Bush Seeks Smaller Conservation Grants 2-11-06

This story published in the Tennessean newspaper on Saturday, February 11, 2006. It was written by John Heilprin of the Associated Press.

Washington - Grants to state and local governments for land and water conservation would be cut 40%, and money for the Environmental Protection Agency's network of libraries for scientists would be slashed severely under President Bush's proposed budget.

Cuts and proposals to sell some for the government's vast land holdings, including nearly 3,000 acres in the 640,000-acre Cherokee National Forest in eastern Tennessee bordering North Carolina, have upset the environmentalists.

As many as seven Tennessee counties could be be affected: Carter, Cocke, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sullivan and Unicoi. About a quarter of the Tennessee lands is in Carter County, while the largest block, nearly 500 acres, is in Sullivan County,

The lands are typically part of a "checker board" pattern of small parcels surrounded by suburban or urban areas, Interior officials say, and have been identified as holding little natural, historic, cultural or energy value.

The administration anticipates selling them for $2,000 an acre. The Forest Service plans to sell 170,000-200,000 acres in 41 states, according to The Wilderness Society. The environmental advocacy group Southern Environmental Law Center said 2,996 of those acres are in East Tennessee and nearly 10,000 are in North Carolina in national forests near the border with Tennessee.

By contrast, Bush next year would spend $322 million for "cooperative conservation," up from $312 million that Congress approved last year, to encourage more private landowners to protect endangered species, conserve wildlife habitats and do other nature work traditionally done by government.

Other proposed increases are $50 million more for cleaner-burning diesel engines and $5 million more for drinking water improvements. Low-interest loans to state for treating wastewater, cutting other water pollution and managing watersheds would be cut by 22% to $688 million.

Early in his presidency, Bush called for restoring the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to the full $900 million authorized by Congress.

Last year, it was approved at $142 million. For 2007, he wants just $85 million in grants for creating and preserving non-federal parks, forest land and wildlife refuges, a 40% cut.

"This is the most troubling budget we've seen from this White House," said Heather Taylor, deputy legislative director for National Resources Defense Council.

The proposal sent to Congress this week would trim EPA's budget by nearly 5%, down to $7.2 billion, and the Interior Department's budget by 2.4% , to $9.1 billion.

The budget also would cut $89 million from the National Park Service's nearly $2.6 million budget.

Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., said it shows the environment isn't a Bush administration priority. "We cannot allow this dangerous trend to continue," said Jeffords, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton and EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said their budgets represent, within the context of reducing the federal deficit, a responsible reallocation of resources that will still lead to environmental improvements.