[House Report 105-609]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-609
_______________________________________________________________________


 
 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 
                                  1999

                                _______
                                

  July 8, 1998.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Mr. Regula, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 4193]

    The Committee on Appropriations submits the following 
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making 
appropriations for the Department of the Interior and Related 
Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. The 
bill provides regular annual appropriations for the Department 
of the Interior (except the Bureau of Reclamation) and for 
other related agencies, including the Forest Service, the 
Department of Energy, the Indian Health Service, the 
Smithsonian Institution, and the National Foundation on the 
Arts and the Humanities.


                                CONTENTS

_______________________________________________________________________


                                                            Page number

                                                            Bill Report
Department of the Interior:
         Bureau of Land Management.........................     2
                                                                     11
        U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.....................    10
                                                                     20
        National Park Service..............................    16
                                                                     28
        U.S. Geological Survey.............................    21
                                                                     46
        Minerals Management Service........................    24
                                                                     50
        Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
            Enforcement....................................    25
                                                                     53
        Bureau of Indian Affairs...........................    29
                                                                     55
        Departmental Offices...............................    37
                                                                     63
        General Provisions.................................    43
                                                                     68
Related Agencies:
        Forest Service, USDA...............................    55
                                                                     69
        Department of Energy...............................    69
                                                                     91
        Clean Coal Technology..............................
                                                                     91
        Fossil Energy Research and Development.............    69
                                                                     91
        Alternative Fuels Production.......................    69
                                                                     94
        Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves.............    70
                                                                     95
        Energy Conservation................................    70
                                                                     95
        Economic Regulation................................    71
                                                                    102
        Strategic Petroleum Reserve........................    71
                                                                    102
        Energy Information Administration..................    71
                                                                    102
Indian Health Service, DHHS................................    75
                                                                    104
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation................    82
                                                                    111
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and 
    Arts Development.......................................
                                                                    111
Smithsonian Institution....................................    83
                                                                    112
National Gallery of Art....................................    86
                                                                    115
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.............    87
                                                                    116
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars...........    88
                                                                    117
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities.........    88
                                                                    118
Commission of Fine Arts....................................    90
                                                                    121
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation..................    91
                                                                    122
National Capital Planning Commission.......................    91
                                                                    122
United States Holocaust Memorial Council...................    91
                                                                    123
Presidio Trust.............................................    92
                                                                    123
Title III--General Provisions..............................    92
                                                                    124

                   Comparison With Budget Resolution

    Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and 
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as 
amended, requires that the report accompanying a bill providing 
new budget authority contain a Statement detailing how the 
authority compares with the reports submitted under section 302 
of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent 
resolution on the budget for the fiscal year. This information 
follows:

                                            [In millions of dollars]                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Sec. 302(b)               This bill--      
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                                              Discretionary  Mandatory  Discretionary  Mandatory
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority............................................       13,370           58       13,370           59
Outlays.....................................................       14,029           58       14,023           58
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          Summary of the Bill

    The Committee has conducted extensive hearings on the 
programs and projects provided for in the Interior and Related 
Agencies Appropriations bill for 1999. The hearings are 
contained in 11 published volumes totaling nearly 11,000 pages.
     During the course of the hearings, testimony was taken at 
21 hearings on 18 days from more than 500 witnesses, not only 
from agencies which come under the jurisdiction of the Interior 
Subcommittee, but also from Members of Congress, State and 
local government officials, and private citizens.
    The bill that is recommended for fiscal year 1999 has been 
developed after careful consideration of all the facts and 
details available to the Committee.

                                  BUDGET AUTHORITY RECOMMENDED IN BILL BY TITLE                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Committee bill 
                        Activity                         Budget estimates,   Committee bill,     compared with  
                                                          fiscal year 1999   fiscal year 1999   budget estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I, Department of the Interior: New Budget                                                                 
 (obligational) authority..............................     $7,122,163,000     $6,644,961,000      -$477,202,000
Title II, related agencies: New Budget (obligational)                                                           
 authority.............................................      7,146,181,000      6,774,553,000       -371,541,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Grand total, New Budget (obligational) authority.     14,268,344,000     13,419,514,000       -848,743,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Total Appropriations for the Department of the Interior and Related 
                                Agencies

    In addition to the amounts in the accompanying bill, which 
are reflected in the table above, permanent legislation 
authorizes the continuation of certain government activities 
without consideration by the Congress during the annual 
appropriations process.
    Details of these activities are listed in tables at the end 
of this report. In fiscal year 1998, these activities are 
estimated to total $3,071,817,000. The estimate for fiscal year 
1999 is $3,058,254,000.
    The following table reflects the total budget 
(obligational) authority contained both in this bill and in 
permanent appropriations for fiscal years 1998 and 1999.

         DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES TOTAL BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEARS 1998-99        
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Item                            Fiscal year 1998   Fiscal year 1999        Change     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interior and related agencies appropriations bill......    $14,109,493,000    $13,419,514,000      -$689,979,000
Permanent appropriations, Federal funds................      2,113,780,000      2,147,503,000        +33,723,000
Permanent appropriations, trust funds..................        958,037,000        910,751,000        -47,286,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total budget authority...........................     17,181,310,000     16,477,768,000       -703,542,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 Revenue Generated by Agencies in Bill

    The following tabulation indicates total new obligational 
authority to date for fiscal years 1997 and 1998, and the 
amount recommended in the bill for fiscal year 1999. It 
compares receipts generated by activities in this bill on an 
actual basis for fiscal year 1997 and on an estimated basis for 
fiscal years 1998 and 1999. The programs in this bill are 
estimated to generate $8.0 billion in revenues for the Federal 
Government in fiscal year 1999. Therefore, the expenditures in 
this bill will contribute to economic stability rather than 
inflation.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Fiscal year--                     
                          Item                          --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                1997               1998               1999      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New obligational authority.............................    $13,514,435,000    $14,109,493,000    $13,419,514,000
Receipts:                                                                                                       
    Department of the Interior.........................      7,786,883,000      8,831,687,000      7,260,624,000
    Forest Service.....................................        689,207,000        768,210,000        738,743,000
    Naval Petroleum Reserves...........................        516,000,000        175,000,000          7,000,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total receipts...................................      8,992,040,000      9,774,897,000      8,006,367,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   Application of General Reductions

    The level at which sequestration reductions shall be taken 
pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control 
Act of 1985, if such reductions are required in fiscal year 
1999, is defined by the Committee as follows:
    As provided for by section 256(l)(2) of Public Law 99-177, 
as amended, and for the purpose of a Presidential Order issued 
pursuant to section 254 of said Act, the term ``program, 
project, and activity'' for items under the jurisdiction of the 
Appropriations Subcommittees on the Department of the Interior 
and Related Agencies of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate is defined as (1) any item specifically identified in 
tables or written material set forth in the Interior and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, or accompanying committee 
reports or the conference report and accompanying joint 
explanatory Statement of the managers of the committee of 
conference; (2) any Government-owned or Government-operated 
facility; and (3) management units, such as National parks, 
National forests, fish hatcheries, wildlife refuges, research 
units, regional, State and other administrative units and the 
like, for which funds are provided in fiscal year 1999.
    The Committee emphasizes that any item for which a specific 
dollar amount is mentioned in any accompanying report, 
including all increases over the budget estimate approved by 
the Committee, shall be subject to a percentage reduction no 
greater or less than the percentage reduction applied to all 
domestic discretionary accounts.

                    Land and Water Conservation Fund

    Following is a comparison of the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund by agency. More specific information can be 
found in each agency's land acquisition account.

                                        LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND                                        
                                            [In thousands of dollars]                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Enacted fiscal    Estimated fiscal                   
                                                             year 1998          year 1999         Recommended   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assistance to States:                                                                                           
    Matching grants....................................                  0                  0                  0
    Administrative expenses............................             $1,000             $1,000               $500
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal, assistance to States...................              1,000              1,000                500
                                                        ========================================================
Federal programs:                                                                                               
    Bureau of Land Management..........................             11,200             15,000             10,000
    Fish and Wildlife Service..........................             62,632             60,500             30,000
    National Park Service..............................            142,290            137,087             68,500
    Forest Service.....................................             52,976             56,057             30,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Federal programs.......................            269,098            268,644            138,500
                                                        ========================================================
      Total LWCF.......................................            270,098            269,644            139,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee has included $139,000,000 to cover the land 
acquisition needs of the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the Forest 
Service.

                            Indian Programs

    Spending for Indian services by the Federal Government in 
total is included in the following table:

                                       FEDERAL FUNDING OF INDIAN PROGRAMS                                       
                                            [In thousands of dollars]                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Fiscal year 1997,  Fiscal year 1998,  Fiscal year 1999,
                    Budget authority                           actual             enacted        budget estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Agriculture..............................           $150,564           $161,352           $170,937
Department of Commerce.................................              7,579              4,602              4,605
Department of Defense..................................              8,000              8,000                  0
Department of Justice..................................            105,600             94,829            253,335
Department of Education................................          1,256,900          1,379,200          1,388,200
Department of HHS......................................          2,610,735          2,749,696          2,828,822
Department of HUD......................................            547,050            672,000            678,000
Department of Veterans Affairs.........................                205                515                515
Department of the Interior.............................          1,884,968          1,973,883          2,112,725
Department of Labor....................................             68,342             69,655             69,655
Department of Transportation...........................            164,286            164,286            164,286
Environmental Protection Agency........................            107,892            139,336            161,192
Smithsonian Institution................................             22,000             49,000             46,000
Army Corps of Engineers................................             21,273             15,723              9,617
Other Independent Agencies.............................             24,845             19,250             18,188
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total............................................          6,980,239          7,501,327          7,906,077
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        Constitutional Authority

    Clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the House of Representatives 
states that:

          Each report of a committee on a bill or joint 
        resolution of a public character, shall include a 
        Statement citing the specific powers granted to the 
        Congress in the Constitution to enact the law proposed 
        by the bill or joint resolution.

    The Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to 
report this legislation from Clause 7 of Section 9 of Article I 
of the Constitution of the United States of America which 
States: ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in 
consequence of Appropriations made by law . . . .''
    Appropriations contained in this Act are made pursuant to 
this specific power granted by the Constitution.

  Committee Recommendations Compared With the Administration's Budget 
                                Request

    The Committee has carefully examined the needs of the many 
agencies covered by this bill in the context of the budget 
allocation. Unfortunately, the Administration ignored the 
budget agreement in submitting its fiscal year 1999 budget 
request. For the Interior bill alone, the request exceeded the 
fiscal year 1998 allocation by $1.1 billion. The Administration 
proposed to fund much of this increase by spending money we 
don't have--namely, tax increases that are not in law and not 
even under serious consideration. The Administration has not 
submitted legislative proposals that would yield the additional 
revenues that it proposes to spend in the fiscal year 1999 
budget request.
    The Committee has applied the ``fairness'' principle in 
allocating funding in this bill. The Administration's emphasis 
was on many new and expanded programs rather than adequately 
funding current ongoing programs. One egregious example is the 
Indian Health Service. The American Indian and Alaska Native 
people are the most disadvantaged in this Nation when it comes 
to health care. For example, only 25% of the Indian population 
receives dental care and the rates of suicide, alcoholism and 
diabetes are far in excess of the population as a whole. Yet, 
despite all its proposed increases, the Administration's budget 
request did not address this basic health crisis. No funds were 
included for pay increases for health professionals. No funds 
were requested for inflationary costs. No funds were requested 
for new tribes recognized by the Administration. No funds were 
requested for staffing and operating newly constructed 
hospitals and clinics. Funds for maintenance of health 
facilities were reduced. Funds for water and sewer facilities 
in Indian homes were reduced. No funds were requested to 
address the deficit in contract support costs for those tribes 
that manage their own health programs and no funds were 
requested for new or expanded Indian self-determination 
contracts or self-governance compacts. The Committee has 
attempted, in this bill, to rectify the IHS funding inequity in 
the Administration's budget request.
    The Administration focused much of its proposed budget 
increase on the Department of Energy programs in this bill, 
including global warming/climate change programs. The Committee 
has not agreed to fund those programs in the absence of any 
international agreements. Also, the Committee believes that the 
Department of Energy needs to focus and streamline its programs 
and to work with the States and industry in doing so. More 
programs need to be eliminated or consolidated so that the 
research we do conduct yields timely and meaningful results. 
The Department of Energy's attitude toward research has been 
that almost everything that has been done in the past should be 
continued or expanded, and funding for new research programs 
should be added on top of that. This attitude is clearly 
evident in the fiscal year 1999 budget request. The Committee 
expects the Administration and the Department of Energy to 
submit a more reasoned and focused budget request for fiscal 
year 2000 that recognizes both fiscal constraints and the need 
to leverage State and private industry money for the most 
essential research needs.
    Finally, the Administration requested large increases for 
Endangered Species Act programs. The Committee believes the 
Administration should submit a legislative proposal for 
reauthorizing that Act. The proposal should address needed 
reforms in ESA.

                  Backlog Maintenance and Improvements

    In its fiscal year 1999 recommendations for the various 
programs in the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations 
bill, the Committee has continued its emphasis on ``taking care 
of what we have in the public trust''. The budget submitted by 
the Administration focused on new and expanded programs and did 
not adequately address maintenance and operational shortfalls 
in many cases. The Committee understands that new initiatives 
and new land acquisition and construction projects make for 
``good press'', and most of these proposals are worthy of 
consideration. However, in a constrained budget climate, 
funding for day-to-day operations and maintenance requirements 
must take higher precedence.
    The Committee held oversight hearings on the maintenance 
backlog and construction programs in the land management 
agencies over the past year. Participants at those hearings 
included officials from the General Accounting Office (GAO), 
the Inspectors General (IG) of the Departments of the Interior 
and Agriculture, the Bureau of Land Management, the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, 
and the Forest Service. Those hearings demonstrated that none 
of the land management agencies had an adequate program for 
categorizing and addressing maintenance and construction needs. 
The GAO and IG officials all testified that the maintenance 
backlog lists lacked credibility and, in some cases, were 
totally unacceptable. Neither the National Park Service nor the 
Forest Service were able to demonstrate that they had any 
definitive idea of what their backlog maintenance needs were. 
The systems in use did not have standardized definitions of 
what constitutes backlog and what constitutes routine 
maintenance. Nor did they have acceptable methodologies for 
establishing priorities or estimating costs. The National Park 
Service system included major construction and land acquisition 
projects in the maintenance backlog. The National Park 
Service's Denver Service Center is entirely too large and too 
expensive for the services provided. The Committee has 
addressed this issue in more detail under the National Park 
Service account.
    The Committee expects the Secretaries of the Interior and 
Agriculture and the four land management agencies to 
demonstrate dramatic improvements in this area in fiscal year 
1999. They also should attempt to standardize across agencies 
to the maximum extent practicable. This is an issue that cries 
out for management attention at the highest levels of the 
Departments and the agencies. The Committee will continue to 
monitor progress in this area and expects to see accurate, 
clear, complete and consistent explanations of needs in the 
fiscal year 2000 budget submissions. The Departments of the 
Interior and Agriculture need to demonstrate that they are 
spending the taxpayers dollars wisely and that they are 
exercising appropriate fiscal constraint in carrying out 
programs for, and financed by, the American public.

        Federal Land Highway Program Funding Support to Agencies

    The Committee is aware of the vast needs of the land 
management agencies under its jurisdiction. The Committee has 
placed strong emphasis on managing these resources and has 
consistently provided significant increases for backlog and 
other maintenance needs. The Committee notes that, in addition 
to the major increases provided by the Committee in this bill, 
the Congress has recently passed the Transportation Equity Act 
for the 21st Century. This Act will provide over $4 billion in 
additional funds for road construction and repair in the 
National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Indian Reservations, and 
other public lands through the year 2003.

                 Recreational Fee Demonstration Program

    The Committee continues to monitor closely the Recreational 
Fee Demonstration Program authorized in fiscal year 1996 and 
now fully operational. The Committee has recommended extending 
the period for an additional two years to accumulate more data 
and experience that will prove invaluable in constructing 
permanent fee reform legislation. An important lesson learned 
to date is that public acceptance changes over time, so 
extending the demonstration period is essential for gaining 
experience needed to construct permanent legislation. The 
Committee is pleased with the progress to date and the 
improving trend of agency performance and inter-agency 
collaboration. The program has already made a major impact on 
the ability of the National Park Service to tackle backlog 
maintenance needs and it offers promise for the other agencies 
in many locations. The Committee remains committed to using the 
new funds, in addition to continued annual appropriations, for 
backlog maintenance and other special needs. The Committee 
remains enthusiastic about experimentation with new approaches, 
especially the entrepreneurship displayed by the Forest 
Service. The demonstration projects have not all been 
successful, but we are learning that public acceptance of 
individual projects changes over time, so that additional time 
is needed to test the various methods of fee collections 
employed by the four agencies. In general, the public seems 
willing to pay fees when they know, and see, the on-the-ground 
results at the site where the fees are collected. Various 
benefits are being realized, as well documented in the January 
31, 1998 report to Congress by the Secretaries of the Interior 
and Agriculture. In addition to addressing deferred maintenance 
items, we are seeing substantial reductions in vandalism, 
increased public safety, wildfire reduction, and enhanced 
visitor experiences through a variety of visitor services that 
are now possible. The Committee encourages the agencies to 
increase interagency projects and to develop additional 
mechanisms to make the fee collection more ``seamless'' to the 
public.
    Each of the four agencies has had a slightly different 
experience. The program has had greatest fiscal impact on the 
National Park Service because of the preexisting infrastructure 
and design of park units for fee collecting. The National Park 
Service collected $45 million in fiscal year 1997 and 
anticipates revenue collections of $60 million during fiscal 
year 1998. Many deferred maintenance projects have already been 
accomplished and major parks have a reasonable expectation that 
they may finally be able to catch up with unmet needs 
accumulated over decades. The Forest Service has 89 fee 
demonstration projects as of June 1, 1998. During fiscal year 
1997, the Forest Service had 40 projects, which collected $8.7 
million; fiscal year 1998 collections are expected to approach 
$20 million. The fact that the collecting unit retains the 
majority of the funds collected is the single largest selling 
point with the public. Public acceptance also has improved as 
visible improvements are made with fee dollars and the public 
is becoming accustomed to paying for quality experiences on the 
National forests and grasslands. Fee dollars are being focused 
on long-term backlog maintenance problems and local 
enhancements, such as improved toilets, increased safety and 
fire patrols, interpretation, and road maintenance. Fiscal year 
1998 is the first full year when the Forest Service has a 
significant number of operating projects and will prove very 
enlightening in terms of the amounts of income generated, 
compliance levels, fee collection costs, fee expenditures, and 
public acceptance. The Bureau of Land Management approved 17 
fee sites and collected fees of $419,000 during fiscal year 
1997. In fiscal year 1998, BLM is approving an additional 19 
sites, for a total of 36, and expects to collect $2 million. 
The BLM is primarily allocating these additional funds to high 
priority backlog-maintenance needs. The principal lesson 
learned to date by the BLM is to work with local communities 
and users when determining the kinds of services desired and 
the corresponding fee charged. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service collected $622,000 at 61 sites in fiscal year 1997. In 
fiscal year 1998 the Service estimates collections totalling 
$3,300,000 at 71 sites.

                     Recreation on the Public Lands

    Public participation in recreation programs funded in this 
bill is an important and growing aspect of the land management 
agencies under the jurisdiction of this Committee. These 
agencies are responsible for the National Parks managed by the 
National Park Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System 
managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the 
Nation's public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, 
and our National Forests and Grasslands managed by the Forest 
Service. It is a little known fact that recreation in the 
National Forests exceeds that of the National Parks. The Forest 
Service manages over 190 million acres, has over 850 million 
visitors a year, and attracts 112 thousand volunteers. In 
fiscal year 1999, $211 million is recommend for the Forest 
Service's recreation programs. By contrast the National Park 
Service manages over 77 million acres, has about 278 million 
visitors, attracts 94 thousand volunteers, and uses $300 
million for recreation programs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service manages 94 million acres, has 30 million visitors 
annually, attracts 28 thousand volunteers, and has a recreation 
budget of $49 million. The Bureau of Land Management is the 
largest of the land management agencies with a land base of 264 
million acres. BLM has about 65 million visitors annually, 
attracts 17 thousand volunteers and has a recreation budget of 
$49 million. The Committee continues to place a high priority 
on maintaining these recreation programs, ensuring that the 
American public has safe and uplifting experiences on the 
Nation's public lands. The Committee is grateful to all the 
volunteers who are helping to make the public lands better 
places for the visiting public and for generations to come.

                       Women and Minority Hiring

    The Committee continues to support equal employment hiring 
practices in all the agencies covered by this bill. The 
Committee included sizable increases in the Department of the 
Interior budget several years ago to encourage greater 
sensitivity to the need for a diverse workforce. Those funds 
have remained in the base budget ever since. The Committee is 
concerned about the Department of the Interior's request for 
additional funds in fiscal year 1999 for a ``diversity 
initiative''. The Committee reminds the Department that the law 
prohibits discrimination and additional funding should not be 
required to enforce that law. The Committee is concerned that, 
too often, the emphasis on hiring minorities and women is 
placed on the equal employment opportunity, civil rights, and 
other administrative offices and not on other program offices. 
The Committee expects the Department to ensure that diversity 
extends to all offices and, just as program offices should be 
sensitive to hiring qualified women and minorities at all 
levels of program operations and management, administrative 
offices should also implement a balanced staffing strategy. 
Qualifications and demonstrated ability should always be the 
determining factors for any position. Management training 
should stress EEO responsibilities and every manager should be 
held accountable for complying with EEO policies. This should 
be an integral part of agency operations and not the subject of 
a special initiative.

                        American Heritage Rivers

    The Committee is aware that the Administration will soon 
designate ten rivers under the American Heritage Rivers 
initiative. The Appropriations Committee and the Resources 
Committee in the House have expressed concern that this 
initiative was established without proper authorization and 
oversight by the Congress.
    The Administration has informed the committee that this 
initiative has two purposes, (1) to formally recognize existing 
community grassroots river revitalization efforts, and (2) to 
coordinate and make available information on all existing 
Federal programs which currently offer assistance to these 
types of efforts. The Committee understands that projects will 
not be considered for designation if there is opposition from 
either private citizens, local, State or Federal elected 
officials.
    The Committee cautions the agencies, most particularly the 
National Park Service and the Forest Service, that these rivers 
must compete with all other areas requesting funds from 
existing programs which the Committee does not traditionally 
earmark, such as the River and Trails Conservation Assistance 
Program and Urban and the Community Forestry Program. The 
Committee understands that staff assigned as ``River 
Navigator'' will perform their normal duties in addition to 
this new function.
    The Committee directs each Federal agency funded in this 
bill that participates in this new initiative to report to the 
Committee by April 30, 1999 and September 1, 1999 on 
specifically what funds have been made available to each 
designated river and from which specific programs. The report 
should also include the specific staff assigned to be a ``River 
Navigator'' and what other duties they perform in addition to 
this new assignment.

                     Year 2000 Computer Conversion

    The Committee has become increasingly concerned with the 
cost and timing of ensuring that the Interior and Related 
Agencies information technology systems will be Year 2000 (Y2K) 
compliant. It is clear that the Federal cost of Year 2000 
compliance remains unknown. Except in a limited number of 
cases, the Committee is not convinced that agencies have been 
given the serious direction and management support needed to 
address fully the urgency of the Year 2000 issues. The 
Committee also is convinced that the Y2K issues are a 
management and not a technical problem. The Committee directs 
the agencies to ensure that the Year 2000 conversion efforts 
include the full inventory of both information technology and 
non-information systems in day-to-day agency operations. The 
non-information systems include mechanical systems in 
buildings, telephones, radios, and scientific instruments. Non-
information systems should be treated with as much urgency as 
the information systems.
    The Committee should be kept fully informed of the progress 
that each agency is making to solve the Y2K issues. A plan, for 
information technology and non-information systems, must be 
submitted by each agency on the GAO schedule. This plan and 
other relevant information can be the same information 
presented to GAO on a quarterly basis, unless a problem is 
identified in the interim that would be of interest to the 
Committee. If management has in fact underestimated the extent 
of the Y2K problem in its agency, the Committee must be 
informed immediately of the problem including a recommended 
solution.

                  TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

                       Bureau of Land Management

    The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for the 
multiple use management, protection, and development of a full 
range of natural resources, including minerals, timber, 
rangeland, fish and wildlife habitat, and wilderness on about 
264 million acres of the Nation's public lands and for 
management of 300 million additional acres of Federally-owned 
subsurface mineral rights. The Bureau is the second largest 
supplier of public outdoor recreation in the Western United 
States, with an estimated 65 million visits totaling 570 
million visitor hours of recreation use on the public lands 
under the Bureau's management.
    Under the multiple-use and ecosystem management concept the 
Bureau administers the grazing of approximately 4.3 million 
head of livestock on some 164 million acres of public land 
ranges, and manages over 43,000 wild horses and burros, some 
264 million acres of wildlife habitat, and over 150,000 miles 
of fisheries habitat. Grazing receipts are estimated to be 
about $15.2 million in fiscal year 1999, compared to an 
estimated $15.1 million in fiscal year 1998 and actual receipts 
of $15.0 million in fiscal year 1997. The Bureau also 
administers about 4 million acres of commercial forest lands 
through the ``Management of lands and resources'' and ``Oregon 
and California grant lands'' appropriations. Timber receipts 
(including salvage) are estimated to be $86.3 million in fiscal 
year 1999 compared to estimated receipts of $86.9 million in 
fiscal year 1998 and actual receipts of $87.0 million in fiscal 
year 1997. The Bureau has an active program of soil and 
watershed management on 175 million acres in the lower 48 
States and 92 million acres in Alaska. Practices such as 
revegetation, protective fencing, and water developments are 
designed to conserve, enhance, and develop public land, soil, 
and watershed resources. The Bureau is also responsible for 
fire protection on the public lands and on all Department of 
the Interior managed lands in Alaska, and for the suppression 
of wildfires on the public lands in Alaska and the western 
States.

                   management of lands and resources

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $582,082,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       660,310,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       596,425,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +14,343,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -63,885,000


    The Committee recommends $596,425,000 for management of 
lands and resources, an increase of $14,343,000 above the 
fiscal year 1998 level and a decrease of $63,885,000 below the 
budget request. As a result of significant budgetary 
constraints arising from the balanced budget agreement, no new 
funds have been provided for implementation of the Interior 
Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. Funding for the 
Escalante National Monument is maintained at the fiscal year 
1998 enacted level, the same as the request. Within the 
recommended amount the Committee has provided $1,500,000 for 
wildlife and fisheries, watershed, and other activities 
affecting Bureau lands for the National Fish and Wildlife 
Foundation to leverage funding with non-Federal partners for 
innovative on-the-ground projects. This funding level is the 
same as the 1998 level and the budget request. The Committee 
also has clarified the Foundation's bill language as requested 
by the Bureau.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    Land resources.--The Committee recommends $134,837,000 for 
land resources, a decrease of $18,118,000 below the budget 
request and an increase of $7,431,000 above the 1998 level, 
including increases above 1998 of $2,431,000 for fixed costs, 
$2,000,000 for the abandoned mine land program, $1,000,000 for 
riparian management, and $2,000,000 for the wild horse and 
burro program.
    The Committee remains concerned over the continued 
criticism associated with the operation of the wild horse and 
burro program. In response to this criticism, the Bureau has 
established a number of programmatic reviews designed to 
address operational shortcomings. The Committee has provided 
additional funds to allow the Bureau to begin implementing the 
various recommendations that 
have been made to fix this program, and to ensure that the 
Bureau will no longer need to come to the Committee with 
reprogramming requests that take scarce dollars away from other 
high priority programs and projects.
    Wildlife and fisheries.--The Committee recommends 
$30,788,000 for wildlife and fisheries, a decrease of 
$2,360,000 below the budget request and an increase of 
$1,760,000 above the 1998 level, including increases above 1998 
of $310,000 for fixed costs, $950,000 for wildlife management, 
and $500,000 for fisheries management.
    Within the funds provided for wildlife the Committee 
recommends that $100,000 be provided to hire an onsite manager 
to coordinate management at Otay Mountain with the Border 
Patrol, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 
San Diego, and other partners to help ensure all appropriate 
public safety and natural resource protection needs are met.
    Threatened and endangered species.--The Committee 
recommends $17,167,000 for threatened and endangered species 
including a decrease of $1,171,000 below the budget request and 
an increase of $172,000 above the 1998 level for fixed costs.
    Recreation management.--The Committee recommends 
$49,829,000 for recreation management, a decrease of $469,000 
below the budget request and an increase of $971,000 above the 
1998 level for fixed costs.
    The Committee is pleased with BLM's progress to date in 
implementing the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program. As noted 
in the beginning of this report, the Committee believes that 
more information is needed before this program is made 
permanent, and therefore, the program is being extended for an 
additional two years.
    The Committee recognizes the significance of the National 
trails managed by the BLM, and within the funds provided for 
recreation resource management, $100,000 is provided for the 
Iditarod National Historic Trail and $400,000 for the Anza, 
California, Lewis and Clark, Mormon Pioneer, Nez Perce, Oregon, 
and Pony Express National Historic Trails and the Pacific Crest 
and Continental Divide National Scenic Trails for their 
protection, management, and activities commemorating the 
sesquicentennial of the California Trail and bicentennial of 
the Lewis and Clark expedition.
    Energy and minerals (including Alaska minerals).--The 
Committee recommends $70,976,000 for energy and minerals 
including Alaska minerals, which is a decrease of $670,000 
below the budget request and $2,130,000 below the 1998 level, 
including an increase above 1998 of $670,000 for fixed costs, 
and decreases of $2,100,000 which reflects completion of the 
Environmental Impact Statement for the National Petroleum 
Reserve-Alaska and $700,000 for the Alaska Mineral Resources 
Library Information Consortium.
    Realty and ownership management.--The Committee recommends 
$69,542,000 for realty and ownership management, a decrease of 
$3,389,000 below the budget request and a decrease of 
$1,537,000 below the 1998 level, including an increase above 
1998 of $797,000 for fixed costs and a decrease of $2,334,000 
for Alaska conveyance as proposed by the Bureau.
    Resource protection and maintenance.--The Committee 
recommends $71,036,000 for resources protection and 
maintenance, a decrease of $3,326,000 below the budget request 
and an increase of $3,780,000 above the 1998 level, including 
increases above 1998 of $780,000 for fixed costs and $3,000,000 
for facilities maintenance.
    Because the Committee places such a high priority on 
Federal agencies maintaining their infrastructure, the 
Department of the Interior and its bureaus have begun to focus 
their attention on addressing the serious problems associated 
with the growing backlog of maintenance projects. The Committee 
feels so strongly about this issue, that even in the face of 
declining budgetary resources, the Committee recommends an 
increase that will allow the Bureau to begin to address its 
backlog maintenance needs.
    Automated land and mineral records system.--The Committee 
recommends $34,608,000 for the automated land and mineral 
records system, the same as the request and $1,647,000 above 
the 1998 level.
    Mining law administration.--The Committee recommends 
$32,650,000 for mining law administration, which is the same as 
the 1998 level. This activity is supported by offsetting fees 
equal to the amount made available in this bill. Language is 
included under the Bureau's administrative provisions 
reauthorizing the hard rock mining holding fee.
    In Title III--General Provisions, the Committee has 
continued a limitation on accepting and processing applications 
for patents and on the patenting of Federal land to claimants 
until mining law reform legislation is enacted. This language 
is identical to that carried in fiscal years 1997 and 1998.
    Workforce and organizational support.--The Committee 
recommends $117,642,000 for workforce and organizational 
support, a decrease of $1,110,000 below the budget request and 
an increase of $1,061,000 above the 1998 level including an 
increase above 1998 of $1,111,000 for fixed costs and a 
decrease of $50,000 for a program transfer proposed by the 
Bureau.
    The Committee continues to support and encourage the land 
management agencies to work with each other to consolidate 
activities at the field level as a means of achieving savings 
and providing improved services to the public. With this in 
mind, the Committee commends BLM and the Forest Service in 
Oregon for progress they have made in interagency cooperation. 
This includes the Central Oregon ``Trading Post'' initiative 
between the Prineville BLM district and the Ochoco and 
Deschutes National Forests. The Committee supports the proposed 
joint planning effort between the Fremont National Forest and 
the Lakeview BLM district. The Committee understands this 
cooperative effort would improve government planning 
efficiencies and would result in management plans for both 
agencies that better address common resource issues.
    The Committee commends the Bureau's efforts to leverage its 
funds with non-Federal partners through its challenge cost 
share (CCS) program. The Committee concurs with BLM's current 
policy of not using CCS funds for purposes other than 
establishing joint activities with tribal, State, and private 
partners. Because each Federal dollar available for cost 
sharing results in two or more dollars available for on-the-
ground activities, the Committee directs that a cap of 10 
percent be placed on allowable BLM internal charges against CCS 
funds. As a result, at least 90 percent of the funds 
appropriated for CCS shall be available for matching partners 
at the field level.
    The Committee recognizes the importance of the Kneeling Nun 
rock monolith in Grant County, New Mexico. The Committee also 
recognizes the economic importance of Grant County's largest 
employer, Chino Mines Company, and its adjacent mining 
operations. The Committee supports the ongoing Bureau of Land 
Management NEPA process that provides for regulatory and public 
review of the operating plans of Chino Mines Company, the land 
exchange between Chino Mines Company and the BLM, and the 
related measures proposed by Chino Mines Co., all intended to 
protect the Kneeling Nun.
    Other.--Language has been continued under General 
Provisions, Department of the Interior to provide lump sum 
payment severance pay and continued health benefits to 
separated Federal Helium Operation employees. These special 
benefits will help mitigate the effect of the planned 
reduction-in-force. In accordance with the Helium Privatization 
Act, any added costs associated with providing these benefits 
will be paid from available balances in the Helium Fund.

                        wildland fire management

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $280,103,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       298,353,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       286,895,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +6,792,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -11,458,000


    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $286,895,000 
for wildland fire management, which is an increase of 
$6,792,000 above the 1998 level and a decrease of $11,458,000 
below the budget request.
    The appropriation includes $156,895,000 for preparedness 
and fire use including $2,000,000 for fixed costs and a program 
increase of $792,000, and $130,000,000 for suppression 
activities. The Committee's recommendation funds Department of 
the Interior firefighting at approximately 80 percent of the 
Most Efficient Level (MEL) for preparedness. Bill language is 
included allowing for the transfer of unobligated balances from 
the old fire accounts to be merged into the current wildland 
fire account.
    The Committee was pleased to receive the Joint Fire Science 
Plan prepared by the Department of the Interior and the USDA-
Forest Service in response to the Committee's request in last 
year's report. The Plan accurately reflects the focus and 
priority the Committee has placed on developing scientific 
information and capabilities to support the fuels management 
programs in the two Departments. The Committee has included 
funding at the 1998 level for the Joint Fire Science Program in 
both the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service and 
looks forward to receiving progress reports from the Governing 
Board and program managers.
    The 1999 request for wildland fire reflects increased 
coordination and cooperation between the Department of the 
Interior and the Forest Service on several budget and program 
matters. The Committee urges the two Departments to continue to 
work closely together to develop common budget and program 
management approaches to wildland fire. In particular, the 
Committee expects that the requests for both preparedness and 
operations in the fiscal year 2000 budget will reflect common 
assumptions and budget strategies (such as percentage of MEL 
and percentage of ten-year average) for the two Departments.

                    central hazardous materials fund

    The Central Hazardous Materials Fund was established to 
include funding for remedial investigations/feasibility studies 
and cleanup of hazardous waste sites for which the Department 
of the Interior is liable pursuant to the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and 
includes sums recovered from or paid by a party as 
reimbursement for remedial action or response activities.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $12,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        10,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        10,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -2,000,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $10,000,000 for the central 
hazardous materials fund, which is the same as the budget 
request and $2,000,000 below the fiscal year 1998 level.

                              construction

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $5,091,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         4,175,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         6,975,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +1,884,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        +2,800,000


    The Committee recommends $6,975,000 for construction, an 
increase of $1,884,000 above the 1998 level and $2,800,000 
above the budget request.
    The Committee has provided an increase of $2,600,000 to 
initiate first year funding for construction of the National 
Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming. The 
total cost to the Federal government will be $5,000,000 with 
the State and local government contributing an equal amount.
    The Committee has provided an increase of $100,000 for 
repair and rehabilitation of the Amboy Creator campground, 
$100,000 for repair and rehabilitation of the Eastern Sierra 
Interagency Visitor Center both in California.

                       payments in lieu of taxes

    Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) provides for payments to 
local units of government containing certain Federally-owned 
lands. These payments are designed to supplement other Federal 
land receipt sharing payments local governments may be 
receiving. Payments received may be used by the recipients for 
any governmental purpose.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $120,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       120,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       120,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $120,000,000 for PILT, the same as 
the budget request and the 1998 level.

                            land acquisition

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $11,200,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        15,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        10,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -1,200,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -5,000,000


    The Committee recommends $10,000,000 for land acquisition, 
a decrease of $1,200,000 below the enacted level and $5,000,000 
below the fiscal year 1999 request. This amount includes 
$6,200,000 for line item projects, $800,000 for emergencies and 
hardships and $3,000,000 for acquisition management.
    The Committee recommends the following distribution of 
funds:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee    
                    Area and State                       recommendation 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cache Creek (CA).....................................           $500,000
Grand Mesa Slopes (CO)...............................            700,000
King Range NCA (CA)..................................          1,000,000
Lopez Island (WA)....................................          1,000,000
Otay Mountain/Kuchamaa HCP (CA)......................          1,000,000
Santa Rosa Mountains NSA (CA)........................          1,000,000
Upper Snake/South Fork Snake River (ID)..............          1,000,000
Emergency/Hardship/inholding.........................            800,000
Acquisition management...............................          3,000,000
                                                      ------------------
      Total..........................................         10,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   oregon and california grant lands

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $98,906,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        98,966,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        98,407,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          -499,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -559,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $98,407,000 for the Oregon and 
California grant lands, which is a decrease of $2,999,000 from 
the 1998 level excluding the 1998 rescission and a decrease of 
$559,000 from the budget request, including increases above 
1998 of $1,340,000 for fixed costs and $600,000 for facilities 
maintenance, and decreases of $1,939,000 in western Oregon 
resource management and $3,000,000 for jobs in the woods as 
proposed by the Administration. These funds are provided for 
construction and acquisition, operation and maintenance, and 
management activities on the revested lands in the 18 Oregon 
and California land grant counties of western Oregon.

               forest ecosystem health and recovery fund

                   (revolving fund, special account)

    The Committee has clarified language changes made in fiscal 
year 1998 that expanded BLM's flexibility to complete forest 
ecosystem health projects. This clarification notes that the 
Federal share of salvage receipts is that portion remaining 
after payments to counties.

                           range improvements

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $9,113,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        10,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        10,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          +887,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation of not 
less than $10,000,000 to be derived from public lands receipts 
and Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act lands grazing receipts. 
Receipts are used for construction, purchase, and maintenance 
of range improvements, such as seeding, fence construction, 
weed control, water development, fish and wildlife habitat 
improvement, and planning and design of these projects.

               service charges, deposits, and forfeitures

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $8,706,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         8,055,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         8,055,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          -651,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation of 
$8,055,000, the budget request, for service charges, deposits, 
and forfeitures. This account uses the revenues collected under 
specified sections of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 and other Acts to pay for reasonable administrative 
and other costs in connection with rights-of-way applications 
from the private sector, miscellaneous cost-recoverable realty 
cases, timber contract expenses, repair of damaged lands, the 
adopt-a-horse program, and the provision of copies of official 
public land documents.
    The Committee believes that funds received for the repair 
of damaged lands as provided for and described in this 
appropriation account includes funds collected for 
administrative, reclamation, resource value, liability and 
penalty costs. If the Department's Office of the Solicitor 
holds a different opinion regarding the collection and use of 
such funds, it should provide a formal written opinion 
summarizing the Department's position to the Committee by March 
1, 1999.

                       miscellaneous trust funds

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $8,800,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         8,800,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         8,800,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation of 
$8,800,000, the budget request, for miscellaneous trust funds. 
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 provides for 
the receipt and expenditure of moneys received as donations or 
gifts (section 307). Funds in this trust fund are derived from 
the administrative and survey costs paid by applicants for 
conveyance of omitted lands (lands fraudulently or erroneously 
omitted from original cadastral surveys), from advances for 
other types of surveys requested by individuals, and from 
contributions made by users of Federal rangelands. Amounts 
received from the sale of Alaska town lots are also available 
for expenses of sale and maintenance of townsites. Revenue from 
unsurveyed lands, and surveys of omitted lands, administrative 
costs of conveyance, and gifts and donations must be 
appropriated before it can be used.

                United States Fish and Wildlife Service

    The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to 
conserve, protect and enhance fish and wildlife and their 
habitats for the continuing benefit of people. The Service has 
responsibility for migratory birds, threatened and endangered 
species, certain marine mammals, and land under Service 
control.
    The Service manages nearly 94 million acres across the 
United States, encompassing a 514 unit National Wildlife Refuge 
System, additional wildlife and wetlands areas, and 65 National 
Fish Hatcheries. A network of law enforcement agents and port 
inspectors enforce Federal laws for the protection of fish and 
wildlife.

                          resource management

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $594,592,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       675,828,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       607,106,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +12,514,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -68,722,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table: 





    The Committee recommends $607,106,000 for resource 
management, a decrease of $68,722,000 below the budget request 
and an increase of $12,514,000 above the fiscal year 1998 
level. The Committee has provided full funding for fixed cost 
increases and has continued to provide increases above current 
year levels to address the Service's large operations and 
maintenance backlogs. As discussed in the front of this report, 
the Administration submitted a totally unrealistic budget 
proposal that exceeded the budget agreement by many billions of 
dollars. The Committee's recommendations for the Service 
provide several increases above the 1998 funding level and 
focus on taking care of Service property rather than on 
instituting many new programs. Changes to the budget request 
include decreases of $32,260,000 in ecological services, 
$9,622,000 for refuges and wildlife, $3,390,000 for fisheries, 
$1,450,000 for general administration and $22,000,000 which is 
transferred to the construction account to consolidate major 
bridge and road safety maintenance in that account.
    Ecological Services.--The Committee recommends $156,028,000 
for ecological services, a decrease of $32,260,000 below the 
budget request and an increase of $10,475,000 above the fiscal 
year 1998 level. Decreases to the budget request include 
$1,406,000 for candidate conservation, $1,215,000 for listing, 
$9,286,000 for consultation, $9,892,000 for recovery, 
$5,000,000 for the Endangered Species Act landowner incentive 
program (no new starts), $4,345,000 
for habitat conservation and $1,116,000 for environmental 
contaminants.
    Refuges and Wildlife.--The Committee recommends 
$292,803,000 for refuges and wildlife, a decrease of $9,622,000 
below the budget request and $18,203,000 above the fiscal year 
1998 level. Decreases to the budget request include $8,142,000 
for refuge operations and maintenance (of which $4,742,000 is 
from the operations request and $3,400,000 is from the 
maintenance request), $430,000 for law enforcement and 
$1,050,000 for migratory bird management. A total of $1,000,000 
is included to continue the Salton Sea recovery program at the 
1998 level, contingent on matching funds from the State of 
California.
    Fisheries.--The Committee recommends $71,912,000 for 
fisheries, a decrease of $3,390,000 below the budget request 
and an increase of $962,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. 
The decrease is for fish and wildlife management.
    Major Maintenance of Bridges and Roads.--The Committee 
recommends the transfer of $22,000,000 to the construction 
account to consolidate Service-wide major maintenance of 
bridges and roads in that account. Major maintenance includes 
projects which cost over $100,000.
    General Administration.--The Committee recommends 
$108,363,000 for general administration, a decrease of 
$1,450,000 below the budget request and an increase of 
$4,624,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. Decreases to the 
budget request include $300,000 for central office 
administration, $650,000 for regional office administration and 
$500,000 for international affairs.
    The Committee agrees to the following:
    1. The Administration should submit a legislative 
reauthorization proposal for the Endangered Species Act, which 
realistically addresses needed reforms.
    2. The Service should proceed apace with delistings and 
downlistings of species in the ESA program and should consider 
the concerns of the Resources Committee in the House when 
determining the distribution of ESA funding.
    3. The Service should make maximum use of the recreational 
fee demonstration program. In Title III--General Provisions, 
the Committee has recommended bill language to extend this 
pilot program for an additional two years--through the year 
2001.
    4. Within the increase provided for habitat conservation, 
$250,000 is to continue the coastal program at the 1998 level 
and is to be used for high priority restoration projects. These 
funds should remain in the base budget for fiscal year 2000 and 
beyond.
    5. Within the increase provided for habitat conservation, 
$100,000 is for population surveys of alligator snapping 
turtles and the Service should use the expertise of the 
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to conduct these 
surveys and to map turtles in Louisiana and other States.
    6. The increase above the base for refuge operations and 
maintenance is to be split equally between the refuge 
operations backlog and the refuge maintenance backlog. 
Operational increases should stress direct on-the-ground 
improvements.
    7. Reorganizations are subject to Committee approval 
through the reprogramming process. This includes 
reorganizations at the regional office level as well as at the 
headquarters or field levels.
    8. The Service should consider funding the Mississippi 
Alluvial Valley Habitat Project in the fiscal year 2000 budget.
    9. The Service should continue funding, at least at the 
fiscal year 1998 level, the Upper Colorado River Basin program, 
the Peregrine Fund, the Washington State ecosystem project and 
the regional fisheries enhancement program, Prebles Meadow 
Jumping Mouse work, the Caddo Lake Scholars Program, and the 
Chicago Wetlands Office. The Long Live the Kings salmon program 
should be funded at $300,000, of which $200,000 is for work on 
the Hamma Hamma River (Liliwaup facility) and for support for 
off-channel rearing habitat on the Wishkah River, and $100,000 
is for the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group for continuing 
wild salmon conservancy site activities.
    10. No funds are provided for the Southwest Initiative, the 
Clean Water Initiative, the Diversity Initiative or for a 
Pacific Southwest Regional Office. The Committee refers the 
Service to the discussion of Committee priorities as compared 
with the Administration's budget request and the discussion of 
women and minority hiring in the front of this report.
    11. The Pacific Northwest Forest Plan and the jobs in the 
woods program are to be continued at the fiscal year 1998 
funding level.
    12. The apparent population decline of the American eel 
(Anguilla rostrata) has resulted in growing concern by numerous 
State and Federal fishery resource agencies, conservation 
organizations and fisheries interests. Possible reasons for the 
decline of this species are over-harvesting, habitat 
modification, migration barriers and contamination. 
Unfortunately, the characteristics and life history of this 
species are not well documented or studied and, consequently, 
the American eel population along the Atlantic seaboard is 
poorly understood and may be heading for significant crisis. 
The Committee believes the Department of the Interior and the 
Service need to recognize the growing importance of this issue 
and place a higher priority on funding research in this area. 
The Committee encourages the Service, in coordination, as 
appropriate, with the Biological Resources Division of the USGS 
and other Federal, State and private partners, to conduct a 
comprehensive study of the status of the American eel and the 
causes of the apparent decline of the species, and to propose 
workable solutions to reverse this trend.
    13. The Committee expects the Service to coordinate to the 
maximum extent practicable with the Klamath Drainage District 
and the Tule Lake Irrigation District regarding operation of 
Service projects related to the irrigation and drainage 
functions of the districts. Funds for the Unit 13 project 
should be used to develop additional water storage within Unit 
13 for refuge purposes under new water rights. Funds for the 
Sump 1b project should be used to restore wetlands for refuge 
purposes and, in addition to any limitations under water rights 
that may exist or be acquired for Sump 1b, the project should 
not result in injury to water rights with a priority date prior 
to April 10, 1936. The Committee understands that these 
projects will not result in the imposition of additional costs 
on the Klamath Project water users.
    14. The Committee understands that substantial progress has 
been made in recovering the native greenback cutthroat trout in 
Colorado and elsewhere, and urges the Fish and Wildlife Service 
to place a priority on restoring the remaining populations 
needed to support delisting this species, using a portion of 
the funds provided for the ESA recovery program.
    15. The Committee is familiar with a collaborative program 
in Region 2 with other agencies, industry and the public to 
reduce mortality rates among migratory birds and other wildlife 
through increased compliance activities. This program has been 
implemented with great success on a small scale and the 
Committee urges the Service to consider expanding it to a 
larger area.
    16. The Service should provide law enforcement port of 
entry inspection services at Dulles International Airport in 
Virginia one day per week and should work with importers of 
wildlife and wildlife products to fund a full-time inspector at 
Dulles if the workload supports a full-time position.
    17. The Committee understands that the Service and the 
Colorado Department of Natural Resources are attempting to 
resolve shortcomings identified in a recent Inspector General 
report regarding properties acquired, in part, with Federal aid 
funds. The Committee urges the Service to continue to work with 
the State on this matter and to consider seriously the State's 
proposals for management of affected properties.
    Bill Language.--The Committee has included bill language, 
as requested by the Administration, capping the amount of 
funding available for certain ESA listing programs. The amount 
for fiscal year 1999 is $6,256,000.

                              construction

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $76,636,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        37,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        66,100,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -10,536,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       +29,100,000


    The Committee recommends $66,100,000 for construction, an 
increase of $29,100,000 above the fiscal year 1999 budget 
request and a decrease of $10,536,000 below the fiscal year 
1998 level.
    The Committee agrees to the following distribution of 
funds:

                                            [in thousands of dollars]                                           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Budget      Committee               
                  Project                            Description           request   recommendation   Difference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alligator River NWR, NC...................  Milltail Bridge.............        498            498   ...........
Atchafalaya NWR, LA.......................  Big Al #2 Bridge............        500            500   ...........
Bear River NWR, UT........................  Dikes, grassland habitat,     .........          2,000        +2,000
                                             education center.                                                  
Bitter Lake NWR, NM.......................  Replace 2 bridges...........        253            253   ...........
Carolina Sandhills NWR, SC................  Replace 2 bridges...........        536            536   ...........
Catahoula NWR, LA.........................  Shop building...............        300            300   ...........
Columbia NWR, WA..........................  Potholes Canal Bridge.......        450            450   ...........
Craig Brook NFH, ME.......................  Rehabilitation..............      3,300          3,300   ...........
Creston NFH, MT...........................  Jessup Mill Dam.............      2,200          2,200   ...........
Dexter NFH, NM............................  Phase III construction......  .........          2,000        +2,000
Erie NWR, PA..............................  Erie Dam No. 9..............      1,100          1,100   ...........
Hatchie NWR, TN...........................  Log Landing Slough Bridge...         66             66   ...........
Hatchie NWR, TN...........................  Windrow Loop/Bear Creek              83             83   ...........
                                             Bridge.                                                            
Iron River NFH, WI........................  Storage building............        825            825   ...........
Kenai NWR, AK.............................  Roads/intersections.........        250            250   ...........
Klamath Basin NWR, CA.....................  Water facilities............      3,600          2,500        -1,100
Lacassine NWR, LA.........................  Shop building...............        750            750   ...........
Laguna Atascosa NWR, TX...................  Bridge rehabilitation.......         55             55   ...........
Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR, TX...........  Bridge rehab. & replacement.        270            270   ...........
Madison WMD, SD...........................  Heating system, office              500            500   ...........
                                             rehabilitation.                                                    
Makah NFH, WA.............................  Salmon spawning structure...      2,570          2,570   ...........
Mammoth Spring NFH, AR....................  Pond structures.............        450            450   ...........
McKinney Lake NFH, NC.....................  McKinney Lake Dam...........        700            700   ...........
Mingo NWR, MO.............................  Replace bridges.............        702            702   ...........
National Blackfooted Ferret Conservation    Construction................      1,800          1,000          -800
 Center, CO.                                                                                                    
Okefenokee NWR, GA........................  Visitor's center renovation.  .........          1,000        +1,000
Orangeburg NFH, SC........................  Orangeburg Substation Dam...        700            700   ...........
Ridgefield NWR, WA........................  Shop building...............        450            450   ...........
Sabine NWR, LA............................  Boathouse...................        550            550   ...........
Sequoyah NWR, OK..........................  Bridge rehabilitation.......        160            160   ...........
Sequoyah NWR, OK..........................  Repairs and roads...........        575            575   ...........
Sherburne NWR, MN.........................  Shop buildings..............        945            945   ...........
Southeast Louisiana Refuges...............  Critical resource needs.....  .........          1,000        +1,000
Togiak NWR, AK............................  Fourplex residence..........      1,216          1,216   ...........
Welaka NFH, FL............................  Ponds & cache basins........        530            530   ...........
Wichita Mountains NWR, OK.................  Bridge rehab. & replacement.        220            220   ...........
Wichita Mountains NWR, OK.................  Grama Lake & Comanche Dams..      1,100          1,100   ...........
Wichita Mountains WR, OK..................  Roads.......................      1,564          1,564   ...........
Servicewide bridge & road safety repairs..  ............................  .........         25,000       +25,000
Servicewide bridge safety inspections.....  ............................        495            495   ...........
Servicewide dam safety inspections........  ............................        495            495   ...........
Construction management...................  ............................      6,242          6,242   ...........
                                                                         ---------------------------------------
      Totals..............................  ............................     37,000         66,100       +29,100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee agrees to the following:
    1. Funds for major (over $100,000) safety repairs to 
bridges and roads have been transferred from the resource 
management account to the construction account to consolidate 
those activities in the construction account. Also within this 
line item are funds to repair the seawall at Tern Island. The 
Service should work with the Department of Defense to minimize 
the supply and transportation costs of this project.
    2. Funds provided for Bear River NWR, UT include $1.5 
million for an education center, contingent on matching non-
Federal funds, and $500,000 for dike construction and grassland 
habitat restoration. Any future construction funding for the 
education center will be contingent on matching funds.
    3. The Service should provide the Committee with an 
explanation of the methodology it will use to distribute refuge 
road funding from the recently enacted Transportation Equity 
Act for the 21st Century. The Committee also asks that the 
Service provide a list each year of those projects to be funded 
through that authority. The Committee understands that the 
Bitter Lake NWR, NM loop road is the type of project that could 
qualify for the program.

                            land acquisition

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $62,632,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        60,500,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        30,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -32,632,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -30,500,000


    The Committee recommends $30,000,000 for land acquisition, 
a decrease of $32,632,000 below the enacted level and 
$30,500,000 below the fiscal year 1999 budget request. This 
amount includes $18,650,000 for line item projects, $1,000,000 
for inholdings, $1,000,000 for emergencies and hardships, 
$1,000,000 for exchanges and $8,350,000 for acquisition 
management.
    The Committee recommends the following distribution of 
funds:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee    
                    Area and State                       recommendation 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atchafalaya River Basin (LA Black Bear) (LA).........         $1,000,000
Back Bay NWR (VA)....................................          1,000,000
Bon Secour NWR (AL)..................................          1,000,000
Cypress Creek NWR (IL)...............................          1,000,000
Don Edwards NWR (Bair Island) (CA)...................          1,000,000
E.B. Forsythe NWR (NJ)...............................          1,000,000
Emiquon NWR (IL).....................................          1,000,000
Great Meadows NWR (MA)...............................          1,000,000
Lake Umbagog NWR (NH)................................          1,000,000
Lower Rio Grande NWR (TX)............................          1,000,000
Nisqually NWR (Black River) (WA).....................          1,000,000
Rappahannock River Valley NWR (VA)...................          1,000,000
San Diego NWR (CA)...................................          1,000,000
SE Louisiana Refuges (LA)............................          1,000,000
Silvio O. Conte NWR (MA).............................          1,000,000
Stewart McKinney NWR (CT)............................          1,000,000
Waccamaw NWR (SC)....................................          1,000,000
Wallkill NWR (NJ)....................................          1,000,000
Whittlesey Creek, NWR, WI............................            650,000
Emergencies/hardships................................          1,000,000
Inholdings...........................................          1,000,000
Exchanges............................................          1,000,000
Acquisition Management...............................          8,350,000
                                                      ------------------
      Total..........................................         30,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Within available funds, $200,000 is provided for the 
development of an environmental assessment and supporting 
management plan for the proposed Darby National Wildlife Refuge 
in Ohio. In implementing the planning process, the Service 
should consider all available options and methods within its 
authority to cooperate with traditional agriculture interests 
in the area and minimize the long term loss or transition of 
agricultural land to other uses. Acquisition would be on a 
willing seller or donor basis and will not include the use of 
eminent domain unless requested by the property owner to 
determine land value. The Service's management plan should 
recognize the protection and management of agricultural lands 
as a component of watershed biodiversity.

            cooperative endangered species conservation fund

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $14,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        17,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        15,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +1,000,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -2,000,000


    The Committee recommends $15,000,000 for the cooperative 
endangered species conservation fund, a decrease of $2,000,000 
below the budget request and an increase of $1,000,000 above 
the fiscal year 1998 level. The decrease is for habitat 
conservation plan land acquisition. The recommended amount 
provides a total of $7,000,000 for HCP land acquisition, which 
is $1,000,000 more than the current funding level.

                     National wildlife refuge fund

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $10,779,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        10,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        10,779,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          +779,000


    Committee recommends $10,779,000 for the National wildlife 
refuge fund, an increase of $779,000 above the budget request 
and equal to the fiscal year 1998 funding level.
    Through this program the Service makes payments to counties 
in which Service lands are located based on their fair market 
value. Payments to counties will be $17,714,000 in fiscal year 
1999 with $10,779,000 derived from this appropriation and 
$6,935,000 from net refuge receipts estimated to be collected 
in fiscal year 1998.

               north american wetlands conservation fund

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $11,700,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        14,700,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        12,700,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +1,000,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -2,000,000


    The Committee recommends $12,700,000 for the North American 
wetlands conservation fund, a decrease of $2,000,000 below the 
budget request and an increase of $1,000,000 above the fiscal 
year 1998 level. Decreases include $1,962,000 in habitat 
management and $38,000 in administration.
    The Committee encourages the Service to enter into 
agreements with private landowners in South Louisiana to 
provide technical assistance in managing lands for migratory 
waterfowl and shorebird habitat protection. Such partnerships 
would be cost-shared by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife 
and Fisheries and other entities.

              wildlife conservation and appreciation fund

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................          $800,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................           800,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................           800,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $800,000 for the wildlife 
conservation and appreciation fund, equal to the budget request 
and the fiscal year 1998 level.

                multinational species conservation fund

    This new account combines funding for the former rewards 
and operations (African elephant) account, the former 
rhinoceros and tiger conservation account and a new Asian 
elephant program.
    The African Elephant Act of 1988 established a fund for 
assisting nations and organizations involved with conservation 
of African elephants. The Service provides grants to African 
Nations and to qualified organizations and individuals to 
protect and manage critical populations of these elephants.
    The Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 
authorized programs to enhance compliance with the Convention 
on International Trade in Endangered Species and U.S. or 
foreign laws prohibiting the taking or trade of rhinoceros, 
tigers or their habitat.
    The Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 authorized a 
grant program, similar to the African elephant program, to 
enable cooperators from regional and range country agencies and 
organizations to address Asian elephant conservation problems. 
The world's surviving populations of wild Asian elephants are 
found in 13 south and southeastern Asian countries.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................                 0
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        $2,400,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         2,400,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +2,400,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $2,400,000 for the multinational 
species conservation fund, equal to the budget request and an 
increase of $1,000,000 above the amounts provided in fiscal 
year 1998 for the rewards and operations account (African 
elephant) and the rhinoceros and tiger conservation fund 
account. The recommended funding includes $1,000,000 for 
African elephant conservation, $500,000 for rhinoceros and 
tiger conservation and $900,000 for Asian elephant 
conservation. The Committee expects these funds to be matched 
by non-Federal funding to leverage private contributions to the 
maximum extent possible.

                         National Park Service

                 operation of the National park system

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................    $1,234,004,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................     1,320,828,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................     1,333,328,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +99,324,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       +12,500,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table: 





    The Committee recommends $1,333,328,000 for operation of 
the National Park system for fiscal year 1999, an increase of 
$99,324,000 above the enacted level and $12,500,000 above the 
Administration's request. The Committee continues to consider 
operational shortfalls and backlog maintenance to be its 
highest priorities and has focused the increases in these two 
areas.
    The bill provides $12,149,000, an increase of $5,359,000 
above the budget request for the special park need program. 
These funds are provided for both new and existing units that 
have an immediate need for operational increases for high 
priority resources protection, visitor service shortfalls, 
health and safety maintenance and providing staff for newly 
created units. The Committee also has provided an additional 
$60,000,000 above the enacted level for maintenance repair and 
rehabilitation projects. Also included is $24,503,000 for all 
fixed costs, including pay increases for fiscal year 1999. 
Details regarding these and other changes to the fiscal year 
1998 level are described later in this section.
    The Committee continues to provide increases for the South 
Florida Restoration effort. Included in the bill is $20,903,000 
for operations, $12,000,000 for research, $14,000,000 for the 
modified delivery water project and $20,000,000 to purchase 
land in the Everglades National Park. Nearly $350,000,000 has 
been provided for land acquisition by the Congress over the 
past three years. Additional funds will be considered when the 
unobligated balances are reduced. The Secretary is directed to 
submit a comprehensive acquisition plan for non-Federal lands 
by March 31, 1999, which clearly identifies priority parcels 
and a rationale as to why those parcels are critical to the 
restoration effort. The Committee expects these priorities to 
represent a consensus of opinion among the primary partners. 
The Committee strongly supports a matching requirement for 
Federal grants to the State on a one-to-one basis.
    The Committee has also provided increases for collections 
cataloging, technical communications upgrades, air quality 
monitoring, inventory and monitoring and historic structures 
stabilization work. It is imperative that the National Park 
Service commit itself to establishing current baseline data 
including sound scientific information which is not only 
required under the Government Performance and Results Act but 
essential in order to protect its natural, cultural and 
historic resources.
    Establishing and maintaining records of park resources and 
their condition has never been a priority for the Service. This 
was evident from the fiscal year 1999 budget's performance 
standards, which state the need to establish baselines of 
information for nearly every category. The Committee does not 
feel that this is an issue of lack of funding but a lack of 
commitment by the National Park Service leadership to make this 
a high priority for superintendents. Baseline data are critical 
to ensure the protection of the resources and to ensure that 
policy is consistently applied. An example of the need for 
current scientific data is the situation that has been 
developing in Yellowstone National Park concerning the 
potential threat that increased snowmobile use is having on the 
air quality and wildlife. Having the ability to demonstrate 
scientifically a threat to the resource hopefully will lead to 
speedier, more environmentally sensitive, resolutions to these 
problems.
    The Committee did not fund many of the new initiatives and 
program expansions contained in the President's budget for the 
National Park Service. The Committee will continue to focus all 
increases on operational shortfalls and backlog maintenance 
needs until significant progress has been made. The increases 
provided since fiscal year 1996 and those contained in this 
bill coupled with the projected $400 million in fees collected 
through the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program initiated by 
the Committee will have a dramatic affect on these shortfalls 
over the next few years.
    The Congress has recently passed the Transportation Equity 
Act for the 21st Century which more than doubles the yearly 
amount available to the National Park Service under the Federal 
Lands Highway Program to repair roads throughout the System. 
Under this bill, $940 million will be available through fiscal 
year 2003. This amount will allow the National Park Service to 
make a sizable reduction in the estimated $2 billion road 
maintenance backlog. The Committee directs the Service to 
provide the remaining balance in fiscal year 1999 to complete 
the U.S. Highway 27 bypass around the Chickamauga-Chattanooga 
National Military Park and has provided $600,000 for needed 
road repairs within the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
    Construction Reform.--The Committee has for many years 
expressed serious concern over the management of the National 
Park Service line item construction program, and in particular, 
about the poor performance of the Denver Service Center (DSC) 
in achieving cost effective results in the planning, design, 
and execution of park construction projects. In fiscal year 
1994, the Committee requested a review of the Service 
construction program with the objective of improving the 
management control, prioritization and accountability for the 
line item projects. The report elaborated on the deficiencies 
of the National Park Service construction program, including 
the lack of full consideration of alternative design solutions, 
lack of independent review to validate project justifications, 
lack of cost benefit and value engineering analyses to support 
design cost trade-offs and lack of a clear accountability 
mechanism resulting from the division of responsibilities 
during different phases of the projects. Recent studies by the 
General Accounting Office and the Inspector General of the 
Department of the Interior also have been critical of Service 
construction practices that lead to excessive project costs, 
such as the $797,000 restrooms at the Delaware Water Gap NRA 
and employee housing units that ranged in cost from $390,000 to 
$584,000, which were considerably above local market rates for 
single family homes. The fiscal year 1998 Interior 
Appropriations Conference Report directed the Secretary of the 
Interior to appoint an independent review committee, a majority 
of whose members should come from outside the NPS, to review 
the construction practices of the Service with primary emphasis 
on the role of the Denver Service Center. The Committee has 
received an interim report from the National Academy of Public 
Administration (NAPA) which is conducting this review, which 
confirms the findings of the cited prior studies on the 
management inadequacies of the NPS construction program. The 
NAPA report explicitly identified construction practices such 
as: custom designs as opposed to the use of standard designs; 
use of expensive equipment and materials in an attempt to 
achieve ``maintenance-free'' facilities; and extensive use of 
civil service employees in construction supervision and 
inspection as major causes of the excessive costs. The findings 
also criticized the NPS for weak management controls and lack 
of personal accountability on projects.
    Consistent with these findings, the Committee feels 
compelled to take significant actions to improve the management 
and implementation of the NPS line item construction program by 
realigning the appropriation accounts to eliminate the 
construction appropriation as the funding source for the 
operation of the Denver Service Center. The Committee has long 
felt that reliance on the ``line item'' account to support the 
Denver personnel assigned to plan, design and supervise 
construction projects does not provide incentives to reduce 
costs and save money. The Committee is shifting the funding 
source for the Denver Service Center personnel to the 
appropriation for Operation of the National Park System 
consistent with the normal funding practice for the rest of the 
Service. Specifically, the Committee has provided a line item 
total of $12.5 million to fund the salaries and related 
expenses of the Denver Service Center personnel. This funding 
is required to accomplish pre-design activities in support of 
the line item construction projects and the design efforts 
related to a limited number of projects designated specifically 
by the Director of NPS in order to retain in-house design 
competence (not to exceed ten percent of total project funding 
provided in the annual appropriation), and the effort necessary 
to support General Management Plans. The Committee anticipates 
that the above amounts combined with the funding the DSC 
typically receives from other sources will enable the DSC to 
maintain a staffing level of 50 percent of the current FTE 
levels. In addition, the Committee directs the Service to 
continue to identify separately the Denver Service Center 
budget requirements in the operations account in future budget 
submissions.
    This action, together with budget reductions applied to the 
planning and line-item construction accounts, reflect the 
Committee's intent that the design, construction management and 
project construction will be performed largely by the private 
sector. This will reduce substantially the funding requirements 
for planning, construction supervision and contingency compared 
to past budgets. In the fiscal year 1999 NPS construction 
appropriation, the Committee has provided funds based on 
application of the construction cost factors presented in the 
NAPA analysis. These factors as used generally by other 
government agencies in contracting for construction projects 
are: design: ten percent of net construction cost; Construction 
Supervision and Inspection: eight percent of net construction 
costs; and Contingency: ten percent of net construction costs. 
The implementation of these charges will result in reductions 
in the personnel requirements at Denver Service Center due to 
reorientation of its primary role from design and construction 
supervision to project formulation, pre-design activities and 
management of outside firms providing professional services.
    In order to improve the Headquarters' general management 
and oversight of the construction program, the Committee urges 
the Director of the NPS to fill expeditiously the now vacant 
position of Associate Director of Professional Services in 
which he has placed responsibility for coordination of the line 
item construction program. In addition, the Committee urges the 
Director to augment the Associate Director's staff with a small 
staff of experienced construction professionals to provide the 
capability to monitor and evaluate the conduct of the line item 
construction programs. As part of this management emphasis, the 
NPS should implement fully a formal project management and 
control system that will provide status on each line item 
project scope, funds, and schedule with mandatory monthly 
reports to Headquarters and the responsible Regional Director. 
To clarify further the responsibility for each line item 
construction project, the ``Project Agreement Document'' should 
clearly identify the specific park superintendent at the unit 
as the individual with sole accountability for successful 
execution of the project. The Regional Director should be 
responsible for approving projects within the jurisdiction of 
the region and for ensuring that the superintendent has 
adequate capability and support to carry out the project and 
that the project is implemented consistent with new 
construction cost factors. In addition, the Director of the 
National park service shall make cost-effective construction, 
as specified in this report, a key element of the individual 
park superintendent's performance evaluation.
    In order to provide a further safeguard against overdesign 
and excessive costs, the Secretary of the Interior, together 
with the NPS Director, should establish a special review group 
consisting of five knowledgeable and experienced persons from 
outside the NPS and the Federal government to examine the 
proposed line item projects at the end of the preliminary 
design phase and report on their functional suitability and 
cost effectiveness.
    Within sixty days following House passage of the fiscal 
year 1999 appropriations bill, the Department of the Interior 
shall report to the Committee on the detailed implementation of 
the changes in the NPS line item construction program as set 
forth in this report and the recommendations of the NAPA study. 
The implementation plan should include an assessment of all 
projects currently underway related to the support requirements 
of the Denver Service Center. The implementation plan should 
provide justification of the size of the personnel complement 
at Denver related to the planned workload by project and DSC 
functional organization. This plan should display the phase-
down necessary to reach the core level required to support a 
line item construction program conforming to the goal of 
contracting with the private sector for project design and 
construction management. The Committee expects that the NPS 
will apply funds available from the current unobligated 
balances to cover transition expenses, including those 
associated with completion of projects underway and any special 
one-time personnel costs.
    The plan also should address the significant shortfalls in 
planning expertise in certain regions. As downsizing occurs at 
the Denver Service Center, serious consideration should be 
given to filling current vacancies in these regions.
    For fiscal year 1999, the workload assumptions for the DSC 
should be correlated with the planned allocation by fund 
source. In addition, the plan should contain a detailed 
description of a service-wide formal project management control 
system with the targeted effective date. The Committee 
anticipates that the Service will need to initiate immediately 
special training for superintendents and other line managers 
involved in the construction program to improve their knowledge 
and capability to manage construction contracts. This training 
should focus upon the various phases of projects and the park 
superintendent's role and responsibilities during these phases. 
The Committee directs that this training be considered a top 
priority for fiscal 1999 funding and that some of the other 
training as specified in the fiscal year 1999 budget 
justification be delayed in order to accommodate this need. The 
Committee directs the NPS to submit a new list of fiscal year 
1999 training by September 1, 1998, for congressional review 
and approval. In addition, the Denver Service Center should 
focus special attention on improving its cost estimating and 
overall contract services capabilities, in particular, its 
ability to assess market conditions and the conduct of pre-
award surveys.
    To help facilitate this plan, the Committee has provided 
the authority in Title I, Sec. 116 of the bill for the 
Department to offer buy-outs through December 31, 1998, lump 
sum employee severance pay and payment of the Federal 
Government's share of health insurance premiums. Bill language 
also is included under this account which clearly states that 
no funds other than the specific new line item under operations 
of the National Park system for the Denver Service Center may 
be used to pay salaries and expenses for the Center.
    The Committee is concerned that general management plans 
and statements for management have become unrealistic documents 
which tend to include expensive ``wish list'' projects which 
may not be essential to the central mission of the unit. The 
Service, as part of the reforms being instituted for the Denver 
Service Center, should give careful thought to the contents of 
these documents as new plans are created and existing plans are 
updated. The Committee discourages expensive, overdesigned 
visitor centers or non-essential structures and cautions the 
Service about costly partnership projects which may serve the 
non-Federal partner's desires to a greater extent than the 
park's needs. The Committee directs the Service to develop a 
new National policy regarding general management plans as part 
of the Denver Service Center reform implementation.
    Employee Housing.--The Committee has expressed concern in 
the past about the cost of employee housing, which is being 
addressed with the reforms mandated for the Denver Service 
Center in fiscal year 1999. A related issue which deserves as 
much attention is the lack of a National strategy for dealing 
with the park housing problem. As a result of direction from 
the Resources and the Appropriations Committees last year, the 
Service has hired a consultant to conduct a comprehensive 
condition and needs assessment at all units. The Committee 
understands that the housing component of the study will be 
completed by October 1, 1998. An inventory and condition 
assessment of existing structures is also underway.
    These reports should lead to a clear and manageable 
National housing policy which includes a complete inventory of 
existing housing and new requirements in priority order of 
need. It should incorporate value analysis, the adoption of 
standardized designs and a clear commitment to locate and use 
private sector housing whenever possible. The Committee 
strongly encourages the Service to avoid building housing 
inside the park when afforable housing is located within a 
reasonable distance from the park unit. The Committee expects 
detailed status reports in December 1998 and April 1999 on the 
progress of this effort.
    The Committee does not intend to provide funds for new 
housing until the Service has complied fully with these 
directives. At that time, prior approval from the House and 
Senate Appropriations Committees will be required for any new 
housing built in National Park units.
    The Committee has provided the Service with over $160 
million for new housing in the last ten years. Because the 
Service had no assessement of housing needs by park, no policy 
that was enforced and no cost effective construction program to 
ensure that funds were managed effectively, little progress has 
been made to solve a very serious problem. The Committee 
encourages the Service to respond as quickly as possible to 
develop and implement a reasonable, cost effective program.
    Year 2000 Conversion.--The Committee has left the base 
funding but has not provided the increase contained in the 
budget request which deals with the year 2000 computer 
conversion problem. However, the Congress has included 
$2,250,000,000 in the fiscal year 1999 Treasury, Postal 
Appropriations Bill to deal with this problem on a government-
wide basis. These funds are contingent on the transmission of a 
budget request by the President to Congress and the entire 
amount is designated as an emergency requirement under the 
provisions of section 251 (b)(A) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. The 
Committee will consider the additional needs of the Service at 
the time this additional request is submitted.
    Other.--The Committee held an oversight hearing on the 
existing backlog maintenance system used by the Federal land 
management agencies. The testimony by the General Accounting 
Office and the Inspector General for the Interior Department 
disclosed that the Service's estimates were not reliable, that 
the lists not only contained legitimate backlog repair and 
rehabilitation projects but $1.2 billion for new facilities 
construction. The Committee directs the Service to submit a 
report by January 15, 1999 on the status of the Service's 
efforts to address these problems.
    The Committee is very supportive of the Service's business 
plan initiative, begun last year in four units of the system. 
This effort, which is being bolstered by funding from the 
National Parks and Conservation Association, the Kendall 
Foundation and other private sources, hopefully will result in 
a standardized business plan document that all parks will use 
to demonstrate more accurately how appropriated and other funds 
are used by the parks. The Committee expects the Service to 
make this a high priority and directs the Service to provide a 
report to the Committee by April 1, 1999 on the progress that 
has been made to date and on plans to expand this effort to 
more units by the end of fiscal year 1999.
    The Committee directs the Park Service to provide $200,000 
from within available funds to support the German-American 
Cultural Center including full-time staff support and support 
services. This is the last year that funds will be provided for 
this purpose.
    The Committee continues to be concerned about the number of 
days that the Newfound Gap Road in the Great Smoky Mountains 
National Park is closed to vehicular traffic. This road is a 
vital link between North Carolina and Tennessee and the two 
most heavily visited areas within the park. The Committee 
provided this park with a $943,000 increase in fiscal year 
1997, and further provided an additional $400,000 in fiscal 
year 1998. This total increase of $1,343,000 was in addition to 
fixed cost increases provided to the Great Smoky Mountains 
National Park for such expenses as employee cost-of-living 
adjustments and utility costs. According to park officials, 
however, only $70,000 was expended on Newfound Gap Road winter 
road operations in fiscal year 1998. The Committee expects the 
Service to provide a higher level of maintenance for this road 
with an ultimate goal of keeping it open 365 days per year. The 
Committee will seriously consider any reprogramming request to 
provide additional funds for this purpose.
    The Committee is concerned that non-native species are 
causing serious damage to native plants and soils within the 
boundaries of the White Sands National Monument. The National 
Park Service needs to move expeditiously to come up with an 
environmentally sound plan to prevent further damage to the 
monument. Every available method should be considered to remove 
the non-native species from the monument site. The Committee 
requests that the National Park Service present Congress with a 
progress report on the establishment of a National Cave and 
Karst Research Institute at Carlsbad, New Mexico no later than 
February 15, 1999. This report should identify a working 
partner in the Institute, a timetable, budget requirements and 
commitments made by the non-Federal partner.
    The Committee directs that within available funds the 
Service shall provide funding to initiate a General Management 
Plan for the newly established Washita Battlefield National 
Historic Site in western Oklahoma as well as a Special Resource 
Study for the Battle of Homestead and Carrie Furnace sites in 
Pennsylvania.
    The Committee is aware of a community based proposal to 
recognize and commemorate the heroic achievements and 
significant contributions of the Appalachian coal miners in 
Harlan County, Kentucky. The Committee directs the Service to 
assist local government and private sector efforts, in 
cooperation with regional, State and Federal officials, to 
identify and implement a full-range of public and private 
alternatives which can be used permanently to recognize, 
commemorate, restore and interpret the cultural and historical 
significance of coal mining in Kentucky. The Service is to 
provide the necessary funds and technical assistance through 
the River, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, the 
Special Resource Studies Program, or other appropriate existing 
recreation, historic and cultural programs. The Service should 
provide an interim report to the Committee on the status of 
this effort by June 1, 1999.
    The C.A. Thayer is one of the two remaining examples of the 
historic ships which were involved in West Coast lumber trade 
at the turn of the century. The 1895 wooden sailing ship has 
reached a point of almost irreversible decline in recent years 
and has not been given priority attention by the Park Service. 
The Service should provide the Committee with a report by April 
30, 1999 which details the exact condition of the historic 
ship, its ranking in the line item construction program, the 
estimated amount needed to stabilize the vessel and the 
potential for private cost sharing.
    Within the Interpretation and Education Program, a one-time 
amount of $65,000 is provided, within available funds, for the 
Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run Park to support and 
stimulate educational programs which foster public 
understanding and appreciation of the importance of agriculture 
in the development of American society. These programs involve 
active public participation in the rudimentary operation and 
life style of an 18th century farm.
    The Committee encourages the Service to conclude its 
negotiations with the Fairfax County Park Authority regarding 
the operation of the Belle Haven Marina. In the event that 
these negotiations do not yield a final agreement, the Service 
shall provide to the Committee, no later than December 1, 1998, 
a plan for correcting marina health and safety deficiencies. If 
the Service contemplates converting the site to day use, the 
Committee would expect continuation of the sailing school as 
well as improvements to the boat ramp and parking. No funds may 
be used to alter the marina use without appropriate public 
involvement as defined by the National Environmental Policy 
Act.
    The Committee recognizes the importance of increasing 
recreational access to the Potomac River, particularly for non-
motorized uses, including rowing. Arlington County has long 
been interested in constructing a boathouse for use by high 
school students and local residents. This interest is evidenced 
by citizens in Arlington County approving a bond referendum 
authorizing $1 million for construction of a boathouse to serve 
area residents. The National Park Service, National Capital 
Region is the lead federal agency involved in the location of 
the proposed boathouse. In order to narrow the remaining site 
options for a proposed boathouse in Arlington County, the 
committee directs the National Park Service to complete a study 
of sites in Arlington County, including Columbia Island and 
Theodore Roosevelt Island, to determine the feasibility of 
constructing a boathouse at either of these locations, and to 
recommend which site is the preferred alternative. The Park 
Service should work in collaboration with interested parties, 
including Arlington County officials and the Arlington 
Boathouse Foundation, in preparing this report which should be 
submitted to the Committee by January 1999.
    In light of the continued reports of excessive construction 
costs incurred by the National Park Service, and specifically 
the Denver Service Center, the managers direct the Department 
of the Interior to proceed with funds appropriated in fiscal 
year 1998 for the Fisher Peak Music Center on the Blue Ridge 
Parkway without the administration of the Denver Service 
Center. These funds are to be administered directly by the Blue 
Ridge Parkway or a responsible third party such as the National 
Council for the Traditional Arts. None of these funds may be 
used to construct or operate a visitors center.
    Bill Language.--The Committee has included bill language 
under Operation of the National Park System that directs that 
$600,000 become immediately available to the Mojave National 
Preserve to hire mineral examiners. The Committee is concerned 
that the directive contained in report language in the fiscal 
year 1998 bill has been largely ignored.
    Language also is included in Section 115 of Title I, which 
States that the Park Service is prohibited from implementing 
any reduced entrance fee program to accommodate non-local 
recreational passage through units in the System. Current 
authority permits the Service to provide for local non-
recreational passage through the units of the system.
    Section 328 in Title III contains language that extends the 
Recreational Fee Demonstration Program another two years, 
expiring on September 30, 2001.
    The Committee has included bill language in section 118 of 
Title I which permanently designates the 37 mile River Valley 
Trail that spans the entire Pennsylvania side of the Delaware 
Water Gap National Recreation Area from the town of Delaware 
Gap to the edge of Milford, Pennsylvania as the Joseph M. 
McDade Trail. The Committee directs the National Park Service 
to install new signs as soon as the bill becomes law.
    Resource stewardship.--The Committee recommends 
$228,790,000, an increase of $7,678,000 above the enacted level 
and $863,000 above the fiscal year 1999 budget request. 
Included in this amount are increases above 1998 of $3,110,000 
for the special need parks initiative, $2,000,000 for inventory 
and monitoring and $2,968,000 for uncontrollable expenses. The 
Committee accepts the proposed reduction of $400,000 for the 
Presidio Trust transfer. The following increases were not 
provided: $249,000 for the South Florida Task Force and 
$500,000 for the Museum Property Program. Within available 
funds, $400,000 has been allocated for continued support of 
heritage preservation public education and training.
    Visitor services.--The Committee recommends $301,663,000, 
an increase of $10,243,000 above the enacted level and a 
decrease of $11,000 below the fiscal year 1999 request. The 
references to the fiscal year 1998 level do not include 
$12,000,000 provided in the D.C. Appropriations Act for the 
Park Police.
    Included in this amount are increases above 1998 of 
$3,832,000 for the special need parks initiative, $400,000 for 
overflight management, $2,000,000 for Risk Management, $500,000 
for law enforcement background checks and $6,028,000 for 
uncontrollable expenses. The recommendation also includes the 
base adjustments for employee safety and workers compensation 
from park support ($320,000) and maintenance ($103,000). The 
Committee accepts the proposed reduction of $2,600,000 for the 
Presidio Trust transfer and a reduction of $340,000 for one-
time lease costs at Katmai NP & P from the fiscal year 1998 
supplemental appropriations. The $1,500,000 for Concessions was 
not provided.
    Maintenance.--The Committee recommends $447,159,000, an 
increase of $63,571,000 above the enacted level and $1,543,000 
above the fiscal year 1999 request. Included in this amount are 
increases above 1998 of $4,376,000 for the special need parks 
initiative, $60,000,000 for repair and rehabilitation projects 
and $6,298,000 for uncontrollable expenses. The Committee 
accepts the proposed reduction of $7,000,000 for the Presidio 
Trust transfer as well as the base adjustment ($103,000) to 
visitor services.
    Within the $60,000,000 increase for maintenance, repair and 
rehabilitation, $400,000 is for safety and accessibility needs 
at the Lincoln Home, $50,000 is for rehabilitation work at the 
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and $425,000 is provided to 
Stones River Battlefield for debris removal, repairs to 
exhibits and to complete the trail project, and $300,000 for 
emergency repairs to the Wolpack and Pahaquarry Bridges in the 
Delaware Water Gap NRA.
    Park Support.--The Committee recommends $238,128,000, a 
decrease of $2,213,000 below the enacted level and a decrease 
of $2,395,000 below the fiscal year 1999 request. Included in 
this amount are increases above 1998 of $831,000 for the 
special need parks initiative, $150,000 for the AFS II Windows 
conversion, $375,000 for the Accountability Management 
Information System, $100,000 for the GPRA study and $3,634,000 
for uncontrollable expenses. The Committee accepts the proposed 
reductions of $1,250,000 from the Workforce Restructuring Act, 
$625,000 from the Property System Conversion, $95,000 for the 
Year 2000 Conversion Accounting System, $4,913,000 for the 
Presidio Trust, and $100,000 for the German-American Center 
Rehabilitation. The Committee agrees to the base adjustment of 
$320,000 to visitor services. The following increases were not 
provided: $760,000 for the Year 2000 Conversion, $450,000 for 
Employee Database and Cultural Diversity Recruitment and 
$900,000 for Electronic Records Management.
    Denver Service Center.--The Committee recommends base 
funding of $12,500,000 to support the Denver Service Center. 
This is a new line item, which the Committee expects to see in 
future budget submissions. Specific details on this item are 
found in the section entitled ``Construction Reform'' under 
Operations of the National Park system.
    External Administrative Costs.--The Committee recommends 
$105,088,000, an increase of $7,545,000 above the enacted and 
the same as the fiscal year 1999 budget request. Included in 
this amount are increases above 1998 of $200,000 for the 
Acquisition System Implementation (IDEAS), $1,000,000 for GSA 
space, $770,000 for the FTS-2000 telephone charges and 
$5,575,000 for uncontrollable expenses. There were no proposed 
decreases.

                  National recreation and preservation

    The National recreation and preservation appropriation 
provides for the outdoor recreation planning, preservation of 
cultural and National heritage resources, technical assistance 
to Federal, State and local agencies, administration of 
Historic Preservation Fund grants and statutory and contractual 
aid.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $44,259,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        46,575,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        41,939,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -2,320,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -4,636,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    Recreation programs.--The Committee recommends $506,000, 
the same as the enacted level and a $9,000 decrease below the 
fiscal year 1999 request.
    Natural programs.--The Committee recommends $8,984,000, the 
same as the enacted level and a $3,104,000 reduction below the 
fiscal year 1999 request. The Committee has not provided the 
$3,000,000 request for an urban park and open space initiative. 
The Committee has included specific guidance on the American 
Heritage Rivers program in the front of the report.
    Cultural programs.--The Committee recommends $18,899,000, 
the same as the enacted level and a $157,000 reduction below 
the fiscal year 1999 request.
    International Park Affairs.--The Committee recommends 
$1,658,000, the same as the enacted level and a $13,000 
reduction below the fiscal year 1999 request.
    Environmental and compliance review.--The Committee 
recommends $350,000, the same as the enacted level and a $8,000 
reduction below the fiscal year 1999 request.
    Grant Administration.--The Committee recommends $1,715,000, 
the same as the enacted level and a $36,000 reduction below the 
fiscal year 1999 request.
    Heritage Partnership Programs.--The Committee recommends 
$5,350,000 for fiscal year 1999. Included in this amount is 
$4,500,000 for Commissions, and $850,000 for technical 
assistance. Information received by the Committee indicates 
that three of these areas have progressed further in their 
planning and are, therefore, ready to receive and match the 
highest annual authorized amount. Accordingly, the Essex 
National Heritage Area, the Ohio and Erie Canal National 
Heritage Corridor, and the Steel Industry Heritage project are 
to receive the maximum allowable authorized amount in fiscal 
year 1999. The Service is to distribute the balance to the 
remaining six heritage areas based on an assessment of the 
proposals received from the areas. The Committee directs the 
Service to provide an assessment report in April and September 
of 1999 which describes the status of each project and the 
allocation of funds. The Service is reminded that it only has 
Congressional authorization to work on the areas specified in 
the Omnibus Parks Act of 1996 and funded by Congress.
    Statutory or contractual aid.--The Committee recommends 
$4,477,000 for this account, a decrease of $2,320,000 below the 
enacted level and $300,000 below the fiscal year 1999 budget 
request. The Committee has provided an additional $264,000 to 
fund planning activities associated with the development of a 
new structure at Independence NHP in accordance with National 
Park Service pre-construction guidelines.
    Urban Parks and Recreation Fund.--The Committee has not 
provided the $2,000,000 to restart the Urban Park program. All 
available increases are being focused on reducing the 
operational shortfalls and backlog maintenance of the Park 
units.

                       historic preservation fund

    The Historic Preservation Fund supports the State historic 
preservation offices to perform a variety of functions, 
including: State management and administration of existing 
grant obligations, review and advice on Federal projects and 
actions, determinations, and nominations to the National 
Register, Tax Act certifications and technical preservation 
services. The States also review properties within States to 
develop data for planning use.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $40,812,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       100,612,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        40,812,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -59,800,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $40,812,000, the same as the 
enacted level and a reduction of $59,800,000 below the fiscal 
year 1999 budget request. This amount includes funding for 
grants-in-aid to the States and Indian tribes as well as 
support for historically black colleges and universities. The 
Committee provided funds in fiscal year 1998 and directed the 
Service to conduct an onsite inspection and assessment of all 
the historically black college and university buildings 
authorized in the 1996 Omnibus Parks Act. This assessment has 
been recently completed and ranks the buildings according to 
actual need. The Committee is providing an additional 
$3,500,000 to the existing base, and recommends that the 
Service allocate these funds solely on the results of the new 
assessment. As in the past, the funds will require a 50 percent 
match of non-Federal funds.
    Although funding has not been provided at this time for the 
Millennium Initiative, the Committee feels that there is 
substantial merit in funding cultural backlog projects of the 
National Park Service and it is particularly timely to consider 
this on the eve of the new millennium. The Committee will 
continue to keep this priority in mind as the bill progresses 
through the fiscal year 1999 process.
    The Committee is aware that there has been much discussion 
in recent months over the city of Cape May's status as a 
National Historical Landmark, as designated by the National 
Park Service in 1976. It is the clear understanding of the 
Committee that no basis for de-designation of this status 
currently exists. The Committee commends the efforts of 
property owners and municipal leaders in Cape May for 
preserving the town's rich historical legacy. The Service is 
presently undertaking an evaluation of historic district 
boundaries within the town itself, in full consultation with 
Cape May municipal and historic preservation officials. The 
Committee encourages this cooperative effort between the NPS 
and the city of Cape May in the interest of preventing any 
future loss of historic sites.
    Bill language is included under this account that permits 
the Service to recover and retain all costs of providing 
services associated with the historic preservation tax 
certification.

                              construction

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $222,769,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       175,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       149,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -73,769,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -26,000,000


    The Committee recommends the following distribution of 
funds:

        Project                                                   Amount
Accokeek Foundation, MD (rehabilitation environmental 
    facilities).........................................        $300,000
Adams NHS, MA (repair/rehab. inadequate work space--
    Carriage House).....................................       1,724,000
Blackstone River Valley NHC, MA, RI, CN (exhibits)......         750,000
Blue Ridge Parkway, VA (repair Peaks of Otter Dam)......         200,000
Boston African-American NHS, MD (rehabilitate African 
    Meeting House)......................................       1,398,000
Brown v. Board of Education, KS (rehabilitation)........       6,200,000
Canaveral NS, FL (Seminole Rest)........................         800,000
Cuyahoga Valley NRA, OH (repair & rehabilitation).......       4,470,000
Dayton Aviation NHP, OH (complete Hoover Block).........       1,600,000
Delaware Water Gap NRA, PA (repair Egypt Mill & Pickerel 
    Dams)...............................................         840,000
Delaware Water Gap NRA, PA (trail)......................       3,500,000
Delaware Water Gap NRA, PA (Zimmermann House)...........       1,000,000
Eisenhower NHS, PA (fire protection for historic 
    structures).........................................       1,310,000
Ellis Island, NY (stabilization)........................       3,000,000
Everglades NP, FL (modify water delivery system)........      14,000,000
FDR Home/Vanderbilt NHS, NY (rehabilitation)............       3,000,000
Fort McHenry NM&HS, MD (rehabilitate historic fort 
    walls)..............................................         600,000
Fort Point NHS, CA (repair earthquake damage & repoint 
    brickwork)..........................................       2,158,000
Gateway NRA, NY (rehabilitate failing utilities--Floyd 
    Bennett Field)......................................       5,690,000
Gateway NRA, NY (rehabilitate Sandy Hook Lighthouse)....         884,000
George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA (bike trail).....         300,000
Gettysburg NMP, PA (water and sewer)....................       1,700,000
Glacier Bay NP&P, AK (rehabilitate inadequate utilities 
    at Bartlett Cove)...................................       3,988,000
Glen Canyon NRA, AZ (improve Lake Powell water quality & 
    visitor facilities).................................       2,040,000
Golden Gate NRA, CA (structure rehabilitation of 
    Alcatraz Cell House)................................       5,580,000
Guadalupe Mts. NP, TX (replace water tanks).............         900,000
Independence NHP, PA (redevelopment of Independence 
    Mall)...............................................       3,500,000
Jean Lafitte NHP&P, LA (rehabilitation).................       2,000,000
Jimmy Carter NHS, GA (restore boyhood home site)........       1,435,000
Lake Mead NRA, NV (replace inadequate water treatment--
    Nevada sites).......................................       8,550,000
Lake Mead NRA, NV (replace inadequate water treatment-
    Boulder Beach)......................................       1,342,000
Minute Man NHP, MA (provide safe visitor access along 
    Battle Road Trail)..................................       1,200,000
Minute Man NHP, MA (rehabilitate unsafe historic 
    residences).........................................       1,619,000
Perry's Victory & IPM, OH (rehabilitation)..............       1,700,000
Sequoia NP, CA (remove facilities and restore Giant 
    Forest).............................................       6,000,000
Shenandoah NP, VA (rehabilitate inadequate utility 
    systems)............................................       4,980,000
Shiloh NMP, TN (stop riverbank erosion).................       2,000,000
Sotterley Plantation , MD (restoration).................         600,000
Southwest Pennsylvania Heritage Comm., PA 
    (rehabilitation)....................................       1,700,000
Stones River NB, TN (exhibits)..........................         300,000
Ulysses S. Grant Historic Site, MO (rehabilitation).....       1,000,000
Women's Right NHP, NY (trail study).....................         100,000
Yellowstone NP, WY (sewer replacement)..................         500,000
Zion NP, UT (implement Visitor Transportation System)...       3,640,000
      Project Total.....................................     110,098,000
Emergency/unscheduled housing...........................      15,000,000
Planning................................................       8,500,000
Equipment Replacement...................................      15,402,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Grand Total.......................................     149,000,000

    The Committee recommends $149,000,000 for construction 
activities, a decrease of $73,769,000 below the enacted level 
and $26,000,000 below the fiscal year 1999 request. The 
reduction of $12,800,000 for construction planning reflects the 
major reforms recommended under NPS operations including a 50% 
downsizing of the Denver Service Center staff and shifting to 
line item budgeting for the remaining FTEs. Previously, the 
staff salaries were paid out of a portion of each construction 
project as well as funds provided for planning and general 
management plans. The Committee has provided funds in this bill 
solely for these purposes. General Management Plans will now be 
funded under the operations account from the line item amount 
provided for the Service Center. A more comprehensive 
description of these reforms can be found in the section 
entitled Construction Reform under park operations.
    The Committee commends the Service on its recent budget 
submission for construction. The Service has recognized the 
priority this Committee has placed on serious backlog 
maintenance by prioritizing its request into separate 
categories for health and safety, on-going projects and 
resource protection. The Committee has responded by funding all 
of the critical health and safety and most of the other 
projects. This funding, coupled with the estimated $400 million 
to be collected over the next several years through the 
Recreational Fee Demonstration program should allow the Service 
to reduce greatly the backlog maintenance needs of the parks. 
The Committee has also extended the life of the Fee Program for 
another two years as specified in Title III, Section 328 of 
this bill.
    Although not included in the President's request, the 
Committee has provided $6,200,000 for rehabilitation of the 
Brown vs. Board of Education site so that the project will be 
complete in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic 
U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The Committee has provided $300,000 
to the Accokeek Foundation, which provides many interpretive 
educational programs at Piscataway Park. These funds will be 
matched with State funds to help upgrade the existing 
infrastructure and install new signage and exhibits. This 
amount completes the Federal commitment.
    Included in the bill is $750,000 to continue projects 
associated with the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage 
Area and $800,000 for initial site work at Canaveral National 
Seashore (Seminole Rest). These funds are for limited 
interpretive trails, exhibits, visitor parking and modest 
restroom facilities only.
    The Committee recommends $4,470,000 for repair and 
rehabilitation projects at the Cuyahoga Valley National 
Recreation Area and $1,600,000 to complete work on the Dayton 
Aviation National Historical Park's Hoover Block project. A 
total of $3,500,000 is provided to continue work on a trail 
through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 
$1,000,000 for the Zimmerman House and $3,000,000 is available 
to continue rehabilitation work at the FDR National Historic 
Site.
    The Committee has provided $3,000,000 for emergency 
stabilization work at Ellis Island in response to a recent Park 
Service report. Also included is $300,000 for ongoing repairs 
on the George Washington Memorial Parkway bike path, $1,700,000 
for water and sewer repairs at the Gettysburg National Military 
Park and $900,000 to replace water tanks at the Guadalupe 
Mountains National Park which has been cited for health and 
safety problems. Additional funds of $2,000,000 are for the 
Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve to complete 
rehabilitation work on a visitor building damaged by Formosan 
termite infestation.
    The Committee has provided $1,700,000 for rehabilitation 
work at Perry's Victory and $600,000 to be matched with State 
funding for Sotterley Plantation. This amount completes the 
project. Additional funds of $1,700,000 are provided to the 
Southwest Pennsylvania Heritage Commission for rehabilitation 
projects, $300,000 for new exhibits and signage at Stones River 
National Battlefield and $100,000 is to initiate a trail study 
at Women's Rights National Park. Also provided is $500,000 to 
initiate a sewer replacement project at Yellowstone National 
Park that has been cited for health and safety violations. The 
Committee expects further funding for this project to be 
included in the fiscal year 2000 budget.
    In light of the additional funds provided to the Service 
through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, the 
Committee expects the Park Service to provide the funding to 
complete the bypass around the Chickamauga and Chattanooga 
National Military Park in fiscal year 1999, provide $600,000 
for road repairs in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and 
fund the Staple Bend Tunnel in Pennsylvania.
    Within available planning funds, the Service is directed to 
provide $215,000 to the Apostle Island National Seashore for 
the rehabilitation of historic lighthouses.
    Bill language is included in this account which prohibits 
the Denver Service Center from levying an assessment against 
any specific construction project to pay for salaries and 
expenses. Section 316 of Title III of the bill continues the 
limitation for the planning, design and construction of any 
visitor center or other permanent structure in excess of 
$500,000, using recreational fee collections, without prior 
approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.

                    Land and Water Conservation Fund

                              (Rescission)

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      -$30,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       -30,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       -30,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends the rescission of $30,000,000 in 
annual contract authority provided by 16 U.S.C. 460l-10a. This 
authority has not been used in years and there are no plans to 
use it in fiscal year 1999.

                 land acquisition and state assistance

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $143,290,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       138,087,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        69,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -74,290,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -69,087,000


    The Committee recommends $69,000,000 for land acquisition, 
a decrease of $74,290,000 below the enacted level and 
$69,087,000 below the fiscal year 1999 budget request. This 
amount includes $55,875,000 for line item projects, $3,000,000 
for emergencies and hardships, $1,125,000 for inholdings and 
exchanges and $8,500,000 for acquisition management.
    The Committee recommends the following distribution of 
funds:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee    
                    Area and State                       recommendation 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acadia NP (ME).......................................         $1,000,000
Antietam NB (MD).....................................          1,000,000
Appalachian Trail (multi)............................          8,100,000
Chattahoochee River NRA (GA).........................         15,000,000
Cuyahoga Valley NRA (OH).............................          1,000,000
Everglades NP (FL)...................................         20,000,000
Gettysburg NMP (PA)..................................          1,000,000
Indiana Dunes NL (IN)................................          1,000,000
Jean Lafitte NHP (LA)................................          1,000,000
Morristown NHP (NJ)..................................            925,000
Palo Alto Battlefield NHS (CA).......................          1,000,000
Rocky Mountain NP (Kemp Property) (CO)...............            250,000
Saguaro NP (AZ)......................................          1,000,000
Santa Monica Mountains NRA (CA)......................          1,000,000
Sleeping Bear Dunes NL (MI)..........................          1,000,000
Stones River NB (TN).................................          1,100,000
Voyageurs NP (MN)....................................            500,000
Emergencies/hardships................................          3,000,000
Inholdings and Exchanges.............................          1,125,000
Land Acquisition Administration......................          8,500,000
State Grants Administration..........................            500,000
                                                      ------------------
      Total..........................................         69,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The $8,100,000 provided in addition to the $7,000,000 
provided under the Forest Service acquisition account, 
completes the 2,118 mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The 
Committee has provided $15,000,000 for the Chattahoochee River 
National Recreation Area and expects to provide the balance of 
$10,000,000 by the end of fiscal year 1998. These funds are 
being matched with $65,000,000 in private funds and other non-
federal funds to enhance recreational use and improve water 
quality.
    The Committee has provided $1,000,000 to help complete the 
Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area, contingent on an equal match from non-Federal 
sources specifically for acquisition for the Backbone Trail. 
The Committee has provided $20,000,000 to be used exclusively 
for the purchase of Federal lands within the boundary of the 
Everglades National Park.
    The Committee directs the National Park Service to give 
priority to acquiring inholdings within Rocky Mountain National 
Park from willing sellers and to continue to work toward 
acquisition of inholdings in Dinosaur National Monument.

                    United States Geological Survey

    The United States Geological Survey was established by an 
Act of Congress on March 3, 1879 to provide a permanent Federal 
agency to conduct the systematic and scientific 
``classification of the public lands, and examination of the 
geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the 
National domain''. The USGS is the Federal Government's largest 
earth-science research agency, the Nation's largest civilian 
mapmaking agency, and the primary source of data on the 
Nation's surface and ground water resources. Its activities 
include conducting detailed assessments of the energy and 
mineral potential of the Nation's land and offshore areas; 
investigating and issuing warnings of earthquakes, volcanic 
eruptions, landslides, and other geologic and hydrologic 
hazards; research on the geologic structure of the Nation; 
studies of the geologic features, structure, processes, and 
history of other planets of our solar system; topographic 
surveys of the Nation and preparation of topographic and 
thematic maps and related cartographic products; development 
and production of digital cartographic data bases and products; 
collection on a routine basis of data on the quantity, quality, 
and use of surface and ground water; research in hydraulics and 
hydrology; the coordination of all Federal water data 
acquisition; the scientific understanding and technologies 
needed to support the sound management and conservation of our 
Nation's biological resources; and the application of remotely 
sensed data to the development of new cartographic, geologic, 
and hydrologic research techniques for natural resources 
planning and management.

                 surveys, investigations, and research

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $760,358,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       806,883,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       774,838,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +14,480,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -32,045,000


    The Committee recommends $774,838,000 for surveys, 
investigations, and research, an increase of $14,480,000 above 
the 1998 level and $32,045,000 below the budget request.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    National mapping program.--The Committee recommends 
$138,998,000 for the National mapping program, a decrease of 
$12,791,000 below the budget request and an increase of 
$3,213,000 above the 1998 level, including increases above 1998 
of $1,213,000 for fixed costs and $2,000,000 for satellite data 
archiving. Within the recommendation the Committee has provided 
$3,000,000 for the Gateway to the Future--Ohio pilot.
    The Committee recognizes and commends the significant 
progress made by USGS in increasing its contracting of map and 
digital data production. As a result of the Committee's 
direction, the contracting for map and digital data production 
now exceeds 50 percent of the funding available for these 
functions.
    In its report accompanying the fiscal year 1996 
appropriations bill for the U.S. Geological Survey, the 
Committee directed the Survey to ``. . . work within the 
Department to identify options for consolidating Federal 
mapping functions at the Department of the Interior and work 
with the Office of Management and Budget on consolidating these 
functions government-wide.'' The Department, with the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) acting as executive agent for the BLM, 
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), 
and the National Ocean Service (NOS), commissioned a study to 
be undertaken by the National Academy of Public Administration 
to provide recommendations on how best to implement the 
direction of the Congress. With the approval of the Committee, 
the study by the Academy addressed the broader concerns about 
the existence, structure, and funding levels for Federal 
surveying and mapping functions under the umbrella of 
Geographic Information (GI) Services, thereby covering the 
entire range of services that have evolved in the geospatial 
arena. USGS is clearly the lead agency both within the 
Department, and among Federal, 
State and local agencies and the private sector. The Committee 
endorses the idea of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure 
(NSDI) and expects the Survey to expand the partnerships and 
cooperation with State and local governments and the private 
sector to create an NSDI. USGS should also continue to work 
within the Federal Geographic Data Committee to define better 
Federal agency roles and responsibilities for NSDI, including 
coordinated goals, performance measures, strategies, and 
budgets. Resources should be identified detailing how to meet 
these goals to ensure that the NSDI is developed and 
maintained. The Survey is to provide periodic reports to the 
Committee on the status of GI activities and the implementation 
of NSDI, including issues related to resource needs and 
availability
    Geologic hazards, resources and processes.--The Committee 
recommends $235,604,000 for geologic hazards resources, an 
increase $1,811,000 above the budget request and an increase of 
$429,000 above the 1998 level, including an increase above 1998 
of $2,429,000 for fixed costs and a decrease of $2,000,000 for 
the minerals at risk program. Within the recommendation, the 
Committee directs the USGS to continue the National cooperative 
geologic mapping program and the coastal and marine geology 
program at the 1998 level, and does not agree to the proposed 
general reduction of $1,000,000 in energy resources.
    The Committee believes that the Administration's proposed 
Disaster Information Network (DIN) shows some merit in that it 
would help create a single source of disaster information 
readily available to a wide range of users. The Survey has a 
critical role in providing disaster related information for 
specific hazards, such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods. 
However, the government-wide integration of disaster 
information is not the Survey's primary role. The Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, with direct responsibility over 
disaster response, is the more appropriate umbrella agency for 
this proposal, not the Survey. The Committee believes that the 
Survey's highest hazards-related priority should be to continue 
to upgrade its various hazards monitoring networks to acquire 
quality hazards information. In this light, the Committee urges 
the Survey to refine its proposal for a real time hazards 
initiative. By March 31, 1999, the Survey should provide a 
comprehensive report to the Committee detailing the resource 
requirements for a Survey-wide real time hazards initiative.
    The Committee is aware that the U.S. Geological Survey is 
jointly involved with the Washington State Department of 
Ecology in an ongoing five-year coastal erosion study of the 
Southwest coast of Washington State, the primary objective of 
which is to develop an increased understanding of the coastal 
processes, geological forces, and human impacts which have 
contributed to shoreline changes along the specified coastal 
area of the State. The Committee is concerned that the Survey 
needs to better inform the affected local coastal communities 
on the progress and objectives of the ongoing study, and should 
make every effort possible to seek local participation in 
planning matters related to the Southwest Washington Coastal 
Erosion Study.
    Water resources investigations.--The Committee recommends 
$200,707,000 for water resources assessments and research, a 
decrease of $13,480,000 below the budget request and an 
increase of $5,825,000 above the 1998 level, including 
increases above 1998 of $2,525,000 for fixed costs, $1,500,000 
for the National water quality assessment program, $1,000,000 
for the Federal/State cooperative program, $300,000 for hypoxia 
in the Gulf of Mexico and subsidence in Louisiana, and $500,000 
for the Water Resources Research Institutes.
    The Committee has not provided any funds for the 
Administration's so called clean water initiative, which from 
the Committee's perspective is mostly a repackaging of existing 
programs that have been funded and supported by the Congress. 
The increased funding level for the National Water Quality 
Assessment (NAWQA) program is to put this high-priority program 
back on track in terms of study units. Once again, the 
Committee instructs the Survey that in the future no 
significant departure from the original design of NAWQA be 
presented unless a National Academy review is available to 
substantiate the need for such a modification.
    The Committee notes that funding for the ground water 
research program has declined from more than $15,000,000 in the 
mid-eighties to $3,100,000 in the Administration's fiscal year 
1999 budget request, yet ground water issues for water managers 
continue to grow in importance in many parts of the country. 
The Committee directs that by November 30, 1998, the Survey 
provide a report on the current status of ground water 
activities and on any plans for addressing the future needs of 
water management agencies for USGS ground water data and 
scientific assessments.
    The Committee has noted the steady decline in the number of 
streamgaging stations in the past decade, while the need for 
streamflow data for flood forecasting and long-term water 
management uses continues to grow. The Committee requests that 
by November 30, 1998 the Survey provide a report describing the 
goals and current status of the streamgaging network and an 
evaluation of the ability of the network to meet its goals.
    The Committee has provided $5,057,000 for the Water 
Resources Research Institutes. The Committee directs that 
$1,000,000 of these funds will be used to support 1:1 matching 
grants to be awarded competitively for research addressing 
regional problems and for which research priorities are to be 
developed jointly by the Institutes and the Survey. The 
remainder of the grant funds are to be allocated among the 
Institutes. The Survey shall ensure that funds allocated to 
each institute support a State-wide competitive program of 
research, education, and information and technology transfer, 
and that the program be developed in close collaboration with 
the Institute's State advisory panel. The amount recommended by 
the Committee is about the same as in fiscal year 1998 and the 
division between grants and program administration should be 
the same as in fiscal year 1998.
    The Committee recommends a total of $500,000 for high-
priority research to address the serious problems of hypoxia in 
the Gulf of Mexico and subsidence in Louisiana.
    Biological research.--The Committee recommends $150,871,000 
for biological research, a decrease of $7,441,000 below the 
budget request and an increase of $5,712,000 above the 1998 
level, including increases above 1998 of $1,712,000 for fixed 
costs, $1,000,000 for the cooperative research units, 
$2,000,000 for Federal lands research, and $1,000,000 for 
incinerator replacement at the National Wildlife Health Center.
    The Committee recognizes the growing need for high priority 
on-the-ground research for the National Park Service, Fish and 
Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management. The Committee 
has provided additional resources to meet the growing demand 
for sound science on which to base resource management 
decisions. The Committee is concerned that the bureaus in the 
Department have not been working with the Biological Research 
Division to address their scientific needs. The Committee 
strongly encourages all of the bureaus to use the Biological 
Resources Division in carrying out the scientific 
responsibilities within their jurisdiction.
    It has come to the attention of the Committee that a large 
number of vacancies exist at many of the cooperative research 
units, and that the lack of adequate staffing is having a 
serious impact on the cooperative units ability to provide 
timely and quality research. Therefore, the Committee directs 
the Survey to use the additional resources provided to the 
cooperative research units to fill as many positions as 
possible, and should consider filling the position at the New 
Mexico State University Wildlife Research unit.
    The Committee understands that the Survey is considering a 
cooperative agreement between the Lime Hollow Nature Center and 
the Tunison Laboratory. The Committee expects the Survey to 
cooperate with the Lime Hollow Nature Center that has been 
providing year-round environment, education, and recreation 
opportunities to the public.
    The Committee is concerned about the lack of available 
resources at the Center for Coastal Geology to address high-
priority interdisciplinary research efforts. The Committee 
supports the team approach that integrates all of the Survey's 
programs into one interdisciplinary science program designed to 
address major societal problems. This approach should reduce 
costs and allow the Survey to devote a greater proportion of 
its budget to the Center. The Survey should report back to the 
Committee by January 31, 1999 on what actions it will take to 
address this resource allocation issue within the context of 
the fiscal year 2000 budget submission.
    General administration.--The Committee recommends 
$27,174,000 for general administration, a decrease of $119,000 
below the budget request and an increase of $1,590,000 above 
the 1998 level for fixed costs.
    Facilities.--The Committee recommends $21,484,000 for 
facilities, a decrease of $25,000 below the budget request and 
a decrease of $1,091,000 below the 1998 level, including an 
increase above 1998 of $26,000 for fixed costs and a decrease 
of $1,117,000 as proposed by the Survey.

                      Minerals Management Service

    The Minerals Management Service is responsible for 
collecting, distributing, accounting and auditing revenues from 
mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands. In fiscal year 
1999, MMS expects to collect and distribute about $5.5 billion 
from more than 72,000 active Federal and Indian leases. In 
addition, about $75 million in unpaid and underpaid royalties 
are expected to be collected through the MMS audit and 
negotiated settlement programs.
    The MMS also manages the offshore energy and mineral 
resources on the Nation's Outer Continental Shelf. To date, the 
OCS program has been focused primarily on oil and gas leasing. 
Over the past few years, MMS has begun exploring the possible 
development of other marine mineral resources, especially sand 
and gravel.
    With the passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, MMS 
assumed increased responsibility for oil spill research, 
including the promotion of increased oil spill response 
capabilities, and for oil spill financial responsibility 
certifications of offshore platforms and pipelines.

                royalty and offshore minerals management

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $144,196,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       122,402,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       116,402,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -27,794,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -6,000,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $116,402,000 for royalty and 
offshore minerals management, a decrease of $6,000,000 below 
the budget request and $27,794,000 below the 1998 level. The 
Committee recommendation includes increases above 1998 in 
royalty management of $4,155,000 and $8,131,000 in OCS lands. 
These increases are more than offset by the use of an 
additional $35,000,000 in excess receipts in the OCS lands 
activity which decreases the appropriation for that program.
    The Committee recommends $5,000,000 to begin implementation 
of the Royalty Management Program reengineering project. This 
is 
the first phase of a multi-year effort that will provide 
benefits to the Federal government, States, and Indian tribes 
through reduced program costs and improved program operations. 
In addition, the simplified reporting schemes envisioned in the 
reengineering effort are expected to save the minerals industry 
millions of dollars through reduced reporting burden.
    The current 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Program 
is the most limited leasing program ever approved by the 
Secretary. Given this narrowing of the acreage offered for 
lease and the fact that U.S. oil imports now exceed 50 percent 
of domestic consumption, it is even more important that the MMS 
conduct the lease sales proposed in the program on schedule. 
The MMS should also minimize any further block deletions to the 
maximum extent practicable, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico 
which is undergoing a renaissance and offers the best hope the 
Nation has to stem the decline in domestic oil production. The 
entire Central and Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Areas are 
highly prospective hydrocarbon basins, and any further block 
deletions in these two planning areas should be based on sound 
science.
    The Committee continues to have reservations regarding the 
Minerals Management Service's (MMS) proposed crude oil 
valuation rulemaking. Because of these concerns, the Committee 
expects to receive a written report no later than August 30, 
1998, detailing how MMS is dealing with the following issues: 
(1) how it might permit a lessee selling oil at arm's length at 
the lease to continue to base its royalties on its gross 
proceeds; (2) how the use of so-called tendering programs, 
arm's length sales and arm's length purchases at the lease of a 
portion of the lessee's production in a given field can be 
valued on its remaining production; and, (3) how it will 
address the issue of deductions for value added to oil moved 
downstream from the lease in order to derive a value of 
production at the lease.
    The Committee continues to note the success of the past 
four lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and that sales since 
enactment of the Deep Water Royalty Relief Act have netted 
revenues from deepwater tracts of more than $1.2 billion more 
than predicted. It has come to the attention of the Committee 
that MMS is proposing a public workshop to look at whether 
modifications to deep water leases are warranted. The Committee 
expects that existing financial terms for these lease sales 
will be maintained until this workshop is completed, public 
comments fully analyzed, and a report provided to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations.
    By March 31, 1999, MMS should report to the Committee 
regarding the status of product valuation covering the past 10 
years. This report should detail the number of individual 
disputes with producers, the number of lawsuits resulting from 
such disputes, and a summary of rulemaking activities dealing 
with this issue and associated costs.
    Bill Language.--Bill language has been included under 
General Provisions, Department of the Interior to prohibit the 
use of funds for Outer Continental Shelf leasing activities in 
several areas. The leasing restrictions included for fiscal 
year 1999 are similar to those in previous fiscal years. The 
Administration has supported continuing these provisions for 
another year. The areas covered by the Committee's 
recommendation include Northern, Central and Southern 
California, the North Atlantic, Washington-Oregon, Florida, the 
Mid and South Atlantic, and the North Aleutian Basin in Alaska.

                           Oil Spill Research

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $6,118,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         6,118,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         6,118,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $6,118,000, to be derived from the 
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to conduct oil spill research 
and financial responsibility and inspection activities 
associated with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Public Law 101-
380. The Committee recommendation is equal to the budget 
request.

          Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

    The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 
(OSM), through its regulation and technology account, regulates 
surface coal mining operations to ensure that the environment 
is protected during those operations and that the land is 
adequately reclaimed once mining is completed. The OSM 
accomplishes this mission by providing grants to those States 
that maintain their own regulatory and reclamation programs and 
by conducting oversight of State programs. Further, the OSM 
administers the regulatory programs in the States that do not 
have their own programs and on Federal and tribal lands.
    Through its abandoned mine reclamation fund account, the 
OSM provides environmental restoration at abandoned coal mines 
using tonnage-based fees collected from current coal production 
operations. In their unreclaimed condition these abandoned 
sites may endanger public health and safety or prevent the 
beneficial use of land and water resources.

                       regulation and technology

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $95,437,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        93,540,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        93,349,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -2,088,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -191,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $93,349,000 for regulation and 
technology, $191,000 below the request and $2,088,000 below the 
1998 level. The Committee is concerned with the impact of 
mountain-top removal surface coal mining operations in certain 
areas of the Appalachians and encourages the Office of Surface 
Mining to carefully examine this issue. The OSM should report 
back to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by 
March 1, 1999 on the overall situation, the role of the OSM, 
other Federal agencies and the States in regulating 
environmental effects, and suggestions to improve the 
situation.

                    abandoned mine reclamation fund

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $177,624,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       183,416,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       185,416,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +7,792,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        +2,000,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $185,416,000 for the Abandoned 
Mine Reclamation fund, an increase of $2,000,000 above the 
request and an increase of $7,792,000 above the 1998 level. The 
Committee recognizes the great amount of reclamation work that 
remains to be done, as well as some of the terrible health, 
safety and environmental problems caused by this situation. The 
Committee has provided a substantial increase to this program, 
and has increased the authority for the Appalachian Clean 
Streams Initiative by $2,000,000 to total of $7,000,000. The 
Committee has not made the change to bill language suggested by 
the Administration of 
dropping ``Appalachian'' from the initiative title. It is 
premature to dilute this effort by making it a nationwide 
program.

                        Bureau of Indian Affairs

                      operation of indian programs

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs was created in 1824; its 
mission is founded on a government-to-government relationship 
and trust responsibility that results from treaties with Native 
groups. The Bureau delivers services to over one million Native 
Americans through 12 area offices and 83 agency offices. In 
addition, the Bureau provides education programs to Native 
Americans through the operation of 118 day schools, 48 boarding 
schools, and 14 dormitories. Lastly, the Bureau administers 
more than 46 million acres of tribally owned land.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................    $1,529,638,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................     1,638,681,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................     1,558,425,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +28,787,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -80,256,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $1,558,425,000 for the operation 
of Indian programs, an increase of $28,787,000 above the fiscal 
year 1998 level and a decrease of $80,256,000 below the budget 
request. The Committee agrees to all internal transfers and 
budget structure changes proposed by the BIA in the budget 
request.
    The Committee has made a number of changes to the Operation 
of Indian Programs bill language. These changes are not meant 
to signal a reduction in the number of programs in OIP, nor is 
it meant to limit the types of programs within OIP. The 
Committee's intent is simply to condense the language.
    The Committee is concerned about the Ramah Navajo Chapter 
v. Lujan settlement concerning contract support and the 
expectation that the settlement payments from the Claims and 
Judgment Fund be reimbursed from agency appropriations. The 
Committee believes that the court in this case made an 
erroneous decision and that the Administration erred by failing 
to appeal. It is not the intention of the Committee to use any 
of the funds in this bill to pay for the flawed settlement. The 
Committee expects the Department of the Interior, in 
consultation with the Department of Justice and the Office of 
Management and Budget, to resolve the issues of how repayment 
should be made and develop a legislative proposal for 
addressing these issues.
    It has come to the attention of the Committee that certain 
tribes have significant tribal income and may not need Federal 
funds to support their tribal government and tribal activities. 
These tribes recognize that other tribes have greater needs and 
are not able to generate significant tribal income. However, 
the more economically successful tribes are concerned that if 
they refuse Federal funds, it may in some way affect the 
Federal trust responsibility and their relationship with the 
Federal government. With the limited funds available to this 
Committee and the need for services throughout Indian country, 
this Committee wants to do whatever is necessary to encourage 
successful tribes to assist those tribes that are less 
fortunate. It is the intent of the language included in the 
Bureau's administrative provisions to alleviate tribal concerns 
about Federal responsibilities while encouraging economically 
successful tribes to return their appropriations to the Bureau 
to aid the less fortunate tribes.
    The Committee has continued the limitation on contract 
support for both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian 
Health Service. Since fiscal year 1994, the Congress has 
enacted annual appropriations language limiting the amount of 
funding provided for contract support costs under the Indian 
Self-Determination Act, as amended. Without a ceiling on 
contract support, the Bureau could be required to reprogram 
from other tribal programs in the Operation of Indian Programs 
to fund 100 percent of tribal contract support costs. It has 
always been the Committee's intent that this language would 
supersede the requirements of the Indian Self-Determination Act 
and the Committee has included the language for fiscal year 
1999 to reinforce that intent. The Committee has also added 
language that limits the Department of the Interior's liability 
for payment of contract support costs to only those contracts 
entered into with Interior bureaus.
    In Title III--General Provisions, the Committee has 
recommended language placing a one-year moratorium on new or 
expanded self-determination and self-governance compacts for 
both the BIA and the Indian Health Service. The Committee urges 
the agencies and the tribes to address the contract support 
cost problem in a timely manner so that an acceptable solution 
can be found for addressing contract support cost funding 
within the Committee's allocation without adversely affecting 
funding for other BIA/IHS and tribal programs.
    The BIA and the IHS needs to work closely with the tribes 
and with the legislative committees of jurisdiction to find a 
solution to contract support cost shortfalls that ensures they 
are not paid at the expense of agency operated programs or 
adversely affect non-compacting/contracting tribes. The BIA and 
IHS should work with the tribes to develop an acceptable 
methodology for determining level of need calculations for 
services and for contract support costs. A ``minimum level of 
need funded'' should be established for all the various 
services and for contract support costs and a plan for 
increasing the level of need funded in all the various areas 
should be developed with priorities identified within and 
across programs.
    The Committee has provided $250,000, requested by the 
Bureau, to establish a workgroup in response to a 
recommendation by the Task Force to implement section 118 of 
the fiscal year 1998 Interior and Related Agencies 
Appropriation bill. It is the Committee's understanding that 
this workgroup is to recommend to the Bureau consistent 
criteria and methods for measuring needs on a program-by-
program basis. The Committee is also concerned about the 
perceived inequities in the distribution of Tribal Priority 
Allocations in Indian Country and expects the Bureau to develop 
consistent criteria for the allocation of Tribal Priority 
Allocations that address the equity issue among the tribes. The 
Committee feels strongly that this workgroup is advisory only 
and does not relieve the Bureau of the responsibility to 
recommend reasonable policy proposals to the Congress. The 
Committee expects the Bureau to address and define clearly what 
is appropriate full funding for tribes and it is the Bureau's 
responsibility to report to this Committee when the effort is 
complete.
    Changes to 26 USC paragraph 168(j)(6) of the Internal 
Revenue Code as adopted in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, 
were based on the understanding that any lands within any 
former Indian reservation in Oklahoma were eligible for trust 
land status under 25 CFR part 151. It was also the 
understanding that the phrase ``lands in Oklahoma within the 
jurisdictional area of an Oklahoma Indian tribe'' excludes 
those former Seminole/Creek domain lands in central Indian 
territory that were deemed to be ``unassigned lands'' and 
therefore opened to white settlement in 1889.
    Tribal priority allocations.--The Committee recommends 
$771,505,000 for tribal priority allocations, a decrease of 
$19,705,000 below the budget request and an increase of 
14,157,000 above the 1998 level, including increases above 1998 
of $3,812,000 for fixed costs, $4,330,000 from internal 
transfers and budget structure changes, $4,015,000 for contract 
support, and $2,000,000 for welfare assistance.
    The Committee understands that within the road maintenance 
budget the Bureau will continue to fund the Inchelium Public 
Ferry on the Colville reservation as proposed by the 
Administration.
    Other recurring programs.--The Committee recommends 
$535,087,000 for other recurring programs, a decrease of 
$23,675,000 below the budget request and a decrease of 
$14,209,000 below the 1998 level, including increases above 
1998 of $4,196,000 for fixed costs, $5,600,000 for Indian 
School Equalization Program (ISEP) funds, $400,000 for the 
Tribally Controlled Community Colleges, $250,000 for fishing 
access sites, and a decrease of $24,655,000 resulting from 
internal transfers and budget structure changes.
    Within resources management $800,000 is included for the 
Bering Sea Fisherman's Association. Funding for the Native 
American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) is continued at the 
fiscal year 1998 level. This funding level will ensure that 
NAFWS will be able to support development and protection of 
tribal fish and wildlife resources.
    Non-recurring programs.--The Committee recommends 
$61,251,000 for non-recurring programs a decrease of 
$14,446,000 below the budget request and an increase of $72,000 
above the 1998 level, including increases above 1998 of 
$201,000 for fixed costs, $122,000 for internal transfers and 
budget structure changes, $100,000 for the St. Augustine 
Center, $100,000 for Alaska Legal Services, $427,000 for Gila 
River Farms, $1,000,000 for probate backlog, and $1,727,000 for 
environmental cleanup, and decreases of $2,125,000 for self-
governance grants and $1,000,000 for welfare assistance in 
South Dakota, and $480,000 from minerals and mining as proposed 
by the Bureau.
    Within non-recurring programs, the Committee has provided 
an increase of $100,000 for the St. Augustine Center. The 
Center provides comprehensive social services to Chicago's 
Native American Community, and is the only agency in Chicago to 
implement the Child Welfare Act. In addition, the Committee has 
provided a total of $300,000 for Alaska Legal Services.
    It has come to the attention of this Committee that the 
Bureau's requests for funding have fallen far short of BIA's 
actual funding needs for meeting its environmental compliance 
responsibilities. As a result, the Environmental Protection 
Agency has recently begun assessing heavy penalties against BIA 
for noncompliance with environmental requirements, including 
fines for violations of the underground storage tank 
regulations and for RCRA reporting violations. The Committee 
understands that BIA is planning to initiate an environmental 
audit program over the next four years, which is expected to 
bring further remediation projects to light. In order to assist 
BIA, and the tribes, in meeting their environmental compliance 
responsibilities, the Committee recommends an increase of 
$1,727,000 for environmental cleanup. This increase will allow 
BIA to begin to conduct activities aimed at achieving 
compliance with a December 1998 deadline for upgrading 
underground storage tanks, to close open dumps, and to begin 
the environmental audit program.
    The Committee has provided additional resources to the 
Bureau to begin to address the probate backlog which is an 
important component in addressing trust reform and implementing 
certain portions of the Special Trustee's Strategic Plan. In 
addition, these funds should help Native Americans in securing 
mortgage loans in Indian Country. The delay that results from 
this backlog means that even as mortgage opportunities become 
available, the Bureau is not in a position to allow these loans 
to be completed because lenders require evidence of title 
before finalizing a loan.
    Within the $3,000,000 provided for the ``jobs in the 
woods'' initiative, $400,000 should continue to be used by the 
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for the Wildstock 
Restoration Initiative.
    Central office operations.--The Committee recommends 
$43,104,000 for central office operations, a decrease of 
$4,238,000 below the budget request and a decrease of 
$4,235,000 below the 1998 level, including an increase above 
1998 of $248,000 for fixed costs and decreases of $1,983,000 
for internal transfers and budget structure changes and 
$2,500,000 for the year 2000 computer compliance. Funding for 
year 2000 computer issues is being funded centrally through the 
Treasury-Postal Appropriations bill.
    Area office operations.--The Committee recommends 
$42,154,000 for area office operations a decrease of $1,023,000 
below the budget request and an increase of $1,268,000 above 
the 1998 level, including increases above 1998 of $332,000 for 
fixed costs and $1,500,000 for land records improvement, and a 
decrease of $564,000 for internal transfers and budget 
structure changes.
    Special programs and pooled overhead.--The Committee 
recommends $105,324,000 for special programs and pooled 
overhead, a decrease of $17,169,000 below the budget request 
and an increase of $32,784,000 above the 1998 level, including 
increases above 1998 of $2,250,000 for fixed costs and 
$10,000,000 for the joint BIA/Department of Justice law 
enforcement initiative, $108,000 for the United Sioux Tribe 
Development Corporation, $100,000 for the distance learning 
project, and $21,304,000 for internal transfers and budget 
structure changes, and a decrease of $978,000 for the United 
Tribes Technical College as proposed by the Bureau.
    The Committee is concerned about the deplorable crime on 
Indian reservations in this country. While the Committee is 
concerned about the underlying causes of crime such as economic 
conditions, alcohol and drug abuse, and the outside influence 
of gangs, the Committee is supporting the request for increased 
funding for law enforcement in the amount of $10,000,000. The 
Committee has noted in the Administration budget that several 
program elements that include law enforcement funding remain in 
the Tribal Priority Allocation activity and that those funds 
will be placed under the control of centralized line authority 
and managed by law enforcement professionals. The Committee 
directs the Bureau to ensure that this control over funding 
takes place beginning in fiscal year 1999 to ensure that the 
maximum amount of funding is provided to meet law enforcement 
needs. The Committee further directs that law enforcement funds 
are not available for reprogramming to other purposes without 
Committee approval and that law enforcement funds are not 
available for tribal shares.
    Within the funds provided for post secondary schools the 
Committee has provided an additional $100,000 for the 
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute to participate in the 
cooperative Distance Learning Telecommunications project 
designed to provide information to a broad segment of the 
Native American community in water management and precision 
agriculture. The Committee understands that Lockheed Martin 
Corporation will commit $100,000 in philanthropic education 
funds to this project.
    The Committee is concerned with the level of services that 
are currently being provided to the Canoncito Band of Navajos. 
The Bureau is directed to report back to the Committee on the 
feasibility of transferring responsibility of BIA programs for 
the Canoncito Band to the jurisdiction of the Albuquerque Area.
    In fiscal year 1999, the Bureau should continue to provide 
the current levels of service to the Office of Special Trustee 
(OST) for Information Resource Management systems and other 
contractual costs to support existing mainframe computers, 
licenses, and other costs similar to 1998. The Committee 
recognizes that BIA's IRM resources are limited and that system 
enhancements may be needed by both BIA and OST trust systems. 
The Committee expects that investments in information 
technology will be implemented in a coordinated and cost 
effective manner that ensures no duplication of resources 
between BIA and OST, particularly in the area of 
telecommunications.

                              construction

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $125,279,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       152,054,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       121,695,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -3,584,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -30,359,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    Education.--The Committee recommends $58,579,000 for 
education construction, including $17,400,000 to finish 
construction of the Sac and Fox and Pyramid Lake schools, 
$3,000,000 for employee housing, and $38,179,000 for FI&R which 
is an increase of $6,000,000 over the 1998 level to begin to 
address the significant backlog maintenance problems that exist 
in the school system.
    The Committee encourages the Bureau to consider adding 
additional portable classrooms for the Ramah Band of Navajo 
school 
system. It has come to the Committee's attention that over 160 
children are bused each day to Albuquerque schools because 
there is no room in the overcrowded BIA school.
    The Committee has continued the fiscal year 1995 bill 
language related to implementing the process to award grants 
for construction of new schools or facilities improvement and 
repair projects in excess of $100,000. The language ensures 
that the Department can continue to implement the grant process 
while the permanent implementation process is under development 
in fiscal year 1998. The Committee expects the Department and 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs to continue to work cooperatively 
with the tribes in the development of a final implementation 
process. Given that the language is clear concerning 
negotiating the schedule of payments, the Committee has not 
continued the language limiting payments to two per year.
    Public safety and justice.--The Committee recommends 
$5,550,000 for public safety and justice, including $1,400,000 
for FI&R, $150,000 for fire safety coordination, and $4,000,000 
for the fire program.
    Resources management.--The Committee recommends $49,621,000 
for resources management, including $25,500,000 the Navajo 
irrigation project, $1,806,000 for engineering supervision, 
$304,000 for central office support staff, $20,011,000 for the 
safety of dams program, and $2,000,000 for dam maintenance.
    General administration and construction management.--The 
Committee recommends $7,945,000 for general administration and 
construction management, including an increase above 1998 of 
$94,000 for fixed costs.

 indian land and water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to 
                                indians

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $43,352,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        38,396,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        28,396,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -14,956,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -10,000,000


    The Committee recommends $28,396,000 for Indian land and 
water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to Indians, 
including $623,000 for White Earth, $243,000 for Hoopa-Yurok, 
$25,000,000 for the Ute settlement, and $2,530,000 for the 
Pyramid Lake settlement.

                 indian guaranteed loan program account

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $5,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         5,005,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         5,001,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................            +1,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................            -4,000


    The Committee recommends $5,001,000 for the Indian 
guaranteed loan program.

                          Departmental Offices

                            Insular Affairs

                       assistance to territories

    The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) was established on 
August 4, 1995 through Secretarial Order No. 3191 which also 
abolished the former Office of Territorial and International 
Affairs. The OIA has important responsibilities to help the 
United States government fulfill its responsibilities to the 
four U.S. territories--Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin 
Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands 
(CNMI)--and the three freely associated States: the Federated 
States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands (RMA) and the Republic of Palau. The permanent and 
trust fund payments to the territories and the compact nations 
provide substantial financial resources to these governments.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $67,514,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        66,275,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        66,175,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -1,339,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -100,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    Territorial Assistance.--The Committee recommends 
$15,401,000, $100,000 below the request and $1,339,000 below 
the 1998 level. The Committee has provided a substantial 
increase for the brown tree snake program, but not as large as 
that requested by the Administration. Rather, most of the 
increase requested for the brown tree snake program has been 
allocated to priority technical assistance projects which may 
benefit all territories.
    CNMI/Covenant grants.--The Committee recommends the 
mandatory grants, as requested, $27,720,000. This includes the 
budget request of $11,000,000 for CNMI construction, $4,580,000 
for impact aid to Guam, $10,140,000 for American Samoa 
construction, and $2,000,000 for the CNMI labor and law 
enforcement initiative. The Committee has included bill 
language which requires that a 
minimum of $5,000,000 for construction in the CNMI be set aside 
for a new prison facility and $500,000 for a crime lab: both 
are vital for the labor, immigration and law enforcement needs 
in the territory. The Committee is concerned about the labor 
and immigration situation in the CNMI and expects the new 
administration in the CNMI to work diligently to improve the 
situation.
    American Samoa.--The committee recommends $23,054,000 as 
requested for operations grants. The Committee remains very 
concerned about continuing fiscal problems in American Samoa 
and reiterates that it is essential that cost recovery 
mechanisms be implemented for some government services and that 
the government strive for fiscal balance.
    Guam.--The Committee notes the $4,580,000 payment to Guam 
using Covenant grant funds is to address the impact resulting 
from the implementation of the Compact of Free Association Act.

                      compact of free association

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $20,545,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        20,445,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        20,545,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          +100,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $20,545,000, $100,000 above the 
request and equal to the 1998 level, for the Compact of Free 
Association. The Committee has not reduced the Enewetak support 
payment as requested by the Administration.

                        Departmental Management

                         salaries and expenses

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $58,286,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        60,871,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        58,286,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -2,585,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $58,286,000 for fiscal year 1999, 
the same as the enacted level and $2,585,000 below the fiscal 
year 1999 request. The Committee has urged the Department to 
reduce unnecessary administrative practices that consume a 
large amount of staff time. For example, chain of review, 
concurrence and sign-offs for correspondence and for 
programmatic documents. The Committee understands that many of 
these old and cumbersome practices continue.
    The Committee expects that, as levels of review are reduced 
and employees are empowered to do their jobs, many positions 
will be eliminated. These positions should not be converted 
into additional program staff but should truly result in a 
reduction of FTEs. This reduction should be a direct result of 
improved management decisions. The Committee is aware that the 
Departmental Management staff is augmented with personnel 
details from other bureau offices both in the Department and 
elsewhere in the Federal Government.
    The Committee has included bill language in section 118 of 
Title I which gives the Secretary the authority in fiscal year 
1999 to rent temporary space and charge a fee to non-Federal 
persons, firms or organizations engaged in commercial, 
cultural, educational or recreational activities as defined in 
section 612a of Title 40, United States Code. The Secretary may 
without further appropriation use these proceeds within the 
Departmental Management Working Capital Fund to help offset the 
operation of the buildings under his jurisdiction.
    The Committee directs the Secretary to report no later than 
September 1, 1999 on the status of this directive and include 
the total amount collected, the source and purpose for which 
the space was used and how those funds were expended within the 
Working Capital Fund. This authority should not be used to 
displace any Interior employee carrying out their official 
duties for the Department.

                        Office of the Solicitor

                         salaries and expenses

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $35,443,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        37,304,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        37,304,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +1,861,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $37,304,000 for fiscal year 1999, 
which is $1,861,000 above the enacted level. The Committee has 
expressed concern for several years about the dramatic increase 
in workload, the diminishing staffing levels and programmatic 
needs of this office. In response to questions for the record, 
the Solicitor's 
office cites a backlog need of $4,600,000 above the budget 
request for fiscal year 1999.
    The Committee has supported the Administration's request 
for the past three years including fiscal year 1999. The 
Committee recognizes the programmatic need and will keep this 
deficiency in mind as the bill progresses to conference. In any 
case, the Committee strongly urges the Secretary and the 
Administration to consider additional increases for this office 
in the fiscal year 2000 budget.

                      Office of Inspector General

                         salaries and expenses

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $24,500,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        25,684,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        24,499,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................            -1,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -1,185,000


    The Committee recommends $24,499,000, $1,000 below the 
enacted level and $1,185,000 below the fiscal year 1999 
request.

                   National Indian Gaming Commission

                         salaries and expenses

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $1,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................                 0
Recommended, 1999.....................................                 0
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -1,000,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends zero funding which is the same as 
the budget request. Last year, language was enacted allowing 
the National Indian Gaming Commission to collect additional 
funds from the gaming tribes to offset the Commission's 
activities; therefore no appropriation is required.

             Office of Special Trustee for American Indians

                         federal trust programs

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $38,557,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        42,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        39,499,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          +942,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -2,501,000


    The Committee recommends $39,499,000 for the office of 
special trustee for American Indians, an increase of $5,542,000 
above the 1998 level excluding the 1998 supplemental that 
provided for litigation support, and a decrease of $2,501,000 
below the budget request. The Committee has provided $1,626,000 
for Executive Direction and $37,873,000 for program operations, 
support and improvements.
    The changes from the 1998 level, excluding the 1998 
supplemental, include increases of $506,000 for uncontrollable 
costs, $3,289,000 for improvement initiatives and $1,827,000 
for settlement and litigation activities related to tribal 
settlement and IIM litigation, and a decrease of $80,000 for 
Advisory Board activities.
    Since the Special Trustee has submitted the Strategic Plan, 
and the Secretary has determined which of the recommendations 
contained in the plan should currently be implemented, the 
Committee believes that six Advisory Board meetings per year 
are too frequent and these meetings should be reduced to no 
more than quarterly. The Committee also suggests that the 
Special Trustee, in selecting sites for Advisory Board 
meetings, avoid the appearance that the Advisory Board is 
conducting its meetings at resorts. A reduction of $80,000 from 
the funds requested for Advisory Board activities is 
reallocated as follows: $28,000 for uncontrollable costs in 
executive direction and $52,000 for uncontrollable costs in 
program operations, support and improvements.
    The Committee is encouraged by the progress made to date by 
the Special Trustee to implement the various elements of the 
Trust Management Improvement Project. The Committee is aware of 
the significant costs required to improve the systems and other 
requirements. The Committee has provided a total of $16,639,000 
for Improvement Initiatives. These funds are to implement the 
Trust Management Improvements Project as outlined in the budget 
and to implement the agreement between the Secretary and the 
Special Trustee on Trust Management Reform. Based on the budget 
estimates, with this level of funds, it is estimated that the 
Special Trustee can: implement the trust fund accounting system 
as scheduled; implement the TAAMS pilot efforts; complete the 
IIM data clean-up contract efforts; continue work to identify 
missing documentation in IIM accounts, such as locating missing 
social security numbers, addresses and other necessary 
documentation. In addition, these funds will provide the needed 
contract research to address various accounting deficiencies 
for records management activities, including imaging which is 
being done in concert with the BIA to address the 
implementation of the joint records management solutions for 
trust records; and provide for training of users of the new 
systems.
    The Committee has provided an additional $1,827,000 for 
settlement and litigation activities, to help ensure that 
reform efforts are not hampered by litigation and settlement 
demands. This amount is in addition to the current funding 
level of $2,197,000, a significant amount. While this 
represents a reduction of $1,071,000 from the President's 
request, the Committee was not presented with adequate 
justification that existing base funding cannot cover a portion 
of the costs to implement the tribal settlement legislation and 
meet litigation demands. The Committee expects the full request 
amount to be justified completely in future budget or 
reprogramming requests.
    The Committee has provided additional resources to the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs to begin to address the probate and 
land records backlogs which are important components in 
addressing trust reform and implementing certain portions of 
the Special Trustee's Strategic Plan.
    Bill language is included to exempt certain small accounts 
from two requirements of the American Indian Trust Fund 
Management Reform Act of 1994. There are approximately 17,000 
Indian trust accounts which have a balance of less than $1.00 
and have not had activity for over 18 months; an average of 30 
cents in each account. These accounts are too small to earn 
interest. Attempts to disburse these amounts to the 
accountholders have been unsuccessful, as the checks are not 
cashed, and the amounts are subsequently restored to OST's 
account in Treasury. Without such an exemption, it would cost 
in excess of $600,000 annually to comply with the requirements 
of the Act.

           Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

                natural resource damage assessment fund

    The purpose of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund 
is to provide the basis for claims against responsible parties 
for the restoration of injured natural resources. Assessments 
ultimately will lead to the restoration of injured resources 
and reimbursement for reasonable assessment costs from 
responsible parties through negotiated settlements or other 
legal actions.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $4,228,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         8,100,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         4,492,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          +264,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -3,608,000


    This account previously was included under the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service appropriation. The Committee 
has recommended moving the account to the Departmental Offices 
appropriation because its functions relate to several different 
bureaus within the Department of the Interior.
    The Committee recommends $4,492,000 for the natural 
resource damage assessment fund, a decrease of $3,608,000 below 
the budget request and an increase of $264,000 above the fiscal 
year 1998 level. Decreases below the budget request include 
$3,252,000 in damage assessments and $356,000 in program 
management. At the recommended funding level, increases above 
the 1998 level include $64,000 for fixed cost increases and 
$200,000 for damage assessments.
    Bill language is recommended to merge available prior year 
funds in this account, appropriated to the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, with the funds recommended for appropriation 
herein.

             general provisions, department of the interior

    The Committee recommends continuing several provisions 
carried in previous bills as follows. Sections 101 and 102 
provide for emergency transfer authority with the approval of 
the Secretary. Section 103 provides for warehouse and garage 
operations and for reimbursement for those services. Section 
104 provides for vehicle and other services. Section 105 
provides for uniform allowances. Section 106 provides for 
twelve month contracts.
    Sections 107 through 110 prohibit the expenditure of funds 
for Outer Continental Shelf leasing activities in certain areas 
as proposed in the budget. These provisions are addressed under 
the Minerals Management Service in this report.
    Section 111 limits the investment of Federal funds by 
tribes and tribal organizations to obligations of the United 
States or obligations insured by the United States.
    Section 112 provides authority for lump sum payments of 
severance pay and continued health benefits to Federal Helium 
Operations employees who have been separated as a result of the 
closure of the helium program.
    Section 113 permits the Secretary of the Interior to accept 
and use donations for the Department's Natural Resources 
Library.
    Section 114 limits the payment of contract support costs, 
using funding in this title, to contracts under the 
jurisdiction of agencies of the Department of the Interior.
    Section 115 prohibits the National Park Service from 
reducing recreation fees for non-local travel through any park 
unit.
    Section 116 provides benefits, including limited ``buy-
out'' authority for employees separated from the Denver Service 
Center of the National Park Service.
    Section 117 provides authority to the Secretary to lease 
space to non-Federal entities and to collect and retain fees 
for the Working Capital Fund.
    Section 118 designates the 37 mile River Valley Trail 
within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area as the 
Joseph M. McDade Trail.

                       TITLE II--RELATED AGENCIES

                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

                             Forest Service

    The U.S. Forest Service manages 192 million acres of public 
lands for multiple use Nationwide, including lands in 44 
States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Forest Service 
administers a wide variety of programs, including forest and 
rangeland research, State and private forestry assistance, 
wildfire suppression and fuels reduction, cooperative forest 
health programs, and human resource programs. The National 
Forest System (NFS) includes 156 National forests, 20 National 
grasslands, a National tallgrass prairie, 4 National monuments, 
and 9 land utilization projects. The NFS is managed for 
multiple use, including timber production, recreation, 
wilderness, minerals, grazing, fish and wildlife habitat 
management, and soil and water conservation.
    The Committee is extremely concerned about the fiscal and 
management accountability and credibility of the Forest 
Service. The Committee has made several changes to enhance 
accountability, and the Committee, with the assistance of the 
GAO and IG, will be monitoring closely the efforts underway to 
bring the agency business management performance up to 
standard. There continue to be too many opportunities for 
managers to sideline funds away from on-the-ground activities.
    The Committee continues to be extremely concerned about the 
problem of forest and rangeland health and especially the 
condition of the wildland-urban interface. There is a great 
need for a comprehensive approach that enhances the condition 
of the forests, watersheds and habitats and produces goods and 
services needed by society. The Committee has made several 
changes which will enhance efforts to restore and maintain 
forest and rangeland conditions, including: full funding for 
insect and disease suppression and science, and hazardous fuels 
and fire management; increasing the authority of the Secretary 
to use the 10% receipts fund for watershed and forest 
management as well as for roads and trails repair; directing 
the use of the reforestation fund for priority activities in 
the wildland-urban interface and other areas at risk to 
catastrophic fire; and increased funding for forest vegetation, 
watershed restoration, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, 
and range management.
    The Committee has provided a comprehensive approach to 
dealing with the forest roads issue: (1) the $50 million 
purchaser road credit authority is terminated; (2) funds are 
increased for road maintenance and road decommissioning; (3) 
funds are provided to plan, design, manage, provide careful 
environmental review and clearance, and oversee road 
construction by timber purchasers; (4) fiscal accountability 
and efficiency are increased by cutting the program management 
and overhead activity by 10% and transferring the road 
maintenance activity to the road reconstruction account; and 
(5) only $1 million is provided for direct construction of new 
roads.
    Finally, the Committee has provided for forest recreation 
by increasing funding for recreation management and trails and 
by extending the recreation fee demonstration for 2 years. The 
Committee also has separated out the trail and recreation 
facilities maintenance activities from the recreation use and 
wilderness management activities to increase attention to 
deferred maintenance. The Committee also has provided new funds 
for small, backlog maintenance projects within the construction 
account.

                     forest and rangeland research

    Forest and rangeland research conducts research through a 
network of six regional research and/or experiment stations, a 
National forest products laboratory, and the International 
Institute for Tropical Forestry. The Committee stresses that 
this research and development should support all of the 
Nation's forests and rangelands and that technology transfer 
and practical applications are vital.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $187,796,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       198,122,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       197,444,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +9,648,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -678,000


    The Committee recommends $197,444,000 for forest and 
rangeland research, $678,000 below the budget request and 
$9,500,000 above the 1998 funding level, excepting the 1998 
rescission. The funding increase above the 1998 level, 
excluding rescissions, includes $2,500,000 for uncontrollable 
costs and $7,000,000 to enhance the forest inventory and 
analysis (FIA) program. No funds are provided for the global 
climate change project. The Committee recommendation includes, 
as described in the budget request, $200,000 to continue the 
``CROP'' project on stagnated forest lands within the Colville 
National Forest, $300,000 for the landscape management project 
at the University of Washington, $250,000 to support research 
activities at the Olympic Natural Resources Center, and 
$1,350,000 to support the Evanston Research Office, including 
$500,000 for the ongoing Lincoln Park ecosystem restoration 
project. The Committee recommends $700,000 for the Rocky 
Mountain Research Station wildland/urban interface research 
program and $300,000 to support the Rocky Mountain Station 
forest health restoration program in the Southwest. Funding for 
the Bent Creek Experimental Forest, the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab, 
and the Syracuse research unit should be maintained at the 1998 
levels. The Committee urges the Forest Service to enhance 
State, industry and citizen partnerships for the FIA program. 
The increased funds provided for FIA should be used to leverage 
cost-share contributions from FIA partners who choose to 
collaborate with and enhance the FIA and Forest Health 
Monitoring program in a State or group of States. Cost-share 
contributions can be in cash or in-kind services. The available 
cost-share funds should be allocated among all contributing 
partners. This cost share program should be displayed in future 
budget justifications along with NFS and construction challenge 
cost share efforts. The Committee supports the increase to the 
FIA program in a manner consistent with the agriculture 
research authorizing bill and the Blue Ribbon Panel II, but has 
insufficient funds this year to fund fully a program providing 
5-year inventory cycles Nationwide.

                       State and private forestry

    Through cooperative programs with State and local 
governments, forest industry and private landowners, the Forest 
Service helps to protect and manage 805 million acres of forest 
and associated watershed land. Technical and financial 
assistance is offered to improve fire management, insect and 
disease control; improve harvesting, processing and monitoring 
of forest products; and stimulate reforestation and timber 
stand improvement. The Forest Service provides special 
expertise and disease suppression for all Federal and tribal 
lands, as well as cooperative assistance with the States for 
State and private lands.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $209,178,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       162,900,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       156,167,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -53,011,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -6,733,000


    The Committee recommends $156,167,000 for State and private 
forestry, $6,733,000 below the budget request and $53,011,000 
below the 1998 funding level which includes $47,941,000 in 
emergency supplemental funds provided in P.L. 105-174.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    Forest health management.--The Committee recommends 
$54,375,000 for forest health management, $1,155,000 above the 
request and $885,000 above the 1998 funding level for the same 
activities. The Committee concurs with the Forest Service 
request to move the State fire assistance activity into a new 
category. The Committee remains very concerned with forest 
health in the broad sense; the funding level for Federal lands 
forest health management maintains the increases provided in 
1998 and adds $635,000 for fixed cost increases. Funding for 
the cooperative lands forest health management activity 
includes a $1,000,000 increase to the budget request to assist 
the slow-the-spread gypsy moth program. The Committee urges the 
Forest Service to take a comprehensive forest health view and 
include substantial efforts to manage and control noxious, 
exotic and alien plants on NFS lands. The Committee urges the 
Forest Service to integrate fully forest health inventories and 
management actions into National forest land management plans 
and make such information consistent with Forest Inventory and 
Analysis for all land ownerships.
    Cooperative Fire Protection.--The Committee recommends 
$23,510,000 for cooperative fire protection, a new category: 
this is equal to the budget request and $1,358,000 above the 
1998 funding level for these activities. The Committee supports 
the volunteer fire assistance program at $2,000,000, the 
request; this subactivity was previously funded in the 
Agriculture appropriations bill at this same level. The 
Committee recommends $21,510,000 for State fire assistance, the 
budget request, which is $1,358,000 above the 1998 funding 
level.
    Cooperative forestry.--The Committee recommends $78,282,000 
for cooperative forestry, $7,888,000 below the budget request 
and $9,313,000 below the 1998 funding level, not including the 
emergency supplemental funding. Given the limited resources 
available, the Committee has focused resources on Federal 
technical assistance programs rather than on direct payments 
for private, structural improvements as previously provided by 
the stewardship incentives program. No funds from any Forest 
Service appropriation should be used for the American Heritage 
Rivers Program absent 
an approved reprogramming request. The Committee recommends 
$28,730,000 for forest stewardship; this provides full funding 
for the budget request and increases above the request of 
$200,000 for the Northeast Pennsylvania community forestry 
program, $150,000 for the Chesapeake Bay program, $700,000 for 
erosion control grants, as authorized, near Lake Tahoe, and 
$50,000 for the National Agroforestry Center. The Committee 
recommends $2,012,000 for the forest legacy program. The 
Committee recommends $30,040,000 for the urban and community 
forestry activity, equal to the request and $3,290,000 above 
the 1998 level. This recommendation includes $1,500,000 to 
support the Northeastern Pennsylvania community forestry 
program and includes $11,700,000 for the northeast and midwest. 
The urban and community forestry activity also includes funding 
for the Chicago area programs and the urban resources 
partnership program at the 1998 level. The Committee is 
concerned about the distribution of funds within the urban and 
community forestry program and requests that the Forest 
Service, in consultation with the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees and the State foresters, provide a 
new allocation system in the FY 2000 budget request and 
document it in a report by January 15, 1999. The improved 
allocation system should include increased reference to program 
performance and program need in the States and the needs of 
non-governmental cooperators, and it should not provide base 
State funding allocations for territories. The Committee 
recommends $10,000,000 for economic action programs, $1,000,000 
above the request and $1,465,000 below the 1998 level. Within 
the economic action program the Committee recommends $3,925,000 
for economic recovery, of which $500,000 is for the Four 
Corners Sustainable Forestry Initiative, $4,000,000 to continue 
the rural development through forestry program, of which 
$2,000,000 is included for the northeast and midwest, $950,000 
for the wood in transportation program and $1,125,000 for the 
forest products conservation and recycling program. The 
Committee recommends $7,500,000 for the Pacific Northwest 
Assistance programs, $2,500,000 above the request and 
$7,500,000 below the 1998 level.
    International Forestry.--The Committee has not provided 
specific funding for international forestry activities. The 
Committee recommends that the Forest Service may spend up to 
$3,500,000, the same as in 1998, to cover vital international 
forestry activities as authorized. The House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations should be notified of the funding 
mix used.

                         National Forest System

    The National Forest System (NFS) covers 192 million acres 
and includes 156 National forests, 20 National grasslands, 4 
National monuments, 1 National tallgrass prairie and other 
lands, managed for a multiple use mission. The NFS includes a 
substantial amount of the Nation's softwood inventory. More 
than 9,000 farmers and ranchers pay for permits to graze 
cattle, horses, sheep and goats on 74 million acres of 
grassland, open forests, and other forage-producing acres of 
the National Forest System. Recreational use of National forest 
land amounted to approximately 859 million visits in 1997. The 
NFS includes over 125,000 miles of trails and 23,000 developed 
facilities, including 4,389 campgrounds, 58 major visitor 
centers, and about one-half of the Nation's ski-lift capacity. 
There are 51 Congressionally designated areas, including 19 
National recreation areas, and 7 National scenic areas. 
Wilderness areas cover 35 million acres, nearly two-thirds of 
the wilderness in the contiguous 48 States. The Forest Service 
also has major habitat management responsibilities for more 
than 3,000 species of wildlife and fish, and 10,000 plant 
species and provides important habitat and open space for over 
300 threatened or endangered species. Half of the big game and 
coldwater fish habitat in the Nation is located on National 
Forest System lands and waters. In addition, in the 16 western 
States, where the water supply is sometimes critically short, 
about 55 percent of the total annual yield of water is from 
National Forest System lands.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................    $1,357,744,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................     1,417,708,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................     1,298,421,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -59,323,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................      -119,287,000


    The Committee recommends $1,298,421,000 for the National 
Forest System, $119,287,000 below the budget request and 
$59,323,000 below the 1998 funding level. The Committee has 
moved the road maintenance activity out of the National forest 
system account in order to increase program oversight and 
efficiency. This transfer accounts for most of the apparent 
funding reduction.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    Land Management Planning.--The Committee recommends 
$40,000,000 for land management planning, $3,826,000 above the 
1998 level and equal to the planning portion of the land 
management planning, inventory and monitoring activity 
requested by the Administration plus an additional $2,000,000 
for Region 5 to complete the science synthesis and EIS for 
conservation of the California spotted owl. This funding is 
provided for National forest and grassland planning, including 
plan amendments, revisions, and updates. The Committee is 
retaining this as a separate activity because this offers the 
best means of achieving some cost accountability and control 
for the endless planning efforts engaged in by the Forest 
Service. The Forest Service should not use other program 
funding for forest planning absent approved reprogramming 
requests. New forest planning regulations should be implemented 
rapidly and should include guidance linking plans to budget 
realities. The updated forest plans should incorporate 
realistic budgetary projections and should include a realistic 
outline of the program of work, and resulting costs, that are 
being projected and 
planned. Region 5 should use the additional $2,000,000 to fund 
scientists through the Pacific Southwest Research station to 
complete any needed synthesis of information contained in 
existing science documents and reports and use this 
information, along with public comments and other information, 
to complete a final record of decision and EIS for conservation 
of the California spotted owl by July 31, 1999. Region 5 should 
make the revised draft EIS, which was previously completed, 
available for public examination. The Committee has also 
provided language in Title III governing the Interior Columbia 
Basin Ecosystem Management Project and forest planning.
    Inventory and monitoring.--The Committee recommends 
$80,650,000 for inventory and monitoring, $11,314,000 below the 
1998 level but equal to the Administration request for these 
activities. The Committee has reviewed closely the 
implementation of the ecosystem management budget line item and 
its successors and found that the Forest Service has done a 
terrible job of managing this program. Funds have been used for 
a broad variety of projects that reflect individual unit needs 
that are not necessarily related to proposals in the budget 
justification nor Congressional intent. Performance measures 
have been slowly implemented and poorly understood in the 
field. Absent greater accountability for the future use of 
these funds, the Committee will restructure this account. Even 
after three years of budget restructuring, there remains too 
little evidence that the Forest Service is using these funds 
for vitally needed inventory and monitoring activities.
     Recreation Use.--The Committee recommends $191,418,000 for 
recreation use, $48,000,000 below the budget request and 
$26,875,000 below the 1998 level; however, the Committee has 
moved the facilities and trails maintenance responsibilities 
out of this account to enhance attention to deferred 
maintenance. The transfer accounts for the apparent decrease in 
this budget line item. The recreation management subactivity 
included $17,800,000 in recreation facility maintenance and 
$9,500,000 in trail maintenance in 1998 and the 1999 budget 
request included $27,800,000 and $13,500,000 for these portions 
of the recreation management activity which now are transferred 
to the infrastructure maintenance budget line item. The 
Committee has included $148,018,000 for the recreation 
management subactivity, $5,000,000 above the 1998 level and 
$1,000,000 below the request for the same activities. The 
Committee commends the Cradle of Forestry in America in the 
Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina for its plans to 
establish a demonstration forest at its facility to educate the 
public on the variety of disciplines involved in modern forest 
management. Within available funds, the Forest Service should 
use $150,000 to continue planning and site review for the 
demonstration forest and report back to the Committee by 
September 30, 1999 on progress in evaluating potential exhibit 
sites for the demonstration forest and performing inventory of 
the natural and heritage resources present at the Cradle.
    The Committee is encouraged by the creative efforts of the 
Forest Service in implementing the recreation fee 
demonstration. The Committee recognizes the recent GAO report 
that the Forest Service is not using its authority to obtain 
fair market value for goods or to recover costs for services. 
The Forest Service should report to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations by January 31, 1999 on its 
existing and planned programs for obtaining fair market value 
and recovering costs related to recreational special use 
permits and other land use permits. The report should examine 
carefully past performance and describe barriers and obstacles 
to enhancing future revenue generation.
    The Committee has provided $30,100,000 for wilderness 
management, equal to the budget request for these 
responsibilities, but has moved the wilderness trail 
maintenance responsibility out of this activity into a single 
trail maintenance subactivity described below. The wilderness 
trail maintenance portion of the wilderness extended budget 
line item was $4,700,000 in 1998 and $5,700,000 in the 1999 
request.
    The Challenge Cost Share (CCS) program funding for 
recreation use should follow the budget justification. The 
Committee recognizes the National significance of the Pacific 
Crest, Continental Divide, and Florida National Scenic Trails 
and the Nez Perce National Historic Trail and provides no less 
than $1,000,000 within available funds for their administration 
and an additional $350,000 for those parts of the Appalachian, 
North Country and Ice Age National Scenic Trails and the Lewis 
& Clark, Santa Fe, Iditarod, Oregon, California, and Pony 
Express and Overmountain Victory National Historic trails 
managed by the Forest Service.
    Wildlife, fish and rare plant management habitat.--The 
Committee recommends $103,778,000 for wildlife, fish and rare 
plant habitat management, a decrease of $7,942,000 below the 
request and $6,944,000 above the 1998 level. The National 
forest system provides much of the Nation's fishing, hunting 
and nature enjoyment as well as habitats needed for long-term 
maintenance of much of the Nation's natural heritage; under the 
benefiting function concept employed in Forest Service 
budgeting, these program funds should be used as described in 
the budget justification and not to provide environmental 
clearances of other specific program projects. The challenge 
cost share program is an excellent way to leverage private 
funds for enhancing habitats and increasing public experiences 
on the National forests and grasslands; the CCS program funding 
should adhere to the budget justification and should not be 
subordinated to other internal overhead or program management 
uses.
    Rangeland management.--The Committee recommends $49,421,000 
for rangeland management, $16,226,000 below the budget request 
but an increase of $4,074,000 above the 1998 funding level. The 
Committee does not have the resources to fund any of the 
$16,000,000 increase requested as part of the President's clean 
water initiative. The Committee also notes the progress being 
made regarding noxious and exotic plants, and has included 
$5,000,000 within the rangeland vegetation management activity 
for on-the-ground actions. These activities should be done in 
an integrated, interdisciplinary fashion consistent with forest 
plans that should be updated to indicate management priorities 
and desired future conditions. The Committee directs that 
$400,000 in available funds be used to assist ranchers in New 
Mexico at constructing water and fence improvements required by 
recent settlements negotiated by the Forest Service concerning 
livestock grazing. The Committee remains concerned at the high 
level of confusion regarding court cases and other 
environmental issues in the Southwest Region. To avoid 
additional confrontations and lawsuits, the Forest Service 
should develop a standard notification document outlining 
potential actions, time frames, reasons for such management 
actions, the identity of the court case or the policy which has 
triggered the action, and appeal options open to livestock 
permittees. This notification should be presented to the 
permittees in a timely fashion. The Committee expresses strong 
reservations over the process used to obtain a stipulated 
agreement entered into between the Southwest Center for 
Biological Diversity and the Forest Service regarding 
endangered species management issues in the Southwest Region. 
The Committee recommends that any future agreements that are 
negotiated independent of any court action should include 
consultation with all affected parties. The Committee is 
concerned about the use of unverified computer models to help 
determine grazing capacity during allotment management planning 
and encourages the Forest Service to use independent parties to 
help verify the methods. The Committee directs the Forest 
Service to ensure that the Gila National Forest Range Allotment 
capacity model for determining grazing levels in New Mexico is 
groundtruthed; its documentation is made available fully for 
public review; and it is peer reviewed by an independent, 
professional panel. The rangeland vegetation management 
activity should strive to include $500,000 in CCS projects.
    Forestland management.--The Committee recommends 
$274,395,000 for forestland management, an increase of 
$17,095,000 above the budget request and $370,000 below the 
1998 funding level. The Committee is very concerned about the 
health of forests on National forest system lands and 
accordingly has provided a variety of mechanisms to enhance 
vegetation management activities, including increasing the 
authority to use the 10% receipt fund, using the reforestation 
fund for high priority forest health projects, and increasing 
the hazardous fuels management funds to help thin dangerously 
overstocked stands. The Forest Service should use these funds 
to manage forests with appropriate commercial or non-commercial 
methods to result in healthier, well-stocked stands that will 
be more resistant to fires and disease problems but will still 
have valuable watershed and habitat value. Selection of 
priority stands for treatment should consider the resulting 
forest conditions, including the potential for fuels reduction, 
the potential for enhanced habitat values, as well as the 
potential for increased timber growth. The Forest Service 
should use the reforestation fund, as authorized last year, to 
treat high priority areas that are either susceptible to 
catastrophic fire or are in need of thinning or other 
management to enhance watershed health and improve overall 
forest conditions. The Committee once again suggests that the 
Forest Service should use at least $500,000 of the vegetation 
management funds within the challenge cost share program so as 
to maximize the impact of these Federal funds. The Committee 
suggests that up to $5,000,000 in forestland management funds 
may be allocated for the Quincy Library Group project, 
California, if authorized. The Committee has included $300,000 
to continue the CROP program to treat stagnated stands on the 
Colville National Forest.
    Timber sales.--The Committee recommends $210,676,000 for 
timber sales, $11,676,000 above the budget request and 
$1,676,000 above the 1998 level. By maintaining the 1998 
funding, plus fixed costs, the Committee expects to see no 
diminution in results. The Committee is aware of the widespread 
forest health problems in the National forests across the 
country. In this regard, the Committee understands that the 
agency can use the timber sale program as a cost-efficient tool 
to thin and restructure forest stands. Funds within the timber 
sales management account should be used for this purpose, and 
the agency is encouraged to make every effort to include 
preventive forest health treatments as part of timber salvage 
efforts. To facilitate the fiscal year 1999 timber sale program 
and to ensure the most efficient expenditure of Federal 
appropriations, the Committee has funded the program to produce 
a total sale offer of about 3.6 BBF, consisting of 2.4 BBF of 
``green'' sales. The Committee notes that this harvest level is 
greatly reduced from recent times and that local economies can 
not withstand further reductions to this program. The Committee 
expects the Forest Service to allocate funding in a manner 
which will optimize forest plan outputs, taking full advantage 
of green and salvage sale preparation capacity agency-wide. 
Funding should be allocated to those forests that have the 
highest likelihood of attaining current forest plan goals, 
objectives, and targets.
    To ensure that Congress is adequately informed and notified 
of progress or delays in implementing the fiscal year 1999 
program, the Committee requests that the agency continue its 
regular, quarterly reporting of timber sale preparation, offer, 
sale and harvest accomplishments--including a region by region 
status report. The Committee expects the reports to include 
detailed information on the status of the timber sales pipeline 
and an identification of the volumes offered, sold, and 
harvested categorized as net merchantable sawtimber. Timber 
program accomplishments should report timber actually sold and 
transferred to purchasers, and the volume offered. The reports 
are to be as comprehensive as possible and provide information 
on both green and salvage sales. Any additional salvage 
opportunities that may arise during fiscal year 1999 should not 
impact green sale targets.
    Soil, water and air management.--The Committee recommends 
$53,374,000 for soil, water and air management, $11,030,000 
below the budget request but an increase of $2,145,000 above 
the 1998 funding level. The Committee does not have the 
resources to fund the President's clean water initiative for 
this activity. The funding level for the CCS program should be 
maintained at the 1998 level.
    Minerals and geology management.--The Committee recommends 
$38,100,000 for minerals and geology management, equal to the 
budget request and $2,100,000 above the 1998 funding level. The 
Committee recommended funding level should cover fixed cost 
increases.
    Land ownership management.--The Committee recommends 
$63,304,000 for land ownership management, $4,078,000 above the 
request and $1,251,000 above the 1998 funding level. The 
Committee is concerned by the recent GAO report that the Forest 
Service is not using its authority to obtain fair market value 
for goods or recover costs for services, nor has the Service 
acted to contain costs. The Committee feels that it is 
imperative that a method be established and implemented that 
accurately determines fair market value for use of Federal 
lands for hydropower development. The Committee also recognizes 
that the Forest Service administration of hydropower projects 
involves a significant commitment of time and resources in 
meeting its statutory obligations and therefore the 
Administration should use fully the authority provided under 
the Federal Power Act to collect funds from licensees to 
reimburse the Forest Service for its important contributions to 
the relicensing effort. This cost recovery mechanism would 
allow the Forest Service to participate fully in the 
relicensing process and ultimately provide significant benefits 
to forest users and the environment.
    Infrastructure management.--The Committee has restructured 
the infrastructure management budget line item in order to 
increase efficiency and oversight for facility and trail 
maintenance. The road maintenance subactivity has been 
transferred to the road reconstruction account to facilitate a 
unified road reconstruction, maintenance and decommissioning 
approach. The Committee has transferred funding for recreation 
facility and trail maintenance from the recreation use 
activity, as described under that heading. Funding for trail 
maintenance is now in one activity rather than split between 
non-wilderness and wilderness components as previously. The 
Committee recommends $69,577,000 for infrastructure management, 
an increase of $13,400,000 above the 1998 funding level for 
these same responsibilities and $7,053,000 less than the budget 
request for these items. The Committee expects the Forest 
Service to use this substantial increase in funds, as well as 
the extension of the recreation fee demonstration program, to 
help reduce the backlog in deferred maintenance. Future budget 
justifications should include clear presentation of the 
deferred maintenance backlog problem and program, including 
accomplishments and needs; this should use similar methodology 
and definitions as the Department of the Interior so the 
Committee can best evaluate priorities among the bureaus funded 
by this Act.
    Law enforcement operations.--The Committee recommends 
$66,004,000 for law enforcement operations, $1,369,000 less 
than the budget request and $2,037,000 above the 1998 funding 
level. The Committee remains concerned about the use of Forest 
Service law enforcement resources in activities more 
appropriately handled by other law enforcement agencies. 
Furthermore, the Forest Service should investigate fully the 
opportunities to use available funding for collaborative 
agreements and cooperation with State and local agencies. The 
Committee remains concerned about special law enforcement 
problems on the National forest system associated with border 
patrol activities near Mexico and with drug enforcement in 
Kentucky and Tennessee; $500,000 within available funds should 
be added to the 1998 base program for each of these two 
efforts.
    Land Between the Lakes.--The Committee is concerned that 
the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) in 
Kentucky and Tennessee, managed by the Tennessee Valley 
Authority (TVA), needs to be managed carefully as the 
transition occurs in which TVA reduces its non-power related 
activities. Accordingly, the Committee has included bill 
language in Title III that transfers responsibility for this 
facility to the Secretary of Agriculture if less than 
$6,000,000 in new appropriations are provided for its 
management in the fiscal year 1999 Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Act. If the transfer occurs, the Committee 
expects that it will be managed as part of the National forest 
system for recreation in a manner consistent with the multiple 
use mandate of the Forest Service and the original LBL mission. 
The Forest Service is well equipped to manage the property for 
considerably less expense to the Treasury than occurred under 
its recent TVA management. The Committee has included 
$5,400,000 in the national forest system (NFS) account, 
$300,000 in fire management, and $1,300,000 in the 
reconstruction and maintenance account to ensure full funding 
during the transition year. The Committee expects the Forest 
Service to determine the best program mix within these accounts 
but no new construction, other than incidental, may be funded 
absent an approved reprogramming request. The Committee directs 
the Forest Service to develop an integrated budget proposal 
that is contained within existing programs for future budget 
requests, but to clearly display this in the fiscal year 2000 
request. Future budget requests should set as a goal the 
reduction of $1,000,000 per year for the next three years. The 
Forest Service should report back to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations on progress and continued plans 
for the transition as well as future plans for the Land Between 
the Lakes NRA by March 31, 1999.
    LBL was first established in the early 1960's by executive 
directive. However, no statute was ever enacted governing land 
management policies at LBL. Therefore, this bill codifies the 
1972 mission statement requiring the Forest Service to manage 
LBL for optimum yield of outdoor recreation and environmental 
education for the American people. Codifying the mission will 
guarantee no disruption in the current level of recreational 
activities including, but not limited to, hunting and fishing.
    It is the Committee's view that all fees collected for the 
use of designated sites and activities at LBL should be 
retained by the Forest Service to help offset operating 
expenses. However, the bill prohibits the Forest Service from 
charging a general entrance fee. This is identical to existing 
TVA policy.
    The Committee wants to ensure that there will be no 
disruption of, or reduction in, the current payments the 
counties which comprise Land Between the Lakes currently 
receive from TVA resulting from the sale of power in Kentucky 
and Tennessee. The bill contains explicit language guaranteeing 
these payments at the current calculation. It also makes these 
counties eligible for funds under the payment-in-lieu of taxes 
program administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
    There are over 220 cemeteries at LBL, many of which are the 
burial plots of some of the 800 families who were forcibly 
removed from their property when LBL was first created. The 
bill guarantees a complete inventory and access to those 
cemeteries.
    Should the transfer occur, it is vital that the two 
institutions work cooperatively to lessen the impact to 
employees, the public, and to the resources in the NRA. The 
Committee encourages the TVA to avoid moving equipment and 
facilities out of the NRA that are vital for its management and 
to work with the Forest Service to see that an orderly 
transition occurs if it is required.
    Currently, law enforcement actions taken by Tennessee 
Valley Authority Police Officers operating within the 
boundaries of the Recreation Area are authorized under peace 
officer commissions granted by both the States of Kentucky and 
Tennessee. While existing Federal laws and regulations do apply 
to the NRA lands, it will take approximately six months to one 
year to establish Forest Service law enforcement procedures in 
the two Federal judicial districts which cover these lands if 
the transfer takes place. The bill language recommended by the 
Committee provides that during this interim, not to exceed one 
year, cross-designation of law enforcement authority between 
the agencies to ensure that there will be no interruption in 
public safety services during the transition.
    Finally, the Committee is extremely concerned about the 
impact of the transition on the 106 permanent employees at LBL. 
The bill guarantees a minimum of five-months employment by TVA 
following enactment. It is the intent of the Committee that all 
LBL permanent employees be given first notice of, and first 
consideration, for any jobs available with the Forest Service. 
Those employees who remain at LBL as employees of the Forest 
Service would experience no interruption in coverage for any 
retirement, health, leave or other employee benefit. For those 
persons not retained by TVA or hired by the Forest Service, the 
Committee supports providing a compensation/severance package, 
including buy-out packages, similar to those provided to other 
TVA employees in previous downsizing situations. TVA shall 
finance the costs associated with the severance/compensation 
packages and the Director of the TVA shall report on the 
funding sources to be used to finance these activities.
    General administration.--The Committee recommends 
$263,000,000 for general administration, $3,780,000 above the 
budget request and $500,000 above the 1998 funding level. The 
Committee has huge concerns about use of administrative funds 
by the Forest Service and has examined carefully their use 
through both hearings and investigations. The Committee expects 
the Forest Service to enhance its attention to basic business 
management and control functions and understands that strategic 
use and reallocation of resources will be required. Careful 
monitoring of funds in this activity will facilitate 
Congressional oversight as well as provide a means to regulate 
and track internal expenditures for administrative functions. 
The Forest Service should consult with the Committee and keep 
it informed of the status of new efforts to improve financial 
management and accountability and see that changes are 
implemented which are responsive to the recent analysis 
conducted by the Coopers and Lybrand consulting firm. The 
Committee directs the Forest Service to contract with the 
National Academy of Public Administration to provide an 
independent, professional assessment of the Forest Service 
efforts to revitalize its business and fiscal functions and 
restructure budgets and planning processes.
    The Committee is concerned that the Forest Service is not 
adequately limiting nor managing funds which constitute 
overhead. Accordingly, in general provisions the Committee has 
added bill language that limits the amount of indirect costs 
that may be charged to the KV reforestation fund and the 
salvage sale fund. The Committee expects the Forest Service to 
work with the Committee to develop definitions of Forest 
Service overhead, indirect costs, common services, and 
assessments that are applicable to both appropriated funds and 
off-budget accounts. The Forest Service should report to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by December 31, 
1998 on these definitions, how they will be captured in the new 
financial management systems, reported to Congress, and reduced 
in the future. The Committee is especially concerned about the 
amount of funding provided to the Department of Agriculture in 
support of Forest Service activities. The Committee is 
concerned that these costs (known as Greenbook) may be 
excessive; these costs must be displayed clearly in future 
budget justifications and explained. The explanation should 
include a 3-year display of the total costs of these services 
and the Forest Service share of these costs, as well as a 
clear, fair rationale documenting the Forest Service share and 
why these funds are needed to supplement Agriculture department 
appropriations.
    The Committee has investigated the large investment in new 
computer equipment and information management and remains 
concerned with the costs, transitions, and training for the IBM 
system procurement and installation. The Committee directs the 
Forest Service to include detailed explanations of costs and 
funding sources for this project in all future budget 
justifications. In addition, the Committee directs the Forest 
Service to report to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations by January 31, 1999 on the overall project 
costs, timeline, management controls and responsibility, and 
life cycle costs. The Committee feels that the Forest Service 
should focus on the core GIS needs that were, and remain, the 
main reason for undertaking this expensive, but needed, 
upgrade.
    General.--The Committee remains concerned about 
accountability for funds. As discussed in last year's Committee 
report, the Forest Service is to maintain all specific 
Congressional designations, in any amount, or to submit a 
reprogramming request if any such designation is proposed for a 
change. The Committee is also concerned about ``National 
commitments'' and ``Washington Office external'' charges. These 
items should be clearly displayed and explained in the budget 
justification and efforts should be made to reduce these 
expenses.
    The Committee is concerned that the Forest Service 
allocation of funds does not provide equitable treatment to all 
regions. The Service should reexamine its funding allocation 
criteria and demonstrate in the budget justification greater 
equity that reflects the program of work and the potential 
benefits.
    The Committee continues to support and encourage the land 
management agencies to work with each other to consolidate 
activities at the field level as a means of achieving savings 
and providing improved services to the public. The Committee 
recognizes the Trading Post pilot program of the BLM and the 
Forest Service as a means to promote customer service and 
efficiency in the management of public lands and National 
forests and commends recent interagency cooperation. This 
includes the Central Oregon ``Trading Post'' initiative between 
the Prineville BLM district and the Ochoco and Deschutes 
National Forests. The Committee supports the proposed joint 
planning effort between the Fremont National Forest and the 
Lakeview BLM district, expecting this joint effort to increase 
government planning efficiency and better serve the public.
    The Committee commends the Forest Service efforts to 
leverage its funds with non-Federal partners through its 
challenge cost share (CCS) program. The Committee expects that 
the Forest Service will comply with the suggested CCS funding 
levels in the budget justification special exhibit unless 
otherwise noted in this report. The Committee expects that 
there should be a policy of not using CCS funds for purposes 
other than establishing joint activities with tribal, State, 
and private partners. Because each Federal dollar available for 
cost sharing results in two or more dollars available for on-
the-ground activities, the Committee directs that a cap of 10 
percent be placed on allowable Forest Service internal charges 
against CCS funds. As a result, at least 90 percent of the 
funds appropriated for CCS would be available for matching 
partners at the field level.
    The Committee is aware of the temporary suspension of a 
permit issued by the Forest Service in the Coronado National 
Forest regarding the Sabino Canyon target range operated by the 
Tucson Rod and Gun Club on March 10, 1997. The Committee 
supports the Secretary's directive to the Chief to expedite 
identifying potentially suitable alternatives and have studies 
done and a decision made by November 1998, and it is the 
Committee's expectation that there will be a relocation of the 
target range to an alternative site shortly thereafter.
    Administrative provisions.--The Committee has included the 
requested language changes regarding use of excess military 
aircraft and parts and transfer of funds for emergency 
firefighting. Bill language is included which prevents 
reprogramming without the advance approval of the House and 
Senate Committees on appropriations in compliance with the 
reprogramming procedures contained in House Report 105-163. The 
Committee expects the Forest Service to obey this law and to 
seek approval for desired changes to Congressionally designated 
allocations to accounts, activities, and projects. The 
Committee has continued language limiting clearcutting in the 
Wayne NF, OH and the Shawnee NF, IL and continued language 
regarding ``Jobs in the Woods'' grants in the State of 
Washington.
    The Committee has retained language requiring advance 
submission of proposals to change regional boundaries or close 
or move a regional headquarters office. The Committee includes 
language allowing the Forest Service to transfer up to 
$2,250,000 each of available funds to the National Forest 
Foundation and to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 
which are to be used for matching funds as authorized, thereby 
leveraging additional private funding and furthering the 
multiple use and public service mission of the Forest Service.

                        Wildland fire management

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $586,559,000
Budget estimate, 1999 (excluding emergency)...........       554,437,000
Budget estimate, 1999 contingent emergency............       102,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       564,737,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -21,822,000
    Budget estimate, 1999 (excluding emergency).......       +10,300,000


    The Committee recommends $564,737,000 for wildland fire 
management, $10,300,000 above the budget request and 
$21,822,000 below the 1998 funding level. The Committee has not 
included the requested emergency contingent funds for fire 
operations but notes, once again, that the previously 
appropriated $250,000,000 in fire emergency funds are still 
available and should be released by the Administration to pay 
back funds advanced from the KV trust fund during previous 
emergency situations. Under the administrative provisions 
section the Committee has recommended minor legislative 
language changes, as requested, in order to manage more 
efficiently excess military aircraft and aircraft parts, and to 
allow emergency transfer of funds to cover increased fire 
preparedness costs during periods of extreme fire danger. The 
Committee has also included $300,000 for Land Between the Lakes 
NRA fire and fuels management.
    The Committee recommendation includes $329,437,000 for 
preparedness and fire use, $10,000,000 above both the budget 
request and the 1998 funding level excluding rescissions. This 
is 77% of the most efficient level (MEL) as determined by 
Forest Service models. The Committee recommends $235,000,000 
for fire operations, the request, and $30,392,000 below the 
1998 level. The recommendation includes, as requested, a 
$15,000,000 increase for fuel reduction beyond the substantial 
increases provided in 1998; fuel reduction is now funded at 
$65,000,000. The fuel reduction funding includes at least 
$15,000,000 for California and the Toiyabe National Forest; 
this includes at least $2,000,000 for priority work in the 
urban interface areas around Lake Tahoe and $6,000,000 for work 
in support of the Quincy Library Group project in northern 
California, if authorized.
    The Committee notes that the Forest Service has reported 
that at least 40,000,000 acres are in danger of catastrophic 
fire and that much of this area is in the wildland-urban 
interface area where there are substantial life, health, 
property and environmental concerns. The Committee is concerned 
about reports that valuable forest products have been included 
in prescribed burns without realizing the commercial potential 
and therefore encourages the Forest Service to avoid destroying 
commercial products. The Committee encourages use of fuels 
reduction funds in the wildland-urban interface and expects 
that mechanical treatments will frequently be employed, 
including the capture of commercial value of trees thinned for 
fuels reduction and forestry purposes. The Committee is 
encouraged by increased integration of the fuels program into 
National forest system management, but there remains much room 
for improvement. The hazardous fuels program should be 
thoroughly integrated with related programs, such as forest 
vegetation management, habitat and watershed improvement funds, 
the reforestation fund, and the ten percent road and trail 
receipts fund, to maximize multiple benefits to society by 
reducing fire danger, improving watershed and habitat 
conditions, and increasing forest health. The Forest Service 
should report to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations within 90 days of enactment of this Act on its 
efforts to integrate wildland fire and hazardous fuels 
management into National forest system management, planning and 
budgeting, as well as efforts to take an integrated approach to 
using the funds mentioned above.
    The Committee was pleased to receive the Joint Fire Science 
Plan prepared by the Forest Service and the Department of the 
Interior in response to the Committee's request in last year's 
report. The plan accurately reflects the focus and priority the 
Committee has placed on developing scientific information and 
capabilities to support the fuels management programs in the 
two Departments. The Committee has included funding at the 1998 
level for the Joint Fire Science Program in both the Forest 
Service and the Department of the Interior and looks forward to 
receiving progress reports from the Governing Board and program 
managers.
    The 1999 request for wildland fire reflects increased 
coordination and cooperation between the Forest Service and 
Department of the Interior on several budget and program 
matters. The Committee urges the two Departments to continue to 
work closely together to develop common budget and program 
management approaches to wildland fire management. In 
particular, the Committee expects that future budget 
justifications and requests for both preparedness and 
operations will reflect common assumptions and budget 
strategies (such as percent of MEL and percent of ten-year 
average) for the two Departments.

                    reconstruction and construction

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $166,015,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       160,914,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       271,444,000
Comparison:...........................................                  
    Appropriation, 1998...............................      +105,429,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................      +110,530,000


    The Committee recommends $271,444,000 for reconstruction 
and construction, an increase of $110,530,000 above the budget 
request and an increase of $105,429,000 above the 1998 funding 
level for this appropriation account. The recommendation 
reflects the Committee's decision to transfer $91,141,000 for 
road maintenance which was previously in the NFS account. In 
order to enhance program oversight and accountability, the 
Committee has moved the road maintenance activity from the 
National forest system budget line item to the reconstruction 
and construction line item. This will enhance a more careful 
use and prioritization of road reconstruction, maintenance, and 
decommissioning activities. The Committee has also increased 
the authority for road decommissioning by $5,000,000 over the 
1998 level. The Committee has also included $1,300,000 for Land 
Between the Lakes NRA facilities, road and trail maintenance.
    The Committee agrees to the following distribution of 
funds:

                    Reconstruction and Construction

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Committee    
                  Facilities: Project                      1998  Enacted      1999  Request      Recommendation 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research:                                                                                                       
Other admin request projects...........................         $2,737,000         $5,010,000         $5,010,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal: Research.................................          2,737,000          5,010,000          5,010,000
Fire, admin, other:                                                                                             
Grey Towers Nat historic landmark (PA).................          2,300,000            100,000          4,900,000
Other admin request projects...........................         13,796,000         20,790,000         20,790,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal: FAO......................................         16,096,000         20,890,000         25,690,000
Recreation:                                                                                                     
Cradle of Forestry sewer rehab. & cmpgrd design (NC)...  .................                  0            559,000
Midewin NTP plan & design (IL).........................  .................                  0            600,000
Pisgah RD safety & rest room repairs (NC)..............  .................                  0            505,000
Pikes Peak Summit House (CO)...........................          1,000,000                  0            200,000
Other admin request....................................         30,823,000         20,720,000         20,720,000
Presidential initiative................................  .................          5,000,000                  0
Backlog maintenance & minor projects...................  .................                  0          4,500,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal: Recreation...............................         31,823,000         25,720,000         27,084,000
                                                        ========================================================
      Total facilities construction....................         50,656,000         51,620,000         57,784,000
Trail reconstruction and construction:                                                                          
Continental Divide trail (MT,WY,CO,NM).................            750,000                  0            500,000
Florida National Scenic Trail..........................  .................  .................            250,000
Bonneville Shoreline Trail (UT)........................  .................                  0            300,000
Sawtooth NRA Harriman trail (ID).......................            300,000                  0            270,000
Other Admin. Request projects..........................         26,245,000         13,200,000         13,200,000
Backlog trail reconstruction...........................  .................                  0         13,231,000
                                                        ========================================================
      Total trails construction........................         27,295,000         13,200,000         27,751,000
Road reconstruction and construction:                                                                           
Midewin NTP parking & roads (IL).......................  .................                  0            500,000
Admin. Request projects................................         88,094,000         96,094,000         92,968,000
    Subtotal Roads.....................................         88,094,000         96,094,000         93,468,000
                                                        ========================================================
Road Maintenance & decommissioning:                                                                             
Road maintenance.......................................  .................  .................         91,141,000
                                                        ========================================================
Land Between the Lakes NRA, maint. & repairs...........                  0                  0          1,300,000
Total (excluding 1998 rescission)......................        166,045,000        160,914,000        271,444,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Facilities construction and reconstruction.--The Committee 
recommends $57,784,000 for facilities construction and 
reconstruction, $6,164,000 above the budget request and 
$7,128,000 above the 1998 funding level. The challenge cost 
share funding levels should follow the budget justification.
    Research.--The Committee recommends $5,010,000, equal to 
the budget request and $2,273,000 above the 1998 level, for 
research facility construction.
    Fire, Administrative, Other (FAO).--The Committee 
recommendation for FAO facilities construction and 
reconstruction includes the budget request and additional funds 
for the Grey Towers National Historic Site, PA restoration. The 
Committee recommends that private funds should be raised to 
help complete the restoration. The Committee defers, without 
prejudice, funds for relocating the R9 regional office.
    Recreation Facilities Construction.--The Committee 
recommends $27,084,000 for recreation facilities construction 
and reconstruction, $1,364,000 above the budget request and 
$4,739,000 below the 1998 enacted level. The Committee has not 
included funding for the Presidential initiative on recreation 
construction. Rather, the Committee has provided $4,500,000 for 
small, deferred maintenance and repair needs and minor 
construction projects costing less than $250,000 each. These 
projects may be for any Forest Service facility, including 
research, FAO, and recreation. The Committee expects the Forest 
Service to request miscellaneous small project needs in future 
budget justifications rather than pursuing authority to use 
operations funding for small construction projects. The 
Committee has also provided bill language to facilitate cost 
sharing of the Pikes Peak Summit House with the City of 
Colorado Springs: a total of $1,000,000, including $800,000 
from last year's appropriation and $200,000 from this Act will 
be transferred to the city. The Forest Service may retain up to 
$200,000 for overall program oversight and environmental 
coordination. The Committee expects that State, local and other 
sources will be able to raise all additional funds needed to 
construct the Pikes Peak Summit House.
    Trails.--The Committee recommends $27,751,000 for trail 
construction, $456,000 above the 1998 level but an increase of 
$14,551,000 from the budget request. The Committee does not 
concur with the Administration request to use the road and 
trails receipts fund to replace basic trail needs. Challenge 
cost share funding should adhere to the budget justification.
    Road Reconstruction and Construction.--The Committee 
recommends $93,468,000 for road reconstruction and 
construction, a decrease of $2,626,000 below the 
Administration's budget request and an increase of $5,374,000 
above the 1998 funding level. The Committee is very concerned 
that the vast NFS lands have sufficient roads to provide public 
access and access for management activities, and that these 
roads be maintained and built to standards that do not cause 
adverse impacts to watersheds. The Committee recommendation 
includes only $1,009,000 to directly build new roads. The 
Committee is alarmed at the high costs of engineering overhead 
and program management and so provides a reduction of 10% for 
this subactivity, so that no more than $28,070,000 may be so 
allocated. The Forest Service should include a clear plan for 
downsizing the engineering infrastructure and for achieving 
much greater cost efficiency when it submits its next budget 
justification. In Title III the Committee has recommended bill 
language which ends the timber purchaser road credit program 
but allows existing, previously earned credits to be used and 
States not to lose revenue due to this change. Although future 
timber roads will be built by purchasers, the Forest Service 
must still provide all road planning, design, National 
Environmental Policy Act and other environmental coordination 
and clearances, and construction oversight and contract 
administration while the private companies actually build the 
roads. The Committee recognizes the Administration estimates 
that this work will require $21,461,000. The Committee expects 
that road decommissioning and closures will considerably exceed 
the extent of new road construction. The Committee recommends 
that transportation planning be done at the local National 
forest level and be closely coordinated with the forest 
planning process so that decisions affecting rural America are 
made with the best data in hand and with full knowledge of 
local impacts to communities and the environment. The Committee 
has provided substantial resources to manage the road system, 
recognizing how important this is for Americans to access and 
enjoy their National forests and grasslands.
    Road Maintenance and Decommissioning.--The Committee has 
transferred this activity to the reconstruction account to 
enable better cost accounting and program oversight: 
$91,141,000 has been provided, which is $6,167,000 above the 
1998 funding level and $15,879,000 less than the request. The 
Committee has increased the road decommissioning authority in 
bill language from $10,000,000 in 1998 to $15,000,000 in fiscal 
year 1999: this is triple the 1997 level. Future budget 
justifications should clearly explain and justify the 
engineering workforce and provide a detailed explanation of the 
``Washington Office external'' units as well as carefully 
examine opportunities for outsourcing these technical 
specialties.

                            land acquisition

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $52,976,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        56,057,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        30,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -22,976,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -26,057,000


    The Committee recommends $30,000,000 for land acquisition, 
a decrease of $22,976,000 below the enacted level and 
$26,057,000 below the fiscal year 1999 budget request. This 
amount includes $18,600,000 for line item projects, $7,500,000 
for acquisition management, $1,525,000 for cash equalization, 
$1,500,000 for emergencies and hardships and $875,000 for 
wilderness protection.
    The Committee recommends the following distribution of 
funds:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee    
                    Area and State                       recommendation 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angeles NF (CA)......................................         $1,000,000
Appalachian Trail (multi)............................          7,000,000
Bar T Bar Ranch (AZ).................................          1,000,000
Big Sur Ecosystem (CA)...............................          1,000,000
Cherokee NF (TN).....................................            500,000
Cimarron & Comanche NG (CO)..........................            475,000
Daniel Boone NF (KY).................................          1,000,000
Gunnison NF (Poverty Gulch) (CO).....................            125,000
Hoosier NF (IN)......................................            500,000
Lake Jocassee (Sumter NF) (SC).......................          1,000,000
Lindbergh Lake (MT)..................................          1,000,000
Nantahala NF (Thompson River) (NC)...................          1,000,000
Rutherford Ranch (Cleveland NF) (CA).................          1,000,000
San Bernardino NF (CA)...............................          1,000,000
Coconino NF (AZ).....................................          1,000,000
Acquisition Management...............................          7,500,000
Cash Equalization....................................          1,525,000
Emergency Acquisitions...............................          1,500,000
Wilderness Protection................................            875,000
                                                      ------------------
      Total..........................................         30,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee has provided $7,000,000 in the Forest Service 
and $8,100,000 under the National Park Service acquisition 
account to complete the 2,118 mile Appalachian National Scenic 
Trail.
    The Committee understands that the Forest Service's option 
to acquire the Conundrum Creek property, in Colorado, expires 
on January 13, 1999. The Committee agrees that acquisition of 
this property, located within the Maroon Bells Wilderness, 
should be a priority matter and is committed to providing funds 
for that purpose on a timely basis.

        acquisition of lands for National forests, special acts

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $1,069,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         1,069,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         1,069,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $1,069,000 for acquisition of 
lands for National forests, special acts, the same as the 
budget request and the same as in 1998. These funds are used 
pursuant to several special acts which authorize appropriations 
from the receipts of specified National Forests for the 
purchase of lands to minimize erosion and flood damage to 
critical watersheds needing soil stabilization and vegetative 
cover.

            acquisition of lands to complete land exchanges

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................          $210,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................           210,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................           210,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $210,000 for acquisition of lands 
to complete land exchanges under the Act of December 4, 1967 
(16 U.S.C. 484a). Under the Act, deposits made by public school 
districts or public school authorities to provide for cash 
equalization of certain land exchanges can be appropriated to 
acquire similar lands suitable for National Forest System 
purposes in the same State as the National Forest lands 
conveyed in the exchanges.

                         range betterment fund

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $3,811,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         3,300,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         3,300,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          -511,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $3,300,000, the budget request, 
for the range betterment fund, to be derived from grazing 
receipts from the National Forests (Public Law 94-579, as 
amended) and to be used for range rehabilitation, protection, 
and improvements including seeding, reseeding, fence 
construction, weed control, water development, and fish and 
wildlife habitat enhancement in 16 western States.

    gifts, donations and bequests for forest and rangeland research

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................           $92,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................            92,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................            92,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $92,000, the budget estimate, for 
gifts, donations and bequests for forest and rangeland 
research. Authority for the program is contained in Public Law 
95-307 (16 U.S.C. 1643, section 4(b)). Amounts appropriated and 
not needed for current operations may be invested in public 
debt securities. Both the principal and earnings from the 
receipts are available to the Forest Service.

                          DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                         Clean Coal Technology

    The Committee has not agreed to the deferral of Clean Coal 
authority proposed by the Administration. To the extent funds 
are not needed because of premature project terminations, the 
Committee will continue its practice of rescinding excess 
funds.
    The Committee agrees to the following:
    1. Up to $14 million may be used for administration of the 
clean coal technology program.
    2. The Committee does not object to the use of $500,000 to 
continue to support the U.S./China Energy and Environmental 
Center which promotes the use of American energy technology 
that will greatly reduce emissions and improve energy 
efficiency.

                 fossil energy research and development

    The fossil energy programs of the Department of Energy make 
prudent investments in long-range research and development that 
help protect the environment through higher efficiency power 
generation, advanced production technologies and improved 
compliance and stewardship operations. These activities 
safeguard our domestic energy security. This country will 
continue to rely on fossil fuels for the majority of its energy 
requirements for the foreseeable future, and the activities 
funded through the fossil energy research and development 
account ensure that fossil energy technologies continue to 
improve with respect to emissions reduction and control and 
energy efficiency.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $362,403,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       383,408,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       320,558,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -41,845,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -62,850,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $320,558,000 for fossil energy 
research and development, a decrease of $62,850,000 below the 
budget request and $41,845,000 below the fiscal year 1998 
level. The decrease is largely due to the transfer and 
consolidation of all the advanced turbine system programs in 
the energy conservation account.
    Coal.--The Committee recommends $113,845,000 for coal 
research, a decrease of $16,200,000 below the budget request. 
Changes to the budget request are shown in the following table:

Advanced Clean Fuels Research:
    coal preparation/coal cleaning......................       -$500,000

Advanced Clean/Efficient Power Systems:
    high efficiency IGCC/vision 21......................      -3,000,000
    advanced research and environmental technology/
      CO2 sequestration......................     -10,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Subtotal, Advanced Clean/Efficient Power Systems..     -13,000,000

Advanced Research & Technology Development:
    bioprocessing of coal...............................        -900,000
    university coal research............................        -900,000
    technical and economic analysis.....................        -300,000
    international program support.......................        -500,000
    HBCU research activities............................        -100,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Subtotal, Advanced Research & Technology 
      Development.......................................      -2,700,000

    Natural Gas.--The Committee recommends $24,357,000 for 
natural gas research, a decrease of $43,000,000 below the 
budget request. Changes to the budget request are shown in the 
following table:

Advanced Turbine Systems:
    transfer and consolidate in energy conservation 
      account...........................................     -43,000,000
Emerging Processing Technology:
    gas upgrading/coal mine methane.....................        -500,000
Effective Environmental Protection:
    technology development/National lab-industry 
      partnership.......................................        +500,000

    Fuel Cells.--The Committee recommends $39,200,000 for fuel 
cell research, a decrease of $3,000,000 below the budget 
request. Changes to the budget request are shown in the 
following table:

Fuel Cell Systems Development/downselect from 3 to 2                    
 contracts............................................        -5,000,000
Multilayer ceramic technology for fuel cells..........        +2,000,000


    Oil Technology.--The Committee recommends $48,066,000 for 
oil technology research, a decrease of $2,100,000 below the 
budget request. Changes to the budget request are shown in the 
following table:

Exploration & Production Supporting Research:
    analysis and planning...............................        -500,000
    recovery efficiency processes.......................        -500,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Subtotal, Exploration & Production................      -1,000,000
Effective Environmental Protection:
    State/tribal/Federal regulations....................      -1,100,000

    Cooperative Research and Development.--The Committee 
recommends $5,836,000, the budget request, for cooperative 
research and development.
    Environmental Restoration.--The Committee recommends 
$11,000,000, the budget request, for environmental restoration.
    Fuels Program.--The Committee recommends $2,173,000, the 
budget request, for the fuels conversion, natural gas and 
electricity program.
    Headquarters Program Direction.--The Committee recommends 
$15,049,000 for headquarters program direction, a decrease of 
$50,000 below the budget request. The decrease is to be applied 
to travel expenses.
    Energy Technology Center Program Direction.--The Committee 
recommends $53,432,000 for energy technology center program 
direction, an increase of $1,500,000 above the budget request. 
The increase includes $1,000,000 in salaries and benefits to 
offset partially fixed cost increases and $500,000 for contract 
services.
    General Plant Projects.--The Committee recommends 
$2,600,000, the budget request for general plant projects.
    Mining.--The Committee recommends $5,000,000, the budget 
request, for the mining/advanced metallurgical processes 
program.
    The Committee agrees to the following:
    1. Within the funds provided for direct liquefaction, the 
Department should make every effort to work with the major 
contractor on the distribution of these funds.
    2. Existing fuel cell contracts should be downselected in 
fiscal year 1999 from 3 to 2 contractors.
    3. The increase of $2,000,000 in the fuel cell program for 
multilayer ceramic technology is contingent on its being used 
to work with McDermott Technology, Inc. on the development of 
this technology; provided the company provides matching funds.
    4. The Committee expects the Department to issue a single 
solicitation covering all three classes in the oil technology/
recovery field demonstrations program and to require a minimum 
cost share of 65%.
    5. The Committee expects the Department to address the 
House Science Committee's recommendation with respect to peer-
reviewed, cost-shared research in the fiscal year 2000 budget 
request.
    6. The Committee is informed of industry development of a 
low-cost, energy-efficient prototype which applies well-
established ramjet technology from the aerospace industry to 
electric power generation. The Committee is advised that this 
energy source is expected to burn a wide variety of fuels 
(including coal mine methane and landfill gases) and promises 
to do so with greater efficiency and with substantially lower 
levels of harmful emissions than competing power systems. The 
compact, simple design of the prototype also promises to be 
less expensive to build and operate than other forms of power 
generation. The Committee encourages the Department to continue 
its dialogue with industry on the development of this prototype 
which is scheduled to be completed and tested prior to fiscal 
year 1999.
    7. The turbine program funding is consolidated in Energy 
Conservation but Fossil Energy should continue to manage its 
portions of the program.
    8. The Committee strongly encourages continued coordination 
with States and industry to ensure research is meaningful and 
not duplicative. Further direction on working with the States 
is included under Administrative Provisions, Department of 
Energy.
    9. No funds are to be used to implement the Kyoto agreement 
on global warming/climate change.

                      alternative fuels production

                     (including transfer of funds)

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       -$1,500,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        -1,300,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        -1,300,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          +200,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


     The Committee recommends the deposit of investment income 
earned as of October 1, 1998, on principal amounts in a trust 
fund established as part of the sale of the Great Plains 
Gasification Plant in Beulah, ND, into this account and 
immediate transfer of the funds to the General Fund of the 
Treasury. The amount available as of October 1, 1998, is 
estimated to be $1,300,000.

                 naval petroleum and oil shale reserves

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $107,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        22,500,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        14,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -93,000,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -8,500,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $14,000,000 for the operation of 
the naval petroleum and oil shale reserves, a decrease of 
$8,500,000 below the budget request and $93,000,000 below the 
fiscal year 1998 level. The large decrease from the fiscal year 
1998 level reflects the operational savings achieved through 
the sale of the Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve. The 
decreases to the budget request will be offset through the use 
of prior year unobligated balances under the Committee's 
recommendation. The Committee has recommended bill language 
which gives the Department the authority to use unobligated 
balances in the oil shale revolving fund for the operation of 
the Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves.
    The Department should notify the Committee of its plans to 
use prior year balances for NPR operations. Under no 
circumstances should the use of those balances result in 
funding in excess of that justified in the budget request and 
approved by the Committee.

                          energy conservation

    The energy conservation program of the Department of Energy 
funds cooperative research and development projects aimed at 
sustaining economic growth through more efficient energy use. 
Activities financed through this program focus on markedly 
improving existing technologies as well as developing new 
technologies, which ultimately will displace some of our 
reliance on traditional fossil fuels.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $611,723,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       808,500,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       630,250,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +18,527,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................      -178,250,000


     The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $630,250,000 for energy 
conservation, a decrease of $178,250,000 below the budget 
request and an increase of $18,527,000 above the fiscal year 
1998 level. Changes to the budget request are detailed below 
and include decreases of $94,600,000 in building technology, 
$10,700,000 in the Federal energy management program, 
$72,900,000 in transportation programs, and $6,750,000 in 
policy and management, and an increase of $6,700,000 in 
industry programs.
    Buildings.--The Committee recommends $222,945,000 for the 
building technology program, a decrease of $94,600,000 below 
the budget request. Changes to the budget request are shown in 
the following table:


Buildings System Design:                                                
    Residential buildings:                                              
        building America..............................       -$4,200,000
        industrialized housing........................          -500,000
        design strategies.............................          -900,000
        residential energy efficiency.................          -300,000
        affordable housing............................          -800,000
        home energy rating systems....................          -500,000
    Commercial buildings:                                               
        building performance..........................        -2,000,000
        design strategies.............................        -1,800,000
        rebuild America...............................        -3,600,000
        outreach......................................          -400,000
                                                       -----------------
          Subtotal, Building Systems Design...........       -15,000,000
                                                       =================
Building Equipment & Materials:                                         
    Technology roadmaps...............................        -4,000,000
    Space conditioning and cogeneration:                                
        heat pumps....................................        -1,300,000
        refrigeration.................................          -200,000
        fuel cells for buildings......................        -2,000,000
    Lighting and appliances:                                            
        long-term research............................          -300,000
        distribution and control......................          -500,000
        impacts of lighting...........................          -200,000
        emerging technology demonstrations............        -1,500,000
        volume purchases..............................        -1,000,000
        consumer education............................        -1,500,000
    Building envelope:                                                  
        thermal insulation & building materials.......          -800,000
        electrochromic research.......................          -800,000
        advanced glazing..............................          -700,000
        highly reflective surfaces....................          -450,000
        superwindow collaborative.....................          -200,000
                                                       -----------------
          Subtotal, Building Equipment & Materials....       -15,450,000
                                                       =================
Codes & Standards:                                                      
    Building standards & guidelines:                                    
        update State codes............................          -500,000
        training......................................          -200,000
        assistance....................................        -3,100,000
        analysis......................................          -100,000
        energy codes..................................          -600,000
    Lighting & appliance standards....................        -3,900,000
                                                       -----------------
          Subtotal, Codes & Standards.................        -8,400,000
                                                       =================
Use of Prior Year Funds...............................        -6,400,000
                                                       =================
Weatherization Assistance Program:                                      
    Training and technical assistance.................          -400,000
    Grants............................................       -33,700,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Weatherization Assistance Program.....       -34,100,000
                                                       =================
State Energy Program..................................        -7,000,000
                                                       =================
Municipal Energy Management:                                            
    Competitive energy partnerships (no new starts)...        -5,000,000
                                                       =================
Management & Planning/Evaluation & planning:                            
    technology & sector data..........................          -250,000
    analytical studies & planning.....................          -900,000
    State & local program support.....................          -600,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Management & Planning.................        -1,750,000
Transfer of Crosscutting Offsets to Policy &                            
 Management...........................................        -1,500,000
                                                                        

    Federal Energy Management Program.--The Committee 
recommends $23,168,000 for the Federal energy management 
program. Changes to the budget request are shown in the 
following table:

Program Activities:                                                     
    project financing.................................       -$5,000,000
    technical guidance and assistance.................        -3,000,000
    planning, reporting & evaluation..................        -2,000,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Program Activities....................       -10,000,000
Program Direction.....................................          -700,000


    Industry.--The Committee recommends $173,259,000 for 
industry sector programs, an increase of $6,700,000 above the 
budget request. Changes to the budget request are shown in the 
following table:

Industries of the Future (Specific):                                    
    aluminum/mining vision (no new starts)............       -$1,000,000
    chemicals/agriculture vision (no new starts)......        -2,000,000
    industry-wide solicitation (no new starts)........       -19,000,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Industries of the Future (Specific)...       -22,000,000
                                                       =================
Industries of the Future (Crosscutting):                                
    Cogeneration:                                                       
        combined heat and power.......................        -1,000,000
        advanced turbine systems......................        +1,000,000
        Fossil Energy turbine program.................       +43,000,000
    Advanced Materials/ceramics for industry                            
     applications.....................................        +3,000,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Industries of the Future                                
       (Crosscutting).................................       +46,000,000
                                                       =================
Technology Access:                                                      
    motor challenge...................................        -4,000,000
    NICE \3\..........................................        -1,500,000
    climate wise......................................        -1,000,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Technology Access.....................        -6,500,000
                                                       =================
Management & Planning:                                                  
    evaluation and planning...........................          -200,000
    program direction.................................          -800,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Management & Planning.................        -1,000,000
                                                       =================
Transfer of Crosscutting Offsets to Policy and                          
 Management...........................................        -1,500,000
Use of Prior Year Funds...............................        -8,300,000
                                                                        

    Transportation.--The Committee recommends $173,196,000 for 
transportation research, a decrease of $72,900,000 below the 
budget request. Changes to the budget request are shown in the 
following table:

Advanced Automotive Technologies:                                       
    Automotive alternative fuels R&D:                                   
        fuels for advanced engines....................        -1,300,000
        technology competitions.......................          -150,000
    Electric vehicle R&D:                                               
        long-term battery R&D.........................        -1,000,000
        exploratory technology........................        -1,000,000
    Vehicle systems R&D:                                                
        heat engine R&D...............................        -6,000,000
        high power energy storage.....................        -2,000,000
    Fuel cell R&D:                                                      
        systems development...........................        -2,500,000
        component R&D.................................        -5,000,000
        fuel processor & storage......................        -7,500,000
    Advanced combustion engine R&D                            -6,000,000
    Cooperative auto research for advanced                              
     technologies                                             -6,000,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Advanced Automotive Technologies......       -38,450,000
                                                       =================
Advanced Heavy Vehicle Technologies/Heavy vehicle                       
 systems R&D:                                                           
    high efficiency engine R&D........................        -7,000,000
    advanced transportation technology consortia......       -10,000,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Advanced Heavy Vehicles...............       -17,000,000
                                                       =================
Transportation Materials Technologies/Heavy vehicle                     
 materials technology:                                                  
    propulsion system materials.......................        -1,000,000
    high strength weight reduction materials (cost                      
     shared with NTRC & NATT).........................        +2,000,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Transportation Materials..............        +1,000,000
                                                       =================
Technology Deployment:                                                  
    clean cities voluntary deployment.................        -3,200,000
    infrastructure systems, and safety/fueling........          +500,000
    infrastructure for natural gas vehicles, field                      
     test/evaluation..................................        -1,000,000
    technical information development.................        -1,000,000
                                                       -----------------
    Subtotal, Technology Deployment...................        -4,700,000
                                                       =================
Implementation and Program Management:                                  
    evaluation, planning & analysis...................          -800,000
    program direction.................................          -550,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Implementation & Program Management...        -1,350,000
                                                       =================
Transfer of Crosscutting Offsets to Policy and                          
 Management...........................................        -2,300,000
Use of Prior Year Funds                                                 
    PNGV prior year funds.............................        -7,000,000
    non-PNGV prior year funds.........................        -3,100,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Use of Prior Year Funds...............       -10,100,000
                                                                        

    Policy and Management.--The Committee recommends 
$37,682,000 for policy and management, a decrease of $6,750,000 
below the budget request. Changes to the budget request are 
shown in the following table:

Policy and Management:                                                  
    Headquarters contract support.....................        -1,000,000
    Regional support offices contract services........        -1,000,000
    International market development..................          -300,000
    Information and communication program.............          -450,000
    Centers of excellence.............................        -2,000,000
    Initiatives.......................................          +500,000
    Strategic policy initiatives......................        -2,500,000
                                                       -----------------
      Subtotal, Policy and Management.................        -6,750,000
                                                                        

    The Committee agrees to the following:
    1. None of the funds provided herein are for the million 
solar roofs initiative. This program is under the purview of 
the Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
    2. In measuring energy for efficiency standards, for 
Federal facilities and buildings and for dealings with standard 
setting organizations, the Department should consider the total 
energy consumed over the full fuel cycle, emissions and energy 
costs. This applies to all programs funded under the energy 
conservation appropriation.
    3. The Department needs to continue and intensify its 
efforts to consolidate and streamline the buildings research 
program. The fiscal year 2000 budget should clearly demonstrate 
savings in this area and present a strategic plan for the 
future.
    4. Within the funds provided for near-term lighting 
research, the Committee expects the Department to continue to 
support cost-shared research with industry on compact 
fluorescent lighting cost reduction.
    5. The increase above the fiscal year 1998 level in the 
long-term lighting program is to be used to initiate a hybrid 
lighting cooperative program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
    6. As part of the buildings program consolidation, the 
Committee urges the Department to consider issuing 2 or 3 
broad-based R&D solicitations annually which cut across the 
various project areas--lighting, appliances, windows, building 
equipment, etc.
    7. The weatherization assistance program, under the 
Committee's recommendations, will not be cut disproportionately 
to other energy conservation programs. The 3 research areas--
buildings, industry and transportation--are required to offset 
some of their new budget authority through the use of prior 
year funds and the weatherization program is exempt from this 
requirement.
    8. The increase in funding for the Federal Energy 
Management Program is provided with the expectation that a 
portion of those funds will be used to hire at least 6 
additional staff at the Regional Support Offices to administer 
the FEMP program and that the balance will be distributed to 
the National Laboratories for technical assistance. Bill 
language is recommended in Administrative Provisions, 
Department of Energy, continuing and making permanent the 
Department's authority to receive reimbursements from other 
Federal agencies and to use those funds to pursue Federal 
agency energy savings contracts through the Federal energy 
management program. The Department should ensure that standard 
``boilerplate'' contracts are used to the maximum extent 
possible to streamline the bureaucratic process. The Committee 
reminds the Department and the Administration that this program 
will work only if there are technical experts in energy 
management in other Federal agencies and the Administration 
should ensure that such experts are in place government-wide.
    9. The Committee strongly encourages the Department to 
grant staffing relief from the Strategic Alignment Initiative 
staffing targets for FEMP program support at the Regional 
Support Offices.
    10. The funding provided for the industry/combined heat & 
power program is to be used for activities focused on removing 
barriers and not for demonstration projects.
    11. Argonne National Laboratory should not be reduced 
disproportionately to other National laboratories.
    12. Funding for advanced turbine research is consolidated 
in the industry program but Fossil Energy should continue to 
manage its portions of the program.
    13. The industry program should involve the National 
Laboratories and, to the extent possible, encourage industry-
laboratory partnerships.
    14. None of the funds provided for management and planning 
in the industry program are for joint efforts with the 
Department's Policy Office and EPA on carbon credits.
    15. The increase provided for technology deployment/fueling 
infrastructure for natural gas vehicles is to be used for 
programs determined in coordination with industry.
    16. Of the funds provided for alternative fuels/systems 
optimization, $2,000,000 is for natural gas vehicle research, 
consistent with the budget justification, as is $2,000,000 in 
engine R&D for heavy vehicles.
    17. The Committee strongly encourages the Department to use 
FETC expertise in the alternative fuels R&D area.
    18. The Northwest Alliance for Transportation Technologies 
should be funded at least at the $3,000,000 level in fiscal 
year 1999.
    19. The Committee has earmarked $7,000,000 of the offset 
attributable to the use of carryover balances within the 
transportation program for PNGV programs.
    20. Grants to States within the 3 different sector programs 
should be clearly delineated in the budget justification for 
fiscal year 2000.
    21. The Committee strongly encourages continued 
coordination with States and industry to ensure research is 
meaningful and not duplicative. Further direction on working 
with the States is included under Administrative Provisions, 
Department of Energy.
    22. No funding has been provided for centers of excellence. 
The Committee does not object to the use, within available 
funds, of no more than $400,000 to maintain the existing 
website (including staffing costs) as a delivery mechanism to 
showcase EERE technologies. Staffing for this function should 
not exceed 3 FTE. The funding provided in policy and management 
under ``initiatives'' is for this and other crosscutting 
programs.
    23. The Committee supports expanded use of the Regional 
Support Offices to provide liaison with the States and industry 
for program implementation and review. These offices must be 
accorded a reasonable amount of direct decision making 
authority. Otherwise, they will serve as an unnecessary 
bureaucratic layer.
    24. In the fiscal year 2000 budget, crosscutting policy and 
management activities should be clearly funded in the policy 
and management line item and should not be included in any 
program key activities.
    25. The Department needs to do a better job of managing 
unobligated and uncosted balances. The fiscal year 2000 budget 
should address this issue clearly.
    26. The Committee expects the Department to address the 
House Science Committee's recommendation with respect to peer-
reviewed cost-shared research in the fiscal year 2000 budget 
request.
    27. The Committee is very concerned by reports from the 
General Accounting Office on the excessive unobligated and 
uncosted balances in the energy conservation account. The 
Committee has assumed the use of a small portion of these 
balances to offset fiscal year 1999 requirements. The 
Department should notify the Committee, through the 
reprogramming process, by December 31, 1998, on the recovery 
and use of prior year funds to meet 1999 requirements. This 
notification should include details by project, budget 
subactivity and activity; should explain why the funds are 
available in each instance; and should note, in each instance, 
the participating contractors, National laboratories or other 
cooperators. To the maximum extent possible, these funds should 
be recovered from projects that have been completed, terminated 
or downsized.
    28. No funds are to be used to implement the Kyoto 
agreement on global warming/climate change.

                          economic regulation

    The economic regulation account funds the independent 
Office of Hearings and Appeals which is responsible for all of 
the Department's adjudication processes except those that are 
the responsibility of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 
The amount funded by this Committee is for those activities 
specific to this bill: mainly those related to petroleum 
overcharge cases. All other activities are funded on a 
reimbursable basis from the other elements of the Department of 
Energy. Prior to fiscal year 1997, this account also funded the 
Economic Regulatory Administration.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $2,725,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         1,801,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         1,801,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          -924,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $1,801,000 for economic 
regulation, equal to the budget request and a decrease of 
$924,000 below the fiscal year 1998 level.

                      strategic petroleum reserve

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $207,500,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       160,120,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       160,120,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -47,380,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $160,120,000 for operation of the 
Strategic Petroleum Reserve which is equal to the budget 
request and a decrease of $47,380,000 below the fiscal year 
1998 level.

                   energy information administration

    The Energy Information Administration is a quasi-
independent agency within the Department of Energy established 
to provide timely, objective, and accurate energy-related 
information to the Congress, executive branch, State 
governments, industry, and the public. The information and 
analysis prepared by the EIA is widely disseminated and the 
agency is recognized as an unbiased source of energy 
information by government organizations, industry, professional 
statistical organizations and the public.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $66,800,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        70,500,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        68,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +1,200,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -2,500,000


    The Committee recommends $68,000,000 for the Energy 
Information Administration, a decrease of $2,500,000 below the 
budget request and $1,200,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. 
The decrease recommended by the Committee includes $360,000 for 
carbon emissions accounting and $2,140,000 for carbon emissions 
analysis.
    The Committee understands that EIA's staffing targets have 
been changed to 382 in 1998, 375 in 1999 and 368 in 2000. The 
Committee urges the Department and EIA to give priority 
consideration to personnel actions to ensure that EIA maintains 
those FTE utilization levels. The Committee expects EIA to 
consider attrition rates and the lag time required to fill 
positions, and to staff above target levels to allow for the 
effects of attrition and hiring delays.

                      elk hills school lands fund

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................                 0
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       $36,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................                 0
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -36,000,000


    The Committee has not recommended funding for the Elk Hills 
school lands fund. The Defense Authorization bill, as passed by 
the House of Representatives, includes a provision that makes 
the payment of this California school lands claim payable 
directly from the proceeds of the sale of the Elk Hills Naval 
Petroleum Reserve. An account has been established in the 
Treasury for that purpose and, should the aforementioned 
provision be included in the final Defense Authorization Act, 
payment of the claim will no longer be subject to 
appropriations.

            administrative provisions, department of energy

    Bill language is recommended in Administrative Provisions, 
Department of Energy, continuing and making permanent the 
Department's authority to receive reimbursements from other 
Federal agencies and to use those funds to pursue Federal 
agency energy savings contracts through the Federal energy 
management program.
    The Committee expects the Department to move quickly to 
implement its MOUs with the States of New York and California 
and to report to the Committee by October 15, 1998 on the 
collaborative research projects it has funded pursuant to those 
MOUs in fiscal year 1998. A report should also be submitted by 
December 31, 1998 on cooperative projects planned for fiscal 
year 1999.
    The Committee also expects the Department to work actively 
with other States to develop MOUs for cooperative research 
including regional MOUs, as appropriate, with groups of States. 
The Committee should be kept apprised of progress in this area.

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                         Indian Health Service

                         indian health services

    The provision of Federal health services to Indians is 
based on a special relationship between Indian tribes and the 
U.S. Government first set forth in the 1830's by the U.S. 
Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall. Numerous 
treaties, statutes, constitutional provisions, and 
international law have reconfirmed this relationship. Principal 
among these is the Snyder Act of 1921 which provides the basic 
authority for most Indian health services provided by the 
Federal Government to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The 
Indian Health Service (IHS) provides direct health care 
services in 37 hospitals, 61 health centers, 4 school health 
centers, and 48 health stations. Tribes and tribal groups, 
through contracts with the IHS, operate 12 hospitals, 134 
health centers, 4 school health centers, and 241 health 
stations (including 168 Alaska village clinics). The IHS, 
tribes and tribal groups also operate 7 regional youth 
substance abuse treatment centers and more than 2,000 units of 
staff quarters.


Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................    $1,841,174,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................     1,843,873,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................     1,932,953,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +91,779,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       +89,080,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $1,932,953,000 for Indian health 
services, an increase of $89,080,000 above the budget request 
and $91,779,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. Increases to 
the budget request include $53,142,000 for clinical services, 
$4,931,000 for preventive health, $986,000 for urban health, 
$1,117,000 for Indian health professions, $51,000 for tribal 
management, $2,423,000 for direct management, $351,000 for 
self-governance, and $26,079,000 for contract support costs.
    The Administration, in its budget request for fiscal year 
1999, fell far short of fulfilling its responsibility to the 
Indian people for health services. No funds were included for 
pay increases for health professionals. No funds were requested 
for inflationary costs. No funds were requested for new tribes. 
No funds were requested for staffing and operating newly 
constructed facilities. Funds for maintenance of health 
facilities were reduced. Funds for water and sewer facilities 
in Indian homes were reduced. No funds were requested to 
address the deficit in contract support costs for those tribes 
that manage their own health programs and no funds were 
requested for new or expanded Indian self-determination or 
self-governance compacts.
    The Committee has recommended full funding for fixed cost 
increases and attempted to begin to address the problem of 
contract support cost shortfalls. The Committee also recommends 
the restoration of the cuts to the base program proposed by the 
Administration.
    Hospitals and Clinics.--The Committee recommends 
$932,984,000 for hospitals and clinics, an increase of 
$32,679,000 above the budget request and $26,183,000 above the 
fiscal year 1998 level. Increases to the budget request include 
$36,392,000 for pay and inflation, $9,963,000 to restore the 
cuts to the base programs and $10,324,000 for staffing and 
operating new facilities of which $292,000 is for the Kotzebue, 
AK hospital, $435,000 is for the White Earth, MN health center, 
$1,579,000 is for the Lame Deer, MT health center, $7,875,000 
is for the Anchorage, AK hospital and $143,000 is for the 
Harlem, MT health center. Decreases include $5,000,000 for a 
cervical and breast cancer initiative and $19,000,000 that is 
transferred to the facilities account to consolidate all 
facilities management in that program.
    Dental Health.--The Committee recommends $72,380,000 for 
dental health, an increase of $6,863,000 above both the budget 
request and the fiscal year 1998 level. Increases include 
$5,192,000 for pay and inflation and $1,671,000 for staffing 
and operating new facilities of which $261,000 is for the Lame 
Deer, MT health center, $177,000 is for the Kotzebue, AK 
hospital, $185,000 is for the White Earth, NM health center and 
$1,048,000 is for the Anchorage, AK hospital. The Committee 
also has provided $1,000,000 in the facilities account for 
additional modular dental units.
    Mental Health.--The Committee recommends $42,352,000 for 
mental health services, an increase of $3,073,000 above both 
the budget request and the fiscal year 1998 level. Increases 
include $1,571,000 for pay and inflation, $1,000,000 to 
continue the suicide prevention program started in the fiscal 
year 1998 supplemental appropriation, and $502,000 for staffing 
and operating new facilities of which $51,000 is for the White 
Earth, MN health center, $94,000 is for the Lame Deer, MT 
health center and $357,000 is for the Anchorage, AK hospital.
    The Committee has funded a suicide prevention program in 
the Indian Health Service rather than a similar proposal in the 
BIA. The Committee believes the IHS is the appropriate agency 
to provide these services. The Committee expects the Indian 
Health Service to distribute these funds based on greatest need 
and to fund no more than 10 programs, and preferably less than 
10, to ensure that the funds are not diluted to such an extent 
as to result in ineffective programs. The Service should report 
to the Committee, no later than January 15, 1999, on how it 
proposes to distribute these funds.
    Alcohol and Substance Abuse.--The Committee recommends 
$95,321,000 for alcohol and substance abuse treatment and 
prevention programs, a decrease of $5,461,000 below the budget 
request and an increase of $3,539,000 above the fiscal year 
1998 level. Changes to the budget request include an increase 
of $3,539,000 for pay and inflation and a decrease of 
$9,000,000 for an alcohol and substance abuse initiative.
    The Committee has not agreed to a new alcohol and substance 
abuse initiative, as proposed in the budget request. This 
program was to be funded at the expense of basic health 
programs and the Committee believes such an approach is 
irresponsible. The Committee notes that a great deal of the 
funding in the hospital and clinics area is used to treat 
alcohol and substance abuse-related health problems.
    Contract Health Care.--The Committee recommends 
$389,363,000 for contract care, an increase of $15,988,000 
above both the budget request and the fiscal year 1998 level. 
Increases include $14,308,000 for pay and inflation and 
$1,680,000 for unmet need/new tribes funding.
    Public Health Nursing.--The Committee recommends 
$30,578,000 for public health nursing, an increase of 
$2,380,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 
1998 level. Increases include $1,139,000 for pay and inflation 
and $1,241,000 for staffing and operating new facilities of 
which $4,000 is for the Kotzebue, AK hospital, $298,000 is for 
the White Earth, MN health center, $323,000 is for the Lame 
Deer, MT health center, $504,000 is for the Anchorage, AK 
hospital and $112,000 is for the Harlem, MT health center.
    Health Education.--The Committee recommends $9,480,000 for 
health education, an increase of $548,000 above both the budget 
request and the fiscal year 1998 level. Increases include 
$293,000 for pay and inflation and $255,000 for staffing and 
operating new facilities of which $47,000 is for the White 
Earth, MN health center, $87,000 is for the Lame Deer, MT 
health center and $121,000 is for the Anchorage, AK hospital.
    Community Health Representatives.--The Committee recommends 
$46,267,000 for community health representatives, an increase 
of $1,955,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 
1998 level. Increases include $1,727,000 for pay and inflation 
and $228,000 for staffing and operating the new White Earth, MN 
health center.
    Immunization.--The Committee recommends $1,376,000 for the 
immunization program in Alaska, an increase of $48,000 above 
both the budget request and the fiscal year 1998 level. The 
increase is for pay and inflation costs.
    Urban Health.--The Committee recommends $26,569,000 for 
urban health projects, an increase of $986,000 above the 
request and $1,281,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. The 
increase above the budget request is for pay and inflation 
costs.
    Indian Health Professions.--The committee recommends 
$29,837,000 for Indian health professions, an increase of 
$1,117,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 
1998 level for pay and inflation costs.
    Tribal Management.--The Committee recommends $2,399,000 for 
tribal management, an increase of $51,000 above both the budget 
request and the fiscal year 1998 level for inflation costs.
    Direct Operations.--The Committee recommends $49,809,000 
for direct operations, an increase of $2,423,000 above both the 
budget request and the fiscal year 1998 level. The increase is 
for pay and inflation costs.
    Self-Governance.--The Committee recommends $9,457,000 for 
self-governance, an increase of $351,000 above both the budget 
request and the fiscal year 1998 level. The increase is for pay 
and inflation costs.
    Contract Support Costs.--The Committee recommends 
$194,781,000 for contract support costs, an increase of 
$26,079,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 
1998 level. Increases include $14,079,000 for pay and inflation 
and $12,000,000 for unmet need.
    The Committee has recommended bill language earmarking the 
amount of funding for contract support costs and requiring a 
proportional distribution of contract support cost funding. The 
increases recommended for pay and inflation and for unmet need 
in this area are to minimize any decreases to ongoing contracts 
and compacts.
    The Committee agrees to the following:
    1. Future budget requests should focus on funding fixed 
costs, including staffing of new facilities and new tribes 
funding, and base programs before considering new initiatives.
    2. The IHS needs to work closely with the tribes and with 
the legislative committees of jurisdiction to find a solution 
to contract support cost shortfalls that ensures they are not 
paid at the expense of other health care programs. This issue 
is discussed in more detail in Title III of this report.
    3. The IHS should work with the tribes to develop an 
acceptable methodology for determining level of need 
calculations for services and for contract support costs. A 
``minimum level of need funded'' should be established for all 
the various services and for contract support costs and a plan 
for increasing the level of need funded in all the various 
areas should be developed with priorities identified within and 
across programs.
    4. The IHS should expand its National diabetes surveillance 
activities by obtaining pertinent data from the Special 
Diabetes Program for American Indian grantees to measure 
diabetes prevalence, rates of amputation, blindness, and kidney 
disease, and to take measures related to prevention of 
diabetes, such as addressing obesity in children. The IHS 
should work with the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National 
Institutes of Health on the development and maintenance of 
innovative approaches to dealing with diabetes detection and 
treatment.
    5. The Committee is very concerned about the unmet need in 
the area of dental services and, encourages the IHS and the 
Administration to address this problem in the fiscal year 2000 
budget.
    Bill Language.--The Committee has recommended bill language 
earmarking the maximum amount that may be spent on contract 
support costs and language requiring a proportional 
distribution of contract support cost funding across all self-
determination and self-governance contracts and compacts. 
Language also is recommended under Administrative Provisions, 
Indian Health Service, specifying that IHS funding may not be 
used to pay for non-IHS contract support costs. In Title III--
General Provisions, the Committee has recommended language 
placing a one-year moratorium on new or expanded self-
determination and self-governance compacts. The Committee urges 
the IHS and the tribes to address the contract support cost 
problem in a timely manner so that an acceptable solution can 
be found for addressing contract support cost funding within 
the Committee's allocation and without adversely affecting 
funding for other IHS and tribal health programs.
    Bill language also is recommended to permit up to 
$17,000,000 to be used for the loan repayment program. This 
program is essential for the recruitment of health care 
professionals and the Committee's recommendation allows for 
flexibility in using that program, if the IHS and the tribes 
determine that additional funds should be diverted to the 
program.

                        indian health facilities

    The need for new Indian health care facilities has not been 
fully quantified but it is safe to say that many billions of 
dollars would be required to renovate existing facilities and 
construct all the needed new hospitals and clinics. In 1994, 
IHS conducted a review of facility needs to determine what 
would be required to provide adequate and safe health care 
delivery. The conclusions of the review were that IHS would 
need to replace, renovate or modernize 41 hospitals, 153 full 
service health centers, and 289 part-time health stations, and 
that 12 new health centers and 21 new health stations would 
need to be constructed. Safe and sanitary water and sewer 
systems for existing homes and solid waste disposal needs 
currently are estimated to amount to over $600 million for 
those projects that are considered to be economically feasible.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $257,538,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       274,476,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       313,175,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +55,637,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       +38,699,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $313,175,000 for Indian health 
facilities, an increase of $38,699,000 above the budget request 
and $55,637,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. Increases to 
the budget request include $6,180,000 for maintenance and 
improvement, $5,318,000 for sanitation facilities, $2,187,000 
for construction, $5,713,000 for facilities and environmental 
health support, $301,000 for equipment and $19,000,000 for 
facilities management.
    Maintenance and Improvement.--The Committee recommends 
$41,814,000 for maintenance and improvement, an increase of 
$6,180,000 above the budget request and $2,380,000 above the 
fiscal year 1998 level. Increases to the budget request include 
$880,000 for pay and inflation, $3,800,000 to restore base 
funding to the 1998 level, $1,000,000 for unmet need and 
$500,000 for a cost-shared renovation program on the Spokane 
Reservation.
    Sanitation Facilities.--The Committee recommends 
$89,400,000 for sanitation facilities, an increase of 
$5,318,000 above the budget request and $318,000 above the 
fiscal year 1998 level. Increases to the budget request include 
$318,000 for pay and fixed costs and $5,000,000 to restore base 
funding to the 1998 level.
    Construction.--The Committee recommends $41,087,000 for 
construction, an increase of $2,187,000 above the budget 
request and $26,687,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. 
Changes to the budget request include increases of $4,200,000 
to complete construction of the Polacca (Hopi), AZ health 
center, $1,000,000 for modular dental units, $950,000 to 
complete the design of the Winnebago, NE hospital, $1,037,000 
to complete the design of the Pinon, AZ health center and 
$5,000,000 for construction of the Parker, AZ health center, 
and a decrease of $10,000,000 for the Fort Defiance, AZ 
hospital construction project.
    Facilities and Environmental Health Support.--The Committee 
recommends $108,568,000 for facilities and environmental health 
support, an increase of $5,713,000 above the budget request and 
$6,951,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level. Increases to the 
budget request include $3,545,000 for pay and inflation and 
$2,168,000 for staffing and operating new facilities of which 
$26,000 is for the Kotzebue, AK hospital, $305,000 is for the 
White Earth, MN health center, $395,000 is for the Lame Deer, 
MT health center, $1,161,000 is for the Anchorage, AK hospital 
and $281,000 is for the Harlem, MT health center.
    Equipment.--The Committee recommends $13,306,000 for 
equipment, an increase of $301,000 above both the budget 
request and the fiscal year 1998 level for inflation costs.
    Facilities Management.--The Committee recommends the 
transfer of $19,000,000 from the services account to the 
facilities account for facilities management. The facilities 
program is responsible for this activity and funds are being 
consolidated in the facilities account to reflect accurately 
that responsibility.
    The Committee agrees to the following:
    1. The funding provided for a pilot project on the Spokane 
reservation at the Wellpinit, WA facility is contingent on non-
Federal matching funds from the tribe. There will be no 
operational increase associated with this project.
    2. The Committee continues to stress the need for 
addressing the maintenance backlog at all the agencies in the 
bill. The Committee believes that ``taking care of what we 
have'' in the public trust is critically important. The IHS and 
the Administration are encouraged to give a higher priority to 
funding in this area in the fiscal year 2000 budget.
    3. Funding to complete the Hopi clinic includes staff 
quarters renovation.
    4. The fiscal year 2000 budget should address the 
advisability of reinstituting a joint venture facilities 
construction program in the context of overall priorities. Any 
such proposal should in no way interfere with the commitment to 
those tribes that have been waiting for years to have 
facilities constructed through the construction priority 
system.
    5. The methodology used to distribute facilities funding 
should address the fluctuating annual workload and maintain 
parity among IHS areas and tribes as the workload shifts.
    6. Funds for sanitation facilities for new and renovated 
housing should be used to serve housing provided by the Bureau 
of Indian Affairs Housing Improvement Program, new houses and 
homes renovated to like-new condition. Onsite sanitation 
facilities may also be provided for homes occupied by the 
disabled or sick who have physician referrals indicating an 
immediate medical need for adequate sanitation facilities at 
home.
    7. Sanitation funds should not be used to provide 
sanitation facilities for new homes funded by the housing 
programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 
The HUD should provided any needed funds to the IHS for that 
purpose.
    8. The IHS may use up to $5,000,000 in sanitation funding 
for projects to clean up and replace open dumps on Indian lands 
pursuant to the Indian Lands Open Dump Cleanup Act of 1994.
    9. The IHS should continue to support tribes in identifying 
and implementing alternative and innovative approaches to 
funding construction and repair and replacement of health care 
facilities throughout Indian country, including cost-sharing 
arrangements and the enhanced use of third-party collections 
for improving aging facilities. These alternative approaches 
should not result in increased operational funding requirements 
for IHS.

            Administrative Provisions, Indian Health Service

    The Committee has recommended bill language specifying that 
Indian Health Service funding may not be used to pay contract 
support costs for any entity other than the Indian Health 
Service.

                         OTHER RELATED AGENCIES

              Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation

                         salaries and expenses

    The dispute between the Hopi and Navajo tribes is 
centuries-old. The Hopi were the original occupants of the land 
with their origin tracing back to the Anasazi race whose 
presence is recorded back to 1150 A.D. Later in the 16th 
century the Navajo tribe began settling in this area. The 
continuous occupation of this land by the Navajo led to the 
isolation of the Hopi Reservation as an island within the area 
occupied by the Navajo. In 1882, President Arthur issued an 
Executive Order, which granted the Hopi a 2.5 million acre 
reservation to be occupied by the Hopi and such other Indians 
as the Secretary of the Interior saw fit to resettle there. 
Intertribal problems arose between the larger Navajo tribe and 
the smaller Hopi tribe revolving around the question of the 
ownership of the land as well as cultural differences between 
the two tribes. Efforts to resolve these conflicts were not 
successful and led Congress to pass legislation in 1958 which 
authorized a lawsuit to determine ownership of the land. When 
attempts at mediation of the dispute as specified in an Act 
passed in 1974 failed, the district court in Arizona 
partitioned the Joint Use Area equally between the Navajo and 
Hopi tribes under a decree that has required the relocation of 
members of both tribes. Most of those to be relocated are 
Navajo living on the Hopi Partitioned Land.
    At this time approximately 510 households remain be 
relocated, of which 71 are full-time residents on the Hopi 
Partitioned Land. A total of 2,958 Navajo families have been 
relocated from the Hopi Partitioned Land.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $15,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        15,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        13,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -2,000,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -2,000,000


    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $13,000,000 
for salaries and expenses of the Office of Navajo and Hopi 
Indian Relocation, which is a decrease of $2,000,000 from both 
the 1998 level and the budget estimate.

    Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts 
                              Development

                        payment to the institute

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $4,250,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         3,188,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................                 0
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        -4,250,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -3,188,000


    The Committee recommends zero funding for the Institute of 
American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. 
It was the understanding of the House that fiscal year 1998 
would be the last year Federal funding would be provided.

                        Smithsonian Institution

    The Smithsonian Institution is unique in the Federal 
establishment. Established by the Congress in 1846 to carry out 
the trust included in James Smithson's will, it has been 
engaged for 150 years in the ``increase and diffusion of 
knowledge among men'' in accordance with the donor's 
instructions. For some years, it used only the funds made 
available by the trust. Then, before the turn of the century, 
it began to receive Federal appropriations to conduct some of 
its activities. With the expenditure of both private and 
Federal funds over the years, it has grown into one of the 
world's great scientific, cultural, and intellectual 
organizations. It operates magnificent museums, outstanding art 
galleries, and important research centers. Its collections are 
among the best in the world. Its traveling exhibits bring 
beauty and information throughout the country.
    It attracted approximately 30,000,000 visitors in 1997 to 
its museums, galleries, and zoological park. Additional 
millions also view Smithsonian traveling exhibitions, which 
appear across the United States and abroad, and the annual 
Folklife Festival. As custodian of the National Collections, 
the Smithsonian is responsible for more than 140 million art 
objects, natural history specimens, and artifacts. These 
collections are displayed for the enjoyment and education of 
visitors and are available for research by the staff of the 
Institution and by hundreds of visiting students, scientists, 
and historians each year. Other significant study efforts draw 
their data and results directly from terrestrial, marine, and 
astrophysical observations at various Smithsonian 
installations.
    The Smithsonian complex presently consists of 15 exhibition 
buildings in Washington, DC and New York City in the fields of 
science, history, technology and art; a zoological park in 
Washington, DC and an animal conservation and research center 
at Front Royal, Virginia; the Anacostia Museum, which performs 
research and exhibit activities in the District of Columbia; a 
preservation, storage and air and spacecraft display facility 
in Suitland, Maryland; a natural preserve in Panama and one on 
the Chesapeake Bay; an oceanographic research facility in Fort 
Pierce, Florida; astrophysical stations in Cambridge, 
Massachusetts and Mt. Hopkins, Arizona and elsewhere; and 
supporting administrative, laboratory, and storage areas.

                         salaries and expenses

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................      $333,408,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       357,300,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................       346,449,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +13,041,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -10,851,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $346,449,000, an increase of 
$13,041,000 above the enacted level and a decrease of 
$10,851,000 below the fiscal year 1999 request. This amount 
provides an increase of $6,530,000 for mandatory pay increases, 
$1,055,000 for changes to CSRS contributions, $356,000 for 
workers' compensation, $138,000 for East Court positions 
annualization, $1,886,000 for utilities, communications, and 
postage, $389,000 for rental space and $30,000 for National 
Finance Center payroll processing. The Committee accepts the 
reduction of $1,050,000 in non-recurring costs for utility, 
communications and postage. The Committee has not included 
$425,000 for accessibility improvements, $150,000 for the 
Panama Canal Treaty Implementation and $365,000 for inflation 
for library materials.
    The Committee has included several program increases 
related to the collections move for the National Museum of the 
American Indian (NMAI) and to complete the ongoing renovations 
of the Natural History East and West Court projects. Included 
in the NMAI costs are $1,973,000 for the actual move, 
$1,195,000 for the Office of Physical Plant, $800,000 Office of 
Protection Services and $121,000 for the Smithsonian 
Institution Libraries. Also included is $1,500,000 for the East 
Court move and relocation and $500,000 for West Court 
operations. These increases are offset by one-time funding of 
$2,382,000 that was provided in fiscal year 1998 for East Court 
communications, equipment and other related move costs. No 
increases have been provided for the digitization of 
collections. The Committee urges the Smithsonian to use Trust 
Funds or other private funding for this purpose until the above 
mentioned projects are completed.
    Within available funds, $250,000 has been allocated for 
continued support for heritage preservation efforts to promote 
the conservation of public sculpture and other art through 
private-public partnerships and education programs.
    The Committee remains concerned that the Smithsonian 
Institution continues to have a difficult time setting 
priorities for spending. The Committee is providing funding for 
several expensive ongoing construction projects that were 
committed to several years ago. These include the three NMAI 
facilities as well as the East and West Court projects at the 
National Museum of Natural History. In addition to these 
commitments the Committee has just completed major expansions 
at the Tropical Research facility in Panama, the Museum Support 
Center in Suitland and the submillimeter array telescope in 
Hawaii. Despite the Committee's urging in recent years to delay 
new construction projects until the maintenance backlog is 
reduced and ongoing construction is completed, the fiscal year 
1999 budget details plans to begin another $105 million support 
center in Suitland, Maryland in fiscal year 2000.
    The Committee was informed by the Smithsonian Institution 
three years ago that there was a serious maintenance backlog 
totaling $250 million. This was represented as a total for all 
museum buildings. The Smithsonian testified that the problem 
was so serious that if adequate funding was not made available 
over the next several years, there was a strong possibility 
that certain museum buildings would have to be closed to the 
public. The Committee responded by providing $123 million over 
the last three years to address this need.
    The Committee is disturbed to recently learn that there is 
a considerable backlog of serious maintenance at the National 
Zoological Park and the Front Royal facility that has not been 
included in the $250 million backlog figure. In addition, the 
Committee has just discovered that there is also an urgent need 
to replace the entire central security system for all 
Institution museums and storage facilities. This $12 million 
project was excluded from the $250 million backlog. It was not 
included in the President's budget nor was it brought to the 
attention of the Committee. The Committee has learned that this 
system is so antiquated that software and hardware components 
are no longer available in the industry, repair parts are 
nearly exhausted, and the system is subject to year 2000 
computer problems. The Committee has included $4,500,000 for 
fiscal year 1999 under the Repair and Restoration of Buildings 
account to initiate this project.
    As a result of these concerns, the Committee has included a 
provision under a new Administrative Provisions account that 
states that no Federal funds may be used to initiate the 
planning or design of any expansion of current space or any new 
facility without advance approval of both the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees. The Committee would assume that the 
spirit of the law would also preclude the use of private funds, 
which could lead to the expenditure of Federal funds.

        construction and improvements, National zoological park

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $3,850,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         4,500,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         4,500,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          +650,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $4,500,000 for fiscal year 1999, 
the same as the budget request and $650,000 above the enacted 
level. The Committee has included a provision under 
Administrative Provisions which prohibits the use of any funds 
being used to continue work on the Holt House. The Committee 
strongly feels that the Zoo should focus all its funding on the 
serious backlog maintenance, research and other operational 
needs of the National Zoological Park. No Trust Fund moneys 
should be used which eventually could lead to the need for 
Federal operational or construction funds.

                  repair and restoration of buildings

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $32,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        40,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        44,500,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +12,500,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        +4,500,000


    The Committee recommends $44,500,000 for fiscal year 1999, 
an increase of $12,500,000 above the enacted level and 
$4,500,000 above the fiscal year 1999 budget request. The 
Committee has provided $4,500,000 to initiate the security 
system modernization program. The Committee continues to 
recognize that backlog maintenance needs to be the highest 
priority for the Smithsonian.

                              construction

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $33,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        18,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         2,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       -31,000,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -16,000,000


    The Committee recommends $2,000,000 for minor construction, 
alterations and modifications for fiscal year 1999, a decrease 
of $31,000,000 below the enacted level and $16,000,000 below 
the fiscal year 1999 request.
    The Committee has not included line item funding of 
$16,000,000 for the continuation of the National Museum of the 
American Indian Mall facility for two reasons. First, very 
little of the $33,000,000 previously appropriated for this 
purpose has been expended. In addition, the Committee assumes 
that due to the problems associated with the termination of its 
contract with the project's principal architectural team for 
failure to meet contractual performance requirements and the 
ongoing lawsuit filed by the firm, the project cannot possibly 
meet the original timetable. The Committee has also denied the 
request for an advance appropriation of $19,000,000.
    Two provisions have been included under the Administrative 
Provisions account. The first states that no funds may be used 
to pay any judgment resulting from the complaint filed by 
Geddes, Brecher, Qualls and Cunningham in the United States 
Court of Federal Claims concerning the National Museum of the 
American Indian. The second provision limits the total Federal 
expenditure for the National Museum of the American Indian Mall 
facility to the Federal total specified in Public Law 101-185.

                        National Gallery of Art

                         salaries and expenses

    The National Gallery of Art is one of the world's great 
galleries. Its magnificent works of art are displayed for the 
benefit of millions of visitors from across this Nation and 
from other nations. The National Gallery of Art serves as an 
example of a successful cooperative endeavor between private 
individuals and institutions and the Federal Government. The 
many special exhibitions shown in the Gallery and then 
throughout the country bring great art treasures to Washington 
and the Nation.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $55,837,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        57,938,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        57,938,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................        +2,101,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $57,938,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the National Gallery of Art. This amount is equal 
to the budget request and an increase of $2,101,000 above the 
fiscal year 1998 level.
    Bill Language.--The Committee has recommended bill language 
specifying that the National Gallery of Art is subject to the 
requirements for a Federal entity under the Inspector General 
Act of 1978. As such, the Gallery is required to conduct 
regular audits and to report annually on these audits to the 
House and Senate. Under this designation, the Gallery is not 
required to have an Inspector General.
    The Committee has recommended bill language in Title III--
General Provisions, amending the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity 
Act to increase the statutory limits for insuring international 
exhibitions.

            repair, restoration and renovation of buildings

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $6,192,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         6,311,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         6,311,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          +119,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $6,311,000 for repair, restoration 
and renovation of buildings at the National Gallery of Art. 
This amount is equal to the budget request and an increase of 
$119,000 above the fiscal year 1998 level.

             John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

    The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a 
living memorial to the late President Kennedy and the National 
Center for the Performing Arts. The Center consists of over 1.5 
million square feet of usable floor space with visitation 
averaging 10,000 on a daily basis.

                       operations and maintenance

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $11,375,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        13,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        12,187,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................         + 812,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -813,000


    The Committee recommends $12,187,000, an increase of 
$812,000 above the enacted level and a decrease of $813,000 
below the fiscal year 1999 request.

                              construction

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $9,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        20,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         9,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
     Budget estimate, 1999............................       -11,000,000


    The Committee recommends $9,000,000 for construction, the 
same as the enacted level and a decrease of $11,000,000 below 
the fiscal year 1999 request.

            Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

                         salaries and expenses

    The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is a 
unique institution with a special mission to serve as a living 
memorial to the late Woodrow Wilson. The Center performs this 
mandate through its role as an international institute for 
advanced study as well as a facilitator for discussions among 
scholars, public officials, journalists and business leaders 
from across the country on major long-term issues facing 
America and the world.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $5,840,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         6,040,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         5,840,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -200,000


    The Committee recommends $5,840,000 for salaries and 
expenses, the same as the 1998 level and a decrease of $200,000 
below the budget request.
    In the Center's early years it appears it was more 
successful in bringing the worlds of scholarship and public 
policy together. At that time the work of the scholars appeared 
to have some relevance to current public policy issues. The 
Committee became concerned over the last few years that the 
objective was not being met and that the Center seemed to have 
lost its public policy function.
    A review last year of the Center by the National Academy of 
Public Administration was critical of the Center on a number of 
fronts. While the Academy cited some accomplishments, the 
Academy pointed out that the Center lacked a clear mission 
statement; did not have a process for choosing scholars which 
would ensure a connection between the scholars work and 
relevant public policy issues; and demonstrated little or no 
connection between the Center's programs and the fellows. In 
fact the Academy review noted that the Center currently 
emphasizes scholarly pursuits over its public policy 
objectives. The original goal of the Center, to link these two 
worlds, has effectively been lost. The Academy also raised 
concerns about the Center's management.
    The Committee is concerned over the continuing disagreement 
between the leadership of the Center and the Inspector General 
regarding which of the 25 recommendations by the National 
Academy of Public Administration have been implemented. The 
Inspector General contends that while progress is being made, 
only 13 of 25 have been implemented fully. The Center insists 
that all 25 have been implemented. Therefore, the Committee 
directs the Center to contract with the National Academy of 
Public Administration so that NAPA can report to the Committee 
by January 15, 1999 on which recommendations have actually been 
implemented.
    The Committee has included bill language in section 325, 
Title III which prohibits the Woodrow Wilson Center from moving 
from the Smithsonian to the new Ronald Reagan Building.

           National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities

                    National Endowment for the Arts

                       grants and administration

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $81,240,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       120,500,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        81,240,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -39,260,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with 
estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $81,240,000 for grants and 
administration, equal to the 1998 level and $39,260,000 below 
the budget request.

                            matching grants

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $16,760,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        15,500,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        16,760,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        +1,260,000
                                                                        

    The Committee recommends $16,760,000 for matching grants, 
equal to the 1998 level and $1,260,000 above the budget 
request.

                 National Endowment for the Humanities

    The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) was created 
in 1965 to encourage and support National progress in the 
humanities. The NEH provides, through a merit-based review 
process, grants in support of education, research, document and 
artifact preservation, and public service in the humanities.

                       grants and administration

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $96,800,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       122,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        96,800,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................       -25,200,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $96,800,000 for grants and 
administration, equal to the 1998 level and $25,200,000 less 
than requested. The Committee is aware that the NEH has 
proposed a new initiative establishing regional humanities 
centers for the purpose of facilitating a greater understanding 
of our common cultural heritage, however the Committee has 
insufficient resources to fund this effort. The Committee 
recommendation maintains core programs, such as the teacher 
training institutes, the Presidential papers, scholarship, and 
preservation of humanities materials, including the brittle 
books program. The Committee is concerned about the unequal 
distribution of grants to the various States and therefore 
encourages the NEH to consider changes that would increase 
fairness; this should clarify grants that are national in 
scope, such as Presidential papers and television 
documentaries, and suggest methods to increase equity.

                            matching grants

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $13,900,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        14,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        13,900,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -100,000


    The Committee recommends $13,900,000 for matching grants, 
equal to the 1998 funding level and $100,000 less than 
requested. The Committee directs that the matching grants 
program should not be used as an alternative funding source for 
the ``Rediscovering America'' special initiative which was not 
funded this year.

                Institute of Museum and Library Services

                       office of museum services

                       grants and administration

    The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was 
created in the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996 (Public 
Law 104-208) which merged library services functions of the 
Department of Education into the Institute of Museum Services. 
These functions now come under the Office of Museum Services 
(OMS) portion of the IMLS. The OMS appropriation remains in the 
Interior and related agencies bill and the Office of Library 
Services appropriation remains in the Labor, Health and Human 
Services appropriations bill. The OMS provides operating 
support, conservation support and professional services to 
assist museums. General operating support awards assist museums 
with essential operating expenditures.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $23,280,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        26,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        23,405,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          +125,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................        -2,595,000


    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:





    The Committee recommends $23,405,000 for the Office of 
Museum Services, $2,595,000 less than requested and $125,000 
above the 1998 level. The increased funding is intended to 
offset partially fixed cost increases.

                        Commission of Fine Arts

    The Commission of Fine Arts was established in 1910 to meet 
the need for a permanent body to advise the government on 
matters pertaining to the arts, and particularly, to guide the 
architectural development of Washington, DC. Over the years the 
Commission's scope has been expanded to include advice on areas 
such as plans for parks, public buildings, location of National 
monuments and development of public squares. As a result, the 
Commission annually reviews approximately 500 projects. In 
fiscal year 1988 the Commission was given responsibility for 
the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program.

                         salaries and expenses

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................          $907,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................           898,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................           898,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................            -9,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $898,000 for the Commission of 
Fine Arts, equal to the request and $9,000 below the 1998 
funding level.

               National capital arts and cultural affairs

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $7,000,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         7,500,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         7,000,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -500,000


    The National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program was 
established in Public Law 99-190 to support artistic and 
cultural programs in the Nation's Capital. The Committee 
recommends $7,000,000 for this program, which is $500,000 below 
the request and equal to the 1998 level. Beginning in fiscal 
year 1999 and thereafter, the Committee directs the review 
panel to take into consideration the following revised criteria 
when reviewing new applicants for the National Capital Arts and 
Cultural Affairs program: (1) eligible organizations must 
devote at least 51 percent of their annual budgets to 
performing, exhibiting and/or presenting the arts at the 
professional level in the District of Columbia, and must have 
been located in the District of Columbia for at least ten 
years; and (2) organizations which receive more than 50 percent 
of their annual budgets from direct line-item Federal 
appropriations and/or other government funding shall not be 
eligible for grants under this program, nor shall organizations 
be eligible which are affiliated with institutions which 
receive more than 50 percent of their annual budgets from 
direct line-item Federal appropriations and/or other government 
funding.

               Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

                         salaries and expenses

    The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 established 
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The Advisory 
Council was reauthorized as part of the Omnibus Parks and 
Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-333). The 
Council's mandate is to further the National policy of 
preserving historic and cultural resources for the benefit of 
present and future generations. The Council advises the 
President and Congress on preservation matters and provides 
consultation on historic properties threatened by Federal 
action.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $2,745,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         3,000,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         2,800,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................           +55,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -200,000


    The Committee recommends $2,800,000 for the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation, $200,000 below the request 
and $55,000 above the 1998 level. The increased funding is to 
offset fixed cost increases.

                  National Capital Planning Commission

                         salaries and expenses

    The National Capital Planning Act of 1952 designated the 
National Capital Planning Commission as the central planning 
agency for the Federal government in the National Capital 
Region. The three major functions of the Commission are to 
prepare and adopt the Federal elements of the National Capital 
Comprehensive Plan, prepare an annual report on a five-year 
projection of the Federal Capital Improvement Program, and 
review plans and proposals submitted to the Commission.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................        $5,740,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................         6,212,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................         5,954,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................          +214,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -258,000


    The Committee recommends $5,954,000, $258,000 below the 
budget request and $214,000 above the 1998 funding level. The 
Committee suggests that the Commission and its staff focus on 
the core elements under its authority and not try to take on 
civic responsibilities for the District of Columbia despite 
shortfalls in certain District government performance. The 
Committee suggests that the Commission redo the strategic and 
performance plans required by the Government Performance and 
Results Act so that they focus more on core responsibilities.

                United States Holocaust Memorial Council

                       holocaust memorial council

    In 1980 Congress passed legislation creating a 65 member 
Holocaust Memorial Council with the mandate to create and 
oversee a living memorial/museum to victims of holocausts. The 
museum opened in April 1993. Construction costs for the museum 
have come solely from donated funds raised by the U.S. 
Holocaust Memorial Museum Campaign and appropriated funds have 
been used for planning and development of programmatic 
components, overall administrative support and annual 
commemorative observances. Since the opening of the museum, 
appropriated funds have been provided to pay for the ongoing 
operating costs of the museum as authorized by Public Law 102-
529.

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................       $31,707,000
Budget estimate, 1999.................................        32,607,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        31,707,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................          -900,000


    The Committee recommends level funding of $31,707,000 for 
fiscal year 1999, the same as the enacted level and $900,000 
below the fiscal year 1999 request. The Committee has provided 
over $10,000,000 in increases since the museum's opening in 
April of 1993. This represents a greater percentage increase 
than any other agency funded in this bill.
    The Committee notes that the Holocaust budget proposes 
$409,000 in programmatic reductions in order to offset proposed 
increases totaling $1.3 million over its fiscal year 1998 
appropriation. Since the Committee has not agreed to the budget 
request, including $500,000 for backlog maintenance, the Museum 
is urged to submit a reprogramming request to use available 
funds in fiscal year 1999 for the backlog.
    The Committee has been generous in providing program, 
staffing, maintenance and security increases since 1994 and 
applauds the Museum's plans to increase private fundraising for 
future program and exhibit enhancements.
    Bill language is contained in Title III, Section 327 which 
permanently designates the Auditors West Building (Annex 3) 
located a Raoul Wallenberg Place and Independence Avenue 
Southwest, Washington, DC as the Sidney R. Yates Building. The 
Committee directs the Museum to provide the appropriate signage 
as soon as the bill is signed into law.

                             Presidio Trust

                          Presidio Trust Fund

Appropriation enacted, 1998...........................                 0
Budget estimate, 1999.................................       $39,913,000
Recommended, 1999.....................................        39,913,000
Comparison:                                                             
    Appropriation, 1998...............................       +39,913,000
    Budget estimate, 1999.............................                 0


    The Committee has included a new Presidio Trust account as 
requested in the President's fiscal year 1999 budget. The 
Presidio Trust is a wholly-owned government corporation 
established by the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management 
Act of 1996 to maintain and lease property in the Presidio of 
San Francisco. This appropriations account funds the operation 
of the Trust and authorizes the Trust to borrow up to 
$25,000,000 from the U.S. Treasury in fiscal year 1999 to 
rehabilitate and prepare facilities for leasing.
    The Committee recommends $39,913,000 for the Presidio 
Trust, the same as the fiscal year 1999 budget request.

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    The Committee recommends continuing several provisions 
carried in previous bills as follows:
    Section 301 provides for public availability of information 
on consulting services contracts.
    Section 302 limits non-competitive leasing of oil and 
natural gas on the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois.
    Section 303 prohibits activities to promote public support 
or opposition to legislative proposals.
    Section 304 provides for annual appropriations unless 
expressly provided otherwise in this Act.
    Section 305 limits the use of personal cooks, chauffeurs or 
servants.
    Section 306 limits assessments against programs without 
Committee approval.
    Section 307 contains Buy American procedures and 
requirements.
    Section 308 limits the sale of giant sequoia trees by the 
Forest Service.
    Section 309 prohibits the use of funds by the National Park 
Service to enter into a contract requiring the removal of the 
underground lunchroom at Carlsbad Caverns NP, NM.
    Section 310 provides that no funds can be used for 
Americorps unless it is funded in the VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies fiscal year 1999 appropriations, and makes use of such 
funds subject to reprogramming.
    Section 311 continues a limitation of funding relating to a 
pedestrian bridge between New Jersey and Ellis Island.
    Section 312 continues a limitation on accepting and 
processing applications for patents and on the patenting of 
Federal lands; permits processing of grandfathered 
applications; and permits third-party contractors to process 
grandfathered applications.
    Section 313 provides that no funds can be used for the 
purposes of acquiring lands in the counties of Gallia, 
Lawrence, Monroe, or Washington, Ohio, for the Wayne National 
Forest.
    Section 314 limits payments for contract support costs in 
past years to the funds available in law and accompanying 
report language in those years for the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
and the Indian Health Service.
    Section 315 limits Jobs in the Woods programs to timber 
dependent areas in Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
    Section 316 prohibits the use of recreational fees in 
excess of $500,000 for the construction of any permanent 
structure without advance Committee approval.
    Section 317 prohibits the use of funds to evict landowners 
under certain conditions at Sleeping Bear Dunes NL, MI.
    Section 318 prohibits the use of funds for Biosphere 
Reserves as part of the Man and Biosphere Program.
    Section 319 prohibits the use of funds for posting clothing 
optional signs at Cape Canaveral NS, FL.
    Section 320 contains reforms and limitations dealing with 
the National Endowment for the Arts.
    Section 321 permits the collection and use of private funds 
by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National 
Endowments for the Humanities.
    Section 322 permits the use of funds by the Forest Service 
for cooperative projects for watershed restoration and 
improvements.
    Section 323 continues direction to the National Endowment 
for the Arts on funding distribution. This language expands the 
1998 language to encourage community music grants.
    Section 324 prohibits the use of funds to make improvements 
to Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House without 
Committee approval.
    Section 325 prohibits the use of funds to move the Woodrow 
Wilson International Center for Scholars to the Ronald Reagan 
Building in Washington, D. C.
    Section 326 renames the Auditors West Building (Annex III) 
in Washington, D. C. as the Sidney R. Yates Building.
    Section 327 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to grant 
an easement for road construction in the Chugach NF, AK.
    Section 328 extends the recreation fee demonstration 
program for an additional two years (through fiscal year 2001).
    Section 329 places a one-year moratorium on new and 
expanded Indian self-determination and self-governance 
contracts and compacts.
    The Committee continues to support self-determination and 
self-governance programs. These programs have enabled the 
tribes to have greater control and greater involvement in many 
different programs formerly managed by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs and the Indian Health Service. In the early years of 
the self-determination and self-governance programs, funds were 
shifted from Federal programs to offset partially the 
administrative costs of those tribes that elected to take over 
management of BIA and IHS programs. These administrative costs 
of the tribes are known as contract support costs. The 
Committee also added additional funds to the BIA and IHS 
budgets to pay the balance of contract support costs. Over 
time, the contract support costs associated with self-
determination contracts and self-governance compacts have 
outpaced available funding. We have reached a point at which we 
can no longer offset these costs to any great extent by 
continuing to downsize the Federal bureaucracies in BIA and 
IHS. To do so would be unfair to the many tribes who choose not 
to manage their own programs and rely on the BIA and the IHS 
for program management.
    Unfortunately, implementation of the self-determination and 
self-governance programs does not result in economies of scale 
in program management since each participating tribe is 
responsible for its own management. For Federal programs, the 
BIA and the IHS are able to achieve savings by grouping program 
management responsibilities and funding for a number of tribes. 
Over the past few years, the amount of funding required to pay 
contract support costs has exceeded the total amount of 
management funding that would have been required under the old 
Federal system. The Committee understands that this is a 
necessary consequence of turning programs over to the tribes. 
However, the Committee cannot afford to pay 100% of contract 
support costs at the expense of basic program funding for 
tribes; whether individual tribes elect to contract or compact 
or choose not to do so. For example, dental health services in 
the IHS are funded at less than 25% of current need. As 
contract support costs continue to increase, and overall 
funding remains relatively constant, direct program funding 
becomes a smaller proportion of overall funding.
    The Committee expects the BIA and the IHS to work with the 
tribes and the legislative committees of jurisdiction over the 
next several months to find an acceptable solution to the 
contract support cost funding problem so that we can move 
forward with the self-determination and self-governance 
programs. In the meantime, the Committee believes that a 
moratorium on new and expanded contracts and compacts is the 
fiscally responsible course of action. The Committee notes that 
the Administration requested no funding for new and expanded 
contracts and compacts in IHS and provided no funding to pay 
for inflation or for shortfalls in existing IHS contracts and 
compacts. The Committee has attempted to rectify that situation 
by funding fully fixed cost increases for IHS, including 
contract support costs, and by providing funding needed to 
address some of the contract support cost shortfalls.
    The Committee believes the basic ``fairness'' question 
needs to be addressed with respect to how to distribute limited 
funds between and among the various programs and the management 
of those programs in BIA and IHS. The current contract support 
cost funding situation clearly illustrates that problem and the 
Committee looks forward to working with the tribes and the BIA 
and the IHS to find an acceptable solution to the problem.
    Section 330 eliminates the Forest Service purchaser road 
credits program; provides for payments to States; and details 
transition requirements for the new program.
    Section 331 corrects the 1998 Act to specify that the 
Senate appointed membership to the National Council for the 
Arts is the same as that for the House.
    Section 332 provides for the transfer of the Land Between 
the Lakes National Recreation Area from the Tennessee Valley 
Authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to be managed for 
continued recreation as a part of the national forest system 
and provides for this transition.
    Section 333 limits the use of Forest Service and Interior 
Department funds for the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem 
Management Project and provides direction for amending 
management plans for the area.
    This section is intended to incorporate the work of the 
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Project into Federal land 
management decision making in as timely a manner as possible. 
When the project was established, the agencies announced that 
it would be completed in 9 months and cost $5 million. It now 
has consumed 4 years and $40 million, and is still not 
finished. It is the intent of the Committee to establish a 
mechanism so that the work of the project is incorporated into 
the only documents that are legally required for Federal land 
management activities: the land and resource management plans 
of the Forest Service and the resource management plans of the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In addition, the Committee has 
set a deadline of 4 months in which the agencies are required 
to accomplish the following tasks: 1) prepare the report 
required by section 323 of last year's Interior appropriations 
bill; 2) distribute, for advisory purposes, within the project 
area the scientific findings which are relevant to the planning 
units of the Forest Service and BLM; and 3) close project 
offices. The scientific findings developed by the project 
should then be integrated into the resource management plans of 
all planning units in accordance with the planning procedures 
of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 and the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
    Section 334 provides additional authority to the Secretary 
of Agriculture to use the ten percent roads and trails fund for 
additional purposes.
    Section 335 amends the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act to 
increase the statutory limits for insuring international 
exhibitions.
    Section 336 facilitates a land transfer in California from 
the Southern Pacific Transportation Company to the City of 
Tulare by negating the Federal reversionary interest in the 
property. The Administration has endorsed the transfer.
    Section 337 excludes a net of 36 acres in Florida from the 
Coastal Barrier Resources System. This provision originally was 
included in the Omnibus Parks Act of 1996 but was never 
implemented because of a technicality. This amendment makes the 
needed technical correction so that the provision can be 
implemented.

                              Rescissions

    Pursuant to clause 1(b), rule X of the House of 
Representatives, the following table is submitted describing 
the rescissions recommended in the accompanying bill:

                   rescission recommended in the bill

        Department and activity       Amounts recommended for rescission
Department of the Interior: Land and Water Conservation 
    Fund (contract authority)...........................     $30,000,000

                           Transfer of Funds

    Pursuant to clause 1(b), rule X of the House of 
Representatives, the following table is submitted describing 
the transfer of funds provided in the accompanying bill.
    The table shows the appropriations affected by such 
transfers.

                                 APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Account to which transfer is to                
   Account from which transfer is to be made        Amount                   be made                  Amount    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels             $1,300,000  General Fund of the Treasury....      $1,300,000
 Production.                                                                                                    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 Changes in Application of Existing Law

    Pursuant to clause 3, rule XXI of the rules of the House of 
Representatives, the following Statements are submitted 
describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill 
which directly or indirectly change the application of existing 
law. In most instances these provisions have been included in 
prior appropriations Acts.
    The bill provides that certain appropriations items remain 
available until expended or extends the availability of funds 
beyond the fiscal year where programs or projects are 
continuing in nature under the provisions of authorizing 
legislation but for which that legislation does not 
specifically authorize such extended availability. Most of 
these items have been carried in previous appropriations Acts. 
This authority tends to result in savings by preventing the 
practice of committing funds at the end of the fiscal year.
    The bill includes, in certain instances, limitations on the 
obligation of funds for particular functions or programs. These 
limitations include restrictions on the obligation of funds for 
administrative expenses, travel expenses, the use of 
consultants, and programmatic areas within the overall 
jurisdiction of a particular agency.
    The Committee has included limitations for official 
entertainment or reception and representation expenses for 
selected agencies in the bill.
    Language is included in the various parts of the bill to 
continue ongoing activities of those Federal agencies, which 
require annual authorization or additional legislation which to 
date, has not been enacted.
    Language is included under Bureau of Land Management, 
Management of lands and resources, prohibiting the destruction 
of healthy, unadopted, wild horses and burros.
    Language is included under Bureau of Land Management, 
Management of lands and resources, permitting the collection of 
fees for processing applications and for certain public land 
uses, and permitting the use of these fees for program 
operations.
    Language is included under Bureau of Land Management, 
Wildland fire management, to permit the use of funds from other 
accounts for firefighting; to permit the use of funds for 
lodging and subsistence of firefighters; and to permit the 
acceptance and use of funds for firefighting.
    Language is included under Bureau of Land Management, 
Central hazardous materials fund, providing that sums received 
from a party for remedial actions shall be credited to the 
account, and defining non-monetary payments.
    Language is included under Bureau of Land Management, 
Payments in lieu of taxes, to exclude any payment that is less 
than $100.
    Language is included under Bureau of Land Management, 
Service charges, deposits, and forfeitures, to allow use of 
funds on any damaged public lands.
    Language is included under Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative provisions, providing for cost-sharing 
arrangements for printing services.
    Language is included under United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Resource management, allowing for the maintenance of 
the herd of long-horned cattle on the Wichita Mountains 
Wildlife Refuge. Without this language, the long-horned cattle 
would have to be removed from the refuge. Language also is 
included providing for a Youth Conservation Corps; limiting 
funding for the Endangered Species Act listing program; 
permitting payment for information or rewards in the law 
enforcement program; permitting the use of fees in the 
migratory bird program; permitting fees to be charged for 
vessels; and earmarking funds for contaminant analysis.
    Language is included under United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Multinational species conservation fund, limiting 
administrative expenses to three percent of available funds; 
and merging prior year funds from previous appropriations 
accounts for the same activities.
    Language is included under United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Administrative provisions, providing for repair of 
damage to public roads; options for the purchase of land not to 
exceed $1; installation of certain recreation facilities; the 
maintenance and improvement of aquaria; the acceptance of 
donated aircraft; cost-shared arrangements for printing 
services. Language also is included to limit the use of funds 
for establishing new refuges; to allow the Secretary to sell 
land and interests in land and deposit the receipts in the 
Lahontan Valley and Pyramid Lake Fish and Wildlife Fund; and to 
make certain funds available until expended.
    Language is included under National Park Service, Operation 
of the National Park System to allow road maintenance service 
to trucking permittees on a reimbursable basis. This provision 
has been included in annual appropriations Acts since 1954.
    Language is included under National Park Service, Operation 
of the National Park System, providing for a Youth Conservation 
Corps program.
    Language is included under National Park Service, 
Construction, prohibiting assessments by the Denver Service 
Center.
    Language is included under National Park Service, Land 
acquisition and State assistance, to permit the use of funds to 
assist the State of Florida with Everglades restoration.
    Language is included under National Park Service, 
Administrative provisions, preventing the implementation of an 
agreement for the redevelopment of the southern end of Ellis 
Island limiting the use of funds for the United Nation's 
Biodiversity convention; and permitting the use of funds for 
workplace safety needs.
    Language is included under United States Geological Survey, 
Surveys, investigations and research, providing for two-year 
availability of funds for biological research and for the 
operations of cooperative research units; prohibiting the 
conduct of new surveys on private property; and requiring cost 
sharing cooperative topographic mapping activities.
    Language is included under Minerals Management Service, 
Royalty and offshore minerals management, providing for 
reasonable expenses related to volunteer beach and marine 
clean-up activities; providing for refunds for overpayments on 
Indian allottee leases and providing for collecting royalties 
and late payment interest on amounts received in settlements 
associated with Federal and Indian leases.
    Language is included under Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement, Regulation and Technology, to 
allow the use of performance bond forfeitures by the regulatory 
authority to conduct reclamation activities; to permit the use 
of moneys collected pursuant to assessment of civil penalties 
to reclaim lands affected by coal mining after August 3, 1977; 
to permit payment to State and tribal personnel for travel and 
per diem expenses for training; and to permit the collection 
and use of fees for a mine map repository.
    Language is included under Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement, Abandoned mine reclamation fund, 
to earmark specific amounts in the account for emergency 
reclamation projects and to allow use of debt recovery to pay 
for debt collection. Language also is included to allow the 
State of Maryland to set aside funds for acid mine abatement. 
Language also is included to permit donations and provide for 
supplemental grants to States for remediating acid mine 
drainage.
    Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Operation of Indian programs, to permit advance payments to 
Indian schools and business enterprises; and to permit the use 
of tribal priority allocations for general assistance payments 
to individuals, for contract support costs, and for repair and 
replacement of schools.
    Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Operation of Indian programs, allowing reprogramming of Self-
Governance funds, allowing changes to certain eligibility 
criteria by tribal governments, allowing the transfer of 
certain forestry funds, providing for an Indian self-
determination fund.
    Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Construction, providing that 6 percent of Federal Highway Trust 
Fund contract authority may be used for management costs; 
providing for the transfer of Navajo irrigation project funds 
to the Bureau of Reclamation; providing Safety of Dams funds on 
a non-reimbursable basis; and requiring conformance with 
building codes and health and safety standards.
    Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian 
land and water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to 
Indians, to allow the Secretary to sell land and interests in 
land and deposit the receipts in the Lahontan Valley and 
Pyramid Lake Fish and Wildlife Fund.
    Language is included under Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Administrative provisions, to prohibit funding of Alaska 
schools; to limit the number of schools and the expansion of 
grade levels in individual schools; and to limit the use of 
funds for contracts, grants and cooperative agreements.
    Language is included under Departmental Offices, Insular 
Affairs, Assistance to Territories, requiring audits of the 
financial transactions of the Territorial governments by the 
General Accounting Office, providing grant funding under 
certain terms of the Agreement of the Special Representatives 
on Future United States Financial Assistance for the Northern 
Mariana Islands, providing a grant to the Close-Up foundation, 
and allowing appropriations for disaster assistance to be used 
as non-Federal matching funds for hazard mitigation grants 
provided pursuant to other law.
    Language is included under Departmental offices, Office of 
Special Trustee for American Indians, specifying that the 
statute of limitations shall not commence on any claim 
resulting from trust funds losses.
    Language is included under Departmental offices, Natural 
Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration, permitting the 
merger of prior year funds from the previous account for this 
activity under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    Language is included under Departmental Offices, 
Administrative provisions, prohibiting the use of working 
capital or consolidated working funds to augment certain 
offices; allowing the sale of existing aircraft with proceeds 
used to offset the purchase price of replacement aircraft; and 
exempting the Office of Special Trustee for American Indians 
from issuing checks less than $1.
    Language is included under General provisions, Department 
of the Interior, to allow transfer of funds in certain 
emergency situations, requiring replacement with a supplemental 
appropriation request, and designating certain transferred 
funds as ``emergency requirements'' under the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
    Language is included under General provisions, Department 
of the Interior, to permit the Department to consolidate 
services and receive reimbursement for said services. Language 
also is included providing for uniform allowances.
    Language is included under General provisions, Department 
of the Interior, to allow for obligations in connection with 
contracts issued for services or rentals for periods not in 
excess of 12 months beginning at any time during the fiscal 
year.
    Language is included under General Provisions, Department 
of the Interior, restricting various oil and gas preleasing, 
leasing, exploration and drilling activities within the Outer 
Continental Shelf in the Georges Bank-North Atlantic planning 
area, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic planning area, Eastern 
Gulf of Mexico planning area, North Aleutian Basin planning 
area, Northern, Southern and Central California planning areas, 
and Washington/Oregon planning area.
    Language is included under General provisions, Department 
of the Interior, limiting the investment of Federal funds by 
Indian tribes.
    Language is included under General provisions, Department 
of the Interior, providing for expanded employee benefits to 
compensate for the closure of the helium program.
    Language is included under General Provisions, Department 
of the Interior, to permit donations for the Department's 
Natural Resource Library; to limit the use of funds for 
contract support costs; to prohibit fee exemptions for non-
local traffic through National Parks; to specify the employee 
benefits associated with down-sizing the Denver Service Center; 
to permit the leasing of space in the Interior South Building; 
and to name a trail in the Delaware Water Gap NRA as the Joseph 
M. McDade Trail.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Wildland fire 
management, allowing the use of funds to repay advances from 
other accounts.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Reconstruction 
and construction, earmarking funds for road obliteration and 
allowing transfer of funds to the city of Colorado Springs for 
design and reconstruction of the Pikes Peak Summit House.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Acquisition of 
lands to complete exchanges, and Acquisition of lands for 
National forest special acts, to provide that revenues and 
funds deposited are made available for appropriation.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Range Betterment 
Fund, to provide that 6 percent of the funds may be used for 
administrative expenses.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Administrative 
provisions, limiting the availability of funds to change the 
boundaries of or abolish any region or to move or close any 
regional office. Language is also provided to allow for 
advances for firefighting and emergency rehabilitation of 
damaged lands; to provide for the use of funds for fire 
management; and to provide that proceeds from the sale of 
aircraft may be used to purchase replacement aircraft.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Administrative 
provisions, to provide for a Youth Conservation Corps program; 
to allow funds to be used through the Agency for International 
Development and the Foreign Agricultural Service for work in 
foreign countries, and to support forestry activities outside 
of the United States; and to provide that money collected from 
States for fire suppression may be used for authorized 
programs.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Administrative 
provisions, to prohibit transfer of funds among appropriations 
without advance approval of the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations, and to prohibit transfer of funds to the 
working capital fund of the Department of Agriculture without 
approval of the Chief of the Forest Service.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Administrative 
provisions, providing for nonmonetary awards, and allowing 
payment for emergency work.
    Language is included under Forest Service, Administrative 
provisions, allowing reimbursement of certain pipeline rights-
of-way costs; allowing payments in emergency situations at 
regular rates of pay; limiting clearcutting in the Wayne 
National Forest, Ohio; prohibiting preparation of certain 
timber sales in the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois, 
permitting the transfer of certain funds to the State of 
Washington fish and wildlife department for planned projects; 
allowing technical assistance to rural communities; providing 
for matching funds and administrative expenses for the National 
Forest Foundation and also matching funds for the National Fish 
and Wildlife Foundation; providing that funds shall be 
available for payment to counties within the Columbia River 
Gorge National Scenic Area pursuant to Public Law 99-663, 
providing authority to the Pinchot Institute for activities at 
Grey Towers National Historic Landmark; allowing payments to 
Del Norte County, CA pursuant to Public Law 101-612; 
prohibiting the use of the Southeast Alaska Economic Disaster 
Fund moneys for lobbying; limiting employee details; making 
permanent the purchaser elect program; limiting the obligation 
of the KV Fund for indirect charges to 25 percent of the amount 
obligated for the year; and limiting the obligation of the 
salvage sale fund for indirect charges to 25 percent of the 
amount obligated for year.
    Language is included under Department of Energy, Fossil 
energy research and development, which places a limitation on 
the field testing of nuclear explosives for the recovery of oil 
and gas.
    Language is included under Department of Energy, Naval 
Petroleum and oil shale reserves waiving sales requirements 
based on Strategic Petroleum Reserves oil purchases.
    Language is included under Department of Energy, Energy 
conservation, providing allocations of grants to State and 
local programs.
    Language is included under Administrative provisions, 
Department of Energy, providing for vehicle and guard services 
and uniform allowance; limiting programs of price supports and 
loan guarantees to what is provided in appropriations Acts; 
providing for the transfer of funds to other agencies of the 
Government; providing for retention of revenues by the 
Secretary of Energy on certain projects; requiring certain 
contracts be submitted to Congress prior to implementation; 
prohibiting issuance of procurement documents without 
appropriations; permitting the use of contributions and fees 
for cooperative projects; and permitting the Federal Energy 
Management Program to accept funds from other Federal agencies 
for energy saving performance contracts.
    Language is included under Indian Health Service, Indian 
health services, providing that contracts and grants may be 
performed in two fiscal years; and capping contract support 
cost spending providing for use of collections under Title IV 
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act; and capping contract 
support cost spending.
    Language is included under Indian Health Service, Indian 
health facilities, providing that funds may be used to purchase 
land, modular buildings and trailers.
    Language is included under Indian Health Service, 
Administrative provisions, providing for payments for telephone 
service in private residences in the field, purchase of 
reprints, and purchase and erection of portable buildings; and 
allowing deobligation and reobligation of funds applied to 
self-governance funding agreements.
    Language is included under Indian Health Service, 
Administrative provisions, providing that health care may be 
extended to nonIndians at Indian Health Service facilities; and 
providing for expenditure of funds transferred to IHS from the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    Language is included under Indian Health Service, 
Administrative provisions, to prevent the Indian Health Service 
from billing Indians in order to collect from third-party 
payers until Congress has agreed to implement a specific 
policy; to limit contract support cost expenditures to IHS 
contracts and compacts; and to require a proportional 
distribution of contract support costs.
    Language is included under Indian Health Service, 
Administrative provisions, allowing payment of expenses for 
meeting attendance; specifying that certain funds shall not be 
subject to certain travel limitations; prohibiting the 
expenditure of funds to implement new eligibility regulations; 
providing that funds be apportioned only in the appropriation 
structure in this Act; and prohibiting changing the 
appropriations structure without approval of the Appropriations 
Committees.
    Language is included under Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian 
Relocation, salaries and expenses, defining eligible 
relocatees; prohibiting movement of any single Navajo or Navajo 
family unless a new or replacement home is available; limiting 
relocatees to one new or replacement home; and establishing a 
priority for relocation of Navajos to those certified eligible 
who have selected and received homesites on the Navajo 
reservation or selected a replacement residence off the Navajo 
reservation.
    Language is included under Smithsonian Institution, 
Salaries and expenses, to allow for advance payments to 
independent contractors performing research services or 
participating in official Smithsonian presentations; and 
providing that funds may be used to support American overseas 
research centers.
    Language is included under Smithsonian Institution, 
Construction and improvements, National Zoological Park, and 
Repair and restoration of buildings, to construct facilities by 
contract or otherwise.
    Language is included under Smithsonian Institution, Repair 
and restoration of buildings, to permit the Smithsonian 
Institution to select contractors for certain purposes on the 
basis of contractor qualifications as well as price.
    Language is included under Administrative Provisions, 
Smithsonian Institution, to limit planning, design or expansion 
of facilities without Committee approval; and to limit the use 
of funds for the Holt House at the zoo, for any judgment with 
respect to a claim against the National Museum of the American 
Indian (NMAI) and for the constructuion of the NMAI.
    Language is included under National Gallery of Art, 
Salaries and expenses, for payment in advance for membership in 
library, museum, and art associations or societies and for 
restoration and repair of works of art by contract without 
advertising. Language also is included specifying that the 
Gallery is a Federal entity for purposes of the Inspector 
General Act of 1978.
    Language is included under National Gallery of Art, Repair, 
restoration and renovation of buildings, to perform work by 
contract or otherwise and to select contractors for certain 
purposes on the basis of contractor qualifications as well as 
price.
    Language is included under National Foundation on the Arts 
and the Humanities, Matching grants, to allow for the 
obligation of current and prior year funds of gifts, bequests, 
and devises of money for which equal amounts have not 
previously been appropriated.
    Language is included under Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation to restrict hiring anyone at Executive Level V or 
higher positions.
    Language is included under National Capital Planning 
Commission, salaries and expenses, to provide for a pay level 
at the rate of Executive Level IV for all appointed members.
     Language is included under Title III--General provisions 
to limit the use of funds for the leasing of oil and natural 
gas by noncompetitive leasing within the boundaries of the 
Shawnee National Forest; and to prohibit the use of funds to 
distribute literature either to promote or oppose legislative 
proposals on which Congressional action is incomplete.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
to prohibit the use of funds to provide personal cooks, 
chauffeurs or other personal servants to any office or 
employee; to limit use of consulting services; to specify that 
funds are for one year unless provided otherwise.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
prohibiting assessments against programs funded in this bill, 
and providing Buy American requirements.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
prohibiting the sale of giant sequoia trees in a manner 
different from 1995.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
prohibiting the use of funds by the National Park Service to 
enter into a concession contract requiring the removal of the 
underground lunchroom at Carlsbad Caverns NP.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
regarding the use of excess funds from contracts with Indian 
tribes; allowing payments to tribes on the first business day 
of a fiscal quarter; limiting use of funds for the AmeriCorps 
program; and limiting use of funds relating to a bridge between 
New Jersey and Ellis Island.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
continuing a limitation on accepting and processing 
applications for patents and on the patenting of Federal lands; 
permitting processing of grandfathered applications; and 
permitting third-party contractors to process grandfathered 
applications.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
limiting the use of funds for the Wayne National Forest and for 
the Shawnee National Forest.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
limiting the use of funds for enforcing certain timber 
policies; amending the pilot recreational fee demonstration 
program for the land management agencies to extend it through 
2001; requiring Committee approval prior to using recreational 
fees for constructing permanent buildings; providing greater 
flexibility for use of the reforestation trust fund by the 
Forest Service; and requiring certain actions with respect to 
the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management project.
    Language is included under Title III--General provisions, 
limiting evictions from certain properties within Sleeping Bear 
Dunes NL; limiting funds for nominations for Biosphere programs 
of the United Nations; limiting funds for posting clothing 
optional signs at Cape Canaveral NS; making reforms in the 
National Endowment for the Arts; permitting the National 
Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities to collect, invest 
and use private donations; permitting the Secretary of 
Agriculture to enter into watershed restoration agreements with 
outside parties; limiting funds for improvements to 
Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House without 
Committee approval; prohibiting the relocation of the Woodrow 
Wilson International Center for Scholars from the Smithsonian 
Institution to the Ronald Reagan Building; renaming the 
Auditors West Building in Washington, DC as the Sidney R. Yates 
Building; permitting an easement in the Chugach National Forest 
for road construction; placing a moratorium on new and expanded 
self-determination contracts and self-governance compacts; 
eliminating the purchaser road credit program while retaining 
payments to States and providing for program transition; 
allowing the Senate appointed membership to the National 
Council for the Arts to be the same as that for the House; 
providing for the transfer of the Land Between the Lakes 
National Recreation Area from the Tennessee Valley Authority to 
the Secretary of Agriculture to be managed for continued 
recreation as a part of the national forest system; limiting 
the use of Forest Service and Interior Department funds for the 
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project and 
providing direction for amending management plans for the area; 
providing additional authority to the Secretary of Agriculture 
to use the ten percent roads and trails fund for additional 
purposes; amending the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act to 
increase the statutory limits for insuring international 
exhibitions; providing for a land transfer to the city of 
Tulare, CA; and excluding certain lands in Florida from the 
Coastal Barrier Resources System.

                  Appropriations Not Authorized by Law

    Pursuant to clause 3 of rule XXI of the House of 
Representatives, the following table lists the appropriations 
in the accompanying bill which, in whole or in part, are not 
authorized by law:
    Department of the Interior:
          U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Management
          National Park Service, National Recreation and 
        Preservation
    Department of Energy:
          Fossil Energy Research and Development
          Energy Conservation
          Economic Regulation
          Strategic Petroleum Reserve
          Energy Information Administration
    Other Related Agencies:
          National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities:
                  National Endowment for the Arts
                  National Endowment for the Humanities
    The Committee notes that authorizing legislation for many 
of these programs is in various stages of the legislative 
process and these authorizations are expected to be enacted 
into law later this year.

                  Compliance With Rule XIII--Clause 3

    In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):
    Section 28f(a) of title 30 U.S.C. is amended as follows:
    (a) Claim Maintenance Fee.--[The holder of each unpatented 
mining claim, mill or tunnel site located pursuant to the 
Mining Laws of the United States, whether located before or 
after August 10, 1993 shall pay the Secretary of the Interior, 
on or before August 31, of each year, for years 1994 through 
1998, a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim. Such claim 
maintenance fee shall be in lieu of assessment work requirement 
contained in the Mining Law of 1872 (30 U.S.C. 28-28e) and the 
related filing requirements contained in section 1744(a) and 
(c) of title 43.] The holder of each unpatented mining claim, 
mill or tunnel site, located pursuant to the Mining Laws of the 
United States, whether located before October, 1 1998 shall pay 
the Secretary of the Interior, on or before September 1, 1999, 
a claim fee of $100 per claim site.
    Section 28g of title 30 U.S.C. is amended as follows:
    Location fee.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
for every unpatented mining claim, mill or tunnel site located 
after August 10, 1993, and before September 30, [1998] 1999, 
pursuant to the Mining Laws of the United States, the locator 
shall, at the time the location notice is recorded with the 
Bureau of Land Management, pay to the Secretary of the Interior 
a location fee, in addition to the claim maintenance fee 
required by section 28f of this title, of $25.00 per claim.
    Section 315(f) under the heading ``Title III--General 
Provisions'' in section 101(c) of Public Law 101-134 is amended 
as follows:
    (f) The authority to collect fees under this section shall 
commence on October 1, 1995 and end on [September 30, 1999] 
September 30, 2001. Funds in accounts established shall remain 
available through [September 30, 2002] September 30, 2004.
    Section 5 of the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act, 
subsections (b) through (d) (20 U.S.C. 974), is amended as 
follows:
    (b) Maximum Limits of Coverage.--The aggregate of loss or 
damage covered by indemnity agreements made under this chapter 
shall not exceed [$3,000,000,000] $5,000,000,000 at any one 
time.
    (c) Limit for Single Exhibition.--No indemnity agreement 
for a single exhibition shall cover loss or damage in excess of 
[$300,000,000] $500,000,000.
    (d) Deductible Limit.--If the estimated value of the items 
covered by an indemnity agreement for a single exhibition is--
          (1) $2,000,000 or less, then coverage under this 
        chapter shall extend only to loss or damage in excess 
        of the first $15,000 of loss or damage to items 
        covered;
          (2) more than $2,000,000 but less than $10,000,000 
        then coverage under this chapter shall extend only to 
        loss or damage in excess of the first $25,000 of loss 
        or damage to items covered;
          (3) not less than $10,000,000 but less than 
        $125,000,000 then coverage under this chapter shall 
        extend only to loss or damage in excess of the first 
        $50,000 of loss or damage to items covered;
          (4) not less than $125,000,000 but less than 
        $200,000,000, then coverage under this chapter shall 
        extend only to loss or damage in excess of the first 
        $100,000 of loss or damage to items covered; [or]
          (5) [$200,000,000 or more] not less than $200,000,000 
        but less than $300,000,000, then coverage under this 
        chapter shall extend only to loss or damage in excess 
        of the first $200,000 of loss or damage to items 
        covered;
          (6) not less than $300,000,000 but less than 
        $400,000,000, then coverage under this chapter shall 
        extend only to loss or damage in excess of the first 
        $300,000 of loss or damage to items covered; or
          (7) $400,000,000 or more, then coverage under this 
        chapter shall extend only to loss or damage in excess 
        of the first $400,000 of loss or damage to items 
        covered.

                    Five-Year Projection of Outlays

    In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as 
amended, the following table contains five-year projections 
associated with the budget authority provided in the 
accompanying bill:

                              [In millions]                             

Budget authority......................................           $13,429
Outlays:                                                                
    Fiscal year 1999..................................             8,795
    Fiscal year 2000..................................             3,500
    Fiscal year 2001..................................               768
    Fiscal year 2002..................................               315
    Fiscal year 2003 and future years.................                75


               Assistance to State and Local Governments

    In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as 
amended, the financial assistance to State and local 
governments is as follows:

                              [In millions]                             

New budget authority..................................              $973
Fiscal year 1999 outlays resulting therefrom..........               486


    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 2(l)(2)(b) of rule XI 
of the House of Representatives, the results of each rollcall 
vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with 
the names of those voting for and those voting against, are 
printed below:

                          Full Committee Votes

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 2(l)(2)(b) of rule XI 
of the House of Representatives, the results of each rollcall 
vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with 
the names of those voting for and those voting against, are 
printed below:
                          Full Committee Votes

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 2(l)(2)(b) of rule XI 
of the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call 
vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with 
the names of those voting for and those voting against, are 
printed below:

                            ROLL CALL No. 1

    Date: June 25, 1998.
    Measure: Interior Appropriations Bill, FY 1999.
    Motion by: Mr. Obey.
    Description of motion: To provide funding for the National 
Endowment for the Arts in the amount of $98,000,000 and reduce 
funding for Forest Service fire suppression activities by 
$88,000,000.
    Results: Adopted 31 yeas to 27 nays.
        Members Voting Yea            Members Voting Nay
Mr. Cramer                          Mr. Aderholt
Ms. DeLauro                         Mr. Bonilla
Mr. Dicks                           Mr. Callahan
Mr. Dixon                           Mr. Cunningham
Mr. Edwards                         Mr. Dickey
Mr. Fazio                           Mr. Hobson
Mr. Forbes                          Mr. Istook
Mr. Frelinghuysen                   Mr. Kingston
Mr. Hefner                          Mr. Knollenberg
Mr. Hoyer                           Mr. Latham
Ms. Kaptur                          Mr. Lewis
Mr. Kolbe                           Mr. Livingston
Mrs. Lowey                          Mr. Miller
Mrs. Meek                           Mr. Nethercutt
Mr. Mollohan                        Mr. Neumann
Mr. Moran                           Mrs. Northup
Mr. Murtha                          Mr. Packard
Mr. Obey                            Mr. Parker
Mr. Olver                           Mr. Regula
Mr. Pastor                          Mr. Rogers
Ms. Pelosi                          Mr. Skeen
Mr. Porter                          Mr. Taylor
Mr. Price                           Mr. Tiahrt
Mr. Sabo                            Mr. Wamp
Mr. Serrano                         Mr. Wicker
Mr. Skaggs                          Mr. Wolf
Mr. Stokes                          Mr. Young
Mr. Torres
Mr. Visclosky
Mr. Walsh
Mr. Yates





                 ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF HON. DAVID R. OBEY

    Although the bill reported by the Committee is an 
improvement compared with the recommendations of the Interior 
and Related Agencies Subcommittee, there is still much to be 
done to make this measure acceptable.
    The most notable change made by the Committee is the 
inclusion of $98 million, the 1998 level, for the National 
Endowment for the Arts. This year, supporters of the NEA were 
repeatedly told they would be given a chance for an up-or-down 
vote on the agency during House Floor consideration. The action 
of the Committee should not change a potential House vote on 
the NEA. If the Committee had reported a bill without NEA 
funding, the rule would have had to make an amendment in order 
to honor the commitment for a Floor vote. Since the bill 
already includes the funding, all that is required now is for 
the rule to protect the NEA funding from points of order. This 
will permit an amendment to strike NEA funding, which will 
allow proponents and opponents alike the chance to debate and 
vote on the merits. Failure to protect recommended NEA funding 
from potential points of order will be a most serious breach of 
the implied promise of the Republican leadership to allow a 
House vote this year on funding for the National Endowment for 
the Arts.
    Unfortunately, the bill still contains several 
objectionable riders and does not provide sufficient funding 
for a number of worthwhile initiatives:
     Only approximately one-half of the requested $270 
million for land acquisition projects derived from the land and 
water conservation fund has been provided. Compounding the 
shortfall, the undesignated amounts remaining from the one-time 
special LWCF funding increase provided last year still have not 
been made available to the Department of the Interior and the 
Forest Service for individual projects. Contrary to the 
underlying assumptions last year when that funding was 
appropriated, it appears the bill managers are trying to get 
two years of credit for the one-time add-on. In addition, the 
non-release of the extra funds apparently is at least partially 
behind the drastic cuts in this year's LWCF funding. Supporters 
of projects denied funding or receiving less than desired 
amounts are being comforted with the possibility of receiving 
some of the additional 1998 funds. Paradoxically, while the 
Committee has provided only $69 million of the $128.6 million 
requested for National Park Service land acquisition projects, 
it has provided $15 million, or nearly 22 percent of the total, 
for one project. That project is the Chattahoochee River 
National Recreational Area in Georgia. While the budget request 
included $1 million for the Chattahoochee project, those funds 
ranked 26th in the Park Service's priority list. Put another 
way, all but $8.6 million of the Park Service's request was 
considered a higher priority. Furthermore, elsewhere in this 
report the Committee makes a commitment to using $10 million of 
last year's one-time add-on for this same project! It appears 
the project's boundaries will have to be expanded to 
accommodate the additional $10 million. According to NPS budget 
justification documents, $15 million would complete existing 
known requirements within the current boundaries. It should 
also be noted that the average cost per acre for the $15 
million is $42,600. It was stated during Committee action on 
this bill that the primary reason for including the funding is 
to protect local drinking water sources. While this may be a 
worthwhile project, one must question whether it deserves so 
much additional funding when other, truly national projects 
receive little or nothing.
    Many other funding levels in the bill are woefully 
inadequate. The Department of the Interior in total receives 
$55 million less than last year. Virtually none of the 
Administration's Clean Water Action Plan and Climate Change 
Technology Initiative was funded. The Millennium project, 
designed to protect and preserve priceless national cultural 
and historical items, received no funding. The Department of 
Energy's weatherization program also is funded below the 1998 
amount.
    Yet another agency in the bill funded below the 1998 level 
is the U.S. Forest Service. In the past, this bill has been a 
vehicle for highly contentious debates about the manner in 
which the U.S. Forest Service conducts its operations in terms 
of roads policy, timber harvesting and habitat protection. 
Unfortunately, these debates are often framed around the 
situation in large national forests in the western United 
States. As a result, for many years the national debate has 
almost solely focused on activities in those western forests, 
and the funds allocated to the Forest Service have to a great 
extent followed that focus.
    This represents a real problem for national forests in the 
eastern United States. These forests are fundamentally 
different from those in the west and often have a different 
perspective on key issues. Western forests are ``public domain 
forests'' that were established by setting aside federal land 
with forest resources to be protected and managed--they did not 
need extensive rehabilitation for the most part. The story was 
much different in the east.
    The eastern forests are ``acquired forests,'' established 
with whatever private land could be purchased, often tax-
delinquent land that had already been stripped of trees. The 
story of the establishment of these national forests is a story 
of resuscitating land nobody wanted and restoring its natural 
beauty and value.
    One of the two Forest Service Regions that includes these 
forests is the Eastern Region, or Region 9. Region 9 covers a 
geographic area that includes 43% of the entire population of 
the United States, and while the national forests only cover 6% 
of the area, they represent 50% of the public lands in the 
region. These islands of green are vital environmental 
resources, economic factors, and recreational areas. However, 
if we don't start paying more attention to their needs, they 
will no longer be able to fulfill these roles and the result of 
a near-century of hard work will be lost.
    Despite the fact that Region 9's forests provide essential 
timber for local industries, despite the fact that they are 
struggling to preserve wildlife habitat, and despite the fact 
that they face backlogs in maintenance of recreational 
facilities, the budget for the Eastern Region received a cut 
over FY 1994 to FY 1997 that was double the cut the Forest 
Service received nationally on a percentage basis.
    In FY 1998, the Southern Region has 41% of the nation's 
forest plans that were able to proceed with revisions--a 
process that is vital to ensuring that a national forest is 
acting in its own best interest and in the best interests of 
its many users. Without sustained adequate funding, these 
efforts can stall and break the continuity in a process that 
often depends on the momentum of the process and familiarity 
between the parties. In important tasks such as species 
conservation and habitat restoration, much of the success in 
these forests has been a result of the forests' ability to work 
cooperatively with their public and private neighbors to meet 
their goals--the loss of adequate planning funding strikes at 
the heart of the ability of the forest to work cooperatively 
and avoid the confrontations we have seen in the west.
    The need in the Southern Region was clear, yet the Forest 
Service spent 38% of its funding for revisions of forest plans 
in regions that could not legally proceed with plan revisions. 
We have worked so hard over the years to establish these 
forests--we should not let all that work go to waste.
    Without adequate funding, eastern forests will be unable to 
properly manage themselves. Recreation facilities will 
deteriorate, forest health will suffer, and responsible timber 
harvesting will not be possible. The missions of the forests 
will go unfulfilled, and as the forests attempt to do at least 
part of their job at the expense of other roles, the 
confrontations we have seen that have paralyzed the western 
forests will move east.
    This bill does not prescribe how the Forest Service divides 
its resources between regions. Although budgeting for the 
forest system is difficult, I believe that the Forest Service 
should take the needs of acquired forests and the Eastern and 
Southern regions under more consideration in allocating the 
funds that we are providing in this bill. While public 
attention and political heat is generated by confrontations 
over policy in public domain forests out west, we are going to 
face more complex problems in the acquired forests back east if 
the Forest Service continues to neglect this part of the 
National Forest system.

                  Why Is the Federal Budget Balanced?

    Fiscal Year 1998 will mark the first balanced budget in 29 
years. On May 5, 1998 the Congressional Budget Office revised 
its surplus estimate once again predicting that the 1998 
surplus will be between $43 billion and $63 billion. The OMB's 
Mid-Session Review issued on May 26, 1998 predicts a 1998 
surplus of $39 billion. This is a remarkable turnabout given 
that as recently as FY 1992, the federal deficit was $290 
billion. This surplus--
          is the culmination of six years in a row of 
        successively improved fiscal balances, the longest such 
        period of improvement in history;
          will cause the debt burden to shrink for the fourth 
        year in a row (i.e., debt held by the public as a share 
        of GDP); and
          will cause mandatory net interest payments to start 
        shrinking as a share of the budget and as a share of 
        the economy--leaving more room in the budget for 
        productive activities.
    Soon after these new surplus projections were released, the 
Majority Party issued a flurry of press releases making the 
claim that so-called ``Balanced Budget'' legislation and other 
bills enacted by Congress last year are responsible for this 
turnabout. Such claims are simply not credible. Just as it took 
years of fiscal imprudence in the 1980s' and early 1990's to 
build up a $290 billion deficit by 1992, it took years of 
adhering to disciplined and responsible fiscal and monetary 
policies since 1992 to dig out of this deficit position.

            what caused the 1998 surplus?--cbo's explanation

    So what are the precise reasons for this dramatic 
turnaround since President Bush left office with a $290 billion 
deficit? The CBO has issued data that answers this question 
objectively and decisively.
    According to the CBO data, the remarkable fiscal turnabout 
has been due to three primary factors:
          An improved economy with six years of sustained 
        growth;
          Legislation passed by the 103rd Democratic Congress 
        in 1993 and 1994; and
          A slower rise in the cost of medical care (e.g., 
        Medicare/Medicaid) than projected.
    Conspicuously absent from CBO's analysis of reasons for the 
1998 surplus is the fiscal effect of laws enacted by Republican 
congresses between 1995 and the present date. The reason for 
this is that the CBO actually totes up legislation enacted in 
the period that Republicans have been in control of Congress as 
raising the deficit by more than it cut in 1998. The sum total 
of laws passed by the 104th and 105th Republican congresses 
will cost the Treasury roughly $11,000,000,000 more in FY 1998 
than they saved.
    In January 1993 when President Clinton took office, CBO 
made the alarming prediction that the federal deficit for the 
next five years would go through the roof--to $357 billion by 
fiscal 1998. This was despite the fact that the economy was 
expected to improve over that five-year timeframe. Since then, 
we have been able to wipe out this $357 billion deficit and 
build a surplus of $43 billion--a net change of $400 billion.
    The CBO attributes this astounding turnaround to the 
following major reasons:

Major reasons for the FY 1998 surplus

                        [In billions of dollars]

                                                            CBO estimate
Projected FY 1998 Deficit (Jan. 1993 CBO forecast)............       357
Major Factors for Fiscal Change Since 1992:
    Improved economy (revenues higher/entitlement costs lower 
      than 1993 forecast (min)................................      -210
    Democratic Congress (budgetary effect of legislation 
      passed in 1993 & 1994)..................................       141
    Health care costs (lower cost increases for Medicare/other 
      health care programs than 1993 forecast.................       -60
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total Deficit Reduction.................................      -411
Republican Congresses (budgetary effect of legislation passed 
    1995-present).............................................       +11
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Total Fiscal Change.....................................      -400

    Despite claims to the contrary, CBO data show that the 
combined fiscal effect of the laws enacted by the 104th and 
105th Republican Congresses is to add $11,000,000,000 more to 
the deficit than it cut in Fiscal Year 1998.
    Clearly the CBO numbers confirm that the major credit for 
creating the 1998 surplus must go to actions of the 103rd 
Democratic Congress, which not only produced real net savings 
of $141 billion, but created the conditions necessary to adopt 
pro-growth monetary policies that have been very successful. 
The centerpiece of this effort, the deficit reduction bill 
passed in 1993, was described as follows by Federal Reserve 
Chairman Greenspan:

          There's no question that the impact of bringing the 
        deficit down [through the 1993 budget bill] set in 
        place a series of events--a virtuous cycle, if I may 
        put it that way--which has led us to where we are. (In 
        testimony before the House Budget Committee, March 4, 
        1998.)

    The facts show that the 1998 budget is balanced despite 
Republican legislative efforts, not because of them.

                                                         Dave Obey.

                                
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