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Search Terms: "Lands Legacy Initiative", House or Senate or Joint

Document 28 of 118.

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APRIL 27, 1999, TUESDAY

SECTION: IN THE NEWS

LENGTH: 1301 words

HEADLINE: PREPARED TESTIMONY OF
ALLISON DEFOOR
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR TO GOVERNOR JEB BUSH OF FLORIDA
BEFORE THE SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

BODY:

Citizens, agencies and elected officials in the State of Florida are highly supportive of many of the initiatives before this committee, but there are also some concerns. We appreciate the opportunity to share with you Florida's recommendations.
Nearly every Floridian opposes offshore oil and gas development. The potential for damage to our coastal and marine resources from these activities is higher than in other states. Florida's economy is directly linked to its environment, warm climate, clean waters and unspoiled natural resources. Environmentally clean industries, including recreation, tourism, retirement, commercial and recreational fishing are major economic activities in Florida that bring 42 million tourists from other states and countries, and billions of dollars annually to our state and local economies.
We recognize the rights of other states to choose their own paths and develop their policies regarding offshore drilling. While these states receive economic benefits from these activities, they should also share in the offshore revenues to address environmental concerns and critical infrastructure needs resulting from such development. However, it is also important to recognize that the oceans are interconnected, especially the Gulf of Mexico, where activities occurring on both land and water can have far reaching detrimental effects. A coastal impact assistance program would provide an excellent opportunity to help all coastal states address many of the environmental impacts resulting from outer continental shelf development. We support a program that focuses on mitigation and restoration of outer continental shelf-related development activities but does not result in additional environmental degradation. Such a program should provide for the development of alternative energy sources and the federal buy-back of some existing leases.
Most coastal states face serious environmental degradation and the problem is worsened by lack of adequate funding. We support a program that would allow states to distribute funds to local governments and thus work together to address coastal restoration and management. Such a program would allow local and state governments to cooperate in the programs' designs; improve access to our nation's invaluable coastal resources; and acquire and manage critically degraded coastal habitats for a variety of purposes including habitat for endangered and threatened species. This program could be similar to the successful Florida Communities Trust which was created to help local governments and citizens obtain and restore natural areas.
However, we must not provide incentives for additional offshore development. We request the inclusion of language similar to Senator Graham's in S. 819 that restricts the use of revenues generated from existing offshore leases and activities. Funding the restoration or protection of one part of our environment should not be at the expense of another. Likewise, any offsets resulting from these initiatives should not cause the reduction of funding of other important federally-supported programs.!
We strongly support permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program that has been used to acquire some truly great places in this country. These conservation funds could be used to support one of Governor Bush's environmental priorities which is the restoration of the Everglades. Permanent conservation funding would ensure that the federal government's commitment to the long-term restoration of the Everglades is at least partially guaranteed. We also support Senator Graham's National Parks Preservation Act which would ensure funding for threatened national parks including Everglades National Park.
It is essential that state funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund be restored. The recreational demands of increasing population and millions of visitors have put great strains on our existing parks and recreational facilities. States have demonstrated leadership in this program, but now experience severe recreational shortages as a result of the lack of appropriation for this "partnership." While existing procedures under this program have widespread support and a proven track record, we suggest making the funding permanent without the need for an annual appropriation. This is in contrast to the Administration's "Lands Legacy Initiative," which would put the states in the position of competing among ourselves for grants from the Department of the Interior, and denying the original flexibility to utilize allocated funds for recreational improvements as well as land acquisition. With any changes to proposed legislation, we urge the use of only existing or non-moratoria area oil and gas revenues.
We also support a wildlife diversity program with funding levels similar to those proposed in HR 701. Florida has more than 100 animal and plant species on our state endangered or threatened lists. The partnerships provided by these funds would allow further protection and management of these sensitive species to prevent them from being placed on the federal endangered species list. While Florida's annual budget for wildlife management ranks filth in the country, we still cannot keep up with the challenges of providing effective protection. We have made a substantial commitment to wildlife diversity but are in need of a federal partnership. This type of cooperation has been proven effective as demonstrated by the many successes resulting from the use of Pittman-Robertson funds.
The economic potential of fish and wildlife conservation is substantial, with estimates of its economic importance approximating $5.8 billion annually in Florida. Unfortunately, we have not been able to fund recreational facilities for some of our public lands, or provide comprehensive educational opportunities that promote appreciation and conservation of wildlife. While we have many promising partnerships between the land management agencies, local tourism bureaus, naur operators, and private landowners, we have been unable to implement them with available state and local funding.
The state has many proactive programs it could pursue should you create this partnership. These include: a Great Florida Birding Trail which combines the appreciation of the bounty of bird species in Florida with economic benefits of wildlife-watching tourists visiting the many rural communities through which the trail passes; conservation plans for declining species; new trails and wildlife viewing towers; the creation of coral reef nurseries to help restore damaged coral reefs; and regional visitor interpretation centers.
We support legislation that complements existing land management and habitat protection programs; provides flexibility to address unique state problems; and includes funding to meet state needs. With this legislation, we can enhance our long-term ability to sustain habitat for wildlife diversity and an economic base which encourages local residents and tourists to support wildlife programs.
Finally, there are provisions of the Administration's "Lands Legacy Initiative" that we support. The use of conservation easements under the Farmland Protection Program is an excellent land management tool and these types of U.S. Department of Agriculture programs are critical to the success of the Clean Water Action Plan. Increased funding for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Rookery Bay and Apalachicola Estuarine Research Reserves and coral reef restoration is also very important to the health and prosperity of Florida. We strongly support the reinvigoration of these partnerships.
Thank you for your continued efforts to balance the many demands on our state and national natural resources.
END

LOAD-DATE: April 29, 1999

Document 28 of 118.


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