SEATTLE, WASH., February 2, 1968. Re: S. 1401. Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON, DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: As of December 31, 1967, I completed a three-year term as chairman of the Washington State Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation. During this period, I also served as liaison officer for the State for purposes of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Since it is not possible for me to appear in person at the hearings on S. 1401, which would amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, I would like to have this letter favoring changes in the Act made a part of the record. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been a real "shot in the arm" for outdoor recreation in the State of Washington. Even so, sufficient money has not been available soon enough to meet the growing demand. Accumulated requests for State and local matching grant assistance since the Fund became operative are much greater than funds available. More money is badly needed now. I also feel that it is important to stabilize the Fund so that each State will be able to program the revenues allocated to it each year. This is not now possible because yearly revenue into the Fund has not equaled the amounts appropriated. The Fund was established to meet critical outdoor recreation deficiencies. It should, therefore, be within the intent of the Act to consider the State obligation rate as a major indicator of need. I suggest that Congressional consideration of S. 1401 should take into account the extent to which individual States, such as Washington, have obligated apportionments during the three-year period that the program has been in operation. Between the time that the act became operative early in 1966 and January 12, 1968, $2,871,152 from the Fund has been obligated in Washington State for 48 acquisition and development, and two planning projects. On the 50-50 Federal matching grant basis, this represents a total expenditure for Land and Water Conservation Fund assisted projects in the State of $5,742,304. During this 1965-68 period, the State's allocated share of the Fund was approximately $3 million. Much time and effort was spent in setting priorities as the money available from all sources could not cover all of the worthwhile requests received. Even as this was being accomplished, prime outdoor recreation land was disappearing before our eyes, land prices were spiraling, and development costs rising. Dollars not put to work for outdoor recreation today are losing purchasing power tomorrow. After studying the suggested new revenue sources in S. 1401, I believe that the moneys accruing under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, including funds held in escrow, offer the best source of relief at the present time. I would also like to suggest that S. 1401 be amended so that the Fund can be stabilized at at least $400 million yearly, using only that portion of Outer Continental Shelf Lands revenue needed to reach the amount established by the amendment. Indeed. I believe use of the entire revenues of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands would be justified, but I suggest stabilizing the fund at $400 million yearly as a compromise step. In the west, emphasis should also be given to outdoor recreation developments on Federal areas convenient to urban complexes to relieve some of the pressure on States and local governments for more facilities. I sincerely hope that provision can be made this year for increasing the Land and Water Conservation Fund so that it can meet the great need for outdoor recreation areas and facilities more realistically. Respectfully, MARVIN B. DURNING, Attorney at Law. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR AND Hon. HENRY JACKSON, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I wish to express our support for S. 1401, a bill to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 in order to provide additional revenues to acquire land for recreational purposes. The Fund is falling short of expected collections from the $7 recreation area stamp, the sale of certain federal property, and the motor boat fuel tax. Receipts into the Fund as of Jan. 31, 1968 were about $290 million but Congress has appropriated some $370 million since the Act was passed. Furthermore, land speculation escalating land prices has thrown all previous estimates of financial requirements out of balance. For example, the original estimated cost of lands for the Point Reyes (Calif.) National Seashore Area has risen from $14 million to $57.5 million. In 1966, according to Bureau of Land Management data, total receipts under the Minerals Leasing Act of 1920 were $107 million, while those obtained from Outer Continental Shelf leasing were in excess of $248 million. Estimates by the Department of the Interior anticipate that the increasing tempo of offshore leasing could bring total proceeds from such activities to more than $3 billion over the five-year program contemplated by S. 1401. We note, for example, that recent oil company bids for oil and gas leases off the California coast alone came to $603 million. We conclude, therefore, that the five-year program in this legislation would, in its final three years of operation, make available a large part of the money needed to secure for the American people the lands they must have in order to enjoy leisure with their families in America's out of doors. Mr. Chairman, I would appreciate your bringing these views to the attention of the members of your Committee. Thank you. Sincerely, ANDREW J. BIEMILLER, Director, Department of Legislation and Chairman, AFL-CIO Staff Committee on Atomic Energy and Natural Resources. Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON, ROANOKE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB, Roanoke, Va., February 6, 1968. Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: The Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club takes great interest in your bill S 1401. We are part of a large private, non-profit organization, dedicated to the preservation of America's great out-of-doors. I, as president of the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, have been authorized to notify you, that this organization does appreciate, and does fully endorse your bill S 1401. Yours Sincerely, Senator HENRY M. JACKSON, Dr. KENNETH P. FITZGERALD, President. MILWAUKEE COUNTY PARK COMMISSION, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: I have been informed that the Interior & Insular Affairs Committee of the United States Senate will be holding a hearing on your Bill (S. 1401), which proposes an increase in the authorized income of the Land & Water Conservation Fund. Since the original law was enacted some three years ago, the Milwaukee County Park Commission has utilized to the fullest advantage its proportionate share of the LAWCON funds in acquiring and developing park lands for the over one million people residing in Milwaukee County and environs. Projects completed or under way with LAWCON assistance are, a 306 acre metropolitan park on Lake Michigan; a 41⁄2 mile bike trail in the heart of Milwaukee County; and, a paved play area in one of our existing neighborhood parks. Our "Guide for Growth," a master plan of land acquisition for Milwaukee County projects the needs for some 4,000 additional acres of park land for the present and future residents of Metropolitan Milwaukee, and it is our contention that, although Milwaukee County has been a leader in acquiring and developing parks and open spaces, it cannot continue to "go it alone" without outside financial assistance. Please add our pleas to those of the thousand other local municipalities to have the Interior & Insular Affairs Committee give affirmative consideration to your bill to increase the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Sincerely, Re S. 1401. HOWARD GREGG. General Manager, Parks. UTAH RECREATION & PARKS ASSOCIATION, Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: Our State Recreation and Parks Association would like to go on record with your committee as favoring the passage of S. 1401, on which you have scheduled hearings in Washington on February 5 and 6. Our state association, representing a broad cross-section of recreation interests of every kind in the State of Utah, has studied the purpose and objectives of this measure and find that its passage is urgently needed not only for the benefit of the recreation program in the State of Utah; but it would also affect in a similar way all other states. As you well know, the present available funds under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act are falling far below the original estimates when the act was passed in 1965. In our state, for example, the funding has reached an average level of only about 50 per cent of that anticipated three years ago. This has sharply curtailed the matching participation by local communities, counties, and municipalities and thus has delayed the progress in a much needed recreation program development. We would, therefore, hope that favorable consideration by your committee, the Senate, and the House will be given to this important measure or the others of a similar nature which are presently pending in the House. We hope that if the bill does pass, that the additional funding can be made effective immediately so that the benefits would begin to accrue to the Fund in fiscal year 1969. We want to express our appreciation to you and your committee for taking the initiative in advancing this important legislation. Sincerely yours, CHARLES C. BAUGH, President. KIMBALL CITY AND COUNTY PARK AND RECREATION BOARD, Kimball, Nebr., January 26, 1968. Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON, MR. CHAIRMAN: We are writing this letter to urge your consideration and ultimate passage of S. 1401 presently under consideration by your Committee. We are presently in the process of developing approximately 260 acres for numerous outdoor recreation facilities for the use of Kimball, Nebraska, City and County residents, and the general public. Included in this area will be a nine-hole grass greens golf course, four baseball, softball, and combined softball and little league diamonds, archery, trapshooting, tennis courts, picnic area and many other related facilities. Our cost for the completion of this entire project will be in the sum of $320.000.00. To date we have completed better than 50% of the project, and without the generous aid afforded by both Federal and State funds under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act it would have been virtually impossible for this community to have developed such an area. Again, we urge your passage of this bill to give other communities the splendid opportunity that we have experienced to fully develop such a fine recreational area. Donald R. Deboody, Acting Mayor, Kimball, Nebr. Joan H. Lutey. SMOKY MOUNTAINS HIKING CLUB, Knoxville, Tenn., January 30, 1968. Senator HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, by action today of the Board of Directors, endorses and supports your S. 1401, a bill to amend Title I of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. However, we recommend that the substance of Secretary Stewart L. Udall's proposed further amendments to S. 1401, as mentioned to you in his letter of January 4, 1968, be incorporated into S. 1401. We appreciate your concern in conservation and recreational development. We shall follow with interest the progress of S. 1401. If we can add further support for this bill, amended as proposed by Mr. Udall, please let us know. Sincerely yours, Senator ERNEST GRUENING, O. K. SERGEANT, President. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, February 5, 1968. The City of Anchorage is benefiting greatly through funds received from the land and water conservation funded Bureau of Outdoor Recreation matching grant program. The Jackson bill, S. 1401, and its companion, the Foley H.R. 8575, will establish an additional revenue source for the land and water conservation fund. An increase in the appropriations from this fund is sorely needed both at the Alaska State and local levels. Your active support S. 1401 at the February 5-6 hearings by the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee will be highly beneficial to Alaska. Such support is respectfully requested. Hon. HENRY JACKSON, GEORGE M. SULLIVAN, Mayor. PITTSBURG, KANS., February 6, 1968. U.S. Senate, Chairman, Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: Word has come to my office regarding the proposed amending of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 in order to provide the Federal Government, the several states, and local communities with additional funds for recreation and park development. It is my understanding that this amendment is designated as S-1401. The City of Pittsburg has been fortunate in receiving some $45,000 in federal funds for the acquisition of additional park space and the renovation of certain recreation facilities through the fine cooperation of the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and the Kansas State Park and Resources Authority, the administering agency of land and water conservation funds in Kansas. This program has provided a tremendous impetus to the development of our park and recreation system and, in fact, has been in great part responsible for our first real progress along these lines since the early 1930's. I am pleased to enclose a copy of our GOALS IN RECREATION brochure which describes in greater detail the accomplishments we have been able to make with the assistance of such federal programs. We wholeheartedly endorse the passage of this legislation and earnestly seek your support of this measure. Very truly yours, HARRY C. SHUTE, Mayor. Re Senate Bill 1401. CITY OF SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBR., SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. January 29, 1968. DEAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS: I am writing in reference to your hearing on the above bills which will be held on February 5, 1968. It is our understanding that this bill would provide additional revenues for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, thus enabling state and local governmental subdivisions to provide improved recreational facilities for our Nation's citizens. As you probably know, the State of Nebraska presently matches a portion of the federal funds assigned to it with an additional grant representing 25% of the total project cost. Under this arrangement the local governmental subdivision is able to provide park and recreation facilities for an additional 25% of the total cost of the project. This has been of tremendous assistance to the City of Scottsbluff in acquiring and developing new facilities. During the past year we have been able to acquire and develop a badly needed neighborhood park as well as develop a campground for use by persons from Western Nebraska as well as those passing through the community. In addition, we have presently in process two projects. One of these involving twenty acres of park land is now funded. The second project involving the development of baseball facilities for the youth of the community is tentatively scheduled for funding in the next fiscal year. In addition, we have proposed additional projects to the State which would result in substantial beautification and recreational development of the river bottom lands along the North Platte river. Development of this area would depend substantially on the availability of outside funds since the project would serve a region considerably larger than the City of Scottsbluff in fact, considerably larger than even Scotts Bluff County. On behalf of the City of Scottsbluff I would like to urge you to give favorable consideration to this bill. Very truly yours, COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. C. A. THOMAS, Mayor. CITY OF SCHUYLER, Schuyler, Nebr., January 31, 1968. GENTLEMEN: The City of Schuyler, Nebraska, is in sympathy with Senate Bill 1401 and House Bill 8578, a companion bill, that provides for the transfer of monies from the "Off Shore Oil Funds" into "Watershed Funds." The 3,100 citizens of Schuyler are in sympathy with this transfer for the reason that our City is in the process of acquisition and the development of outdoor recreation facilities and feel that your support of these bills will be necessary to enable our community to participate and complete our program. Our community is growing and there is a gradual increasing demand for outdoor recreation facilities from our citizens that must be met, and we will need to have assistance of Federal and State Funds to assure our programs becoming a reality. |