U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary

Mary Helen Thompson
(202) 208-6416


For Release: March 19, 1996

President Clinton's Fiscal Year 1997 budget of $7.33 billion for the U.S. Department of the Interior represents the Administration's continuing commitment to the nation's natural and cultural heritage with a major focus on American restoration.

The FY 1997 budget includes a major infusion of funds to restore the Everglades of South Florida, continue programs designed to address the environmental and economic viability of the Pacific Northwest and provide long needed improvements to the nation's national parks, wildlife refuges and recreation areas. The budget also emphasizes the President's commitment to greater self-determination and self-government for American Indian tribes. "The American people have said loud and clear that they want a government that protects the environment and protects people," Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt stated. "The President's budget does precisely that. It is a proposal to inspire an American Restoration ethic." "This budget is a carefully thought-out plan that addresses the critical need for restoration while recognizing that the federal government cannot do it all," Babbitt continued. "Whenever possible, it provides a blueprint for the development of creative partnerships between government, the private sector and local communities to create and support programs that work."

The Department has been operating under a variety of continuing resolutions over the past six months due to the impasse over the Interior Appropriations bill for FY 1996, putting important environmental programs and projects in jeopardy.

"I have traveled this country over the past year listening to local citizens talk about their reverence for the environment and their respect for the environmental safeguards that protect their land, water, families and communities," Babbitt said. "They want the federal government to play an active role in protecting and managing natural resources and that means

providing the dollars to fund programs that help them meet those goals. The funding levels proposed will allow the Department to meet its current obligations and begin to address the environmental challenges that lie ahead."

The budget also fulfills the Administration's continuing commitment to promoting partnerships between private landowners, local governments and other groups in developing Habitat Conservation Plans to protect endangered wildlife; encourages cooperative agreements and effective stewardship of Western water; and supports the work of organizations involved in cleaning up streams in Appalachian states that are plagued by acid mine run off.

A Regional Approach to Planning and Management

The FY 1997 budget builds on the Administration's commitment to American restoration by providing an opportunity for the Department of the Interior to continue its work on critical regional environmental restoration and preservation initiatives.

Last month, Vice President Gore announced the Clinton Administration's comprehensive plan to save the Everglades while maintaining sustainable development in South Florida. The plan endorses a coordinated regional approach that transcends political boundaries and narrow agency jurisdiction. Planning the restoration will involve a cooperative effort between eleven federal agencies and numerous municipalities, county and tribal governments, the South Florida Water Management District and a host of state and local planning agencies and jurisdictions. The President's Budget proposes an Everglades Restoration Fund to provide appropriations of $100 million a year for four years to address the longstanding and complex problems of the region.

In addition, the administration is proposing legislation to supply additional revenues of $35 million per year to the Restoration Fund from an assessment of one cent per pound from Florida sugar producers.

"The Everglades is one of the great natural treasures in this country and the world," Babbitt stated. "The President's restoration plan provides an equitable and environmentally sound solution to heal the fragile tropical marshes and swamps of this region, while restoring natural life and preserving economic development all the way down through the Florida Bay fisheries to the Keys."

The President's Forest Plan for the Pacific Northwest is designed to strengthen the economic and environmental health of Oregon, Washington and northern California by providing a sustainable timber harvest of 1.1 billion board feet while protecting old growth forests and restoring historic salmon runs.

It provides economic assistance to help strengthen families, businesses, tribes and communities through job training and other social services. The President is requesting $79.2 million for the Department of the Interior to carry out the plan in FY 1997, an increase of $23.9 million over the FY 1996 conference level. In addition to the funds requested for 1997, the President has submitted a request for $109 million in supplemental 1996 funding to repair damages from the January floods in the East, the February floods in the Pacific Northwest, and other devastating natural disasters. Included is $16 million to restore the C&O canal in partnership with public and private groups.

Enhancing Natural Resources: a National Priority

Reinvigorating America's 369 national parks and providing the resources necessary to protect and preserve them for current and future generations is a top priority for the Clinton Administration.

"The President said in a recent speech that our National Parks are the envy of the world but in need of repair and continued maintenance if they're going to remain the nation's treasure," Babbitt said. "The President's budget addresses this issue by providing funds for long standing deficiencies, including road and infrastructure repair and natural and cultural resource threats."

The FY 1997 National Park Service (NPS) budget totals $1.5 billion, an increase of $180.6 million over the FY 1996 conference level. This will enable the parks to accommodate the 279 million visitors expected next year, and help address the continuing maintenance crisis facing the parks.

Two legislative proposals are key elements in the Administration's efforts to meet the expanding needs of the National Park System. One proposal will allow modest increases in entry fees at destination parks, while retaining those increases in the parks themselves. This could raise nearly $132 million over the next five years. The second proposal would overhaul the way in which park concessions are handled, giving a more favorable return to the parks.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWL) budget totals $659.2 million, an increase of $55.4 million. Over half of this increase -- $36.2 million -- will allow responsible administration of the Endangered Species Act. Congressional reductions in 1996 have severely undercut the Department's commitment to a workable program. As part of this commitment, the Department is requesting $6.0 million for a pilot program of grants-to-states for land acquisition as part of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP.)

"We're working with private landowners, developers, citizen groups and local government officials to implement the Endangered Species Act in a way which protects threatened and endangered wildlife while preserving the economic viability of communities," Babbitt stated. There are over 200 HCPs now under development.

In other FWS programs, an increase of $10 million will ensure the highest priorities of the National Wildlife Refuge system are adequately maintained and that habitat restoration projects are implemented. Recreational fisheries nationwide will be restored and enhanced with a $4.4 million increase. And, the FWS will restore wetland habitats in the U.S., Canada and Mexico with a $5.0 million increase for the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund. Maintaining the diversity and health and productivity of 270 million acres of public lands is a key priority in the President's FY 1997 budget. Contained in the $1.096 billion proposal for the Bureau of Land Management are increases to provide recreation opportunities and sound management and improvements of riparian, range and wildlife habitat areas.

"America's public lands belong to all of the people of this country. Our goal is to protect and preserve the land in order to provide a positive experience for this and future generations."

The President also proposes to restore the once magnificent salmon fishery in the Elwha River on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. As part of a government-wide proposal to fund fixed asset investments, the 1997 budget includes $111 million in up- front funding for the complete costs of removal of the Elwha and Glines Dams and restoration of the Elwha River. The money would be spent over a series of years, beginning in 1998.

The Best Science for the Best Resource Management

One of the Interior Department's highest priorities in FY 1997 will be to continue enhancement of its science programs. The Interior Department carries out some of today's most vital scientific research. This research affects and impacts the health and welfare of the American people. In FY 1996, Congress consolidated the programs of the former National Biological Service within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS.) The USGS is now the Department's primary science organization. It responds to natural hazards, assesses the nation's water, energy and mineral supply, and provides an understanding of the nation's fish and wildlife.

The FY 1997 budget for the "new" U.S. Geological Survey of $746.4 million provides a net increase of $15.9 million over the FY 1996 conference level. The increase will allow USGS to expand efforts to help meet the high priority needs of Interior land managers as well as those of more than 1,200 local, state and federal natural resource management organizations. Some of the areas targeted for increased attention include expansions of both the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the Federal/State Cooperative Water Program; new directions involving urban natural hazards, drinking water and public health; a digital national atlas; and a framework for expanding interagency cooperation in the use of geospatial cartographic data.

Towards the Goal of Tribal Self Governance

The President has increased funds for programs serving over 550 federally recognized Indian tribes, underscoring his commitment to tribal self determination and self-governance. The $1.78 billion FY 1997 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) budget, an increase of $211 million over the 1996 conference level, would restore funding to programs Tribes hold as their highest priority.

The BIA budget stresses the resources Tribes need to provide basic reservation programs and develop strong and stable governments, ensure accreditation of BIA schools, address critical infrastructure needs and meet the Secretary's trust responsibilities.

The BIA will continue to operate with minimal administrative costs. In 1997 over 90% percent of the operating budget is devoted to education and other on-the-ground programs at the reservation level. In addition, an increase of $20 million is requested for functions of the Special Trustee for American Indians in order to continue to bring trust resource management, accounting, investment and related systems up to industry standards.

Streamlining, Reengineering and Customer Service

The Interior budget for FY 1997 continues to carry out the President's efforts to reinvent and streamline government operations.

"At Interior, we're making an effort to do things differently and to do things better," Babbitt stated. "We're stripping away management layers, putting more employees in the field, providing hands on services on reservations and in the parks, refuges, and recreation areas."

Savings have been achieved throughout the Department. Since 1993, the Department has reduced its workforce by almost 8,000 FTEs, a reduction of 10%. The Department is using information technology to service customers better and save time and money. Each bureau and office has re-evaluated programs, re-directed resources and re-engineered work and processes. Regulations have been pared down to a minimum.

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