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Gina Goodhill
(916)
446–8062 x 104
Statement on National Park Funding and
Strong Leadership in Senate
December 21, 2007
Gina Goodhill
Preservation
Associate, Environment California
Monday, December 17th, due in large part to strong
leadership from Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chairman of the Interior
Appropriations Committee, the U.S. Congress passed the FY08 Omnibus
Appropriations bill with a $191 million funding increase for national
parks. This much needed funding is a
positive step towards reversing the parks overwhelming deficits, yet it ultimately
fails to provide the level of funding that is needed to preserve the parks.
Senator Feinstein also showed strong leadership, along with
Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative Lois Capps (D- Calif.), in including a
measure in the bill that will restore full public access to Santa Rosa Island
in the Channel Island National Park,
and help reduce threats to the island’s 11 endangered species. This measure is
an important step in recognizing and protecting the many endemic and unique
species that exist on the Channel
Islands National Park,
and actively reducing the many non-native species that have multiplied over the
years.
“During a year in which the budget
climate seemed especially contentious, we commend Senator Feinstein for
championing funding increases for the national parks, and for her joint work
with Senator Boxer in actively protecting the vulnerable endangered species on
the Santa Rosa Island,” said Gina Goodhill,
preservation associate for Environment California. “However, we are disappointed that Congress
did not approve the level of funding that is needed to preserve our nation’s
natural treasures.”
The $191 million funding increase
provides $122 million increase for the park’s operating budget, which will help
in filling staffing positions; a $44 million increase for land acquisitions;
and $25 million to begin funding the National Park Centennial Challenge, supported
by President Bush. However the parks
needed roughly $800 million dollars to reverse the operations deficit that has
caused severe understaffing, and an increase of several billion dollars to
reverse deficits for land acquisition, maintenance, and environmental damage.
Future bills also must address
other issues threatening the parks, such the surge in mining near or in the
parks and other protected areas. Mining
interests have staked nearly 3,300 claims within 10 miles of California’s national parks alone, yet are
protected by the 1872 Mining Law. Mining
interests hold 285 claims within 10 miles of Yosemite
National Park, and 2,176 claims within
10 miles of Death Valley
National Park.
“Despite funding increases, it is
unfortunate that our national treasures are not given a greater degree of
protection. Environment California will continue
to work towards tackling the issues that threaten the national parks to ensure that
they are preserved for future generations,” said Goodhill.
