Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Conservation bill garners support

Paula DelGiudice

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 | 10:19 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears Wednesday. Reach her at PDelGiudice@compuserve.com.

Landmark conservation funding legislation H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), was reported out of committee last week. With another 293 co-sponsors, this represents a solid bipartisan majority of the 435-member House of Representatives.

"This majority reflects the will of the American people who want substantial conservation investments passed into law this year," said Mark Van Putten, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. "The House leadership has an obligation to the country to bring this legislation to a vote."

Not since the 1970s has major environmental legislation, such as CARA, emerged in the House with such strong bipartisan support. The majority backing of CARA is even more remarkable in a Congress facing elections and fraught with partisan divisions.

H.R. 701 was forged over the past year in negotiations spearheaded by the Republican Chairman of the House Resources Committee, Don Young of Alaska, and the Committee's ranking Democrat, George Miller of California. In all, 107 Republicans joined 186 Democrats and one Independent in co-sponsoring CARA. Supporters include leading members of the key House Budget and Appropriations Committees.

The bill would provide $2.8 billion every year through the year 2015 for a broad array of conservation investments, the vast majority on the state and local level. The entire $2.8 billion would come from revenue already being generated by oil and gas drilling leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.

CARA's main provisions include:

* $3.5 million annually to the states for wildlife conservation, recreation and education projects. It is hoped that the bill can be improved by adding specific support for nongame wildlife -- those species that are not hunted or fished, nor threatened or endangered.

* Full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million annually split evenly between states and federal programs. It is hoped that the bill can be improved by adding assurance that the federal share of this program will not be held up annually by the appropriations process.

* $1 billion annually to 35 coastal states and territories, including the Great Lakes states, for environmental research and marine conservation.

* $575 million annually for urban parks, historic preservation, federal and Indian lands restoration, conservation easements and incentives to promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species.

Aside from the important conservation measures found in this bill, money is available on the local level to build and improve urban parks -- something all Las Vegas residents enjoy.

It is hoped that the full House will have the chance to vote on this measure soon.

* LICENSES AVAILABLE: Nevada fishing and hunting licenses for 2000-01 are now being sold at most area sporting goods stores and Nevada Division of Wildlife offices in Las Vegas and Henderson.

"Nevada's license year runs from March 1 through the end of February. So hunters and anglers who have annual licenses can continue to use them through the end of this month," said Kathy Teligades, license office supervisor.

Trout stamps, second rod stamps and Arizona special use stamps may be purchased along with fishing and hunting licenses. Fishing regulations brochures for 2000-2001 were shipped this week to sporting goods stores.

"There always seems to be a last-minute rush to purchase licenses just before the big game application deadline. Lines and delays can be avoided by purchasing licenses well before this year's April 17 application deadline," Teligades said.

* PARK BUDGET REVIEW: Great Basin National Park Superintendent Becky Mills has announced that the park's annual performance plan and documents providing details about the appropriated budget and fee revenues for fiscal year 2000 are available for public review as required by the National Park Omnibus Management Act of 1998.

The goals described in the park's annual performance plan are derived from the 1997 NPS Strategic Plan, which establishes a performance management process for the National Park Service and incorporates the requirements of Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). The strategic plan is available on the NPS home page at www.nps.gov. A copy of the park's complete annual performance plan is available by writing to the Superintendent, Great Basin National Park, Baker, NV 89311.