^ INTERIOR DEPARTMENT REVIEW AND BUDGET Y 4. R 31/3: 104-93 HEARINGr [X Interior Departnent Revieu and Budg... BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON REVIEWING THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 1997 BUDGET AND DISCUSS MATTERS RELAT- ED TO PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE DE- PARTMENT APRIL 24, 1996—WASHINGTON, DC Serial No. 104-93 Printed for the use of the Committee on Resources 10 "^. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON 1996 : ForsalebytheU.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice SuperintendentofDocuments,CongressionalSalesOffice,Washington,DC 20402 ISBN 0-16-053790-8 A ^ INTERIOR DEPARTMENT REVIEW AND BUDGET ft Y 4. R 31/3: 104-93 HEARINGr [T Interior Departnent Revieu and Budg... BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON REVIEWING THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT'S FISCAL YEAR 1997 BUDGET AND DISCUSS MATTERS RELAT- ED TO PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE DE- PARTMENT APRIL 24, 1996—WASHINGTON, DC Serial No. 104-93 Printed for the use of the Committee on Resources ^OTi I U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE ' '-^^'-''iJv/ K — WASHINGTON 1996 "~~" ' : ForsalebytheU.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice SuperintendentofDocuments,CongressionalSalesOffice,Washington,DC 20402 ISBN 0-16-053790-8 COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES DON YOUNG, Alaska, Chairman W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana GEORGE MILLER, CaUfornia JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts JIM SAXTON, New Jersey NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia ELTON GALLEGLY, CaUfornia BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr., Tennessee DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado PAT WILLIAMS, Montana JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, California SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut WAYNE ALLARD, Colorado BILL RICHARDSON, New Mexico WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland PETER A. DeFAZIO, Oregon KEN CALVERT, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA. American RICHARD W. POMBO, California Samoa PETER G. TORKILDSEN, Massachusetts TIM JOHNSON, South Dakota J.D. HAYWORTH, Arizona NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii FRANK A. CREMEANS, Ohio GERRY E. STUDDS, Massachusetts BARBARA CUBIN, Wyoming SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas WES COOLEY, Oregon OWEN B. PICKETT, Virginia HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey LINDA SMITH, Washington CALVIN M. DOOLEY, CaUfornia GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, CaUfornia CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO, Puerto WALTER B. JONES, Jr., North CaroUna Rico WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY, Texas MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York RICHARD (DOC) HASTINGS, Washington ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam JACK METCALF, Washington SAM FARR, California JAMES B. LONGLEY, Jr., Maine PATRICKJ. KENNEDY, Rhode Island JOHN B. SHADEGG, Arizona JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada Daniel Val Kish, ChiefofStaff David Dye, ChiefCounsel Christine Kennedy, ChiefClerk/Administrator John Lawrence, Democratic StaffDirector (II) CONTENTS HearingheldApril 24, 1996 1 StatementofMembers: Calvert, Hon. Ken, a U.S. Representativefrom California 56 Chenoweth, Hon. Helen, a U.S. Representative from Idaho 34 Cubin, Hon. Barbara, a U.S. Representativefrom Wyoming 36 DeFazio, Hon. Peter, a U.S. Representative from Oregon 7 Dooley, Hon. Cadvin, aU.S. Representative from California 50 Doolittle, Hon. John, a U.S. Representative from California 41 Faleomavaega, Hon. Eni, aU.S. Delegate fromAmerican Samoa 8 Farr, Hon. Sam, a U.S. Representative from California 53 Gejdenson, Hon. Sam, a U.S. Representative from Connecticut 7 Hansen, Hon. James, a U.S. Representative from Utah 3 Hastings, Hon. Richard, a U.S. Representative fromWashington 52 Hajrworth, Hon. J.D., a U.S. Representative from Arizona 11 Hefley, Hon. Joel, a U.S. Representativefrom Colorado 10 Kildee, Hon. Dale, aU.S. Representative from Michigan ^7 Longley, Hon. James, a U.S. Representative from Maine 58 Markey, Hon. Edward, aU.S. Representative from Massachusetts 13 Miller, Hon. George, a U.S. Representativefrom California 14 Richardson, Hon. Bill, a U.S. Representative from New Mexico 10 Shadegg, Hon. John, a U.S. Representative from Arizona 61 Studds, Hon. Gerry, a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 12 Tauzin, Hon. Billy, a U.S. Representative from Louisiana 9 Torkildsen, Hon. Peter, a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 9 Vento, Hon. Bruce, a U.S. Representative from Minnesota 2 Williams, Hon. Pat, a U.S. Representative from Montana 6 Young, Hon. Don, a U.S. Representative from Alaska, and Chairman, Committee on Resources 1 StatementofWitnesses: Babbitt, Bruce, Secretary, Departmentofthe Interior 17 Prepared statement 65 Additional material supplied: Committee: Questionsfor Secretary Babbitt 74 (III) INTERIOR DEPARTMENT REVIEW AND BUDGET WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1996 House of Representatives, Committee on Resources, Washington, DC. The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 1:35 p.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C., Hon. Don Young (Chairman ofthe Committee) presiding. STATEMENT OF HON. DON YOUNG, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM ALASKA; AND CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES Mr. Young. The meeting will come to order. The committee meets this afternoon to review and discuss the Interior Depart- ment's fiscal year 1997 budget with Secretary Babbitt. It is good to have him here. I know that members of both sides will want to discuss many matters related to programs and activi- ties ofthe Department. For that reason, I will be brief I will make everybody on this committee happy, including the Secretary. The administration and the Republicans on this committee have some significant differences over how many of the Department's programs should be funded. However, many of our recommenda- tions to the appropriations House Budget Committee in fiscal year 1997 will be significant increases over the current fiscal year 1996 conference report. For example, we have recommended a 2.5 percent increase for operations and maintenance of the National Park Service; a $15 million increase in funding for the Endangered Species Act; a $2 million increase in funding for the Endangered Species Conserva- tion Fund; $2.25 million increase in funding for the North Amer- ican Wetlands Conservation Fund; a $6 million increase in the Ev- erglades Restoration Plan; a $14 million increase for the Refuse Lands Acquisition Program. These increases will be considered in context with the budget constraints we are under. Regarding budget-related legislative proposals, despite our crit- ics' rhetoric to the contrary, we have proposed and debated many bills in public which reformed significant laws and programs under our jurisdiction. In many cases, those bills have been reported out of this committee or soon will be. They include mining law reform, grazing reform, and recreational fee reform to name a few. I might note that the recreational fee bill includes a park fee in- crease, which is a concept the Secretary and the administration have long endorsed, again as recently as Monday. Perhaps our most visible debate regarding this legislation, this committee held (1) over 18 hearings across the country in 1995 and 1996 under the ESA bill, two in Washington. These hearings represented a great deal of public input on both sides of the issue. Many in this room are fully aware ofjust how public the debate has been. While the administration has been vocal on issues ranging from ESA to mining law reform, which we welcome, I have to say in all honesty I am disappointed that they have failed to offer alternative proposals of their own on both of these issues. Very frankly, I look forward to hearing what the Secretary has to say on his sugges- tions. I would like to suggest and I hope we will see some ideas instead of total criticism for this committee. Before I recognize the gen- tleman from California, I would like to, at this time, Mr. Secretary, put you under oath. This is standard procedure for the head of each agency, so would you please stand and raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm under the penalty of perjury that the responses given and the statements made will be the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Mr. Babbitt. I do. Mr. Young. You are sworn in. Mr. Miller. Mr. Miller. I'll stay right here. All right? Mr. Young. Mr. Tauzin. Mr. Tauzin. Same thing here. Mr. Young. Mr. Vento. STATEMElSfT OF HON. BRUCE F. VENTO, AU.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM MINNESOTA Mr. Vento. Mr. Chairman, I take exception to some of the state- ments that you made with regard to the record of the committee and what we have done, and obviously, I think in any transition of responsibility that has occurred here, that it is understandable that you have taken some time and perhaps could have taken more time in terms of legislative measures, but the fact is that the com- mittee has not been as productive as I think it has historically been. We have tremendousjurisdiction and workload here, and the fact is that the work product of the committee has respected obviously sharp differences, which always is the case, but with much more confrontation. The result has been that we haven't made the policy changes and many of them have been superimposed into budget, into appropriation matters which this week even, and this day, 7 months into the fiscal year, we have been unable to activate spend- ing measures because of the extraordinary measures they have been imposed that would change some ofthe public policies that af- fect Interior and Agriculture. Having worked with this committee, I understand the workload ofit and I am willing to work with the Members. I would hope that in these remaining months, we can deal with at least some of the little things, if not the big things, that are the challenge and the responsibility ofthis committee and its policy to deal with. Mr. Young. I recognize the gentleman's comment. I would sug- gest that we pass more bills that have been signed into law out of this committee in this session, actually signed into law, than the last session when you were the chairman of this committee, and I will remind people ofthat. You may not agree, but the President did sign them. Mr. Vento. I think you are wrong. Mr. Young. No, I am not wrong. If you would like to check the figures, just check them. The gentleman from Utah. STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES V. HANSEN, AU.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM UTAH Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to take my time. I do have an opening statement I would like to make. Frankly, Mr. Chairman, I have been certainly disappointed in the performance of the Secretary of Interior. When we first got in- volved in these things, I have offered a hand of fellowship to him when I first came in as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Public Lands and National Parks. I have called Mr. Babbitt and asked to have meetings, promised it would be. They haven't been. Mr. Chairman, I have submitted for the record a group of quotes made by Mr. Babbitt concerning H.R. 260. Where they were made, whether it be in Tennessee, Utah, California, wherever it may be, concerning H.R. 260 which Mr. Vento and Mr. Miller are co-spon- sors on, talking about closing parks. I submit to Mr. Babbitt and everybody in this room, if they will just turn to page 13 of the so-called park closing bill, there is no park closing bill, and contrary to what has been said, and if I had the time, I would be happy to read every one ofthese things where it says we are closing parks and all this is going to be sold off. That is pure poppycock. There is nothing in that bill. In fact, on page 13 it specifically states the only way a park can be closed is the way that has always been for a park to be opened, and I think that some people tried to ingratiate themselves into this Clinton admin- istration and have gone out to be the whipping boy concerning these particular issues. Basically, let me state for the record, it just is not true. It is a prevarication ofthe truth, and I resent it as Chairman ofthat Sub- committee. We have a responsibility to bring these parks up to where we want to do it, and I was interested to notice when I got in Monday night on the late flight and watched Mr. Babbitt, Vice President Gore, and President Clinton talk about what they want for the parks. For the record, this is it. I hope you can submit this for the record. Now, ifthey had taken the time and the effort to just read a few things, we have done 80 percent of everything they called for on here. Where have they been? What rock have they been hiding under? Come forth and say yes, we have got the concession bill. We do have a bill to take care of buildings for the people in the parks. We do have one on concessions, and all these things we have been working on, and yet it sounds like it is brand new information that has never hit before, as ifno one ever thought ofthese things. We have probably done, contrary to what the gentleman from Minnesota has said, we probably passed out more legislation out of this subcommittee than any other subcommittee there is around. Also, Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to bring up the issue of wilderness. In the State of Utah, we have passed H.R. 1745. H.R. 1745 came from Mr. Babbitt's group, and it really irritates me, because his man from the Interior was the guy that stood up and said 1.9 million acres. This came from those people, not from We us. paralleled their area. Yet Mr. Babbitt comes along and says, oh, no, it has got to be about 5 million acres. I sent him a letter dated March 29th, Dear Secretary Babbitt: On Wednesday, March 27, 1996, a statement was released by Vice President Gore in reference to the Utah Pub- lic Land Management Act of which I would ask that you copy the entire statement. In that statement, Vice President Gore states the Secretary ofIn- terior, Bruce Babbitt, said that at least 5 million acres should qual- ify as wilderness areas. Where, Mr. Babbitt, we asked in the next part, is that area that qualifies? We are still waiting for your an- swer. Every time I sent a letter down there, it is just totally ignored and yet they want work groups. The fact of the park issue, I think it is quite interesting that under oath, sitting right where Mr. Bab- bitt is sitting now, was a fellow by the name of Roger Kennedy, the Director ofNational Parks. Mr. Kennedy also put his arm on the square, Mr. Babbitt, and was asked the question, "Does H.R. 260 close any parks, Mr. Ken- nedy?" Answer, "No, it does not close any parks." "Mr. Kennedy, does H.R. 260 privatize any parks?" "No, it does not." Does the right hand down there know what the left hand is doing? Now, Mr. Chairman, if I may say so, I am really disappointed in what we received out of this group. It seems more political. We have honestly, sincerely tried to do what is good for the public lands ofAmerica. GOP Also, in the paper, here is a variancy statement, the seeks to dismantle a century of bipartisan work. Now, I am quoted in there. I would like somebody to tell me where I said we are going to close 100 parks. I would like somebody to tell me where this list is that we are supposed to have. I happen to be Chairman of the Subcommittee and I don't have a list, but yet between the administration and Mr. Babbitt, we have seen this reference to a list time after time after time. Where in the hell is the list? I wish somebody would bring it out, because there is no list. Can we just kind of forget all this and get it out of our system and start working, or are we going to continue this fighting crap that we have been going through? It doesn't make a lick of sense to me, and if we are looking for a man that wants to get a higher job in something, I think he should be replaced. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Young. I thank the gentleman, and it was the bill that you referring to that Mr. Vento sponsored and was supported by the administration prior to the last election. It is a shame it has been politicized. Mr. Vento voted for it, blocked off for it on the floor.