PRESIDENT CLINTOND,S LANDS LEGACY INITIATIVE:
Forging a Conservation Vision for the 21st Century
January 12, 1999
President Clinton, in the FY 2000 budget he will submit to Congress, is
proposing a $1 billion Lands Legacy initiative to expand federal
protection of critical lands across America, help states and communities
preserve local green spaces, and strengthen protections for our oceans and
coasts.
This landmark initiative -- a 125 percent increase over FY 1999 funding --
represents the largest one-year investment ever in the preservation of
AmericaD,s lands legacy. It includes $900 million from the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF), marking the first time any Administration has
requested full funding from LWCF, which draws revenues from federal
offshore oil sales. To sustain these efforts in the new century, the
President commits to work with Congress to create a permanent funding
stream beginning in FY 2001.
The Lands Legacy initiative continues the Clinton-Gore AdministrationD,s
vigorous efforts to save AmericaD,s natural treasures. And, by providing
significant new resources to states and local communities, it forges a new
conservation vision for the 21st century -- one that recognizes the
importance of preserving irreplaceable pieces of our natural legacy within
easy reach of every citizen.
Lands Legacy will be administered by the Department of the Interior (DOl),
$579 million; the Department of Agriculture (USDA), $268 million; and the
Department of CommerceD,s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), $183 million. It will be coordinated with the $1 billion
Livability Agenda announced by Vice President Gore of January 11 through
interagency cooperation and consultation.
In addition, the President is calling on Congress to extend permanent
wilderness protection to more than 5 million acres in 17 national parks
and monuments, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Great Smoky
Mountains and Cumberland Gap.
Saving AmericaD,s Natural Treasures
Federal Acquisitions - The initiative increases federal land acquisition
funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund by 26 percent to a
total of $413 million ($295 million for 'DOI, and $118 million for USDA) .
In recent years, the Administration has dedicated LWCF funds to protecting
Yellowstone National Park from mining, saving ancient redwoods in
CaliforniaD,s Headwaters Forest, preserving Civil War battlefields,
completing the Maine-to-Georgia Appalachian Trail, and acquiring more than
100 other natural and historic sites across the country. Priorities for FY
2000 include acquisition of over 450,000 acres in CaliforniaD,s Mojave
Desert, 100,00 acres for addition to New England wildlife refuges and
national forests, and lands critical to the ongoing restoration of Flo
ridaD,s Everglades.
Protecting Our Parks - The President also is calling on Congress to grant
permanent wilderness protection to over 5 million acres within Arches, Big
Bend, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Crater Lake, Glacier, Grand
Teton, Great Smoky Mountains, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Zion
National Parks; Cedar Breaks, Colorado and Dinosaur National Monuments;
Assateague Island National Seashore/Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge;
and Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. Granting these areas the
highest level of federal protection available would, in the words of the
Wilderness Act of 1964, recognize them as areas "where the earth and its
community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor
who does not remain."
Helping States and Communities Preserve Green Spaces
Land Acquisition Grants - Lands Legacy includes $150 million through LWCF
for matching grants to state, local and tribal governments, and nonprofit
land trusts, for acquisition of land and easements for urban parks,
greenways, outdoor recreations, wildlife habitat, and coastal wetlands.
The DOl program retools the LWCF state grants program for "smart growth"
and open space preservation. Grants will be awarded on a competitive
basis, with priority going to projects consistent with statewide "smart
growth" plans.
Open Space Planning Grants - The initiative proposes a new $50 million
program of matching grants to states to develop open space preservation
and "smart growth" strategies. States would use a variety of data and
tools to identify priority areas for urban development, farmland, and
conservation. The program, administered by DOl, would award grants
competitively, with priority going to proposals that tie state plans to
regional strategies for managing the economy, job growth, and
infrastructure development.
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund - The initiative proposes
$80 million -- a $66 million increase -- for state and local land
acquisition to protect threatened and endangered species. By supporting
Habitat Conservation plans and other flexible tools under the Endangered
Species Act, the Fund promotes collaborative strategies that sustain both
wildlife and economic development. The program is administered by the u.s.
Fish and wildlife Service.
Forest Legacy Program - To protect private forest land that provides
critical wildlife habitat and is threatened by development, the initiative
proposes $50 million -- an increase of more than six-fold -- for matching
grants to states for the purchase of permanent conservation easements. Use
of protected lands for forestry and compatible activities is permitted.
The program is administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the
proposed funding would protect roughly 135,000 acres.
Urban and Community Forestry - The initiative proposes $40 million -- a 29
percent increase -- for matching grants to states and communities to
establish, maintain, and expand urban and community forests and related
green spaces. The program, administered by USFS, operates in partnership
with 8,000 volunteer organizations in more than 10,000 communities. The
proposed funding would support 75,000 projects in more than 10,000
communities.
Farmland Protection Program - To protect farmland and sustain rural
economies, Lands Legacy would provide $50 million in matching grants to
states, communities, tribes and land trusts for the purchase of permanent
conservation easements on farmland threate.ned by development. The program,
administered by USDAO,s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was
created by the 1996 Farm Bill. Through mid-1998, $35 million in federal
funding had leveraged an estimated $230 million in easements, protecting
about 127,000 acres.
Smart Growth Partnership - Lands Legacy proposes a new revolving loan
program to support acquisition of land and easements in rural areas. The
Partnership, administered by USDA, would make loans to intermediate
borrowers (state, local and tribal governments, and nonprofit corpora
tions), which in turn would loan funds to rural businesses, land trusts
and other nonprofit organizations. proposed funding of $10 million would
support $50 million in loans. Priorities are supporting "smart growth"
strategies and helping owners of underproducing forest land at risk of
sale improve forest productivity.
Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery - The initiative proposes $4 million
in matching grants and technical assistance for the restoration of parks
in economically distressed urban communities. The program, administered by
the National Park Service, awarded over 1200 grants from 1978 to 1995 but
has remained unfunded since 1995.
Protecting Our Oceans and Coasts
National Marine Sanctuaries - Lands Legacy proposes $29 million -- a 107
percent increase -- to strengthen protections at 12 marine sanctuaries off
California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North
Carolina, Texas, Washington, and American Samoa, and to plan for future
marine sanctuaries. The funding will allow NOAA to accelerate the adoption
and implementation of management plans for existing sanctuaries and expand
outreach activities with coastal communities.
Coastal Zone Management Act Program - To help promote "smart growth"
strategies along AmericaD,s coasts, the initiative proposes $90 million, a
55 percent increase, to help states implement Critical Coastal Area
Management and Restoration plans. The matching grants can be used to
acquire lands or to undertake other efforts to protect wildlife habitat,
protect life and property from coastal hazards, and revitalize ports and
urban waterfronts.
National Estuarine Research Reserves System - The initiative proposes $19
million, a 375 percent increase, to expand a network of critical estuaries
representing all the biological regions along AmericaD,s coasts. NOAA
provides guidance and matching funds to states to acquire land, protect
resources and conduct research and education. Twenty-two reserves in 19
states and territories manage about 500,000 acres. The proposed funding
would double the protected acreage.
Coral Reef Restoration - Lands Legacy proposes $10.3 million -- a $10
million increase -- to protect fragile coral reefs from pollution and
other human impacts. NOAA, in conjunction with DOl, would restore injured
reefs in Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii and u.S. territories, and develop a
coral nursery to grow donor material for restoration projects.
Coastal Dredge Area Restoration - The initiative proposes $10 million for
NOAA to work with the u.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use material dredged
from ports and shipping channels to restore coastal habitats. Dredging is
critical to keep shipping lanes open and deepen channels to accommodate
larger ships. Reusing dredge spoils benefits the environment and reduces
disposal costs.
Fisheries Habitat Restoration - To restore declining fisheries, the
initiative proposes $25 million for NOAAD,s National Marine Fisheries
Service to acquire and protect critical habitat. Efforts would focus on
Northeast and Middle Atlantic coast, the Gulf Coast, the West Coast, Alaska
. and other regions that participate in the National Estuary Program or
have multiple threatened or endangered species.
###
EMAILS RECEIVED
ARMS - BOX 086 - FOLDER -009
[01/12/1999] [1]
Message Creation Date was at 12-JAN-1999 10:33:00
PRESIDENT CLINTONO,S LANDS LEGACY INITIATIVE:
Forging a Conservation Vision for the 21st Century
January 12, 1999
President Clinton, in the FY 2000 budget he will submit to Congress, is
proposing a $1 billion Lands Legacy initiative to expand federal protection of
critical lands across America, help states and communities preserve local green
spaces, and strengthen protections for our oceans and coasts.
This landmark initiative -- a 125 percent increase over FY 1999 funding --
represents the largest one-year investment ever in the preservation of
AmericaO,s lands legacy. It includes $900 million from the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF), marking the first time any Administration has
requested full funding from LWCF, which draws revenues from federal offshore
oil sales. To sustain these efforts in the new century, the President commits
to work with Congress to create a permanent funding stream beginning in FY 2001.
The Lands Legacy initiative continues the Clinton-Gore AdministrationO,s
vigorous efforts to save AmericaO,s natural treasures. And, by providing
significant new resources to states and local communities, it forges a new
conservation vision for the 21st century -- one that recognizes the importance
of preserving irreplaceable pieces of our natural legacy within easy reach of
every citizen.
Lands Legacy will be administered by the Department of the Interior (DOl), $579
million; the Department of Agriculture (USDA), $268 million; and the Department
of CommerceO,s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), $183
million. It will be coordinated with the $1 billion Livability Agenda announced
by Vice President Gore of January 11 through interagency cooperation and
consultation.
In addition, the President is calling on Congress to extend permanent
wilderness protection to more than 5 million acres in 17 national parks and
monuments, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Great Smoky Mountains
and Cumberland Gap.
Saving AmericaO,s Natural Treasures
Federal Acquisitions - The initiative increases federal land acquisition
funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund by 26 percent to a total
of $413 million ($295 million for DOl, and $118 million for USDA). In recent
years, the Administration has dedicated LWCF funds to protecting Yellowstone
National Park from mining, saving ancient redwoods in CaliforniaO,s Headwaters
Forest, preserving Civil War battlefields, completing the Maine-to-Georgia
Appalachian Trail, and acquiring more than 100 other natural and historic sites
across the country. Priorities for FY 2000 include acquisition of over 450,000
acres in CaliforniaO,s Mojave Desert, 100,00 acres for addition to New England
wildlife refuges and national forests, and lands critical to the ongoing
restoration of FloridaO,s Everglades.
Protecting Our Parks - The President also is calling on Congress to grant
permanent wilderness protection to over 5 million acres within Arches, Big
Bend, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Crater Lake, Glacier, Grand
Teton, Great Smoky Mountains, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Zion National
Parks; Cedar Breaks, Colorado and Dinosaur National Monuments; Assateague
Island National Seashore/Chincoteague National wildlife Refuge; and Cumberland
Gap National Historic Park. Granting these areas the highest level of federal p
rotection available would, in the words of the Wilderness Act of 1964,
recognize them as areas "where the earth and its community of life are
untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."
. '
Helping States and Communities Preserve Green Spaces
Land Acquisition Grants - Lands Legacy includes $150 million through LWCF for
matching grants to state, local and tribal governments, and nonprofit land
trusts, for acquisition of land and easements for urban parks, greenways,
outdoor recreations, wildlife habitat, and coastal wetlands. The DOr program
retools the LWCF state grants program for "smart growth" and open space
preservation. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with priority
going to projects consistent with statewide "smart growth" plans.
Open Space Planning Grants - The initiative proposes a new $50 million program
of matching grants to states to develop open space preservation and "smart
growth" strategies. States would use a variety of data and tools to identify
priority areas for urban development, farmland, and conservation. The program,
administered by Dor, would award grants competitively, with priority going to
proposals that tie state plans to regional strategies for managing the economy,
job growth, and infrastructure development.
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund - The initiative proposes $80
million -- a $66 million increase -- for state and local land acquisition to
protect threatened and endangered species. By support~ng Habitat Conservation
plans and other flexible tools under the Endangered Species Act; the Fund
promotes collaborative strategies that sustain both wildlife and economic
development. The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Forest Legacy Program - To protect private for
Message Creation Date was at 12-JAN-1999 10:33:00
PRESIDENT CLINTONO!,S LANDS LEGACY INITIATIVE:
Forging a Conservation Vision for the 21st Century
January 12, 1999
President Clinton, in the FY 2000 budget he will submit to Congress, is
proposing a $1 billion Lands Legacy initiative to expand federal
protection of
critical lands across America, help states and communities preserve local
green
spaces, and strengthen protections for our oceans and coasts.
This landmark initiative -- a 125 percent increase over FY 1999 funding --
represents the largest one-year investment ever in the preservation of
AmericaD!,s lands legacy. It includes $900 million from the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF), marking the first time any Administration has
requested full funding from LWCF, which draws revenues from federal
offshore
oil sales. To sustain these efforts in the new century, the President
commits
to work with Congress to create a permanent funding stream beginning in FY
2001.
The Lands Legacy initiative continues the Clinton-Gore AdministrationD!,s
vigorous efforts to save AmericaD!,s natural treasures. And, by providing
significant new resources to states and local communities, it forges a new
conservation vision for the 21st century -- one that recognizes the
importance
of preserving irreplaceable pieces of our natural legacy within easy reach
of
every citizen.
Lands Legacy will be administered by the Department of the Interior (DOl),
$579
million; the Department of Agriculture (USDA), $268 million; and the
Department
of CommerceD!,s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
$183
million. It will be coordinated with the $1 billion Livability Agenda
announced
by Vice President Gore of January 11 through interagency cooperation and
consultation.
In addition, the President is calling on Congress to extend permanent
wilderness protection to more than 5 million acres in 17 national parks and
monuments, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Great Smoky
Mountains
and Cumberland Gap.
Saving AmericaD!,s Natural Treasures
Federal Acquisitions - The initiative increases federal land acquisition
funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund by 26 percent to a
total
of $413 million ($295 million for DOl, and $118 million for USDA). In
recent
years, the Administration has dedicated LWCF funds to protecting
Yellowstone
National Park from mining, saving ancient redwoods in CaliforniaD!,s
Headwaters
Forest, preserving Civil War battlefields, completing the Maine-to-Georgia
Appalachian Trail, and acquiring more than 100 other natural and historic
sites
across the country. Priorities for FY 2000 include acquisition of over
450,000
acres in CaliforniaD!,s Mojave Desert, 100,00 acres for addition to New
England
wildlife refuges and national forests, and lands critical to the ongoing
restoration of FloridaD!,s Everglades.
Protecting Our Parks - The President also is calling on Congress to grant
permanent wilderness protection to over 5 million acres within Arches, Big
Bend, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Crater Lake, Glacier, Grand
Teton, Great Smoky Mountains, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Zion National
Parks; Cedar Breaks, Colorado and Dinosaur National Monuments; Assateague
Island National Seashore/Chincoteague National wildlife Refuge; and
Cumberland
Gap National Historic Park. Granting these areas the highest level of
federal p
rotection available would, in the words of the Wilderness Act of 1964,
recognize them as areas "where the earth and its community of life are
untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."
Helping States and Communities Preserve Green Spaces
Land Acquisition Grants - Lands Legacy includes $150 million through LWCF
for
matching grants to state, local and tribal governments, and nonprofit land
trusts, for acquisition of land and easements for urban parks, greenways,
outdoor recreations, wildlife habitat, and coastal wetlands. The DOl
program
retools the LWCF state grants program for "smart growth" and open space
preservation. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with priority
going to projects consistent with statewide "smart growth" plans.
Open Space Planning Grants - The initiative proposes a new $50 million
program
of matching grants to states to develop open space preservation and "smart
growth" strategies. States would use a variety of data and tools to
.identify
priority areas for urban development, farmland, and conservation. The
program,
administered by DOl, would award grants competitively, with priority going
to
proposals that tie state plans to regional strategies for managing the
economy,
job growth, and infrastructure development.
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund - The initiative proposes
$80
million -- a $66 million increase -- for state and local land acquisition
to
protect threatened and endangered species. By supporting Habitat
Conservation
plans and other flexible tools under the Endangered Species Act, the Fund
promotes collaborative strategies that sustain both wildlife and economic
development. The program is administered by the u.S. Fish and wildlife
Service.
Forest Legacy Program - To protect private forest land that provides
critical
wildlife habitat and is threatened by development, the initiative proposes
$50
million -- an increase of more than six-fold -- for matching grants to
states
for the purchase of permanent conservation easements. Use of protected
lands
for forestry and compatible activities is permitted. The program is
administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the proposed funding
would
protect roughly 135,000 acres.
Urban and Community Forestry - The initiative proposes $40 million -- a 29
percent increase -- for matching grants to states and communities to
establish,
maintain, and expand urban and community forests and related green spaces.
The
program, administered by USFS, operates in partnership with 8,000 volunteer
organizations in more than 10,000 communities. The proposed funding would
support 75,000 projects in more than 10,000 communities.
Farmland Protection Program - To protect farmland and sustain rural
economies,
Lands Legacy would provide $50 million in matching grants to states,
communities, tribes and land trusts for the purchase of permanent
conservation
easements on farmland threatened by development. The program, administered
by
USDAO!,s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was created by the
1996
Farm Bill. Through mid-1998, $35 million in federal funding had leveraged
an
estimated $230 million in easements, protecting about 127,000 acres.
Smart Growth Partnership - Lands Legacy proposes a new revolving loan
program
to support acquisition of land and easements in rural areas. The
partnership,
administered by USDA, would make loans to intermediate borrowers (state,
local
and tribal governments, and nonprofit corporations), which in turn would
loan
funds to rural businesses, land trusts and other nonprofit organizations.
Proposed funding of $10 million would support $50 million in loans.
Priorities
are supporting "smart growth" strategies and helping owners of
underproducing
forest land at risk of sale improve forest productivity.
Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery - The initiative proposes $4 million in
matching grants and technical assistance for the restoration of parks in
economically distressed urban communities. The program, administered by the
National Park Service, awarded over 1200 grants from 1978 to 1995 but has
remained unfunded since 1995.
Protecting Our Oceans and Coasts
National Marine Sanctuaries - Lands Legacy proposes $29 million -- a 107
percent increase -- to strengthen protections at 12 marine sanctuaries off
California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North
Carolina,
Texas, Washington, and American Samoa, and to plan for future marine
sanctuaries. The funding will allow NOAA to accelerate the adoption and
implementation of management plans for existing sanctuaries and expand
outreach
activities with coastal communities.
Coastal Zone Management Act Program - To help promote "smart growth"
strategies
along AmericaC!,s coasts, the initiative proposes $90 million, a 55 percent
increase, to help states implement Critical Coastal Area Management and
Restoration Plans. The matching grants can be used to acquire lands or to
undertake other efforts to protect wildlife habitat, protect life and
property
from coastal hazards, and revitalize ports and urban waterfronts.
National Estuarine Research Reserves System - The initiative proposes $19
million, a 375 percent increase, to expand a network of critical estuaries
representing all the biological regions along AmericaD!,s coasts. NOAA
provides
guidance and matching funds to states to acquire land, protect resources
and
conduct research and education. Twenty-two reserves in 19 states and
territories manage about 500,000 acres. The proposed funding would double
the
protected acreage.
Coral Reef Restoration - Lands Legacy proposes $10.3 million -- a $10
million
increase -- to protect fragile coral reefs from pollution and other human
impacts. NOAA, in conjunction with DOl, would restore injured reefs in
Puerto
Rico, Florida, Hawaii and u.S. territories, and develop a coral nursery to
grow
donor material for restoration projects.
Coastal Dredge Area Restoration - The initiative proposes $10 million for
NOAA
to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use material dredged from
ports and shipping channels to restore coastal habitats. Dredging is
critical
to keep shipping lanes open and deepen channels to accommodate larger
ships.
Reusing dredge spoils benefits the environment and reduces disposal costs.
Fisheries Habitat Restoration - To restore declining fisheries, the
initiative
proposes $25 million for NOAAD!,s National Marine Fisheries Service to
acquire
and protect critical habitat. Efforts would focus on Northeast and Middle
Atlantic coast, the Gulf Coast, the west Coast, Alaska, and other regions
that
participate in the National Estuary Program or have multiple threatened or
endangered species.
###
ARMS Email System
.
Page 1 of 13
This site parses the emails sent and received by Elena Kagan during her time in the Clinton administration and presents them in a more familiar interface.
You may find that some records are garbled or incomplete, or that conversations are fractured. Please bear with us: the source documents are extremely messy. We're working to improve the quality of the documents hosted here.
Due to the programmatic nature of the tools used to build this site, we recommend checking any research effort against the source files released by the Clinton Library.
You are able to view 26,108 of the 29,281 released emails (89.1%)
