Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Feds begin distributing money for conservation programs

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has begun distributing funds for programs to support hunting, sport-fishing and wildlife conservation programs across the country, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.

Under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, Nevada will get more than $3.6 million. The Nevada office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service couldn't be reached for information about how the money will be spent.

The funding comes from excise taxes and import duties on sporting firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, sport-fishing equipment, electric outboard motors, and fuel taxes attributable to motorboats and small engines. The federal government pays up to 75 percent of the cost of each eligible project in the 50 states and up to 100 percent in the commonwealths and territories.

The Wildlife Restoration apportionment for 2010 totals nearly $473 million, with more than $86 million going to hunter education and firearm and archery range programs. The Sport Fish Restoration apportionment for 2010 totals more than $389 million.

"Americans have few higher callings than to conserve our treasured landscapes and bountiful wildlife and connect our children and grandchildren to the great outdoors,” Salazar said. “For more than half a century, boaters, hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters, and the hunting and fishing industries have supported some of our nation’s most successful programs to conserve fish and wildlife and its habitat and make it possible for Americans to enjoy them."

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