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House panel to take up NLCS authorization bill |
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The National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee is set to
take up legislation that would codify the Bureau of Land Management's
National Landscape Conservation System at a hearing Thursday morning.
H.R. 2016, from subcommittee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), would
provide a legal footing for NLCS, a Clinton-era program that manages 15
national monuments, 161 wilderness areas, 38 wild and scenic rivers,
and other sensitive areas such as California's Headwaters Forest
Reserve.
Last month, the Bush administration testified in support of
the companion bill before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee. "The NLCS is a significant part of the Bureau of Land
Management's conservation efforts and is integral to the BLM's overall
multiple use mission," said BLM acting Director Jim Hughes (E&E
Daily, May 4).
The Senate committee then approved the companion bill, S. 1139, at a May 23 markup.
The bills would not increase funds or change the management
plans for the various NLCS units, but supporters say the enhanced
attention could help NLCS down the road in the form of more funding
from Congress. The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee last
month approved $59 million for NLCS in fiscal 2008, $10 million above
the White House request of $49 million, which would have been the
lowest funding level since NLCS was established.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 November 2007 )
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