Some Groups Are Misleading the Public About CARA

     Unfortunately, this legislation has been targeted with a number of inaccurate and false assertions by some organizations. Some of the national environmental organizations allege CARA increases incentive for offshore oil and gas activity. It doesn't. In fact, the legislation clearly states that the new offshore activity would be exempt from the revenue sharing programs.

     On the other side of the issue, some private property rights organizations allege CARA gives the federal government $ 1 billion (some even say as much as & 1.5 billion) for federal land acquisitions. This is untrue. CARA caps the federal funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $ 378 million. The remaining funds - about $ 632 million, depending on the OSC revenues generated projects each year - are designated directly to the 50 states for conservation projects each individual state wants to finance. In Louisiana, this could be used to help stop their coastal erosion problem. In Alaska, we could use it for access trails into state parks. It's up to each state to determine how they want to spend the money - not the federal government.

Bill Includes New Private Property Protections

     CARA also establishes clear guidelines as to how the federal funding can be used. Some of these guidelines include:

• All federal land acquisition can only occur within the boundaries of units already established by Congress

• CARA mandates that only one-third of the federal land acquisition occur in the western United States

• Projects in excess of $ 1 million must be approved by Congress

• Acquisitions can occur with willing sellers, as CARA specifically precludes Federal agencies from using these funds to condemn property

     Not only does CARA protect property owners beyond existing law, it includes provisions helpful to local governments impacted by the removal of private property from their tax rolls. CARA provides annual and dedicated funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT).

Local Communities Will Decide How Funds Are Spent

     The true winners under CARA are federal and state conservation programs in all 50 states, and the 35 coastal states and territories impacted by OCS activity. CARA funds federal conservation programs, but more importantly, gives local communities and state governments a majority of the funding to decide which conservation programs are most important to their communities.

     As David Waller, Vice President of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, stated during the recent hearing on the legislation, "This could be the most comprehensive piece of conservation legislation in our lifetime."

     I agree and hope that all interested Alaskans will share their views with me on this legislation. This bill is still a work-in-progress and I'm interested in hearing recommendations from Alaskans as to how this bill can be improved.

Congressman Young Fights Denali Snowmachine Ban

     This February, the National Park Service voided lawfully protected access rights of Alaskans when it banned snowmobiles in almost the entire 2-million acre former Mt. McKinley National Park (now a Denali wilderness area). This follows on the heels of similar Administration actions, including the Tongass helicopter closures, the Glacier Bay fishery closure, denial of Chugach Natives' access to their aboriginal lands and lobbying against legislation providing safe access in King Cove, Alaska. (con't pg 5)