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Search Terms: conservation and reinvestment act

Document 164 of 338.

July 2, 2000, Sunday

SECTION: OPINION;Pg. G-2

LENGTH: 469 words

HEADLINE: Tragic bottleneck; Senate should move vital conservation bill

BODY:
An historic opportunity to spend $2.8 billion annually in offshore oil and gas revenues on parkland and conservation projects, from the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada to inner-city San Diego, could be lost due to foot-dragging in a key U.S. Senate committee.

The Conservation and Reinvestment Act won overwhelming bipartisan support in the House of Representatives in May. And while the bill appears to have solid support in the full Senate, including from Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., a few Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where the bill is being prepared, have succeeded in delaying it.

Apparently, they hope that if they delay long enough, it will die when the election season gears up and nothing gets done in Washington.

That would be a travesty. Such broad support for a nationwide reinvestment in open space comes along only once in a generation. While Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairs the committee and supports the legislation, he needs a boost from other senators and from the public. California Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have been vigorous supporters of this legislation. They need to redouble their efforts.

A cursory look shows why it's so important: $900 million for local, state and federal parkland acquisition; $125 million for urban parks and recreation; $350 million for state wildlife conservation and recreation; $100 million for historic preservation; $200 million for restoration and maintenance of existing federal parkland; and $150 million to help private property owners protect endangered species on their land. The legislation also includes $1 billion for coastal and marine conservation.

And this is money received every year. California would get $325 million a year for 15 years. That would mean major, tangible improvements in parks, beaches, coastal lagoons, bays, wilderness areas, soccer fields, rec centers -- the open spaces we enjoy every day.

One part of this legislation is the Land and Water Conservation Fund, $900 million for parkland acquisition. This fund began in 1964, but was diverted to the federal treasury in 1981. Before it was lost, it helped fund some of the most beloved parks in San Diego, including Mission Bay, Mission Trails, Guajome, Morley Field and Kit Carson.

Imagine how an even bigger infusion from the Conservation and Reinvestment Act could transform our region's parks and open space. In a county expected to grow by 1 million over the next two decades, it would be critically important to improving the quality of life.

This opportunity to vastly improve our outdoor environment will be lost unless the public and our elected representatives apply pressure to bring the measure to a full Senate vote.

LOAD-DATE: July 5, 2000

Document 164 of 338.


Search Terms: conservation and reinvestment act
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