House Approves Measure to Fund Interior Programs
HALS, Mall funding not yet specified.

On Friday, June 26, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2996, which would fund the programs of the Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), by a vote of 254 to 173. The bill would provide about $16.4 billion for the Interior Department and the U.S. Forest Service. Of this funding, the National Park Service (NPS), which is responsible for maintaining the National Park System, would receive about $2.7 billion. NPS is responsible for 391 distinct areas, including parklands, historic sites, and cultural and archaeological areas. Most of the NPS funding would be for operation and maintenance of the system, with nearly $221 million? allocated for NPS construction projects. As of press time, specific language about funding for the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) or for the National Mall was not available.

In the past, the Bush Administration had proposed creating a Centennial Challenge program to create a public–private partnership to fund major projects to celebrate the NPS’s centennial in 2016. However, funding for the proposal was not realized. Under this measure, funding would be available for a new Park Partnership Project grant to celebrate the NPS’s upcoming centennial anniversary.

The EPA, which conducts environmental research, develops and enforces environmental regulations, and oversees and provides assistance to state governments, would receive about $10.6 billion under the measure. The bill significantly increases funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, and it notably requires that 20 percent of each State Revolving Fund be available for green infrastructure, water or energy improvements, or other environmentally innovative projects.

In preparation for floor consideration of the bill, ASLA advocates contacted their legislators to discuss their concern about a proposed amendment by Congressman Jason Chaffetz (UT) that would have prevented Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants from being used for improvements to state and local parks. Prior to floor consideration, the amendment was withdrawn, and the final version of the bill provided $40 million for LWCF, which doubles the amount received by the program.

Overall the bill would provide major funding increases for the NPS and other Department of Interior programs as well as for the EPA. After years of inadequate funding for these agencies, “Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Norm Dicks (WA) called the bill a ‘catch-up’ budget to make up for shortfalls,” reports Congressional Quarterly.