For Immediate Release

June 29, 1999

SALMON, FOREST MONEY FOR STATE
INCLUDED IN INTERIOR BILL TODAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Funds for salmon recovery, continued implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan and critical land acquisitions in Washington State were included today in next year's Interior Appropriations bill, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) said Tuesday.

                  The congressman, who serves as the top Democratic member of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee in the House, said that he was able to convince his colleagues to provide key funding to implement the tribal elements of the recently-signed "Timber Fish and Wildlife" agreement in Washington State. A total of $4 million will be appropriated for the tribes' adaptive management and monitoring activity related to their habitat recovery responsibilities under the agreement. In addition, the subcommittee approved $1.1 million for bull trout research, also a key component of the salmon agreement.

                  The bill also includes funding for important additions to Olympic National Park, the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge and Ebey's Landing National Historic Site, Rep. Dicks said. "These are small but necessary acquisitions that continue our strategy of purchasing in holdings and other key parcels of land on an incremental basis, enhancing the value of these designated public lands," said Rep. Dicks.

                  An appropriation of $850,000 will be used to acquire the 410-acre Braget Farm property in the Nisqually Delta, he said, which is among the finest remaining natural estuary tracts on the west coast. The land will be purchased by combining this federal appropriation with $600,000 in tribal funds and $800,000 in funding approved by the state legislature this year, he said.

                  The appropriations bill also continues funding for various elements of the Northwest Forest Plan, which has helped the state's timber communities respond to the harvest reductions on federal lands, he said. "Since 1993, the Clinton -Gore Administration has directed a multi-agency program to restore the economic viability of our timber towns, and to assist timber workers through the 'Jobs in the Woods' program" Rep. Dicks noted.

                  A total of $4 million will provided in the bill for the final design of the Elwha River replacement water system for Port Angeles. This is the first increment of funding beyond the federal acquisition of the two Elwha River dams, which will ultimately be removed to restore one of the state's most protected salmon runs, Dicks said.

                  Rep. Dicks also added $400,000 to the bill in the Indian Health Service account to address the continuing infant mortality problems being experienced by the Shoalwater Bay tribe in Washington State. Following congressional hearings again this year, Rep. Dicks noted that further progress was needed in helping expectant mothers and young families in the Olympic Peninsula area tribe.

                  Two other perennially important items in the bill for Washington State have been the continued funding in the U.S. Geological Survey for the study of earthquake hazards in the Puget Sound area and to continue the moratorium on oil and mineral leasing off the coast of Washington and Oregon. Rep. Dicks fought to maintain both in this year's bill, which goes into effect on Oct. 1,1999.

                  Similarly, the bill also continues specific language supporting the Washington State Ecosystems Recovery Project, the "Long Live the Kings" salmon enhancement program and the Hood Canal salmon enhancement group.

                  The following items affecting Washington State were included in the FY2000 Interior Appropriations Bill approved by the subcommittee today:

Forest Programs
Jobs in the Woods Program/ Bureau of Land Management - $5,715,000
Jobs in the Woods Program/ Bur. Of Indian Affairs - $3,000,000
Jobs in the Woods Program/ US Forest Service - $10,100,000
NW Forest Plan Funding / Bureau of Land Management - $35,400,000
NW Forest Plan Funding / Fish & Wildlife Service program - $19,684,000
NW Forest Plan Funding / US Forest Service - $10,100,000
Forest Service Pacific NW Economic Assistance (diversification) - $8,000,000
University of Washington Landscape Management initiative - $300,000

Land Acquisition
Olympic National Park, Acquisition of inholdings - $2,500,000
Ebey's Landing land addition - $1,200,000
Nisqually Wildlife Refuge /Acquisition of the Braget Property - $850,000

Other Programs
Shoalwater Bay Infant Mortality program - $400,000
Shellfish Management funds to state tribes for management plans - $600,000
Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemoration, various sites in NW - $1,200,000
Puget Sound Earthquake Study in USGS budget - [Within USGS Budget]
Continued OCS Leasing Moratorium, Wash. & Oregon - [Language, not funding]

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