11-13-1999

CONGRESS: Odd Couple Supports Historic Conservation Bill

The earth moved at the House Resources Committee on Nov. 10, when two
perennial adversaries--Reps. Don Young, R-Alaska, and George Miller,
D-Calif.--took the same side on a landmark environmental bill. The
unlikely alliance of the committee's chairman and ranking Democrat secured
passage, on a 37-12 vote, of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, which
over the next 15 years will stockpile $45 billion from offshore oil and
gas production royalties in a fund for wildlife and land
conservation.


Environmentalists hailed the legislation (H.R. 701) as the most
significant initiative since the 1980 Superfund law. "Our members
have waited for decades" for such a milestone bill, said Paul W.
Hansen, the executive director of the Izaak Walton League, a
conservationist group.


Young, who some environmentalists suggested was attempting to establish an
environmental legacy after four years as Resources chairman, proclaimed:
"We have produced a truly historic bill." Under GOP term limits
rules, Young cannot keep the chairmanship in the next Congress even if
Republicans retain House control.


The bill was the result of painstaking negotiations between Young and
Miller, but it faces tough opposition from conservative Republicans and
ardent property-rights advocates. "Mark my words," said Rep.
Helen Chenoweth-Hage, R-Idaho, "we will all rue this day, when we
decided to set the unreversible process in place to remove massive tracts
of land in this great country from production and the tax
rolls."


In a concession to property-rights advocates, however, the bill allows the
government to buy land only from a "willing seller" unless
Congress approves a condemnation. Congress must also approve each parcel
to be purchased, and the Administration must try to use land exchanges and
conservation easements whenever possible as alternatives to
purchases.


The legislation would collect $2.83 billion from leases, royalties, and
rents from companies that produce oil and gas on the Outer Continental
Shelf. The money, along with the interest it generates, would go into the
Conservation and Reinvestment Act Fund and would be split among several
programs.


The largest portion--$1 billion--would go to a revenue-sharing and coastal
conservation fund, which coastal states and local governments would use to
offset the adverse effects of oil and gas activity and to conserve
ecosystems in coastal areas. Another $900 million would be used to
guarantee annual money for the 1964 Land and Water Conservation Fund,
which has not been fully authorized in nearly 20 years. Wildlife
conservation and education programs would receive $350 million, twice
their current allocation. And urban parks, historic preservation, and
restoration of American Indian lands would also receive money.


Young admitted at a news conference that being forced to vote against
amendments offered by longtime allies made him "uncomfortable."
But with his characteristic bluntness, Young declared: "Those that
oppose this bill are going to get run over."


When asked how he handled his frequent foe, Miller, in their many hours of
negotiations, Young smiled broadly, pulled a buck knife from his pocket,
and flicked open the blade. "You can be assured I've had my lumps
over this legislation, and I'm sure George has had his lumps over this
legislation," Young said. "It's the first time we've ever been
lumped together."




National Journal