 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 5 * March 15, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story Interior Secretary says this is By Beverly Schlotterbeck
Congress has no excuse this year to avoid passing legislation that would permanently fund land and water conservation programs at the state and local level, said Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt at the March 1 General Session. Babbitt explained that the Administration’s Land Legacy Program would use tax receipts from offshore oil drilling to permanently fund a revenue-sharing program with counties and states to help preserve open space and habitat in both rural and urban areas. It would set aside $150 million in matching funds for habitat acquisition. There’s approximately $12 billion already accumulated from offshore drilling receipts that in the past had been used to fund the federal deficit. With a balanced budget, Babbitt said "There are no excuses this year." The secretary pointed out that the Forest Legacy program, another Clinton initiative, should be especially attractive to counties and states in the Northeast. Its Urban Forests and Farmland Protection components should help counties stem the pace of rapid development in the crowded corridor. The program would allocate $50 million to fund urban parks and permanent preservation of farmlands. Babbitt had praise for a Pima County, Ariz. growth management plan, calling it an "extraordinary effort by the board of supervisors." |
