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— (,57-B-3 I | f -377- BOY OTC. 2A. 10,2. 9493 Bio Land and Water A, Conservation Fund Report To Congress - Fiscal Year 1993 SY, - The Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) program provides Federal grant assistance to State and local units of government for public outdoor recreation purposes. All park and recreation systems that receive L&WCF assistance are strictly required to prohibit discriminaticn on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap in all their programs, activities and facilities. Regulations of the National Park Service (NPS) and the Dept. of the Interior strictly prohibit any such discrimination in federally-assisted areas. Any per- son who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in any N’S or L&WCF-assisted program, activity or facility should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 Cod United States Department of the Interior = NATIONAL PARK SERVICE e P.O. Box 37127 MVashington, D.C. 20013-7127 IN REPLY REFER TO L34 (784) Honorable J. Bennett Johnston Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 1994 United States Senate MAY 20 Dear Mr. Chairman: It gives me pleasure to transmit to you the 17th Annual Report to Congress on the Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) Grants-in-Aid program. This report is submitted on an annual basis in accordance with the requirements of the L&éWCF Act, i6 U.S.C. 4601-8(f) (7). This report highlights the States’ program accomplishments during the past year in administering this program. In fiscal year 1993, 50 States, 5 Territories, and the District of Columbia received funding for 382 parkland acquisition and recreation development projects totalling $29.6 million. The States also expended $23.7 million on existing grants during this same period. While funding for this program increased slightly over last year, dramatic reductions in grants funding has accrued over the past decade. Demand for close-to-home recreation opportunities is at its highest peak ever and requests for funds again this year exceeded amounts actually made available. This year's report summarizes State accomplishments in effectively planning, funding, and providing quality public outdoor recreation opportunities to the recreating public. Over 57 percent of this year's funding was used at the local level to help meet this ever increasing demand. The States, in spite of decreased funding, are supportive and willing to continue to create a full partnership between Federal, State, and local governments in establishing and maintaining a national recreation system for perpetuity for all Americans to enjoy now and in the future. Some changes in the reporting format have been implemented this year for the sole purpose of providing more useful information to you and others in the U.S. Senate. This year, the report has been divided into four distinct parts: (1) a national overview and summary of accomplishments; (2) regional accomplishments; (3) opportunities forgone; and (4) State recommended legislative actions. A copy of this report is also being forwarded to the Honorable George Miller, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515. Sincerely, i FACpoger G. Kennedy Director Enclosure ing cc: Honorable Malcolm Wallop Ranking Minority Member TAKE United States Department of the Interior = NATIONAL PARK SERVICE = P.O. Box 37127 Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 IN REPLY REFER TO L34 (784) Honorable George Miller Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. Chairman: It gives me pleasure to transmit to you the 17th Annual Report to Congress on the Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&éWCF) Grants-in-Aid program. This report is submitted on an annual basis in accordance with the requirements of the L&éWCF Act, 16 U.S.C. 4601-8(f) (7). This report highlights the States’ program accomplishments during the past year in administering this program. In fiscal year 1993, 50 States, 5 Territories, and the District of Columbia received funding for 382 parkland acquisition and recreation development projects totalling $29.6 million. The States also expended $23.7 million on existing grants during this same period. While funding for this program increased slightly over last year, dramatic reductions in grants funding has accrued over the past decade. Demand for close-to-home recreation opportunities is at its highest peak ever and requests for funds again this year exceeded amounts actually made available. This year's report summarizes State accomplishments in effectively planning, funding, and providing quality public outdoor recreation opportunities to the recreating public. Over 57 percent of this year's funding was used at the local level to help meet this ever increasing demand. The States, in spite of decreased funding, are supportive and willing to continue to create a full partnership between Federal, State, and local governments in establishing and maintaining a national recreation system for perpetuity for all Americans to enjoy now and in the future. Some changes in the reporting format have been implemented this year for the sole purpose of providing more useful information to you and others in the U.S. Senate. This year, the report has been divided into four distinct parts: (1) a national overview and summary of accomplishments; (2) regional accomplishments; (3) opportunities forgone; and (4) State recommended legislative actions. A copy of this report is also being forwarded to the Honorable J. Bennett Johnston, Chairman, Committee on Energy Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510. LSinceryely, e foe *oser G. Kennedy Pe vi sector Enclosure cc: Honorable Don Young Ranking Minority Member ay INTRODUCTION NATIONAL PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS Funding History Through FY 1993 States Obligation and Outlay Rates Details of Fiscal 1993 Funding Levels of Competition for Available Funds &NNu um SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY REGIONS Mid-Atlantic Regional Summary Midwest Regional Summary Southeast Regional Summary Southwest Regional Summary Rocky Mountain Regional Summary Western Regional Summary Pacific Northwest Regional Summary OPPORTUNITIES FORGONE STATE RECOMMENDATIONS APPENDIX - TABLES Table 1 - L&WCF Appropriations by Fiscal Year Table 2 - State-by-State Summary by Project Type Table 3 - Unobligated Balances by State Table 4 - L&WCF Grants Requested & Awarded by State RESE R Table 5 - FY 1993 Apportionments to States INTRODUCTION This seventeenth Annual Report to Congress is submitted as required by Section 6 (f)(7) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) Act, as amended. The Act requires that each State: “evaluate its grant programs annually under guidelines set forth by the Secretary of the Interior and transmit such evaluation to the Secretary." This program was enacted "to assist in preserving, developing, and assuring accessibility to all citizens of the United States of America of present and future generations...such quality and quantity or outdoor recreation resources as may be available and are necessary and desirable for individual active participation....” This evaluation is done annually at the end of each fiscal year. State actions and inputs provide the primary basis of the national report. This year, the report is divided into four distinct sections. Part I focuses on a program overview and a national summary of accomplishments. Part II provides regional summaries of program accomplishments over the past fiscal year. Part III identifies opportunities foregone due to funding limitations. Part IV incorporates State recommended legislative actions aimed at improving the delivery of L&WCF program benefits. The L&WCF program is administered, at the Federal level, by the National Park Service (NPS) through seven Regional Offices. The Washington Office provides guidance and program coordination. Project proposals are submitted to the NPS Regional Offices through a State Liaison Officer (SLO) appointed by the Governor, who has the authority to represent the State for the purposes of administering the L&WCF program. Income for the program is received from three main sources: 1. Sales of Federal surplus real properties; 2. A small portion of Federal motorboat fuel taxes; and 3. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues derived from leasing oil and gas sites in coastal waters. Receipts from the OCS leasing program are used to ensure that at least $900 million are deposited in the L&WCF account each year. By law, these moneys are to remain available until appropriated for the intended purposes. As of Fiscal Year 1993, the unappropriated balance was approximately $9.1 billion. The legacy of the L&WCF program emanates from Section 6(f)(3) of the Act which provides for the establishment of a public recreation estate in perpetuity. The utilization of moneys derived from the exploitstion of a non-renewable resource and investing them in an everlasting benefit is an unique public policy. NATIONAL PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS Funding History Through FY 1993 The Land and Water Conservation Fund program is one of the most successful Federal/State/Local partnerships. It has provided close to home public outdoor recreation opportunities for all people. It assisted States and local governments in strengthening and in some cases establishing park and recreation systems. In fact, it might be said that it contributed to the establishment of a "National System of Parks." Without any doubt, the program has enabled the park and recreation community to facilitate the achievement of National, State, and local priorities. Some of the priorities that park and recreation programs have served as the vehicle for making inroads into include; among others: crime prevention, reduction in health costs, economic expansion, job creation, environmental protection, urban revitalization, watershed protection, flood control, and the sense of community and family. Notwithstanding the other contributions, the primary purpose of these grants are to: - provide grants-in-aid to States and local units of government for acquisition of parks lands and open space; - to support development of State and local facilities for outdoor recreation; and - to assist States in the development and maintenance of Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans (SCORP). Since the origin of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) program in 1965, $3.2 billion have been appropriated to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas for acquisition, development, and planning grants designed to improve the quality and quantity of recreation opportunities in the United States. Through Fiscal Year 1993, Federal obligations have totalled $3,164,434,983 and a total of 36,633 grant projects (see Illustration A) have been approved. This amount has been matched by State and local contributions, for a total L&WCF State grant investment of well over six billion dollars (see Table 2 of the Appendix which shows obligations by State over the life of the program). Also Appendix Table I shows appropriations for the Fund from FY 1965 through 1994. The following is a breakdown of the types of grant projects funded over the life of the program. - 8,487 acquisition projects with acreage totalling 2,304,257 L&WCF GRANTS FISCAL YEARS 1965 - 1993 Percofe Fnundtin g by Project Type 1% L&WCF GRANTS FISCAL YEAR 1993 Numbofe Grrant s by Project Type with local jurisdictions and to minimize administrative overhead costs. In some cases, States have chosen to accumulate several annual apportionments for the purpose of funding larger projects. Securing environcumltueranl, tanad Fled,era l plus State licensing / permit clearances on projects for which apportioned moneys were reserved often slowed down the obligation process as well. During this fiscal year, 410 projects were final billed. Funds outladuryineg dth is year totalled $23.7 million, resulting in a net decrease of the unexpended balance to $67 million. Details of Fiscal Year 1993 Funding - «grants were awarded in FY 1993 (see Illustration B). - 53 acquisition grants to acquire 24,146 acres of park and recreation land. - 315 development grants to provide sports Sak es teca mping and picnic areas, trails, ihe, Venting cnetie atlbG ilt baste recreation facilities. a ee StaOtutdeoor wRecireatdion ePla ns. - Acquisition projects received 28 percent of the funds obligated and development projects received 68 percent while planning projects recei4 vpeercednt . - More than 52 percent of grants funds were obligated within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). - Local governmepnrojtects- rseceipvedo onver s57o perrcenet dof t he total funds obligated for new projects. - State-sponsored projects received 40 percent of the total funds oblifgor anewt perojdect s. Levels of Competition for Available Funds The demand for assistance from the L&WCF continues tu far outstrip the availabiofl mionteyys . Only 410 of the 2,844 project applications received were selefcort fuendding . This resulted in providing moneys sufficient to cover about 7 percent of the total amount of dollars requested in Fiscal Year 1993. These statistics fail to portray the pressing needs of the public for outdoor recreation opportunities. The keen competitiofno r the very limited amount of funds with local jurisdictions and to minimize administrative overhead costs. In some cases, States have chosen to accumulate several annual apportionments for the purpose of funding larger projects. Securing environmental. cultural, and Federal plus State licensing/ p ermit clearances on projects for which apportioned moneys were reserved often slowed down the obligation process as well. During this fiscal year, 410 projects were final billed. Funds outladuryineg dth is year totalled $23.7 million, resulting in a net decrease of the unexpended balance to $67 million. Details of Fiscal Year 1993 Funding - 382 grants were awarded in FY 1993. - 53 acquisition grants to acquire 24,146 acres of park and recreation land. - 315 development grants to provide sports and playfields, camping and picnic areas, trails, fishing, boating access and other basic recreation facilities. re ee StaOtutdeoor wRecireatdione Pl ans - Acquisition projects received 28 percent of the funds obligated and t projects received 68 percent while planning projects recei4 vpeercednt . - More than 52 percent of grants funds were obligated within Metropolitan StatisArteais c(MaSAls) . - Local governmepnrojtects- rseceipvedo onver s57o perrcenet odf t he total funds obligated for new projects. - State-sponsored projects received 40 percent of the total funds oblifgor anewt perojdect s. Levels of Competition for Available Funds The demand for assistance from the L&WCF continues to far outstrip the availabiofl mionteyys . Only 410 of the 2,844 project applications received were selefcort fuendding . This resulted in providing moneys sufficient to cover about 7 percent of the total amount of dollars requested in Fiscal Year 1993. These statistics fail to portray the pressing needs of the public for outdoor recreation opportunities. The keen competitiofno r the very limited amount of funds 5