Office of the Secretary
For Immediate Release: December 15, 2000
Contact: Shauna Larsen
(202-208-6800)
Cindy Wood (NPS)
(202-208-6843)
INTERIOR SECRETARY DISTRIBUTES $89 MILLION FOR PARK GRANTS
Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today announced the apportionment of $89 million in grants for outdoor recreation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to assist the 50 States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia for Fiscal Year 2001.
"Every state and territory will have more parks and open spaces because of this huge increase in funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund," said Secretary Babbitt. "These grants will assist states and local communities in setting aside open space, wildlands, scenic areas and unique lands for permanent protection, while providing new outdoor recreation opportunities for all citizens"
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provides matching grants on a 50/50 basis to state and local units of government for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. The National Park Service administers this program. The amount made available is more than double the amount apportioned last year and is only the second time since 1995 that funds have been appropriated for this purpose. Title VIII of the appropriations act -- which created the Land Conservation, Preservation and Infrastructure Improvement program -- contributed to increased funding for the LWCF.
The major share of the Land and Water Conservation Fund is derived from revenues produced by Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing. Since the inception of the Fund, more than $3.2 billion have been made available to State and local governments and approximately 38,000 projects have been funded.
A State-by-State listing of the 2001 apportionment is on the following page.