
developing virtually pollution-free power plants within the
next 15 or 20 years and doubling the amount of electricity
produced from the same amount of fuel. Sector-specific programs
funded under this account focus on efficiency and emissions
reduction improvements for smaller but equally important
applications for residential and commercial buildings,
transportation (especially automobiles and trucks), and major
energy-consuming industries.
This account combines the programs formerly funded under
the fossil energy research and development account and the
energy conservation account. All of these programs focus on the
efficient use of traditional fuel sources and novel approaches
to alternative fuel sources. These programs do not focus on
solar and renewable energy research or nuclear energy research,
which are under the jurisdiction of the Energy and Water
Appropriations Subcommittee.
The United States accounts for 25% of world energy
consumption. Efforts to improve energy efficiency in this
country have slowed the rate of growth in energy consumption
but the total amount of energy used continues to grow. In 1998
fossil energy (coal, oil and natural gas) accounted for 85% of
U.S. energy consumption. In 2020 fossil fuels are expected to
account for nearly 90% of U.S. energy consumption, as reliance
on nuclear power declines.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $1,113,675,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 1,224,070,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 1,139,611,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +25,936,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -84,459,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $1,139,611,000 for energy
resource, supply and efficiency, an increase of $25,936,000
above the fiscal year 2000 level and $84,459,000 below the
budget request.
Power Generation and Large-Scale Technologies.--For power
generation and large-scale technologies, recommended changes to
the fiscal year 2000 level are as follows.
In central systems there is an increase of $2,000,000 for
materials research in the innovations for existing plants
activity and a decrease of $500,000 for super clean systems in
that same activity. There are also decreases of $2,000,000 for
low emissions boiler systems and $18,188,000 for advanced
turbine systems, which reflect the completion of those
programs.
In distributed generation/fuel cells there are increases of
$1,600,000 for advanced research, $9,864,000 for Vision 21/
Hybrids, and $3,500,000 for innovative concepts, and a decrease
of $15,263,000 for systems development.
In sequestration research and development there are
increases of $6,600,000 for greenhouse gas control and
$2,970,000 for the Center of Excellence at the National Energy
Technology Laboratory.
In advanced coal research/technology crosscut there is an
increase of $2,970,000 for the Center of Excellence at the
National Energy Technology Laboratory.
In natural gas programs changes include increases of
$2,178,000 for storage technology and $4,950,000 for
infrastructure technology, both in the infrastructure activity,
and a decrease of $597,000 for effective environmental
protection.
In petroleum programs there is an increase of $10,000,000
for the ultra clean fuels initiative and a decrease of
$3,330,000 in emerging processing technology for the
biodesulfurization of diesel fuel.
Other changes include a decrease of $13,500,000, which
reflects the transfer of the black liquor gasification program
to the industry sector activity, an increase of $127,000 for
the import/export authorization program, a decrease of $600,000
for general plant projects, and an increase of $225,000 for
advanced metallurgical processes.
Sector-Specific Programs.--Unless provided to the contrary
herein, projects funded in fiscal year 2000 are funded at the
same level for 2001. For sector-specific programs, recommended
changes to the fiscal year 2000 level are as follows.
In the buildings sector there is a net decrease of
$15,962,000. Changes for buildings research and standards
include an increase of $500,000 for competitive research and
development and a decrease of $762,000 for roadmapping, both in
the technology roadmaps/competitive R&D; activity, and a
decrease of $200,000 for urban heat islands in the equipment,
materials and tools activity. For building technology
assistance there are decreases of $15,000,000 for the
weatherization assistance program and $500,000 for the energy
star program. The Committee notes that the decrease for
weatherization is more than offset by the $19,000,000 advance
appropriation in the House passed fiscal year 2000 supplemental
appropriations bill, making a total of $139,000,000 available
in 2001 for weatherization, a $4,000,000 increase above 2000.
For the Federal energy management program there is an
increase of $500,000 for program direction. This increase is
necessary to pay the full year costs of employees hired in
fiscal year 2000. The Committee urges the Department to
continue to increase regional support office involvement in
this program.
In the industry sector there is a net increase of
$5,492,000. Changes for industries of the future (specific)
include increases of $1,000,000 for petroleum, $500,000 for
mining, and $1,000,000 for agriculture, and decreases of
$178,000 for aluminum and $30,000 for glass. In industries of
the future (crosscutting) there are increases in enabling
technologies of $13,500,000 for industrial gasification, which
reflects the transfer of the black liquor gasification program
from the power generation and large-scale technologies
activity, and $2,000,000 to continue the controlled thermo-
mechanical processing project, and decreases of $12,000,000 for
distributed generation and $300,000 for technical assistance.
In the transportation sector there is a net decrease of
$5,100,000. Changes in vehicle technology research and
development include increases of $500,000 for natural gas
health impacts analysis in the advanced combustion engine
activity and $1,500,000 for heavy vehicle systems optimization,
and decreases of $1,000,000 for light vehicle propulsion,
$1,600,000 for fuel cell components, $1,000,000 for hybrids in
the advanced combustion engine activity, and $1,600,000 for
cooperative automotive research for advanced technologies. In
fuels utilization changes include increases of $1,000,000 for
advanced petroleum based fuels and $500,000 for natural gas
toxicity testing in the alternative fuels activity, and a
decrease of $500,000 for light trucks in the alternative fuels
activity. There is also a decrease of $2,900,000 for the High
Temperature Materials Laboratory in the materials program.
There is an increase of $1,000,000 for policy and
management at regional support offices.
For the overall account there is an increase of
$47,000,000, which is related to the use of $49,000,000 in
biomass funds as an offset to fiscal year 2000 requirements.
Only $2,000,000 in offset funds are available for fiscal year
2001.
The Committee agrees to the following:
1. The funding provided for continuing the steelmaking
feedstock program is contingent on at least a dollar-for-dollar
cost share with industry partners.
2. The multi-layer fuel cells program is continued under the
innovative concepts activity.
3. The Department should report to the Committee by December
15, 2000, on potential R&D; and/or financial incentives which
could contribute significantly to reducing emissions from
existing coal-fired powerplants in the U.S. and improve their
generation efficiency. The report should discuss how these
measures relate to existing and anticipated environmental
regulatory measures, and identify any regulatory barriers to
improved environmental performance at such plants. The report
should also estimate the magnitude and duration of specific R&D;
and incentive proposals.
4. The $2,000,000 provided for materials research in the
innovations for existing plants activity are to be used for
highly cost-shared applied materials R&D; programs, applicable
to both existing and Vision 21 plants, to address critical
materials related problems.
5. The Department should consider the Pennsylvania State
program to develop sonication technology for oil recovery,
minimizing drilling and production wastes and remediating
contaminated sites.
6. The Committee is aware of the Department's ongoing
collaboration with industry on the development of a low-cost,
energy efficient prototype, which applies well-established
ramjet technology principles from the aerospace industry to
electric generation technology. The Committee commends the
Department for committing funding to this project in the past
and for its ongoing support for this new generation technology.
The Committee understands that a total of $10 million would be
needed to design and build a ramjet prototype engine that would
be sited at a coal mine and would burn coalbed methane as fuel.
The Committee encourages the Department to consider continuing
this program.
7. The NETL should continue to be actively involved in the
management of the black liquor gasification program and should
be actively involved in the mining industries of the future
program management. The petroleum industries of the future
program should be closely coordinated with the other oil
research and development programs funded under this account.
8. Crosscutting programs--cooperative programs with States
and the energy efficiency science initiative--are continued at
the fiscal year 2000 level. These projects should be
coordinated closely between the two Assistant Secretaries
funded under this appropriation. This same direction applies to
the reciprocating engines programs.
9. None of the funds provided herein are for the million
solar roofs initiative. This program is under the purview of
the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
10. No funds are provided for the international initiative or
to increase biofuels programs.
11. Funding for the weatherization assistance program in this
bill, in combination with the $19,000,000 provided as an
advance appropriation in the House passed fiscal year
supplemental appropriations bill, results in an increase of $4
million for the program in fiscal year 2001
12. The Northwest Alliance for Transportation Technologies
should be funded at least at the $3,000,000 level in fiscal
year 2001.
13. No funds are provided for the electric vehicle program
with the Postal Service. The Postal Service and the
participating States should fund this program.
alternative fuels production
(rescission)
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $0
Budget estimate, 2001................................. -1,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... -1,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -1,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends the rescission of $1,000,000 in
unobligated balances from this account.
naval petroleum and oil shale reserves
The Committee recommends no new funding for the operation
of the naval petroleum and oil shale reserves and agrees with
the Administration's proposal to fund this program through the
use of available prior year funds as shown in the following
table:
elk hills school lands fund
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $36,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 36,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 36,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends $36,000,000 for the Elk Hills
school lands fund, which is equal to both the budget request
and the fiscal year 2000 level. This represents the third of
seven payments to the fund, which was established as a part of
the sale of the Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve in
California, in order to settle school lands claims by the
State. These funds will become available on October 1, 2001.
economic regulation
The economic regulation account funds the independent
Office of Hearings and Appeals which is responsible for all of
the Department's adjudication processes except those that are
the responsibility of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The amount funded by this Committee is for those activities
specific to this bill: mainly those related to petroleum
overcharge cases. All other activities are funded on a
reimbursable basis from the other elements of the Department of
Energy. Prior to fiscal year 1997, this account also funded the
Economic Regulatory Administration.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $1,992,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 2,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 1,992,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -8,000
The Committee recommends $1,992,000 for economic
regulation, equal to the fiscal year 2000 level and $8,000
below the budget request.
strategic petroleum reserve
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created by the Energy
Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 to provide the United
States with adequate strategic and economic protection against
disruptions in oil supplies. The SPR program was established as
a 750 million-barrel capacity crude oil reserve with storage in
large underground salt caverns at five sites in the Gulf Coast
area, connected to major private sector distribution systems,
and maintained to achieve full drawdown rate capability within
fifteen days of notice to proceed. Storage capacity development
was completed in September 1991 providing the capability to
store 750 million barrels of crude oil in underground caverns
and to be ready to deploy at the President's direction in the
event of an emergency. As a result of the decommissioning of
the Weeks Island site in 1999, the Reserve lost 70 millions
barrels of capacity. However, the Department has reassessed the
capacities of the remaining storage sites and estimates those
sites are currently capable of storing 700 million barrels.
During 1998, an inventory of 561 million barrels provided 60
days of net import protection. By 2001, this is projected to
decline to 53 days. The decline rate is the result of the
projected growth of U.S. requirements for imported crude oil
and the reduction in U.S. domestic oil production.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $158,396,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 158,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 157,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -1,396,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -1,000,000
The Committee recommends $157,000,000 for operation of the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a decrease of $1,396,000 below the
fiscal year 2000 level and $1,000,000 below the budget request.
Of the funds provided $141,000,000 is for storage facilities
development and operations and $16,000,000 is for management.
energy information administration
The Energy Information Administration is a quasi-
independent agency within the Department of Energy established
to provide timely, objective, and accurate energy-related
information to the Congress, executive branch, State
governments, industry, and the public. The information and
analysis prepared by the EIA is widely disseminated and the
agency is recognized as an unbiased source of energy
information by government organizations, industry, professional
statistical organizations and the public.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $72,368,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 75,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 72,368,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -2,632,000
The Committee recommends $72,368,000, for the Energy
Information Administration, which is equal to the fiscal year
2000 level and $2,632,000 below the budget request.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
indian health services
The provision of Federal health services to Indians is
based on a special relationship between Indian tribes and the
U.S. Government first set forth in the 1830s by the U.S.
Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall. Numerous
treaties, statutes, constitutional provisions, and
international law have reconfirmed this relationship. Principal
among these is the Snyder Act of 1921 which provides the basic
authority for most Indian health services provided by the
Federal Government to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The
Indian Health Service (IHS) provides direct health care
services in 37 hospitals, 58 health centers, 4 school health
centers, and 44 health stations. Tribes and tribal groups,
through contracts with the IHS, operate 12 hospitals, 160
health centers, 3 school health centers, and 236 health
stations (including 160 Alaska village clinics). The IHS,
tribes and tribal groups also operate 7 regional youth
substance abuse treatment centers and more than 2,200 units of
staff quarters.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $2,074,173,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 2,271,055,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 2,084,178,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +10,005,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -186,877,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $2,084,178,000 for Indian health
services, an increase of $10,005,000 above the fiscal year 2000
level and $186,877,000 below the budget request. The increase
above the 2000 funding level is for staffing of new facilities.
The Committee agrees to the following:
1. The Service should continue to work with the tribes to
develop level of need calculations for health care services.
2. The Committee is concerned about the Service's lack of
response to direction in last year's Committee report requiring
the development of a meaningful plan of action to augment and
strengthen its podiatry care program and address the shortage
of commissioned officers in the podiatry field.
3. The Committee continues to be concerned about the infant
mortality crisis in the Shoalwater Bay Tribe and expects the
Service to continue to work closely with the tribe, the State,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other
agencies to identify the causes of and potential solutions for
infant mortality. Funding for this program is continued at the
fiscal year 2000 level.
4. Funding for the Joslin diabetes program is continued at
the fiscal year 2000 level.
5. Funds provided in 2000 for the pharmacy residency
program remain in the base for fiscal year 2001.
6. The Committee directs the Indian Health Service to
report on the delivery of services in Maverick County, Texas to
the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and the Kickapoo Traditional
Tribe of Texas. The report should include the current level of
services provided, the mechanisms by which the services are
provided and any recommendations for improving delivery of
services. The Committee expects the report to be completed by
March 1, 2001.
Bill language is included under Title III, General
Provisions placing a moratorium on new and expanded self-
determination contracts and self-governance compacts because no
additional funds are available for contract support costs.
indian health facilities
The need for new Indian health care facilities has not been
fully quantified but it is safe to say that many billions of
dollars would be required to renovate existing facilities and
construct all the needed new hospitals and clinics. The IHS
estimates that as many as 21 hospitals and 52 health centers
should be considered for replacement; renovations should be
considered for 16 hospitals, 82 health centers, and 284 health
stations; and 15 new health centers and 21 new health stations
should be considered. Safe and sanitary water and sewer systems
for existing homes and solid waste disposal needs currently are
estimated to amount to over $770 million for those projects
that are considered to be economically feasible.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $316,555,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 349,374,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 336,423,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +19,868,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -12,951,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $336,423,000 for Indian health
facilities, an increase of $19,868,000 above the fiscal year
2000 level and $12,951,000 below the budget request. There is
an increase of $1,665,000 for staffing of new facilities. The
balance of the increase above the 2000 funding level is for
hospital and clinic construction.
The Committee agrees to the following distribution of
hospital and clinic construction funds:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Project Budget request recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fort Defiance, AZ hospital............ $40,115,000 $40,115,000
Winnebago, NE hospital................ 12,286,000 12,286,000
Parker, AZ clinic..................... 7,578,000 8,210,000
Pawnee, OK clinic..................... 1,745,000 1,745,000
Hopi, AZ staff quarters............... 0 240,000
Dental Units.......................... 1,000,000 1,000,000
Small Ambulatory grants............... 2,513,000 5,000,000
---------------------------------
Totals.......................... 65,237,000 68,596,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee agrees to the following:
1. Funding to complete quarters construction associated with
the new Hopi clinic is provided to ensure that this project can
be completed successfully. The Committee notes that the
majority of the funding for the quarters construction is being
borne by the tribe.
2. The Service should consider a new, consistent approach to
constructing staff quarters that involves cost sharing by the
tribes to the extent possible and tribal operation of the
completed quarters. Funding for quarters construction needs to
be treated consistently for each project. Currently there are
quarters projects that have never been built although the
related hospital or clinic was built; projects that incorporate
the cost of quarters in with the total cost of the facility
construction (with no tribal cost share); and projects that are
left to an individual tribe to fund.
3. The methodology used to distribute facilities funding
should address the fluctuating annual workload and maintain
parity among IHS areas and tribes as the workload shifts.
4. Funds for sanitation facilities for new and renovated
housing should be used to serve housing provided by the Bureau
of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program, new homes and
homes renovated to like-new condition. Onsite sanitation
facilities may also be provided for homes occupied by the
disabled or sick who have physician referrals indicating an
immediate medical need for adequate sanitation facilities at
home.
5. Sanitation funds should not be used to provide sanitation
facilities for new homes funded by the housing programs of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development. The HUD should
provide any needed funds to the IHS for that purpose.
6. The IHS may use up to $5,000,000 in sanitation funding for
projects to clean up and replace open dumps on Indian lands
pursuant to the Indian Lands Open Dump Cleanup Act of 1994.
7. The IHS should continue to support tribes in identifying
and implementing alternative and innovative approaches to
funding construction and repair and replacement of health care
facilities throughout Indian country, including cost-sharing
arrangements and the enhanced use of third-party collections
for improving aging facilities. These alternative approaches
should not result in increased operational funding requirements
for IHS.
Bill Language.--Bill Language is included to assist the
Hopi Tribe with the debt associated with the construction of
staff quarters that is being financed with tribal funds.
Several other provisions are continued from last year to ensure
the facilities program is able to take advantage of purchase
opportunities from other agencies.
OTHER RELATED AGENCIES
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation
salaries and expenses
The dispute between the Hopi and Navajo tribes is
centuries-old. The Hopi were the original occupants of the land
with their origin tracing back to the Anasazi race whose
presence is recorded back to 1150 A.D. Later in the 16th
century the Navajo tribe began settling in this area. The
continuous occupation of this land by the Navajo led to the
isolation of the Hopi Reservation as an island within the area
occupied by the Navajo. In 1882, President Arthur issued an
Executive Order which granted the Hopi a 2.5 million acre
reservation to be occupied by the Hopi and such other Indians
as the Secretary of the Interior saw fit to resettle there.
Intertribal problems arose between the larger Navajo tribe and
the smaller Hopi tribe revolving around the question of the
ownership of the land as well as cultural differences between
the two tribes. Efforts to resolve these conflicts were not
successful and led Congress to pass legislation in 1958 which
authorized a lawsuit to determine ownership of the land. When
attempts at mediation of the dispute as specified in an Act
passed in 1974 failed, the district court in Arizona
partitioned the Joint Use Area equally between the Navajo and
Hopi tribes under a decree that has required the relocation of
members of both tribes. Most of those to be relocated are
Navajo living on the Hopi Partitioned Land.
At this time approximately 410 households remain be
relocated, of which 71 are full-time residents on the Hopi
Partitioned Land. A total of 3,116 families have been relocated
from the Hopi Partitioned Land.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $8,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 15,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 8,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -7,000,000
The Committee recommends $8,000,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation,
the same as the 2000 enacted level and a decrease of $7,000,000
below the budget request.
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts
Development
payment to the institute
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $2,125,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 4,250,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 0
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -2,125,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -4,250,000
The Committee recommends zero funding for the Institute of
American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development.
It was the understanding of the House that fiscal year 2000
would be the last year Federal funding would be provided.
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is unique in the Federal
establishment. Established by the Congress in 1846 to carry out
the trust included in James Smithson's will, it has been
engaged for over 150 years in the ``increase and diffusion of
knowledge among men'' in accordance with the donor's
instructions. For some years, it used only the funds made
available by the trust. Then, before the turn of the century,
it began to receive Federal appropriations to conduct some of
its activities. With the expenditure of both private and
Federal funds over the years, it has grown into one of the
world's great scientific, cultural, and intellectual
organizations. It operates magnificent museums, outstanding art
galleries, and important research centers. Its collections are
among the best in the world. Its traveling exhibits bring
beauty and information throughout the country.
It attracted approximately 30,000,000 visitors in 1998 to
its museums, galleries, and zoological park. Additional
millions also view Smithsonian traveling exhibitions, which
appear across the United States and abroad, and the annual
Folklife Festival. As custodian of the National Collections,
the Smithsonian is responsible for more than 140 million art
objects, natural history specimens, and artifacts. These
collections are displayed for the enjoyment and education of
visitors and are available for research by the staff of the
Institution and by hundreds of visiting students, scientists,
and historians each year. Other significant study efforts draw
their data and results directly from terrestrial, marine, and
astrophysical observations at various Smithsonian
installations.
The Smithsonian complex presently consists of 15 exhibition
buildings in Washington, DC and New York City in the fields of
science, history, technology and art; a zoological park in
Washington, DC and an animal conservation and research center
in Front Royal, Virginia; the Anacostia Museum, which performs
research and exhibit activities in the District of Columbia; a
preservation, storage and air and spacecraft display facility
in Suitland, Maryland; a natural preserve in Panama and one on
the Chesapeake Bay; an oceanographic research facility in Fort
Pierce, Florida; astrophysical stations in Cambridge,
Massachusetts and Mt. Hopkins, Arizona and elsewhere; and
supporting administrative, laboratory, and storage areas.
salaries and expenses
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $371,230,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 396,800,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 375,230,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +4,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -21,570,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $375,230,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Smithsonian Institution, an increase of
$4,000,000 above the enacted level and a decrease of
$21,570,000 below the budget request. The Committee has
provided an additional $2,000,000 for the National Museum of
the American Indian collections move and $2,000,000 to the Air
and Space Museum for preparation of the collections move from
the Garber Facility to the new Dulles Museum.
repair, restoration and alteration of facilities
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $47,900,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 62,200,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 47,900,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -14,300,000
The Committee recommends $47,900,000, the same as the
enacted level and $14,300,000 below the budget request. This
amount is consistent with the amount recommended by the
Smithsonian to deal with the most critical backlog maintenance
needs. Some of these areas include replacement of utilities,
security systems, heating and air conditioning, roofs and major
structural repairs. Because these essential items alone total
more than $300,000,000, the Smithsonian should either delay
additional non-essential ``beautification'' work or raise
private dollars for such projects until the critical repairs
can be completed.
construction
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $19,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 4,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 0
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -19,000,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -4,000,000
The Committee recommends no funding for construction.
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is one of the world's great
galleries. Its magnificent works of art are displayed for the
benefit of millions of visitors from across this Nation and
from other nations. The National Gallery of Art serves as an
example of a successful cooperative endeavor between private
individuals and institutions and the Federal Government. The
many special exhibitions shown in the Gallery and then
throughout the country bring great art treasures to Washington
and the Nation. In 1999, the Gallery opened a sculpture garden
which provides a wonderful opportunity for the public to have
an outdoor artistic experience in a lovely, contemplative
setting.
salaries and expenses
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $61,279,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 64,848,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 61,279,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -3,569,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $61,279,000 for salaries and
expenses of the National Gallery of Art. This amount is equal
to the fiscal year 2000 level and $3,569,000 below the budget
request.
repair, restoration and renovation of buildings
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $6,311,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 14,101,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 8,903,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +2,592,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -5,198,000
The Committee recommends $8,903,000 for repair, restoration
and renovation of buildings at the National Gallery of Art, an
increase of $2,592,000 above the fiscal year 2000 level and
$5,198,000 below the budget request. The increase above the
2000 level is to implement the Gallery's long-term facilities
improvement plan. The Committee commends the Gallery's efforts
to identify and plan for addressing its critical backlog
maintenance needs.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a
living memorial to the late President Kennedy and the National
Center for the Performing Arts. The Center consists of over 1.5
million square feet of usable floor space with visitation
averaging 10,000 on a daily basis.
operations and maintenance
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $13,947,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 14,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 13,947,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -53,000
The Committee recommends $13,947,000 for operations and
maintenance, the same as the enacted level and $53,000 below
the budget request.
construction
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $19,924,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 20,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 19,924,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -76,000
The Committee recommends $19,924,000 for construction, the
same as the fiscal year 2000 level and $76,000 below the
request.
The Committee commends the leadership of the Center for its
effectiveness and efficiency in operating the Center and
managing its construction projects.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
salaries and expenses
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is a
unique institution with a special mission to serve as a living
memorial to President Woodrow Wilson. The Center performs this
mandate through its role as an international institute for
advanced study as well as a facilitator for discussions among
scholars, public officials, journalists and business leaders
from across the country on major long-term issues facing
America and the world.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $6,763,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 7,310,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 6,763,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -547,000
The Committee recommends $6,763,000 for salaries and
expenses, the same as the enacted level and $547,000 below the
budget request.
The Committee is extremely pleased with the progress the
Center has made under its new leadership in implementing the
recommendations of the National Academy of Public
Administration. Of particular importance is ensuring that the
programs of the Center have relevance to current public policy
issues and that the Center increases its public outreach
programs.
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
National Endowment for the Arts
grants and administration
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $84,677,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 150,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 98,000,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... +13,323,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -52,000,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with
estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $98,000,000 for grants and
administration, which is equal to the 2000 funding level for
the NEA before the government-wide reduction was applied. The
recommended amount for the NEA is $52,000,000 below the request
and $372,000 above the final fiscal year 2000 funding level for
the agency. The Committee has agreed to place all grant funds
in the grants and administration account and has provided no
funding in the matching grant account. The addition of the
matching grants funds into this account explains the increased
funding in this appropriation account. The Committee expects
the NEA to use these grants to enhance outreach efforts to more
of the Nation, especially for underserved rural and urban areas
which have not had substantial NEA granting activity in the
recent past. The Committee has not provided funding for an
office move, so the Committee expects to see a supplemental
budget request if the General Services Administration proceeds
with such an action. The Committee is generally pleased with
the implementation of the Congressional reforms to the NEA and
therefore the Committee encourages the NEA to pay careful
attention to the letter and spirit of these recent reforms in
order that previous granting problems do not reoccur.
Bill language in Title III retains provisions in last
year's bill regarding restrictions on individual grants,
subgranting, and seasonal support (Sec. 318); authority to
solicit and invest funds (Sec. 319); priority for rural and
underserved communities, priority for grants that encourage
public knowledge, education, understanding, and appreciation of
the arts, designation of a category for grants of national
significance, and a 15-percent cap on the total amount of grant
funds directed to any one State (Sec. 320).
matching grants
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $12,951,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 0
Recommended, 2001..................................... 0
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -12,951,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends no funding for matching grants, as
requested. Rather, the Committee has added the matching grant
funds into the grants and administration account as discussed
above in order to increase outreach efforts for small
institutions in underserved rural and urban areas.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) was created
in 1965 to encourage and support National progress in the
humanities. The NEH provides, through a merit-based review
process, grants in support of education, research, document and
artifact preservation, and public service in the humanities.
grants and administration
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $100,604,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 129,470,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 100,604,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -28,866,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $100,604,000 for grants and
administration, which is equal to the 2000 level and
$28,866,000 below the request. The Committee has not provided
funding for an office move, so the Committee expects to see a
supplemental budget request if the General Services
Administration proceeds with such an action.
matching grants
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $14,656,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 20,530,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 14,656,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -5,874,000
The Committee recommends $14,656,000 for matching grants,
equal to the 2000 funding level and $5,874,000 below the
request.
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Office of Museum Services
grants and administration
The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was
created in the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996 (Public
Law 104-208) which merged library services functions of the
Department of Education into the Institute of Museum Services.
These functions now come under the Office of Museum Services
(OMS) portion of the IMLS. The OMS appropriation remains in the
Interior and related agencies bill and the Office of Library
Services appropriation remains in the Labor, Health and Human
Services appropriations bill. The OMS provides operating
support, conservation support and professional services to
assist museums. General operating support is competitively
awarded to assist museums with essential operating
expenditures.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $24,307,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 33,378,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 24,307,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -9,071,000
The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:
The Committee recommends $24,307,000 for the Office of
Museum Services, which is $9,071,000 below the request and
equal to the 2000 level. The Committee has not provided funding
for an office move, so the Committee expects to see a
supplemental budget request if the General Services
Administration proceeds with such an action.
Commission of Fine Arts
The Commission of Fine Arts was established in 1910 to meet
the need for a permanent body to advise the government on
matters pertaining to the arts, and particularly, to guide the
architectural development of Washington, DC. Over the years the
Commission's scope has been expanded to include advice on areas
such as plans for parks, public buildings, location of National
monuments and development of public squares. As a result, the
Commission annually reviews approximately 500 projects. In
fiscal year 1988 the Commission was given responsibility for
the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program.
salaries and expenses
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $1,021,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 1,078,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 1,021,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -57,000
The Committee recommends $1,021,000 for the Commission of
Fine Arts, which is $57,000 below the request and equal to the
2000 funding level. The Committee continues legislative
language added last year which allows the Commission to charge
fees for its publications and to credit such fees to this
account to be expended without further appropriation.
National capital arts and cultural affairs
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $6,973,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 7,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 6,973,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -27,000
The National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program was
established in Public Law 99-190 to support artistic and
cultural programs in the Nation's Capital. The Committee
recommends $6,973,000 for this program, which is equal to the
2000 level and $27,000 below the request.
District of Columbia Arts Education Grants
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 1,000,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 0
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -1,000,000
The Committee rejects the Administration proposal to
provide a special appropriation for arts education for the
District of Columbia to be managed by the Commission of Fine
Arts.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
salaries and expenses
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 established
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The Advisory
Council was reauthorized as part of the Omnibus Parks and
Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-333). The
Council's mandate is to further the National policy of
preserving historic and cultural resources for the benefit of
present and future generations. The Council advises the
President and Congress on preservation matters and provides
consultation on historic properties threatened by Federal
action.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $2,989,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 3,189,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 2,989,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -200,000
The Committee recommends $2,989,000 for the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation, equal to the 2000 level and
$200,000 below the request. The Committee has not provided
funding for an office move, so the Committee expects to see a
supplemental budget request if the General Services
Administration proceeds with such an action.
National Capital Planning Commission
salaries and expenses
The National Capital Planning Act of 1952 designated the
National Capital Planning Commission as the central planning
agency for the Federal government in the National Capital
Region. The three major functions of the Commission are to
prepare and adopt the Federal elements of the National Capital
Comprehensive Plan, prepare an annual report on a five-year
projection of the Federal Capital Improvement Program, and
review plans and proposals submitted to the Commission.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $6,288,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 6,198,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 6,288,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. +90,000
The Committee recommends $6,288,000, which is equal to the
2000 level and $90,000 above the budget request. The Committee
has included bill language as requested providing authority for
appointed members of the Commission to be compensated in a
manner similar to that which is used for similar boards and
commissions in the Federal government, however the Committee
has not made this authority permanent as was requested.
United States Holocaust Memorial Council
holocaust memorial council
In 1980 Congress passed legislation creating a 65 member
Holocaust Memorial Council with the mandate to create and
oversee a living memorial/museum to victims of holocausts. The
museum opened in April 1993. Construction costs for the museum
have come solely from donated funds raised by the U.S.
Holocaust Memorial Museum Campaign and appropriated funds have
been used for planning and development of programmatic
components, overall administrative support and annual
commemorative observances. Since the opening of the museum,
appropriated funds have been provided to pay for the ongoing
operating costs of the museum as authorized by Public Law 102-
529.
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $33,161,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 34,564,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 33,161,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... 0
Budget estimate, 2001............................. -1,403,000
The Committee recommends $33,161,000, the same as the
enacted level and $1,403,000 below the budget request.
The Committee commends the leadership of the Museum as well
as the Council for acting expeditiously to implement the NAPA
recommendations. The Museum should provide an annual report on
the progress of this effort.
Presidio Trust
presidio trust fund
Appropriation enacted, 2000........................... $44,300,000
Budget estimate, 2001................................. 33,400,000
Recommended, 2001..................................... 33,400,000
Comparison:
Appropriation, 2000............................... -10,900,000
Budget estimate, 2001............................. 0
The Committee recommends $33,400,000, a reduction of
$10,900,000 below the enacted level and the same as the budget
request. This amount includes $23,400,000 for operations and
$10,000,000 in loan authority.
TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 301 provides for public availability of information
on consulting services contracts.
Section 302 limits funding for oil and gas leasing in the
Shawnee National Forest, IL.
Section 303 prohibits activities to promote public support
or opposition to legislative proposals.
Section 304 provides for annual appropriations unless
expressly provided otherwise in this Act.
Section 305 limits the use of personal cooks, chauffeurs or
servants.
Section 306 limits assessments against programs without
Committee approval.
Section 307 contains Buy American procedures and
requirements.
Section 308 limits the sale of giant sequoia trees by the
Forest Service.
Section 309 prohibits the use of funds by the National Park
Service to enter into a contract requiring the removal of the
underground lunchroom at Carlsbad Caverns NP, NM.
Section 310 provides that no funds can be used for
Americorps unless it is funded in the VA, HUD and Independent
Agencies fiscal year 2001 appropriations, and makes use of such
funds subject to reprogramming.
Section 311 continues a limitation of funding relating to a
pedestrian bridge between New Jersey and Ellis Island.
Section 312 continues a limitation on accepting and
processing applications for patents and on the patenting of
Federal lands; permits processing of grandfathered
applications; and permits third-party contractors to process
grandfathered applications.
Section 313 limits payments for contract support costs in
past years to the funds available in law and accompanying
report language in those years for the Bureau of Indian Affairs
and the Indian Health Service.
Section 314 concerns the Jobs in the Woods program and
timber dependent areas in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and
northern California.
Section 315 prohibits the use of recreational demonstration
program fees in excess of $500,000 for the construction of any
permanent structure without advance Committee approval.
Section 316 makes permanent a provision carried last year
exempting properties administered by the Presidio Trust from
certain taxes and special assessments.
Section 317 prohibits the use of funds for posting clothing
optional signs at Canaveral NS, FL.
Section 318 contains reforms and limitations dealing with
the National Endowment for the Arts.
Section 319 permits the collection and use of private funds
by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National
Endowment for the Humanities.
Section 320 continues direction to the National Endowment
for the Arts on funding distribution.
Section 321 limits the use of funds for new or revised
National forest land management plans with certain exceptions.
Section 322 limits funding for completing the 5-year
program under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act.
Section 323 prohibits the use of funds to support
government-wide administrative functions unless they are
justified in the budget process and approved by the House and
Senate Appropriations Committees.
Section 324 prohibits the use of funds for GSA
Telecommunication Centers or the President's Council on
Sustainable Development.
Section 325 prohibits the use of funds to make improvements
to Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House without
Committee approval.
Section 326 continues a provision which permits the Forest
Service to use the roads and trails fund for backlog
maintenance and priority forest health treatments.
Section 327 prevents funds available to the agencies and
offices funded in this bill from being used to support the
Council on Environmental Quality or other Executive Office of
the President functions for purposes related to the American
Heritage Rivers program. The Committee is concerned that scarce
agency funds may be diverted to bureaucratic functions that
should be supported by other appropriations acts if they have
merit.
Section 328 limits the use of answering machines during
core business hours except in case of emergency and requires an
option of talking to a person. The American taxpayer deserves
to receive personal attention from public servants.
Section 329 continues a provision carried last year
regulating the export of Western red cedar from National forest
system lands in Alaska.
Section 330 prohibits the use of funds to propose or issue
rules, regulations, decrees or orders for implementing the
Kyoto Protocol prior to Senate ratification.
Section 331 prohibits new or expanded Indian self-
determination contracts and self-governance compacts using
funds in this Act.
Section 332 includes language that allows the BLM and
Forest Service to pilot test their Service First initiative.
The Committee continues to support and encourage the land
management agencies to work with each other to consolidate
activities at the field level as a means of achieving savings
and providing improved services to the public. In the past the
Committee has applauded the efforts of the BLM and Forest
Service to test just such a program. This language allows the
Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to make reciprocal
delegations of authority, duties, and responsibilities to
promote customer service and efficiency, with the understanding
that nothing will change the applicability of any public law or
regulation to lands administered by the BLM or Forest Service,
except for testing the feasibility of issuing and processing
unified permits, applications, and leases. As part of their
annual budget justification to the Congress, the BLM and Forest
are directed to provide an annual report on the effectiveness
of the Service First pilot.
Section 333 establishes a four-year program between the
State of Colorado and the Forest Service that provides for
cooperative watershed restoration and protection in Colorado.
This program allows the State of Colorado to work with the
Forest Service when it is conducting watershed restoration and
protection services on State or private lands near or adjacent
to national forest system lands. This includes treatments of
insect infected trees, reduction of hazardous fuels, and other
activities to restore or improve watersheds or fish and
wildlife habitat across ownership boundaries. The State and the
Forest Service should coordinate annual activities as early as
possible during the fiscal year.
Section 334 limits the use of funds for issuing a record of
decision or policy implementing the Interior Columbia Basin
Ecosystem Management Project. This provision addresses the
concern by the Committee that the Forest Service and the Bureau
of Land Management do not intend to comply with the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act by completing a
regulatory flexibility analysis with respect to the preferred
alternative contained in the Draft Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement for the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem
Management Project (ICBEMP). The GAO General Counsel wrote in a
July 3, 1997 letter to Congress that a National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan generally was considered a ``rule''
for the purposes of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act. Since ICBEMP proposes to amend 62 individual land
use plans on 32 Forest Service and BLM administrative units in
the project area and replace three interim management
strategies, the Committee is concerned that the Project will
expose itself to litigation by not complying with existing law
prior to implementation.
Section 335 includes bill language, which would prevent the
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture from
using any funds for the purposes of designing, planning or
management of Federal lands as national monuments which were
designated since 1999. Nothing in this language prevents either
Secretary from managing these Federal lands under their
previous management plans. The Committee encourages the
Secretaries to continue previous management scenarios until
such time as Congress ratifies the monument declarations which
occurred after 1999.
TITLE IV--FISCAL YEAR 2000 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
wildland fire management
The Committee recommends an additional $200,000,000 in
fiscal year 2000 for wildland fire management. This amount is
contingent upon receipt of a budget request that includes a
Presidential designation of the amount requested as an
emergency requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.
The Committee recognizes the severity of the 1999 fire
season in the Great Basin and the ecological effects these
fires had on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The Committee supports current efforts that are underway to
secure the funds necessary to restore damaged resources and
infrastructure in order to prevent declines in important fish
and wildlife habitat. Accordingly, the Committee supports
restoration activities, including but not limited to fence
replacement, wild horse removal, tree and shrub replacement,
and cheatgrass control. The Committee also recognizes the
severity of the grasshopper and Mormon cricket infestation in
The Great Basin and supports efforts to secure funding to
protect vital native vegetative resources on Federal lands,
adjacent farm and ranch lands, and newly planted fire
rehabilitation projects from further infestations. Should funds
become available for these high-priority activities, the
Committee expects coordination with State, local and other
Federal entities in addressing these efforts.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
wildland fire management
The Committee recommends an additional $150,000,000 in
fiscal year 2000 for wildland fire management. This amount is
contingent upon receipt of a budget request that includes a
Presidential designation of the amount requested as an
emergency requirement as defined in the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.
Rescissions
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2), rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following table is submitted
describing the rescissions recommended in the accompanying
bill:
rescission recommended in the bill
Amounts
Department and activity recommended for
rescission
Department of the Interior: Land and Water $30,000,000
Conservation Fund (contract authority)...............
Department of Energy: Alternative Fuels Production.... 1,000,000
Transfer of Funds
Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2), rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following table is submitted
describing the transfer of funds provided in the accompanying
bill.
The table shows the appropriations affected by such
transfers.
APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account to which transfer is to
Account from which transfer is to be made Amount be made Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Energy, Biomass Energy $2,000,000 Department of Energy, Energy $2,000,000
Development Resource, Supply and Efficiency.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in Application of Existing Law
Pursuant to clause 3, rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the following Statements are submitted
describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill
which directly or indirectly change the application of existing
law. In most instances these provisions have been included in
prior appropriations Acts.
The bill provides that certain appropriations items remain
available until expended or extends the availability of funds
beyond the fiscal year where programs or projects are
continuing in nature under the provisions of authorizing
legislation but for which that legislation does not
specifically authorize such extended availability. Most of
these items have been carried in previous appropriations Acts.
This authority tends to result in savings by preventing the
practice of committing funds at the end of the fiscal year.
The bill includes, in certain instances, limitations on the
obligation of funds for particular functions or programs. These
limitations include restrictions on the obligation of funds for
administrative expenses, travel expenses, the use of
consultants, and programmatic areas within the overall
jurisdiction of a particular agency.
The Committee has included limitations for official
entertainment or reception and representation expenses for
selected agencies in the bill.
Language is included in the various parts of the bill to
continue ongoing activities of those Federal agencies, which
require annual authorization or additional legislation which to
date, has not been enacted.
Language is included under Bureau of Land Management,
Management of lands and resources, permitting the use of
receipts from the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965;
providing funds to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
under certain conditions; permitting the use of fees from
communication site rentals; limiting the use of funds for
destroying wild horses and burros; and permitting the
collection of fees for processing mining applications and for
certain public land uses, and permitting the use of these fees
for program operations.
Language is included under Bureau of Land Management,
Wildland fire management, to permit the use of funds from other
accounts for firefighting; to permit the use of funds for
lodging and subsistence of firefighters; and to permit the
acceptance and use of funds for firefighting.
Language is included under Bureau of Land Management,
Central hazardous materials fund, providing that sums received
from a party for remedial actions shall be credited to the
account, and defining non-monetary payments.
Language is included under Bureau of Land Management,
Payments in lieu of taxes, to exclude any payment that is less
than $100.
Language is included under Bureau of Land Management,
Forest ecosystems health and recovery fund permitting the use
of salvage timber receipts.
Language is included under Bureau of Land Management,
Service charges, deposits, and forfeitures, to allow use of
funds on any damaged public lands.
Language is included under Bureau of Land Management,
Administrative provisions, permitting the payment of rewards
for information on violations of law on Bureau lands; and
providing for cost-sharing arrangements for printing services.
Language is included under United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, Resource management, allowing for the maintenance of
the herd of long-horned cattle on the Wichita Mountains
Wildlife Refuge. Without this language, the long-horned cattle
would have to be removed from the refuge. Language also is
included, providing for the Natural Communities Conservation
Planning program and for a Youth Conservation Corps; limiting
funding for certain Endangered Species Act listing programs;
permitting payment for information or rewards in the law
enforcement program; and earmarking funds for contaminant
analysis.
Language is included under United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, Multinational species conservation fund, exempting
these programs from certain sanctions on a permanent basis.
Language is included under United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, Administrative provisions, providing for repair of
damage to public roads; options for the purchase of land not to
exceed $1; installation of certain recreation facilities; the
maintenance and improvement of aquaria and other facilities;
the acceptance of donated aircraft; cost-shared arrangements
for printing services. Language also is included to limit the
use of funds for establishing new refuges.
Language is included under National Park Service, Operation
of the National park system to allow road maintenance service
to trucking permittees on a reimbursable basis. This provision
has been included in annual appropriations Acts since 1954.
Language also is included providing for a Youth Conservation
Corps program; providing for the use of funds in support of
Everglades land acquisition and permitting no-year availability
for certain recreation fees associated with units not
participating in the recreation fee demonstration program.
Language is included under National Park Service, Land and
water conservation fund, rescinding $30 million in contract
authority.
Language is included under National Park Service, Land
acquisition and State assistance, to permit the use of funds to
assist the State of Florida with Everglades restoration; making
the use of funds for Everglades contingent on certain
conditions; and limiting State assistance grants solely to land
acquisition.
Language is included under National Park Service,
Administrative provisions, requiring the inclusion of 18 U.S.C.
1913 in the text of grant and contract documents; preventing
the implementation of an agreement for the redevelopment of the
southern end of Ellis Island; limiting the use of funds for the
United Nation's Biodiversity convention; and permitting the use
of funds for workplace safety needs.
Language is included under U.S. Geological Survey, Surveys,
investigations and research, providing for two-year
availability of funds for biological research and for the
operations of cooperative research units; prohibiting the
conduct of new surveys on private property without permission;
and requiring cost sharing for cooperative topographic mapping
and water resource data collection activities.
Language is included under U.S. Geological Survey,
Administrative provisions, permitting reimbursements to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; permitting contracting for
certain mapping and surveys; permitting construction of
facilities; permitting acquisition of land for certain uses;
allowing payment of expenses for the National Committee on
Geology; permitting payments to interstate compact negotiators;
and permitting the use of certain contracts, grants, and
cooperative agreements.
Language is included under Minerals Management Service,
Royalty and offshore minerals management, permitting the use of
excess receipts from Outer Continental Shelf leasing
activities; providing for reasonable expenses related to
volunteer beach and marine clean-up activities; providing for
refunds for overpayments on Indian allottee leases; providing
for collecting royalties and late payment interest on amounts
received in settlements associated with Federal and Indian
leases; and permitting the use of revenues from a royalty-in-
kind program.
Language is included under Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Regulation and Technology,
permitting the use of moneys collected pursuant to assessment
of civil penalties to reclaim lands affected by coal mining
after August 3, 1977; permitting payment to State and tribal
personnel for travel and per diem expenses for training.
Language is included under Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Abandoned mine reclamation fund,
limiting the amounts in the account for acid mine drainage
activities and for emergency reclamation projects; allowing the
use of debt recovery to pay for debt collection; and allowing
the use of funds for reclamation and acid mine drainage
remediation in Pennsylvania.
Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Operation of Indian programs, limiting funds for contract
support costs and for administrative cost grants for schools;
permitting the use of tribal priority allocations for general
assistance payments to individuals, for contract support costs,
and for repair and replacement of schools; and providing for
future availability of certain tribal forestry funds.
Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Operation of Indian programs, allowing reprogramming of Self-
Governance funds, allowing changes to certain eligibility
criteria by tribal governments, allowing the transfer of
certain forestry funds, providing for an Indian self-
determination fund.
Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Construction, providing that 6 percent of Federal Highway Trust
Fund contract authority may be used for management costs;
providing for the transfer of Navajo irrigation project funds
to the Bureau of Reclamation; providing Safety of Dams funds on
a non-reimbursable basis; requiring the use of administrative
and cost accounting principles for certain school construction
projects and exempting such projects from certain requirements;
requiring conformance with building codes and health and safety
standards; specifying the procedure for dispute resolution; and
permitting the use of certain overpayments for school
construction.
Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Administrative provisions, prohibiting funding of Alaska
schools; limiting schools and the expansion of grade levels in
individual schools; to limit the use of funds for contracts,
grants and cooperative agreements and requiring an evaluation
of certain Bureau schools.
Language is included under Departmental Offices, Insular
Affairs, Assistance to Territories, requiring audits of the
financial transactions of the Territorial governments by the
General Accounting Office; providing grant funding under
certain terms of the Agreement of the Special Representatives
on Future United States Financial Assistance for the Northern
Mariana Islands; providing a payment to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency for Virgin Islands obligations; providing a
grant to the Close-Up foundation; and allowing appropriations
for disaster assistance to be used as non-Federal matching
funds for hazard mitigation grants; providing for payments to
the Prior Service Benefits Trust Fund and limiting
administrative expenses; and providing for capital
infrastructure in various territories.
Language is included under Departmental Offices,
Departmental management, salaries and expenses, permitting
payments to former Bureau of Mines workers.
Language is included under Departmental Offices, Office of
Special Trustee for American Indians, specifying that the
statute of limitations shall not commence on any claim
resulting from trust funds losses; exempting quarterly
statements for accounts less than $1; and requiring annual
statements and records maintenance.
Language is included under Departmental Offices, Indian
land consolidation, permitting transfers of funds for
administration; permitting cooperative agreements with tribes
to acquire fractional interest; permitting a reservation-wide
system for establishing fair market values; limiting and
placing requirements on certain land acquisitions; making
certain proceeds available for appropriation and allowing cost
recovery and subsequent distribution to tribes.
Language is included under Departmental Offices,
Administrative provisions, prohibiting the use of working
capital or consolidated working funds to augment certain
offices and allowing the acquisition of aircraft through
various means and the sale of existing aircraft with proceeds
used to offset the purchase price of replacement aircraft.
Language is included under General provisions, Department
of the Interior, to allow transfer of funds in certain
emergency situations and requiring replacement with a
supplemental appropriation request; and designating certain
transferred funds as ``emergency requirements'' under the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Language is included under General provisions, Department
of the Interior, to permit the Department to consolidate
services and receive reimbursement for said services. Language
also is included providing for uniform allowances.
Language is included under General provisions, Department
of the Interior, to allow for obligations in connection with
contracts issued for services or rentals for periods not in
excess of 12 months beginning at any time during the fiscal
year.
Language is included under General provisions, Department
of the Interior, restricting various oil and gas preleasing,
leasing, exploration and drilling activities within the Outer
Continental Shelf in the Georges Bank-North Atlantic planning
area, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic planning area, Eastern
Gulf of Mexico planning area, North Aleutian Basin planning
area, Northern, Southern and Central California planning areas,
and Washington/Oregon planning area.
Language is included under General provisions, Department
of the Interior, limiting the investment of Federal funds by
Indian tribes.
Language is included under General provisions, Department
of the Interior, to limit the use of funds for contract support
costs; and to prohibit fee exemptions for non-local traffic
through National Parks.
Language is included under General provisions, Department
of the Interior, allowing, on a permanent basis, the use of
rebates from credit cards; permitting on a permanent basis
certain lease arrangements at Fort Baker; requiring lease and
grazing permit renewals by the Bureau of Land Management under
certain conditions; providing for administrative law judges to
handle Indian issues; permitting the redistribution of certain
Indian funds with limitation; limiting the establishment of a
Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge; renaming the Great Marsh
Trail at the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, VA; directing
allocation of funds for Bureau of Indian Affairs funded post-
secondary schools; and limiting the use of funds to establish a
National Wildlife Refuge in the Yolo Bypass of California.
Language is included under Forest Service, State and
private forestry, prohibiting funding for urban resources
partnership programs.
Language is included under Forest Service, National forest
system, allowing 50 percent of the fees collected under the
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to remain available until
expended; and requiring the fiscal year 2002 budget
justification to display unobligated balances available at the
start of fiscal year 2001.
Language is included under Forest Service, Wildland fire
management, allowing the use of funds to repay advances from
other accounts and requiring 50 percent of any unobligated
balances remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000, excepting
hazardous fuels funding, to be transferred to the Knutson-
Vandenberg fund as repayment for past advances; and permitting
the use of funds for the Joint Fire Science program.
Language is included under Forest Service, Capital
improvement and maintenance, allowing funds to be used for road
decommissioning; requiring that no road decommissioning be
funded until notice and an opportunity for public comment has
been provided; and merging unobligated balances from the
National forest system account for facility and trail
maintenance and unobligated balances from the reconstruction
and construction account and the reconstruction and maintenance
account.
Language is included under Forest Service, Range betterment
fund, providing that 6 percent of the funds may be used for
administrative expenses.
Language is included under Forest Service, Administrative
provisions, providing that proceeds from the sale of aircraft
may be used to purchase replacement aircraft; limiting the
availability of funds to change the boundaries of or abolish
any region or to move or close any regional office; allowing
any funds available to the Secretary of Agriculture to be used
for advances for firefighting and emergency rehabilitation of
damaged lands if and only if all previously appropriated
emergency contingent wildfire funds have been released by the
President and apportioned; allowing funds to be used through
the Agency for International Development and the Foreign
Agricultural Service for work in foreign countries, and to
support other forestry activities outside of the United States.
Language is included under Forest Service, Administrative
provisions, prohibiting the following without advance approval:
(1) the transfer of funds under the Department of Agriculture
transfer authority; (2) reprogramming of funds; and (3)
transfer of funds to the working capital fund of the Department
of Agriculture.
Language is included under Forest Service, Administrative
provisions, providing for a Youth Conservation Corps program;
allowing funds to be used for representation expenses by the
Chief; providing for matching funds and administrative expenses
for the National Forest Foundation and also matching funds for
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; providing funds for
sustainable rural development; permitting the transfer of
certain funds to the State of Washington fish and wildlife
department for planned projects; providing that funds shall be
available for payment to counties within the Columbia River
Gorge National Scenic Area; providing authority to the Pinchot
Institute for activities at Grey Towers National Historic
Landmark; allowing payments to Del Norte County, CA; limiting
employee details; permitting limited reimbursements to the
Office of General Counsel in USDA; restricting the use of
administrative funds and requiring displays of such funds in
budget justifications, including limitations on trust funds;
allowing the use of fundings for law enforcement emergencies;
and providing procurement authority for certain activities at
the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
Language is included under Department of Energy, Clean Coal
Technology deferring previously appropriated funds until fiscal
year 2002.
Language is included under Department of Energy, energy
resource supply and efficiency, limiting the field testing of
nuclear explosives for the recovery of oil and gas; providing
for activities at the Albany Research Center, OR; and requiring
the transfer of funds from the Biomass energy development
account; and providing allocations of grants for weatherization
and State energy conservation.
Language is included under Department of Energy, Naval
Petroleum and oil shale reserves waiving sales requirements
based on Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil purchases; and
permitting the use of unobligated balances.
Language is included under Department of Energy,
Alternative fuels production, rescinding unobligated balances.
Language is included under Administrative provisions,
Department of Energy, providing for vehicle and guard services
and uniform allowances; limiting programs of price supports and
loan guarantees to what is provided in appropriations Acts;
providing for the transfer of funds to other agencies of the
Government; providing for retention of revenues by the
Secretary of Energy on certain projects; requiring certain
contracts be submitted to Congress prior to implementation;
prohibiting issuance of procurement documents without
appropriations; and permitting the use of contributions and
fees for cooperative projects.
Language is included under Indian Health Service, Indian
health services, providing that certain contracts and grants
may be performed in two fiscal years; exempting certain tribal
funding from fiscal year constraints; limiting funds for
catastrophic care, loan repayment and certain contracts;
capping contract support cost spending; and providing for use
of collections under Title IV of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act.
Language is included under Indian Health Service, Indian
health facilities, providing that funds may be used to purchase
land, modular buildings and trailers; providing a grant to the
Hopi tribe for staff quarters; and providing for certain
purchases from other agencies and for a demolition fund.
Language is included under Indian Health Service,
Administrative provisions, providing for payments for telephone
service in private residences in the field, purchase of
reprints, and purchase and erection of portable buildings; and
allowing deobligation and reobligation of funds applied to
self-governance funding agreements.
Language is included under Indian Health Service,
Administrative provisions, providing that health care may be
extended to non-Indians at Indian Health Service facilities;
and providing for expenditure of funds transferred to IHS from
the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Language is included under Indian Health Service,
Administrative provisions, to prevent the Indian Health Service
from billing Indians in order to collect from third-party
payers until Congress has agreed to implement a specific
policy.
Language is included under Indian Health Service,
Administrative provisions, allowing payment of expenses for
meeting attendance; specifying that certain funds shall not be
subject to certain travel limitations; prohibiting the
expenditure of funds to implement new eligibility regulations;
providing that funds be apportioned only in the appropriation
structure in this Act; prohibiting changing the appropriations
structure without approval of the Appropriations Committees;
and permitting the sale of goods and services for fees and for
the use of those fees.
Language is included under Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian
Relocation, salaries and expenses, defining eligible
relocatees; prohibiting movement of any single Navajo or Navajo
family unless a new or replacement home is available; limiting
relocatees to one new or replacement home; and establishing a
priority for relocation of Navajos to those certified eligible
who have selected and received homesites on the Navajo
reservation or selected a replacement residence off the Navajo
reservation.
Language is included under Smithsonian Institution,
Salaries and expenses, to allow for advance payments to
independent contractors performing research services or
participating in official Smithsonian presentations; providing
that funds may be used to support American overseas research
centers; and permitting the use of certain funds for the Victor
Building.
Language is included under Smithsonian Institution, repair,
restoration and alteration of facilities, permitting the
Smithsonian Institution to select contractors for certain
purposes on the basis of contractor qualifications as well as
price; and permitting the merger of funds previously
appropriated for zoo construction.
Language is included under Administrative Provisions,
Smithsonian Institution, limiting planning, design or expansion
of facilities without Committee consultation; limiting the use
of funds for the Holt House at the zoo; and limiting funds for
construction of the National Museum of the American Indian.
Language is included under National Gallery of Art,
Salaries and expenses, allowing payment in advance for
membership in library, museum, and art associations or
societies; providing uniform allowances and for restoration and
repair of works of art by contract without advertising; and
providing no-year availability of funds for special
exhibitions.
Language is included under National Gallery of Art, Repair,
restoration and renovation of buildings, permitting the Gallery
to perform work by contract or otherwise and to select
contractors for certain purposes on the basis of contractor
qualifications as well as price.
Language is included under National Endowment for the Arts,
Grants and administration, permitting the merger and use of
previously appropriated funds from the matching grants account.
Language is included under National Foundation for the
Humanities, Matching grants, allowing obligation of current and
prior year funds of gifts, bequests, and devises of money for
which equal amounts have not previously been appropriated.
Language is included under National Foundation on the Arts
and the Humanities, Administrative provisions, limiting the use
of funds for reception expenses and permitting the use of non
appropriated funds for such expenses.
Language is included under Commission of Fine Arts,
Salaries and expenses, permitting the charging and use of fees
for its publications.
Language is included under Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation to restrict hiring anyone at Executive Level V or
higher.
Language is included under National Capital Planning
Commission, salaries and expenses, to provide for a pay level
at the rate of Executive Level IV for all appointed members.
Language is included under Holocaust Memorial Council,
providing no year funding availability for repair and
rehabilitation and museums exhibitions.
Language is included under Presidio Trust Fund requiring
that guaranteed loans be consistent with the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions
prohibiting the use of funds to distribute literature either to
promote or oppose legislative proposals on which Congressional
action is incomplete; and prohibiting oil and gas leasing in
the Shawnee National Forest.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions,
prohibiting the use of funds to provide personal cooks,
chauffeurs or other personal servants to any office or
employee; limiting use of consulting services; and specifying
that funds are for one year unless provided otherwise.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions,
prohibiting assessments against programs funded in this bill;
and providing Buy American requirements.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions,
prohibiting the sale of giant sequoia trees in a manner
different from 1999.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions,
prohibiting the use of funds by the National Park Service to
enter into a concession contract requiring the removal of the
underground lunchroom at Carlsbad Caverns NP.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions,
limiting use of funds for the AmeriCorps program; and limiting
use of funds relating to a bridge between New Jersey and Ellis
Island.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions,
continuing a limitation on accepting and processing
applications for patents and on the patenting of Federal lands;
permitting processing of grandfathered applications; and
permitting third-party contractors to process grandfathered
applications.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions,
limiting the use of funds for contract support costs on Indian
contracts.
Language is included under Title III--General provisions,
to permit limiting competition under the Jobs in the Woods
program; requiring Committee approval prior to using
recreational fees for constructing certain permanent buildings;
exempting on a permanent basis, the Presidio Trust from certain
taxes and special assessments; limiting funds for posting
clothing optional signs at Cape Canaveral NS; making reforms in
the National Endowment for the Arts, including funding
distribution reforms; permitting the National Foundation on the
Arts and the Humanities to collect, invest and use private
donations; limiting the use of funds for forest land management
plans until regulations have been published and for completing
the 5-year program under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act; limiting funds for improvements to
Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House without
Committee approval; providing additional authority to the
Secretary of Agriculture to use the ten percent roads and
trails fund for additional purposes; limiting the use of funds
for any government-wide administrative functions and for GSA
telecommunications centers and the President's Council on
Sustainable Development; prohibiting the use of funds for
certain administrative functions of the American Heritage
Rivers program; limiting the use of telephone answering
machines; limiting the sale for export of Western redcedar in
Alaska; limiting the use of funds relating to the Kyoto
Protocol; placing a moratorium on new and expanded Indian self-
determination contracts and compacts; allowing a four year
cooperative watershed restoration program between the State of
Colorado and the Forest Service; limiting funds for the
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project; and
limiting funds for designing, planning or managing Federal
lands as National Monuments if so designated since 1999.
Appropriations Not Authorized by Law
Pursuant to clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the following table lists the
appropriations in the accompanying bill which, in whole or in
part, are not authorized by law:
Department of the Interior:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Management
National Park Service, National Recreation and Preservation
Department of Energy:
Fossil Energy Research and Development
Energy Conservation
Economic Regulation
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Energy Information Administration
Other Related Agencies:
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities:
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Committee notes that authorizing legislation for many
of these programs is in various stages of the legislative
process and these authorizations are expected to be enacted
into law later this year.
Compliance With Rule XIII--Clause 3
In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
Section 551 of the Land Between the Lakes Protection Act of
1998 (16 U.S.C. 460lll-61) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
(c) Transition.--Until September 30, 2002, the Secretary of
Agriculture may expend amounts appropriated or otherwise made
available to carry out this title in a manner consistent with
the authorities exercised by the Tennessee Valley Authority,
before the transfer of the Recreation Area to the
administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary, regarding
procurement of property, services, supplies, and equipment.
Five-Year Projection of Outlays
In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as
amended, the following table contains five-year projections
associated with the budget authority provided in the
accompanying bill:
[In millions]
Budget authority...................................... 14,781
Outlays:
Fiscal year 2001.................................. 9,765
Fiscal year 2002.................................. 3,745
Fiscal year 2003.................................. 834
Fiscal year 2004.................................. 309
Fiscal year 2005 and future years................. 49
Assistance to State and Local Governments
In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as
amended, the financial assistance to State and local
governments is as follows:
[In millions]
New budget authority.................................. 1,080
Fiscal year 2001 outlays resulting therefrom.......... 556
Full Committee Votes
Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(a)(1)(b) of rule
XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of each
rollcall vote on an amendment or on the motion to report,
together with the names of those voting for and those voting
against, are printed below:
ROLLCALL NUMBER: 1
Date: May 25, 2000.
Measure: Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill,
FY 2001.
Motion by: Mr. Dicks.
Description of Motion: To increase funding for the National
Endowment for the Arts by $27,000,000 and the National
Endowment for the Humanities by $9,740,000 and to increase the
deferral of previously appropriated Clean Coal Technology funds
by $36,740,000.
Results: Rejected 25 yeas to 33 nays.
Members Voting Yea Members Voting Nay
Mr. Boyd Mr. Aderholt
Mr. Cramer Mr. Bonilla
Ms. DeLauro Mr. Callahan
Mr. Dicks Mr. Cunningham
Mr. Edwards Mr. DeLay
Mr. Farr Mr. Dickey
Mr. Forbes Mrs. Emerson
Mr. Hinchey Mr. Frelinghuysen
Mr. Hoyer Mr. Goode
Mr. Jackson Ms. Granger
Ms. Kaptur Mr. Hobson
Ms. Kilpatrick Mr. Istook
Mrs. Lowey Mr. Kingston
Mrs. Meek Mr. Knollenberg
Mr. Moran Mr. Kolbe
Mr. Murtha Mr. Latham
Mr. Obey Mr. Lewis
Mr. Olver Mr. Miller
Mr. Pastor Mr. Nethercutt
Ms. Pelosi Mrs. Northup
Mr. Price Mr. Packard
Ms. Roybal-Allard Mr. Peterson
Mr. Sabo Mr. Porter
Mr. Serrano Mr. Regula
Mr. Visclosky Mr. Rogers
Mr. Skeen
Mr. Taylor
Mr. Tiahrt
Mr. Walsh
Mr. Wamp
Mr. Wicker
Mr. Wolf
Mr. Young
Full Committee Votes
Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(a)(1)(b) of rule
XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of each
rollcall vote on an amendment or on the motion to report,
together with the names of those voting for and those voting
against, are printed below:
rollcall number: 2
Date: May 25, 2000.
Measure: Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill,
FY 2001.
Motion by: Mr. Dicks.
Description of Motion: To increase funding for the National
Endowment for the Arts by $17,260,000 and to increase the
deferral of previously appropriated Clean Coal Technology funds
by $17,260,000.
Results: Rejected 27 yeas to 31 nays.
Members Voting Yea Members Voting Nay
Mr. Boyd Mr. Aderholt
Mr. Cramer Mr. Bonilla
Ms. DeLauro Mr. Callahan
Mr. Dicks Mr. Cunningham
Mr. Edwards Mr. DeLay
Mr. Farr Mr. Dickey
Mr. Forbes Mrs. Emerson
Mr. Frelinghuysen Mr. Goode
Mr. Hinchey Ms. Granger
Mr. Hoyer Mr. Hobson
Mr. Jackson Mr. Istook
Ms. Kaptur Mr. Kingston
Ms. Kilpatrick Mr. Knollenberg
Mrs. Lowey Mr. Kolbe
Mrs. Meek Mr. Latham
Mr. Moran Mr. Lewis
Mr. Murtha Mr. Miller
Mr. Obey Mr. Nethercutt
Mr. Olver Mrs. Northup
Mr. Pastor Mr. Packard
Ms. Pelosi Mr. Peterson
Mr. Porter Mr. Regula
Mr. Price Mr. Rogers
Ms. Roybal-Allard Mr. Skeen
Mr. Sabo Mr. Taylor
Mr. Serrano Mr. Tiahrt
Mr. Visclosky Mr. Walsh
Mr. Wamp
Mr. Wicker
Mr. Wolf
Mr. Young
Full Committee Votes
Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(a)(1)(b) of rule
XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of each
rollcall vote on an amendment or on the motion to report,
together with the names of those voting for and those voting
against, are printed below:
rollcall number: 3
Date: May 25, 2000.
Measure: Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill,
FY 2001.
Motion by: Mr. Porter.
Description of Motion: To report the bill, to authorize the
Chairman to seek a rule for consideration of the bill, and to
authorize the Chairman to move that the House disagree to the
amendments of the Senate and agree to a conference requested by
the Senate.
Results: Adopted 31 yeas to 22 nays.
Members Voting Yea Members Voting Nay
Mr. Aderholt Mr. Boyd
Mr. Bonilla Mr. Cramer
Mr. Callahan Ms. DeLauro
Mr. Cunningham Mr. Dicks
Mr. Dickey Mr. Edwards
Mrs. Emerson Mr. Farr
Mr. Frelinghuysen Mr. Forbes
Mr. Goode Mr. Hinchey
Ms. Granger Mr. Hoyer
Mr. Hobson Ms. Kaptur
Mr. Istook Ms. Kilpatrick
Mr. Kingston Mrs. Lowey
Mr. Knollenberg Mrs. Meek
Mr. Kolbe Mr. Mollohan
Mr. Latham Mr. Obey
Mr. Miller Mr. Olver
Mr. Nethercutt Mr. Pastor
Mrs. Northup Mr. Price
Mr. Packard Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Peterson Mr. Sabo
Mr. Porter Mr. Serrano
Mr. Regula Mr. Visclosky
Mr. Rogers
Mr. Skeen
Mr. Taylor
Mr. Tiahrt
Mr. Walsh
Mr. Wamp
Mr. Wicker
Mr. Wolf
Mr. Young
DISSENTING VIEWS OF THE HONORABLE DAVID OBEY AND NORMAN DICKS
the fy 2001 interior appropriations bill--a failure of stewardship
The Congress, through the Interior appropriations bill,
exercises its obligation as steward of America's lands and
history to current and future generations. The American people
look to the Congress through this bill to provide the fiscal
means to ensure that the beauty and productivity of our parks,
wildlife refuges, forests, and range lands are preserved and
nurtured. They expect the resources to be provided for the
preservation and display of the historic and cultural heritage
that has made the United States a great nation. Beyond these
national stewardship obligations, this bill finances this
country's ``trust'' responsibilities to Native Americans, whose
health, education and social service needs have assumed by the
federal government as legal obligations through various
treaties, statutes and other historic agreements. Meeting these
multiple obligations is a major undertaking but also a
fundamental responsibility of our government.
Unfortunately, rather than honoring this stewardship
obligation, the fiscal year 2001 Interior spending bill
reported by the Committee fails fundamentally to meet these
challenges. The reason for this failure does not, however, lie
with the Appropriations Committee's leadership. The reason lies
with the Majority party's insistence on cutting taxes by $170
billion over the next five years and financing these cuts with
totally unrealistic reductions in discretionary spending. The
Majority maintains the fiction that the national debt can be
eliminated while delivering unaffordable tax cuts without
damaging programs that are important to the American people.
This bill is an example of the damage that such a fiction can
cause when imposed on the real world which relies on the
services of critical domestic programs. The bill's flaws are
especially acute in four areas.
First, the bill ignores overwhelming evidence of the
critical health, education and law enforcement needs of Native
Americans by reducing the Administration's budget requests for
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service by
$520 million. The health status of Native Americans is one of
the poorest of any group in this country. Indians suffer
mortality rates three times the national average from diabetes,
tuberculosis, alcoholism and accidents. Many Indian schools are
in a deplorable state of disrepair and fail to meet minimum
safety standards. Recruiting quality teachers to rural isolated
schools is a constant challenge. Rates of violent crime on
Indian reservations are more than twice the national average.
In response to these challenges, this bill inexplicably fails
to even fund cost-of-living increases for Indian programs. At
the funding levels in this bill, the result will be layoffs of
teacher and loss of accreditation at Indian schools and
significant reductions in medical personnel at already
chronically understaffed Indian hospitals and clinics. The
suffering of the Indian peoples will increase.
Second, despite very broad support within this Congress for
efforts to acquire and preserve the vanishing open land spaces
in this country, this bill reduces funding for land acquisition
under the Land and Water Conservation Fund from $464 million in
FY 2000 to $164 million for FY 2001. On May 11th the House
passed and sent on to the Senate H.R. 701, the Conservation and
Reinvestment Act (CARA), by a vote of 315 to 102. This vote
clearly reflected the majority view in Congress that the public
was broadly supportive of efforts to acquire and preserve for
posterity the vanishing land treasures which, if left in
private hands, would surely be developed and become unavailable
for our children and their grandchildren. It is difficult to
understand how anyone who supports the expansion of federal
land acquisition programs, which CARA envisions, can vote for
the current version of the Interior Appropriations bill with
its 65 percent reduction in funding for land acquisition.
Third, this bill fails to provide adequately for
maintenance of the lands and historic treasures for which the
federal government already has ownership and responsibility.
The Chairman of the Interior Subcommittee has frequently
pointed out the need to adequately take care of the lands which
the government already owns and has called for the land
management agencies to prepare five-year plans for meeting
critical maintenance backlogs. The Minority agrees that dealing
with this maintenance backlog must be a priority and cannot,
therefor, understand why the Congress should support this bill
which reduces funding for maintenance and construction at the
Department of the Interior by $80 million compared to last year
and by $217 million below the level requested by the president.
Finally, the Majority has failed yet again in this bill to
restore some of the unwise cuts made five years ago in funding
for those agencies responsible for this country's small but
critically important arts and humanities education and
preservation efforts. This bill funds the National Endowment
for the Arts (NEA) at $98 million, a level 40 percent below the
1995 funding level. The National Endowment for the Humanities
(NEH) is funded at $115 million, 33 percent below the level in
1995. These funding levels fundamentally ignore the successful
efforts by both NEA and NEH to broaden the reach of their
programs and eliminate controversial programming, the two
``reforms'' requested by the Majority when they reduced funding
in 1995. It is time to recognize the success of these reforms
and give our premier culture the resources they need to meet
this critical need. Unfortunately, the amendment offered by
Democrats in Committee to raise funding for both agencies to
$125 million was defeated.
As noted earlier, in criticizing this bill, the Minority
does not mean to criticize the Committee or the Subcommittee
Chairman for its failings. Indeed, the efforts of the Chairman
to meet critical program needs, despite inadequate resources,
is obvious in a number of places. We applaud the effort to
provide enough funds to the land management agencies with
responsibility for the parks, refuges and forests to cover
mandatory costs and avoid park closings or service cutbacks.
The effort to provide a portion of the funds necessary to
replace the six most urgently needed Indian schools is an
imaginative way to deal with a critical problem. However,
despite a professional and responsible approach by the
Chairman, the budget allocation provided to the Committee as a
whole and to the Interior Subcommittee in particular is not
sufficient to adequately meet the needs which are covered by
this bill. A Subcommittee allocation which is $302 million
below last year and $1.7 billion below the amount requested by
the president is just not enough to do the job.
In summary, if this bill were to be enacted in its current
form, it is the view of the Minority that the preservation of
our lands, our history and our culture would suffer substantial
damage. Conditions in Indian country, already a national
disgrace, would further deteriorate. The president has made it
clear that he will not sign a bill which so fails to meet our
fundamental stewardship responsibilities. A copy of the letter
from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
indicating the president's objections to the bill follows this
statement. Each Member of the House should review these issues
carefully and insist that additional funds be added to the bill
to address the key shortcomings that have been cited. If
substantial funds are not added, this bill should be rejected
with resounding ``No'' vote on final passage.
The Statement of Administration Policy from the Director of
OMB dated May 25, 2000 follows:
Executive Office of the President,
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC, May 25, 2000.
Hon. David R. Obey,
Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Obey: The purpose of this letter is to
provide the Administration's views on the Department of the
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, FY 2001, as
approved by the House Subcommittee. As the Committee develops
its version of the bill, your consideration of the
Administration's views would be appreciated.
The President's FY 2001 Budget is based on a balanced
approach that maintains fiscal discipline, eliminates the
national debt, extends the solvency of Social Security and
Medicare, provides for an appropriately sized tax cut,
establishes a new voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit
in the context of broader reforms, expands health care coverage
to more families, and funds critical investments for our
future. An essential element of this approach is ensuring
adequate funding for discretionary programs. To this end, the
President has proposed discretionary spending limits at levels
that we believe are necessary to serve the American people.
Unfortunately, the FY 2001 congressional budget resolution
provides inadequate resources for discretionary investments. We
need realistic levels of funding for critical government
functions that the American people expect their government to
perform well, including education, national security, law
enforcement, environmental protection, natural resource
conservation, preservation of our global leadership, air
safety, food safety, economic assistance for the less
fortunate, research and technology, and the administration of
Social Security and Medicare. Based on the inadequate budget
resolution, this bill fails to address critical needs of the
American people.
The Administration appreciates the efforts by the
Subcommittee to accommodate a part of the President's
priorities within the 302(b) allocation, such as increased
funding over the FY 2000 enacted levels for national park and
land management operations. However, the allocation is simply
insufficient to make the necessary investments in programs
funded by this bill. As a result, the bill severely underfunds
the President's Lands Legacy Initiative, the Clean Water Action
Plan, clean energy, the Native American Initiative, and other
critical programs discussed below. The bill also includes
several legislative riders that are highly objectionable to the
Administration, such as provisions concerning the Interior
Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project and the prohibition
of funding for the management plans of national monuments
designated by the President. The Subcommittee's failure to fund
key programs sufficiently and its inclusion of damaging riders
would lead the President's senior advisors to recommend a veto
if the bill were presented to the President in its current
form.
Below is a discussion of our specific concerns with the
Subcommittee mark-up. We look forward to working with the
Committee to resolve these concerns as the bill moves forward.
objectionable legislative riders
The Administration strongly opposes the environmental and
other authorization provisions in the Subcommittee bill, which
are inappropriate for inclusion in an appropriations act. Such
riders rarely receive the level of congressional and public
review required of authorization language, and they often
override existing environmental and natural resource
protections.
The Administration believes that the following are among
the most objectionable provisions. (The list is preliminary,
pending a full review of the report and bill text):
National Monument Designation (Sec. 335). This rider
would undermine longstanding Presidential authority by
denying funds for any national monuments designated
after 1999. It represents a back-door attempt to
nullify five recent designations, which the American
public has strongly endorsed, and to prevent the
President from moving decisively in the future to
protect and preserve other sites for future
generations.
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project
(ICBEMP) (Sec. 334). This provision would unnecessarily
block ICBEMP completion, after seven years of work and
approximately $50 million invested in analyses and
public hearings. The rider would halt the improvement
in Federal land management and agency environmental
management in the Columbia River Basin to protect
forestland, wildlife, and fish habitat.
American Heritage Rivers (Sec. 327). The provision
would diminish opportunities for inter-agency
coordination and cooperation, thereby preventing the
participating Federal agencies funded in this bill from
offering the most effective assistance to river
communities throughout the country.
Kyoto Protocol (Sec. 330). This section purports to
prohibit Federal agencies funded in this bill from
implementing the Kyoto Protocol. It is unnecessary, as
the Administration has no intent to implement the
Protocol prior to congressional ratification. To the
extent this provision could be read to prevent these
agencies from assisting the President in carrying out
his Constitutional authority to conduct international
negotiations, it would be disruptive to those efforts
and may well be unconstitutional.
Prohibit Establishment of Two National Wildlife
Refuges (Secs. 119 and 122). By preventing the use of
funds to establish new National Wildlife Refuges on the
Kankakee River in Illinois and Indiana, and in the Yolo
Bypass of the San Francisco Bay in California, this
provision would infringe on the Interior Department's
ability under current law to protect and preserve
migratory birds and endangered species. The Fish and
Wildlife Service is coordinating on both of these
proposals with the Army Corps of Engineers and many
State and local groups.
Tribal Contract Moratorium (Sec. 331). The House
would again place a one-year moratorium on the Bureau
of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service from
entering into new or expanded self-determination
contracts, grants, or compacts with Tribes. This
provision would interfere with the long-standing
objective of tribal self-determination and self-
governance and would be contrary to the government-to-
government policy the Federal Government has with
Tribes. A moratorium provision was introduced in the
Senate in FY 2000, but later dropped during final
negotiations.
Grazing Permits (Sec. 116). This rider would
automatically extend for up to 10 years any permit to
graze livestock on public lands that expires FY 2001,
unless the Interior Secretary has completed all
processing requirements. There is no demonstrated need
for this provision, because the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) will complete in FY 2001 the
processing of all permits scheduled to expire in that
fiscal year. This provision would give an incentive for
grazing operations with a poor environmental record to
delay processing National Environmental Policy Act
compliance in hopes of winning an automatic renewal.
The Administration urges the Committee to report a clean
bill that does not attempt to roll back environmental
protections or tribal policies, benefit special interests, or
circumvent authorization or administrative procedures by
attaching riders to appropriations bills.
lands legacy initiative/Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
The Administration strongly opposes the Subcommittee
decisions not to fund major portions of the President's Lands
Legacy Initiative. Such reductions are unacceptable. Congress
has placed these important conservation programs in jeopardy by
rejecting Administration's request for a dedicated funding
stream. The Subcommittee has followed with a insufficient
overall funding level for the initiative that represents a 75-
percent cut to the Administration's request and a 56-percent
reduction from the FY 2000 enacted level. These reductions
wouldundermine Federal land conservation efforts to protect
national treasures, such as the Everglades, Lewis and Clark National
Historic Trail, California Desert, Lake Tahoe Basin, Giant Sequoia
groves, Colorado Sand Dunes, and various Civil War Battlefields. State
and community conservation efforts would also suffer due to inadequate
Federal support for State and local programs to acquire and protect
lands, enhance forests and wildlife habitat, promote urban forests and
outdoor recreation, and address sprawl. These reductions would
foreclose opportunities to protect those priority locations, such as
the Great Northern Forest, that are vulnerable to development
pressures. It would be short-sighted not to provide adequate support
for the important Lands Legacy Initiative, given the bipartisan
recognition of the need for the Federal Government, the States, and the
private sector to protect open spaces and preserve America's great
places.
native american programs
The Administration appreciates the Subcommittee's continued
support for Indian trust funds management improvements but is
concerned over the Subcommittee's limited allocations for
critical Native American programs. Although the Subcommittee
provides a modest $18 million increase over the FY 2000 enacted
level for the operations of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA),
this level is simply inadequate to fund the current level of
services, much less the Administration's Government-wide Native
American Programs Initiative. Just as serious is the
Subcommittee's decision to reduce funding for BIA construction
$13 million below the FY 2000 enacted level. Furthermore, funds
provided would not allow BIA to monitor and improve school
accountability and performance through implementation of the
school statistics program. The Subcommittee's funding reduction
would seriously undercut BIA's ongoing efforts to maintain safe
schools, provide enhanced educational opportunities for nearly
50,000 Indian children, strengthen tribal college operations,
improve public safety throughout Indian Country, and assist in
improving quality of life on reservations through the housing
improvement and road maintenance programs. The Administration
urges the Committee to support the Native American Programs
Initiative.
land management operations
The Administration commends the Subcommittee for taking
steps to address some operational and maintenance needs of land
management agencies in the Department of the Interior and the
Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture. The funding
levels provided, however, still fail to address adequately many
priority maintenance and operational needs identified in the
President's budget, including the Forest Service recreation and
tourism initiative, the National Park Service's Natural
Resource Challenge, Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement,
and BLM management of the Headwaters Forest and other special
areas.
In addition, by failing to include the requested funds for
forest planning, the bill would effectively block
implementation of new planning regulations to improve forest
management significantly. Species inventory and monitoring
funding, the subject of a Senate rider in FY 2000, would be
reduced by 27 percent from the President's budget, which would
limit the Forest Service from adequately supporting activities
across the national forests. Furthermore, funding for survey
and management, a requirement for most projects in the Pacific
Northwest, has not been incorporated in the bill.
clean water action plan
The Administration is concerned with reductions to other
key programs, including Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP). Such
reductions would halt the substantial progress made to date in
improving water quality and watershed health. Efforts to
improve or restore over 11,000 miles of stream corridor by FY
2005, accelerate range allotment planning, and clean up miles
of polluted streams caused by past coal mining practices under
the Administration's Appalachian Clean Stream Initiative would
be in jeopardy. Further, the reductions in science assistance
to Federal, State, and local agencies would hinder efforts to
assess water quality and meet responsibilities for water
quality protection. Similarly, the decrease in Forest Service
CWAP funding would dramatically affect road maintenance and
decommissioning, rangeland vegetation management, fish habitat
and wildlife inventory and monitoring activities, watershed
improvements, and the Stewardship Incentive Program.
millennium initiative to save america's treasures
The Administration objects to the Subcommittee decision not
to fund the $30 million Presidential initiative to commemorate
the Millennium by preserving the Nation's historic sites and
cultural artifacts that are America's treasures. We urge the
Committee to restore funding for this highly successful
program.
indian health service--department of health and human services
The Administration is very concerned that the Subcommittee
has significantly underfunded health care services to Native
Americans and Alaska Natives. Native Americans continue to
experience health disparities--mortality rates for alcoholism,
tuberculosis, diabetes, and accidents are all more than three
times higher for Indian people than they are for all Americans.
The Indian Health Service (IHS) finances access to health care
for 1.5 million Native Americans. The Subcommittee has included
only $30 million of the $230 million increase requested to
improve access to health care for Native Americans. The
President's FY 2001 Budget proposes to support an additional
1,460 hospitals days and 57,200 additional visits to doctors
and dentists purchased from the private sector through Contract
Health Services. The budget also seeks increased support for
tribally-operated facilities and services for diabetes, cancer,
heart diseases, emergency medical services, and dental and
mental health. The Subcommittee allocation would force IHS to
absorb anticipated cost increases in FY 2001 and cause a
further reduction in health services.
National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities
The Administration strongly objects to the Subcommittee-
proposed funding levels for the National Endowment for the Arts
(NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the
Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The
Subcommittee freezes these important cultural programs at their
FY 2000 enacted level. This level would prevent NEA from moving
forward with its Challenge America program to support, directly
or in partnership with States, arts education and access to the
arts in thousands of underserved communities throughout the
country. NEH would not be able to expand its summer seminar
series to provide professional development opportunities to our
Nation's teachers, nor broaden the reach of its Rediscover
America initiative to bring the humanities to more communities
nationwide. IMLS would be precluded from moving forward or
digitization efforts, and from expanding after-school programs
in museums and on-line access to museums. We urge the Committee
to provide the Administration's request for these important
cultural, educational, and artistic programs for communities
across America. The Administration supports an amendment
expected to be offered to increase funding for NEA and NEH.
Department of Energy
The Administration opposes reductions totaling $120 million
made by the Subcommittee to the President's high priority
energy conservation programs--cuts that would seriously damaged
R&D; programs designed to improve the Nation's energy
efficiency, reduce dependence on oil, and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. These reductions would prevent the continuation of
some contracts in the Partnership for a New Generation of
Vehicles and would eliminate new R&D; awards for industrial
energy efficiency and for more efficient trucks and SUVs. The
Administration also urges the Committee to fully fund the
Administration's $154 million request for home weatherization
assistance to help reduce energy bills for low-income
households.
In the past several years, the Subcommittee has repeatedly
attempted to mask dramatic cuts below the Administration's
budget for energy conservation by moving programs between the
Fossil Energy R&D; and Energy Conservation accounts. This year,
the Committee is proposing to merge those two accounts
completely. Such a merger would make budgeting and financial
management more difficult and appears primarily intended to
mask once again severe cuts to the Energy Conservation request.
The Administration opposes the merger of these accounts.
Smithsonian and Other Cultural Agencies
The Subcommittee's $423 million overall funding level for
the Smithsonian, which is $40 million less than the
Administration's request and $15 million below the FY 2000
enacted level, would prevent the Institution from addressing
critical repair and restoration needs. The National Gallery of
Art and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum have similar
maintenance needs and should be funded at the President's
requested levels. The Administration seeks to preserve and
protect our Nation's treasures, as well as to provide safe and
continued access to the public, and will work with the
Committee to fund these important programs.
The Administration is concerned that the Subcommittee
provides no funding for continued operation of the Institute of
American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and cuts nearly
in half the $15 million requests for the Office of Navajo and
Hopi Indian Relocation. We urge the Committee to fund the new
$1 million District of Columbia Arts and Education Grants
program within the Commission of Fine Arts, which is a
community-based arts education program that will provide
training and exposure in the arts to under-served young people
and reinforce the importance of the arts as basic to education.
We look forward to working with the Committee to address
our mutual concerns.
Sincerely,
Jacob J. Lew,
Director.
David Obey.
Norman Dicks.
