[House Report 110-187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-187

======================================================================
 
     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                       APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2008

                                _______
                                

 June 11, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            Additional Views

                        [To accompany H.R. 2643]

    The Committee on Appropriations submits the following 
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making 
appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the 
Environmental Protection Agency, and Related Agencies for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2008 and for other purposes. 
The bill provides regular annual appropriations for the 
Department of the Interior (except the Bureau of Reclamation 
and the Central Utah Project), the Environmental Protection 
Agency, and for other related agencies, including the Forest 
Service, the Indian Health Service, the Smithsonian 
Institution, and the National Foundation on the Arts and the 
Humanities.

                                CONTENTS

_______________________________________________________________________


                                                            Page number

                                                            Bill Report
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:
        Bureau of Land Management..........................     2
                                                                      8
        United States Fish and Wildlife Service............    11
                                                                     24
        National Park Service..............................    18
                                                                     37
        United States Geological Survey....................    24
                                                                     50
        Minerals Management Service........................    26
                                                                     54
        Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
            Enforcement....................................    29
                                                                     60
        Bureau of Indian Affairs...........................    31
                                                                     63
        Departmental Offices...............................    39
                                                                     72
        Department-wide Programs...........................    44
                                                                     81
        General Provisions, Department of the Interior.....    47
                                                                     82
TITLE II--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY:
        Science and Technology.............................    55
                                                                     97
        Commission on Climate Change Adaptation and 
            Mitigation.....................................    56
                                                                    100
        Environmental Programs and Management..............    57
                                                                    102
        Office of Inspector General........................    58
                                                                    109
        Buildings and Facilities...........................    58
                                                                    110
        Hazardous Substance Superfund......................    58
                                                                    110
        Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program...........    59
                                                                    113
        Oil Spill Response.................................    60
                                                                    114
        State and Tribal Assistance Grants.................    60
                                                                    115
        Administrative Provisions..........................    65
                                                                    118
TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES:
        Forest Service, USDA...............................    67
                                                                    120
        Indian Health Service, DHHS........................    81
                                                                    142
        National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences    88
                                                                    148
        Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry...    89
                                                                    148
        Other Related Agencies:
                Council on Environmental Quality and Office 
                    of Environmental Quality...............    90
                                                                    149
                Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation 
                    Board..................................    90
                                                                    149
                Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation    91
                                                                    150
                Institute of American Indian and Alaska 
                    Native Culture and Arts Development....    92
                                                                    151
                Smithsonian Institution....................    92
                                                                    151
                National Gallery of Art....................    94
                                                                    155
                John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
                    Arts...................................    95
                                                                    157
                Woodrow Wilson International Center for 
                    Scholars...............................    96
                                                                    158
                National Foundation on the Arts and the 
                    Humanities.............................    96
                                                                    159
                Commission of Fine Arts....................    98
                                                                    163
                Advisory Council on Historic Preservation..    99
                                                                    164
                National Capital Planning Commission.......    99
                                                                    165
                United States Holocaust Memorial Museum....   100
                                                                    165
                Presidio Trust.............................   100
                                                                    165
                White House Commission on the National 
                    Moment of Remembrance..................   100
                                                                    166
TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS                                  101
                                                                    166
TITLE V--GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE SENSE OF CONGRESS              110
                                                                    167
BILL-WIDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND REPROGRAMMING 
    GUIDELINES                                                 --
                                                                    168

                                  BUDGET AUTHORITY RECOMMENDED IN BILL BY TITLE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Committee bill
                        Activity                         Budget estimates,   Committee bill,     compared with
                                                          fiscal year 2008   fiscal year 2008   budget estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title I, Department of the Interior: New Budget             $9,713,245,000    $10,163,478,000      +$450,233,000
 (obligational) authority..............................
Title II, Environmental Protection Agency: New Budget        7,199,400,000      8,085,915,000       +886,515,000
 (obligational) authority..............................
Title III, related agencies: New Budget (obligational)       8,770,858,000      9,383,732,000       +612,874,000
 authority.............................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Grand total, New Budget (obligational) authority...     25,683,503,000     27,633,125,000     +1,949,622,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          Changing Directions

    The recommendations presented in the accompanying bill are 
the product of a very deliberate and bipartisan process. The 
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies held 
38 separate hearings over three months with more than 250 
witnesses. This included agency officials, Members of Congress 
and more than 100 tribal leaders and other public witnesses. 
These hearings included both standard budget hearings as well 
as a series of broader sessions to look at long-term trends in 
a few critical areas. This included five ``contextual'' 
hearings which looked at: (1) preserving open spaces and 
recreational opportunities; (2) protecting the quality of our 
water and air; (3) the status of Native American communities; 
(4) America's artistic and cultural heritage; and finally (5) 
the critical area of climate change. Many of the 
recommendations in this bill flow directly from these hearings.
    This bill is structured in response to this review to begin 
the process of reinvesting significant new resources to address 
the future needs of our country. This new period of 
reinvestment follows a period of significant disinvestment in 
environmental and conservation programs and a period of clearly 
inadequate funding towards fulfilling the moral and treaty 
obligations of this Nation to Native American communities. Had 
the Administration's budget request been approved for 2008, 
funding over the last six years would have fallen 16 percent 
for the Department of the Interior, 29 percent for the 
Environmental Protection Agency and 35 percent for the non-fire 
portion of the budget of the Forest Service. Given that 
history, the Committee believes that the 4.5 percent increase 
provided in this bill is well justified.
    This report provides detailed justifications for its 
recommendations but a few of the increases and decreases 
recommended by the Committee deserve special mention:
    National Parks.--The bill includes substantial new 
investments in our national parks as part of the $3 billion, 
ten-year proposal from the President to upgrade the parks in 
preparation for the centennial of the founding of the National 
Park Service in 2016. The bill provides $2,047 million, a $199 
million increase over fiscal year 2007, for core operational 
costs of our national parks as proposed by the President. This 
increase will begin to reverse the major declines which have 
occurred over the last decade as the parks have had to absorb 
fixed costs and other new requirements year after year. The 
additional funds will support 3,000 badly needed new seasonal 
employees and 590 additional year-round staff. $85 million is 
also included for critical repair and maintenance projects.
    The bill also provides $50 million as the governmental 
contribution for the new Centennial Challenge initiative 
proposed by the President for the parks. These funds must be 
matched by private funds. Centennial Challenge funds will 
support special facility and visitor service projects which 
enhance the visitor experience beyond the levels possible 
through the normal appropriations process.
    National Wildlife Refuges.--The bill provides $451 million, 
a $56 million increase over 2007, for national wildlife 
refuges. This will begin to reverse the current staffing 
shortfall problems within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
which has lost almost 600 FTEs since 2004. $85 million has also 
been provided for the very successful State Wildlife Grants 
programs managed by the Service.
    Native Americans.--The bill provides $5,731 million to 
support critical education, health care, economic development 
and law enforcement programs for Native Americans, $231 million 
over the request for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the 
Indian Health Service (IHS). To address one of the biggest 
issues facing Indian Country, the bill adds $35 million for a 
methamphetamine prevention initiative that spans both the BIA 
and the IHS.
    Wildfires.--The bill provides $2,781 million for the 
wildfire programs to support the national fire plan, an 
increase of $199 million over the current level. The 
President's budget had proposed more than $100 million in 
reductions in critical fire preparedness activities. This bill 
restores those cuts and provides an increase of $163 million 
over fiscal year 2007 for wildfire suppression, fully funding 
the 10-year average costs. It also includes over $500 million 
for vitally needed hazardous fuels projects to reduce the risk 
of further catastrophic wildfires.
    Forest Service.--The President's budget request would have 
required the loss of over 2,100 full time staff at the Forest 
Service and dramatic reductions in its ability to provide basic 
services for the American public. Instead, the Committee 
recommendation has made a major investment of $345 million 
above the request for non-fire programs to restore recreation 
and trails, forest protection and harvest, natural resource 
stewardship, cooperative forestry, and quality science 
programs. This brings non-fire funding up to $2.6 billion, an 
increase of 4 percent and $102 million over fiscal year 2007. 
The decade-long neglect of maintenance to the vast Forest 
Service road network and trail system is addressed with the new 
$65 million legacy roads and trails remediation initiative to 
begin the restoration of sensitive watersheds.
    Environmental Protection Agency.--The bill provides $8,086 
million for the EPA, an $887 million increase over the 
President's budget. The President had proposed $526 million of 
reductions for this agency. The bill restores those cuts and 
provides a number of critical increases. The bill includes 
$1,125 million, a $437 million increase above the request, for 
the Clean Water State Revolving Fund; $220 million for Clean 
Air State Grants; $140 million for sewer and water grants in 
local communities; $35.5 million for underground storage tank 
grants; and $50 million for the new diesel emission reduction 
program.
    Climate Change.--This bill addresses the critical issue of 
climate change in a number of ways. First, it provides $266 
million for various climate change activities throughout the 
bill, an increase of $94 million over the 2007 level.
    The bill also establishes a new temporary Commission on 
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. This Commission will 
include the heads of the major Federal agencies with climate 
science responsibilities, as well as a set of public Members 
with appropriate expertise. The bill designates the President 
of the National Academy of Sciences as the Chairman of the new 
Commission and charges it with reviewing for the first time in 
an organized way the science issues related to how the world 
adapts to the reality of climate change and the steps necessary 
to advance this science. (See p. 99)
    The bill includes a statutory set-aside of $2 million for 
the Environmental Protection Agency to begin the formal process 
of developing a regulatory framework for the reduction of 
greenhouse gases.
    The bill also includes the same Sense of Congress 
Resolution adopted last year by the Committee recognizing the 
reality of climate change and the need to address its 
consequences.
    Cultural Agencies.--The National Endowment for the Arts and 
the National Endowment for the Humanities would each receive 
$160 million, increases over the 2007 appropriations levels of 
$35 million and $19 million respectively.
    Reductions.--This bill also recommends reductions below the 
2007 level totaling over $400 million. This includes $135 
million of net reductions from construction programs throughout 
the bill based on evidence at the hearings that many of these 
programs have a backlog of previously funded projects which 
must be completed prior to undertaking new work. The bill also 
terminates the Land Owner Incentive and Private Stewardship 
programs at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    The Committee believes that this bill, with its increases 
and decreases, is a responsible package which invests in key 
environmental and conservation priorities and honors our 
stewardship responsibilities to Native Americans.

                          CROSSCUTTING ISSUES

    The Committee also wishes to express its concerns about a 
number of issues which affect multiple areas within the bill.
    Environment and Law Enforcement Concerns on the Southwest 
Border.--The Committee remains concerned that the illegal 
immigration problems on the Southwestern border are having 
devastating impacts on Federal and tribal lands. The lands of 
the National Wildlife Refuge System, National Park Service, 
Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are 
severely stressed by the thousands of illegal immigrants that 
cross the border. Tribal lands are equally impacted. Thousands 
of pounds of trash and hundreds of miles of trails and illegal 
roads are being left behind in environmentally sensitive areas. 
Alarmingly, many sections of our public lands are now so 
dangerous that Federal agencies must restrict public access. 
With increased border scrutiny in urban sectors, drug 
traffickers have moved their operations to more remote Federal 
and tribal lands. Due to this high level of drug trafficking, 
Federal employees often put their lives at risk just by showing 
up for work.
    The Committee has increased funding in each of the land 
management agencies law enforcement accounts and in the Bureau 
of Indian Affairs and expects a portion of that funding to be 
used to protect tribal members, visitors, employees, and 
natural resources along the Southwestern border.
    Methamphetamine Use in Indian Country.--The Committee is 
extremely concerned about the rising use of methamphetamine in 
Indian Country. This drug destroys lives, obliterates families, 
and has the potential to destroy tribal cultures. Increases in 
violent crime, child abuse, spousal abuse and suicide can all 
be traced to methamphetamine use. In hearings this year, the 
Committee learned that entire reservations were being targeted 
by international drug cartels due to a lack of adequate law 
enforcement. The Committee commends the administration for its 
recognition of this problem and the increased funding it 
proposed to help fight it, but more needs to be done. The 
Committee has increased funding in this bill by $35,000,000 
above the request for law enforcement officers, training, 
tribal courts, detention facilities and anti-drug education 
activities. The Committee understands that this is not just a 
law enforcement problem and therefore has included $15,000,000 
within this amount for the Indian Health Service for substance 
abuse treatment and mental health issues, including youth 
suicide, associated with methamphetamine use. The Committee 
expects the Directors of the Indian Health Service and the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs to distribute this funding outside of 
the normal formulas and methodologies to target the areas with 
the highest needs in Indian Country.
    The Committee directs the Departments to report on the 
allocation of these increased funds within 60 days of enactment 
of this appropriation.

                EXECUTIVE BRANCH PROJECT REVIEW PROCESS

    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. For example, the Administration requested 
115 construction and land acquisition projects totaling $272 
million. The Administration, in selecting these projects, goes 
through a process that is the functional equivalent of 
earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it 
goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or 
modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    Contractors.--The Executive Branch also engages in another 
practice which steers or directs money to specific entities or 
purposes through a process of contracting out various 
activities and services.
    In many important work locations, the number of people 
working for contractors exceeds the number of Federal employees 
in the same building or location. Many of these, in fact, are 
non-competitive or sole-sourced. When added together, the 
Executive Branch steers or directs far greater spending to 
specific projects or corporations than is directed or earmarked 
by Congress. And the practice of non-competitive contracting 
has exploded in the past five years.
    For example the Department of the Interior reported to the 
Committee that the value of contracts awarded through processes 
that were ``not fully and openly competitive'' increased from 
$26 million in 2000 to $167 million in 2005. In 2005 $80 
million was awarded on a purely sole-source basis. Examples 
included:
           $7,650,000 for warehousing services to the 
        Lauricella Land Company
           $6,532,000 for phosphate rock mining to the 
        Connolly-Pacific Company
           $11,043,000 for security services to Adesta 
        the Limited Liability Company
           $6,000,000 for computer equipment from the 
        GTSI Corp.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained in either the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

                  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 
258 million acres of the Nation's public lands and for 
management of 700 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. The Bureau's National Landscape Conservation System 
includes over 23 million acres of national monuments, 
conservation areas, wild and scenic rivers, national scenic and 
historic trails, and other areas which have received special 
recognition and protection through congressional or 
presidential conservation designations. The Bureau's wildland 
fire management account supports fire activities for all 
Departmental bureaus, including the National Park Service, the 
Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee for each Bureau of 
Land Management appropriation account and the Department's 
wildland fire management appropriation account, compared with 
the budget estimates by activity, are shown in the following 
table:



                   MANAGEMENT OF LANDS AND RESOURCES

Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $866,911,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       879,438,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       888,628,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +21,717,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +9,190,000


    The Committee recommends $888,628,000 for management of 
lands and resources, $9,190,000 above the budget request and 
$21,717,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. Most of 
the programs and activities have been given small increases 
above the budget request intended to restore core, fundamental 
management funding which was decreased by the Administration in 
fiscal year 2007 to accommodate their increased funding for oil 
and gas activities. Non program-specific funds are provided for 
the Healthy Lands Initiative, as requested, and for the 
National Landscape Conservation System.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the table at the 
beginning of the Bureau of Land Management entry.
    Land Resources.--The Committee recommends $194,390,000 for 
land resources, $10,958,000 above the budget request and 
$8,834,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
Committee recommendation includes restoration of the wild horse 
and burro program funding to the previous level, plus fixed 
costs. Funding for cultural resources management is restored to 
the fiscal year 2007 level, an increase of $1,089,000 over the 
request and $1,599,000 above the fiscal year 2006 level.
    Wildlife and Fisheries.--The Committee recommends 
$43,647,000 for wildlife and fisheries, $2,725,000 above the 
request and $2,867,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
level.
    Threatened and Endangered Species.--The Committee 
recommends $23,000,000 for threatened and endangered species, 
$1,070,000 above the request and $1,593,000 above the fiscal 
year 2007 enacted level. The Committee encourages the Bureau to 
increase its efforts toward recovery of listed plant and animal 
species on Bureau-managed lands and waters. The Committee 
encourages the Bureau to adopt procedures to track consultation 
and recovery costs that are charged to this and other 
activities.
    Recreation Management.--The Committee recommends 
$69,085,000 for recreation management, $3,950,000 above the 
budget request and $5,388,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level. The Committee expects that $2,000,000 of the 
increase be used to support the various national scenic and 
historic trails above historic funding levels. The Committee 
directs the Bureau to include in subsequent budget 
justifications a clear exposition of trail-related funding 
requests and accomplishments from all budget activities.
    The Committee recognizes that the growing disconnection of 
America's children from the natural world impacts the 
children's health as well as the future of natural resource 
conservation. Within the recreation management, Challenge Cost 
Share, and National Landscape Conservation System activities 
the Bureau should implement projects that help connect children 
and their families with nature.
    Energy and Minerals.--The Committee recommends $112,114,000 
for energy and minerals, $29,419,000 below the budget request 
and $24,423,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
Committee notes that the recommendation includes, as requested 
by the Administration, a new cost recovery program which had 
been requested under the Service Charges, Deposits and 
Forfeitures account. The Committee recommendation provides that 
the new cost recovery program apply to each application for a 
permit to drill, and that the estimated $20,000,000 in revenues 
yielded be used to off-set appropriations for the oil and gas 
management activity. When these additional funds are 
considered, the Committee recommendation for oil and gas 
activities is $5,000,000 below the fiscal year 2007 level and 
$9,419,000 below the request. The Administration's request had 
assumed that $21,000,000 would be generated by the cost 
recovery program. The Committee recommendation does not include 
the Administration request to amend the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 to stop the use of $20,000,000 in mandatory funds for the 
pilot oil and gas permitting offices.
    The Committee recommendation includes bill language which 
provides a cap on the funds available for oil and gas 
activities. This should help the Bureau manage these funds and 
demonstrate to the public that other Bureau conservation funds 
are not being used to support oil and gas drilling activities.
    The Committee is concerned that in the past the Bureau has 
not properly charged all energy and minerals activities to this 
account, but rather, has allowed, or even encouraged, the use 
of other natural resource and public service funds for direct 
support of oil and gas activities. The Bureau should carefully 
evaluate its charged-as-worked procedures, and report back to 
the Committee by March 20, 2008 on steps taken to assure the 
public that oil and gas and other mineral activities are not 
supported at the expense of other Bureau conservation programs.
    The Committee recommendation for oil and gas funding 
includes the requested increase for inspection, enforcement and 
monitoring. In addition, the Committee encourages careful 
auditing of existing permits.
    The Committee directs that wilderness and wilderness 
quality lands should be very carefully examined and only used 
for oil and gas leasing when less sensitive lands are not 
available and when existing permitted areas are fully 
developed. According to BLM data, there are 24 million acres of 
onshore leases with no oil and gas drilling activity on them.
    The Committee is also concerned that the Bureau may be 
moving too quickly on new commercial oil shale leasing 
activities in and near Colorado. The Bureau should use 
experience and knowledge gained from the recently established 
demonstration leases and not proceed with new commercial leases 
until full and complete reports are presented and made 
available for public review from the demonstration leases. The 
Bureau should report to the Committee if additional legislative 
steps are necessary to make this adjustment.
    Realty and Ownership Management.--The Committee recommends 
$80,861,000 for realty and ownership management, $2,132,000 
above the budget request and $1,777,000 below the fiscal year 
2007 enacted level. The Committee is concerned about the 
Department's interpretation and actions that would disclaim 
Federal interest in lands subject to an RS2477 claim or issue 
any ``non-binding determination'' that would have a similar 
effect. The Bureau should provide advance notice to the 
Congress in the event that the Department plans to approve any 
RS2477 claims, and provide quarterly reports to the Committee 
on the Bureau's activities concerning various claims under the 
RS2477 statute.
    Under the land acquisition heading, the Committee rejects 
the Administration proposal to use revenue from the sale of 
certain subsurface mineral rights to fund new acquisition 
projects. The Committee is also concerned about various Bureau 
land sales activities and the subsequent use of those funds. 
Therefore, the Committee requests annual summaries of sales, 
expenditures, and fund balances in the budget justification 
from all the Bureau's land authorizations.
    Resource Protection and Maintenance.--The Committee 
recommends $87,124,000 for resource protection and maintenance, 
$5,158,000 above the budget request and $1,970,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The Committee is concerned that 
the Bureau is focusing too much of its resource management 
planning program on areas selected for intensive energy 
development. In addition, the Committee requests the Bureau to 
provide a report summarizing the extent to which existing and 
future plans include evaluations of the impacts of global 
climate change.
    The Committee remains concerned about law enforcement 
activities along the southwestern border in New Mexico, 
Arizona, and California, and therefore directs that a 
substantial portion of the increase provided be used for law 
enforcement in areas having high visitation, potential for drug 
trafficking, and which are near the border.
    Transportation and Facilities Maintenance.--The Committee 
recommends $75,974,000 for transportation and facilities 
maintenance, $4,217,000 above the budget request and $5,606,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The Committee 
understands the Bureau has a large backlog in deferred 
maintenance, and has included this increase to begin to remedy 
the situation. The Committee also expects that a substantial 
portion of the increase be used for the national scenic and 
historic trails and that future budget justifications should 
clearly display trails funding in this activity and elsewhere 
in the Bureau.
    Land and Resource Information Systems.--The Committee 
recommends $17,487,000 for land and resource information 
systems, $779,000 above the budget request and $403,000 above 
the fiscal year 2007 enacted level.
    Mining Law Administration.--The Committee recommends 
$34,696,000 for mining law administration as requested. 
Offsetting fees are equal to the amount made available to 
support this activity.
    Workforce and Organizational Support.--The Committee 
recommends $149,946,000 for workforce and organizational 
support, $3,023,000 below the budget request and $213,000 above 
the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The Committee has rejected 
the request for $3,023,000 in this account related to 
development costs of the department-wide financial and business 
management system (FBMS). Funding for the FBMS activity has 
been consolidated in the ``Office of the Secretary'' account.
    Challenge Cost Share.--The Committee recommends $10,000,000 
for the Bureau's traditional challenge cost share program, 
$643,000 above both the budget request and the fiscal year 2007 
enacted funding level. The Committee notes that the Bureau has 
very successfully used this funding to leverage private 
contributions and provide numerous projects which enhance 
public lands and public service. The Committee directs that 
future annual budget justifications should include a display 
summarizing past accomplishments and anticipated activities.
    Healthy Lands Initiative.--The Committee recommends 
$15,000,000 for the new Healthy Lands Initiative as requested. 
The Committee recommendation retains the funds in this new 
activity because the Committee has not yet determined how to 
distribute these new funds among the various program activities 
which will be doing the work, including land resources, 
wildlife and fisheries, threatened and endangered species and 
recreation management. Accordingly, the Committee directs the 
Bureau to consult with the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations and then provide a detail table within 60 days 
of enactment, which allocates these funds among pre-existing 
budget activities. Subsequent budget justifications should 
request funds for the initiative in the appropriate activities, 
and also include a cross-cutting table clearly indicating 
overall initiative funding.
    Although the Committee is hopeful that the Healthy Lands 
Initiative will address important conservation needs, the 
Committee expects the States and the private sector, which have 
greatly benefited from recent oil, gas and mineral activity on 
Bureau lands, to make substantial financial commitments to 
assist the Department's efforts. The Healthy Lands Initiative 
must be a science-based lands restoration effort, which 
features native species habitat restoration and protection, as 
well as public service and watershed protection.
    National Landscape Conservation System Program Increase.--
The Committee recommendation includes $10,000,000 to increase 
overall funding for management of the National Landscape 
Conservation System (NLCS), the Bureau's network of national 
monuments, conservation areas, and other special lands. These 
funds are in addition to other funding increases provided 
within existing budget activities. The Committee directs the 
Bureau to consult with the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations and subsequently provide a detailed table within 
60 days of enactment, which allocates these funds among 
appropriate, preexisting budget activities. Subsequent budget 
justifications should request funds for the NLCS in the 
appropriate activities, and also include a cross-cutting table 
clearly indicating overall NLCS funding by budget activity and 
for each substantial unit of the NLCS.

                              CONSTRUCTION




Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $11,751,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         6,476,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         6,476,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        -5,275,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0


    The Committee recommends $6,476,000 for construction as 
requested, $5,275,000 below the 2007 enacted level. The 
Committee encourages the Bureau to request wildfire-related 
construction funding needs in this account in the future.
    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. For example, following is a list of some 
BLM construction projects submitted by the Administration:
          $2,368,000 for Lemhi River, ID, TMDL road 
        maintenance, phase II
          $1,069,000 for Vernal district warehouse, UT, yard 
        reconstruction
          $396,000 for McInnis Canyons NCA, CO, kiosks
    The Administration, in selecting these projects, goes 
through a process that is the functional equivalent of 
earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it 
goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or 
modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

                            LAND ACQUISITION




Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $8,634,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         1,619,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        18,634,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +10,000,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +17,015,000


    The Committee recommends $18,634,000 for land acquisition, 
$10,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and 
$17,015,000 above the budget request.
    The Committee recommendation includes $1,569,000 for 
acquisition management, $1,000,000 for emergencies and 
hardships, and $16,065,000 for land acquisition projects.
    The Committee has not agreed with the Administration's 
proposal to generate revenues for land acquisition projects 
from the sale of subsurface mineral rights.
    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. The following is a list of examples of 
land acquisition projects submitted by the Administration: 
$1,000,000 for Blackfoot River Special Recreation Management 
Area in Montana; $1,500,000 for the Upper Snake/South Fork 
Snake River Special Recreation Management Area; and $500,000 
for the Upper Sacramento Area of Critical Environmental 
Concern. The Administration, in selecting these projects, goes 
through a process that is the functional equivalent of 
earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it 
goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or 
modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    The Committee provides no recommendations at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

                   OREGON AND CALIFORNIA GRANT LANDS
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $108,991,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       110,242,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       110,242,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +1,251,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $110,242,000 for the Oregon and 
California grant lands as requested, $1,251,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The amounts recommended by the 
Committee compared with the budget estimates by activity are 
shown in the table at the beginning of the Bureau of Land 
Management entry.

               FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND RECOVERY FUND

                   (REVOLVING FUND, SPECIAL ACCOUNT)

    The Committee includes bill language, as in the past, 
allowing funds made available in the Forest Ecosystem Health 
and Recovery Fund to be used for various forestry purposes 
including planning, preparing, implementing and monitoring 
salvage timber sales and forest ecosystem restoration 
activities. This fund includes the Federal share of receipts 
derived from treatments funded by this account and deposited 
into this fund.

                           RANGE IMPROVEMENTS
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $10,000,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        10,000,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        10,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 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. The 
Committee has retained bill language as in previous years even 
though the Administration had requested its deletion. 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

    The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation 
estimated to be $25,905,000 for service charges, deposits, and 
forfeitures. The Committee recommendation includes a 
modification of the Administration request to establish a new 
energy and minerals cost recovery program for oil and gas 
management activities. The request originally estimated that 
$21,000,000 would be generated within this account; instead, 
the recommendation moves the new cost recovery program to the 
Management of Lands and Resources appropriation where it is 
discussed further. The Service Charges, Deposits, and 
Forfeitures appropriation is offset with fees 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, the provision of copies of official 
public land documents and applications for permits to drill oil 
and gas wells.

                       MISCELLANEOUS TRUST FUNDS

    The Committee recommends an indefinite appropriation 
estimated to be $12,405,000, 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 town sites. 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.

                        WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $758,355,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       801,849,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       806,644,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +48,289,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +4,795,000
    The Committee recommends $806,644,000 for wildland fire 
management at the Department of the Interior, $4,795,000 above 
the budget request and $48,289,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level. The amounts recommended by the Committee 
compared with the budget estimates by activity are shown in the 
table at the beginning of the Bureau of Land Management entry.
    Wildfire Preparedness.--The Committee recommends 
$274,863,000 for wildfire preparedness, $6,529,000 above the 
request and equal to the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
Committee believes that the Department and the Forest Service 
must work together, along with State and other partners, to 
maintain sufficient readiness with the preparedness program. 
The Committee rejects the requested funding cut for this 
important activity. The Committee expects that the Department 
will do its utmost to maintain wildfire suppression capability 
at least at the same levels as in fiscal year 2006. The 
Department should immediately notify the Committees on 
Appropriations if it appears that funding shortfalls may limit 
needed firefighting capacity.
    The Committee also notes the importance of the seemingly 
endless development of the Fire Program Analysis System jointly 
developed with the Forest Service. The Department and the 
Forest Service should continue this effort, but should provide 
public benchmarks, project costs, and progress reports, as well 
as summaries of expected model outputs, on the government 
wildfire management web site with quarterly updates. The full 
cost and scope of this effort should be included in subsequent 
budget justifications.
    Wildfire Suppression Operations.--The Committee recommends 
$294,398,000 for wildfire suppression operations, as requested, 
an increase of $45,213,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
funding level. The Committee recommendation fully meets the 10-
year average expenditure on suppression actions which actually 
occurred, adjusted for inflation. The Committee remains 
concerned about the high costs of large fire incidents. The 
Department of the Interior, along with the Forest Service, 
should ensure that cost containment is an important priority 
when suppressing wildland fires. Therefore, the Committee 
directs the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service 
to continue reports required previously and to examine, using 
independent panels, any individual wildfire incident which 
results in expenses greater than $10,000,000. The Department 
should work carefully with the Forest Service, States, tribes 
and others to evaluate and implement various cost efficiencies, 
and jointly report back with the Forest Service to the 
Committee by March 30, 2008 on specific actions taken to 
potentially reduce the increased wildfire suppression costs.
    Hazardous Fuels.--The Committee has provided $202,792,000 
for hazardous fuels reduction work as requested, an increase of 
$3,005,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level.
    The Committee is concerned that the Department does not 
have a fully open and coherent way of allocating hazardous 
fuels funds among bureaus, and among regions or States within 
bureaus. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is 
continuing to evaluate this situation, but it is becoming 
increasingly clear that funding does not always go to the 
highest priority fuels projects. It is essential that scarce 
program dollars are used for projects which have the greatest 
benefit to the Nation. This will require much greater 
collaboration with the Forest Service and others. Funding 
allocations need to go to projects which reduce risk to 
communities and to firefighters, and should emphasize areas 
near large population centers. The Committee directs the 
Department and the Forest Service to deliver a joint report to 
the Committee by March 30, 2008, to be publicly posted on the 
wildfire management website, which clearly indicates how funds 
are allocated among bureaus, agencies, regions, and States. The 
report should include clear metrics to evaluate program 
performance, and these metrics must rely on measures that 
indicate project impacts to protect communities, lives, 
property, and ecosystems, and which reward successful field 
units that design projects in accordance with community 
wildfire protection plans or their equivalent.
    The Committee realizes that the existing designation of 
wildland/urban interface (WUI) on maps includes areas that have 
extremely sparse human habitation, as well as areas of large 
cities and communities. The existing situation makes the WUI 
concept less useful in practice than it should be. Therefore, 
the Committee directs the partners to reevaluate the existing 
definitions and criteria for WUI and adjust the Forest Service, 
the Department of the Interior, and State maps and policies 
accordingly.
    Rehabilitation.--The Committee recommends $24,591,000 as 
requested for the burned area rehabilitation and restoration 
program, an increase of $1,805,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level. The rehabilitation activity funds should be used 
for these purposes and not reprogrammed for other activities. 
Rehabilitation is a key aspect of the national fire plan. The 
Committee notes that record wildfire years have occurred 
recently, and the Interior Department lands have not had 
adequate restoration activities. The Interior Department and 
the Forest Service should include updates on rehabilitation 
needs in future budget justifications. As outlined in the 
budget request, the Committee expects the Department of the 
Interior, in close partnership with the Forest Service, to 
continue the native plant materials program funding no less 
than the fiscal year 2007 level.
    Fire Facilities.--The Committee recommends $4,000,000 for 
fire facilities, a decrease of $3,734,000 below both the 
request and the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The Committee 
encourages the Department in the future to direct that each 
participating bureau fund these facilities through regular, 
intra-bureau construction selection criteria and bureau-
specific construction accounts.
    Joint Fire Sciences Program.--The Committee recommends 
$6,000,000 for the joint fire science program, an increase of 
$2,000,000 above both the request and the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level.

          ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

    The Committee recommendation includes the administrative 
provisions as requested. The requested provisions includes a 
new item which provides a technical change to mining law which 
clarifies the time of day annual work on claims must be 
registered, and extends hereafter the Bureau's authority to 
collect mining claim maintenance fees. The Committee includes a 
new provision which allows refunds or rebates received on an 
ongoing basis from an information technology vender to be 
deposited into the Bureau's management of lands and resources 
fund to offset the Bureau's costs incurred in providing this 
service.

                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 lands under Service 
control.
    The Service manages more than 96 million acres across the 
United States, encompassing a 547-unit National Wildlife Refuge 
System, additional wildlife and wetlands areas, and 70 National 
fish hatcheries. A network of law enforcement agents and port 
inspectors enforce Federal laws for the protection of fish and 
wildlife. In 2003, the Service celebrated the 100th anniversary 
of the establishment of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:




                          RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................    $1,013,969,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     1,034,520,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     1,104,572,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +90,603,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +70,052,000
    The Committee recommends $1,104,572,000 for resource 
management, an increase of $90,603,000 above the fiscal year 
2007 level and $70,052,000 above the budget request. Changes to 
the budget request are detailed below.
    Ecological Services.--The Committee recommends $266,370,000 
for ecological services, an increase of $16,998,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 level and $11,000,000 above the budget 
request.
    Changes from the request include increases of $500,000 for 
candidate conservation, $500,000 for listing, $1,000,000 for 
the consultation program, $4,000,000 for the recovery program, 
$1,000,000 for the partners for fish and wildlife program, 
$500,000 for the national wetlands inventory program, 
$2,000,000 for the coastal programs, and $1,500,000 for 
environmental contaminants.
    The increase for the coastal programs is for the digital 
transformation of Coastal Barrier Resources Act maps.
    The increase for the national wetlands inventory is for 
additional wetlands mapping capabilities associated with 
preparing for and reacting to climate change.
    The increase for the environmental contaminants program is 
for partnering with other agencies on oil spill response and 
activities associated with preparing for and reacting to 
contaminants issues associated with climate change.
    The Committee is aware that the Department of the Interior 
is considering revisions to the regulations implementing the 
Endangered Species Act. The Committee is concerned that the 
potential scope of these changes may weaken the core 
protections provided to species under the Act. The Committee 
reminds the Service that revisions to the regulations must be 
clearly vetted through the public notification process. The 
Committee also expects the Service to fully comply with the 
laws and procedures regarding regulation changes and Federal 
Register notices and encourages the Service to exercise the 
option of allowing an extended public comment period.
    The Committee encourages the Service to investigate ways to 
reduce its growing costs for publishing notices in the Federal 
Register by providing references and links in the Register to 
information that is readily available on the internet.
    National Wildlife Refuge System.--The Committee recommends 
$451,004,000 for the National Wildlife Refuge System, an 
increase of $55,671,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level and 
$56,200,000 above the budget request.
    The Committee recommendation includes an increase of 
$50,200,000 for refuge operations and $6,000,000 for refuge 
maintenance.
    The increase for refuge operations includes $30,000,000 in 
wildlife and habitat management, $9,200,000 for visitor 
services, $5,000,000 for law enforcement, $3,000,000 for 
challenge cost-share partnerships, $1,000,000 for invasive 
species eradication activities with volunteer groups, 
$1,000,000 for increased support of general volunteer programs, 
and $1,000,000 for refuge conservation planning.
    The funding provided for wildlife and habitat management, 
visitor services, and law enforcement should be distributed 
outside of the Refuge Operations Needs System (RONS) and 
provide increases to cover base operational needs and staffing 
shortfalls nationwide. Consideration should be given to those 
regions and areas that have the highest staffing shortfalls and 
needs. The Committee is concerned that the Service follows the 
practice of allocation by tradition rather than funding the 
highest national needs.
    The Committee recognizes that the growing disconnection of 
America's children from the natural world impacts the 
children's health as well as the future of natural resource 
conservation. Within the visitor services increases, the Refuge 
System, in partnership with the Service's National Conservation 
Training Center, should implement projects that help connect 
children and their families with nature.
    Refuge law enforcement funding should be used to address 
problems associated with the Southwestern border and increase 
law enforcement visibility on refuges nationwide. The Committee 
has further addressed the Southwestern border issue at the 
front of this report.
    With the increased funding for refuge planning, the 
Committee advises the Service and its partners to take steps to 
integrate State Wildlife Action Plans, Refuge Comprehensive 
Conservation Plans, the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, and 
other conservation planning tools to improve connectivity 
between refuges, hatcheries and all other state, tribal and 
Federal conservation lands.
    The increase for refuge maintenance includes $3,000,000 for 
annual maintenance and $3,000,000 for high priority maintenance 
staffing needs.
    The Service is directed to report to the Committee on the 
planned allocation of refuge system funding increases 60 days 
after the enactment of this appropriation.
    The Committee is concerned about the increasing number of 
refuges that are being consolidated into ``complexes'', where 
the staff and decisions concerning the refuge's management are 
moved too far from the resources and communities they serve. 
Additionally, the practice of consolidating refuges seems to be 
inconsistently applied among Service regions. The Committee 
suggests that the Service reduce the number of complexed 
refuges to the maximum extent possible and report on its plans 
for consolidating or reversing previous consolidations of 
refuge management by January 30, 2008.
    Migratory Bird Management and Law Enforcement.--The 
Committee recommends $101,667,000 for migratory bird management 
and law enforcement, an increase of $4,016,000 above the fiscal 
year 2007 level and $3,500,000 above the budget request.
    Changes to the request include increases of $1,000,000 for 
the migratory bird management, National Bird Conservation 
Initiative and $2,500,000 for law enforcement special agent 
staffing shortfalls nationwide.
    Fisheries.--The Committee recommends $126,254,000 for 
fisheries, an increase of $9,076,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level and $1,500,000 above the budget request.
    Changes to the request include $1,000,000 for national fish 
hatchery operations and $500,000 for fish hatchery annual 
maintenance.
    The Committee directs the Service to work with the Corp of 
Engineers and other Federal partners to obtain full 
reimbursement for the operation and maintenance of mitigation 
hatcheries in the National Fish Hatchery System.
    The Committee commends the Service for the increases 
requested for the National Fish Passage Program and the 
National Fish Habitat Action Plan. These programs are vital to 
the future of the Nation's fish and aquatic communities. The 
Committee encourages the Service to continue to expand its 
partnerships with State, tribal, Federal and private partners 
to coordinate a unified approach to fish habitat restoration 
nationwide.
    General Administration.--The Committee recommends 
$159,277,000 for general administration, an increase of 
$4,842,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and a 
decrease of $2,148,000 below the budget request.
    The Committee has rejected the request for $2,148,000 
related to development costs of the department-wide financial 
and business management system (FBMS). Funding for FBMS 
activity has been consolidated in the ``Office of the 
Secretary'' account.
    Bill Language.--The Committee recommends continuing bill 
language to limit funding for the endangered species listing 
program. A total of $18,763,000 is for listing, of which 
$12,926,000 is for critical habitat designation.

                              CONSTRUCTION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $45,300,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        23,071,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        31,653,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       -13,647,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +8,582,000
    The Committee recommends $31,653,000 for construction, a 
decrease of $13,647,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
level and an increase of $8,582,000 above the budget request.
    The construction funding includes $9,901,000 for nationwide 
engineering services, $13,252,000 for line-item construction 
projects, $6,000,000 for the visitor facility enhancements 
program, and $2,500,000 to replace waterfowl survey aircraft.
    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. The following is a list of examples of 
construction projects submitted by the Administration: 
$2,000,000 for the Devil's Kitchen Dam on Crab Orchard National 
Wildlife Refuge in Illinois; $2,037,000 for the Jackson 
National Fish Hatchery in Montana; and $2,346,000 to replace a 
fueling facility at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in 
Hawaii. The Administration, in selecting these projects, goes 
through a process that is the functional equivalent of 
earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it 
goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or 
modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

                            LAND ACQUISITION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $28,046,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        18,011,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        43,046,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +15,000,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +25,035,000
    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $43,046,000 
for land acquisition, $15,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level and $25,035,000 above the budget request.
    The land acquisition funding includes $28,650,000 for 
acquisition projects, $1,500,000 for inholdings, $1,478,000 for 
emergencies and hardships, $1,485,000 for exchanges, $8,140,000 
for acquisition management, and $1,793,000 for the cost 
allocation methodology.
    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. The following is a list of examples of 
land acquisition projects submitted by the Administration: 
$1,851,000 for the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in 
Oregon and $1,044,000 for the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge 
in Florida. The Administration, in selecting these projects, 
goes through a process that is the functional equivalent of 
earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request it 
goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or 
modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

            COOPERATIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND

    Eighty percent of the habitat for more than half of the 
listed endangered and threatened species is on private land. 
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund provides 
grants to States and territories for endangered species 
recovery actions on non-Federal lands and provides funds for 
non-Federal land acquisition to facilitate habitat protection. 
Individual States and territories provide 25 percent of grant 
project costs. Cost sharing is reduced to 10 percent when two 
or more States or territories are involved in a project.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $81,001,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        80,001,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        81,001,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +1,000,000
    The Committee recommends $81,001,000 for the cooperative 
endangered species conservation fund, the same as the fiscal 
year 2007 enacted level and an increase of $1,000,000 above the 
budget request. The change to the budget request is an increase 
of $1,000,000 for habitat conservation plan land acquisition. 
The $5,067,000 requested for the Nez Perce/Snake River water 
settlement has been funded under the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Indian Land and Water Claims Settlements, and the funding for 
habitat conservation plan acquisition has been increased by 
that amount.
    Funds for this program are not derived from the Land and 
Water Conservation Fund as proposed by the Administration.

                     NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FUND

    This program makes payments in lieu of taxes to counties in 
which Service lands are located based on their fair market 
value. Payments to counties are estimated to be $19,328,000 in 
fiscal year 2008 with $14,202,000 derived from this 
appropriation and $5,126,000 from net refuge receipts estimated 
to be collected in fiscal year 2007.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $14,202,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        10,811,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        14,202,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +3,391,000
    The Committee recommends $14,202,000 for the National 
Wildlife Refuge Fund, the same as the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
level and $3,391,000 above the budget request.

               NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION FUND

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the North 
American Wetlands Conservation Fund, leverages partner 
contributions for wetlands conservation. Projects to date have 
been in 50 States, 13 Canadian provinces, 25 Mexican states, 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to this appropriation, 
the Service receives funding from: fines for violations of the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act; interest earned on tax receipts in 
the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration account from taxes on 
firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, pistols, and 
revolvers; and from the Sport Fish Restoration account from 
taxes on fishing tackle and equipment, electric trolling motors 
and fish finders; and certain marine gasoline taxes. By law, 
sport fish restoration receipts are used for coastal wetlands 
in States bordering the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, States 
bordering the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the 
freely associated States in the Pacific, and American Samoa.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $39,412,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        42,646,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        42,646,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +3,234,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $42,646,000 for the North American 
Wetlands Conservation Fund, an increase of $3,234,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 enacted level and the same as the budget 
request.
    The Committee commends the Administration for requesting an 
increase in this program that enjoys broad public and 
Congressional support.
    Funds for this program are not derived from the Land and 
Water Conservation Fund as proposed by the Administration.

                NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION

    The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000 
authorizes grants for the conservation of neotropical migratory 
birds in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, 
with 75 percent of the amounts available to be expended on 
projects outside the U.S. There is a three-to-one matching 
requirement under this program.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $3,941,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         3,960,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         5,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +1,059,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +1,040,000
    The Committee recommends $5,000,000 for the neotropical 
migratory bird conservation program, an increase of $1,059,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and $1,040,000 above 
the budget request.

                MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND

    This account combines funding for programs under the former 
rewards and operations (African elephant) account, the former 
rhinoceros and tiger conservation account, the Asian elephant 
conservation program, and the great ape conservation 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 (CITES) 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.
    The Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000 authorized grants to 
foreign governments, the CITES secretariat, and non-
governmental organizations for the conservation of great apes.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $6,404,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         4,257,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        10,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +3,596,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +5,743,000
    The Committee recommends $10,000,000 for the multinational 
species conservation fund, an increase of $3,596,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 enacted level and $5,743,000 above the budget 
request.
    The funding levels are as follows: $2,500,000 for 
rhinoceros and tiger conservation, $1,500,000 for marine turtle 
conservation, and $2,000,000 each for African elephant 
conservation, Asian elephant conservation, and great ape 
conservation.

                    STATE AND TRIBAL WILDLIFE GRANTS

    The State and tribal wildlife grants program provides funds 
for States to implement their comprehensive wildlife 
conservation plans for species of greatest conservation need. 
States are required to provide at least a 50 percent cost share 
for grants that implement the State Wildlife Action Plans.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $67,492,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        69,492,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        85,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +17,508,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +15,508,000
    The Committee recommends $85,000,000 for State and tribal 
wildlife grants, an increase of $17,508,000 above the fiscal 
year 2007 enacted level and $15,508,000 above the budget 
request. Within the amount provided, $7,000,000 is for 
competitively awarded grants to Indian tribes.
    The Committee is encouraged by the quality of the completed 
State wildlife action plans. The Committee believes that these 
plans must serve as anchors for conservation efforts of key 
habitats and species of greatest concern in the States. The 
States should promote these plans to build additional financial 
support and resources at the State and local level for wildlife 
conservation and not rely entirely on Federal funding. The 
Committee encourages the Service and its partners to take steps 
to integrate State wildlife action plans with other Federal, 
State, tribal and local conservation planning tools to advance 
wildlife conservation efforts nationwide. The Committee expects 
the Service and the States to develop and implement data and 
mapping standards so that management activities are 
strategically coordinated and conservation results consistently 
measured. Additionally, the Service should advocate cooperative 
projects that involve multiple States or tribes when key 
habitats cross State or tribal boundaries.
    The Committee has accepted the Administration's proposal to 
discontinue the landowner incentive and private stewardship 
grants programs and believes funding for the State wildlife 
action program and for other existing Service grant programs 
will adequately replace these efforts with a more coordinated 
focus on species, habitats, and ecosystems of greatest 
conservation need.

                         National Park Service

    The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve 
unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the 
national park system for the enjoyment, education, and 
inspiration of this and future generations. Established in 
1916, the National Park Service has stewardship 
responsibilities for the protection and preservation of the 
heritage resources of the national park system. The system, 
consisting of 391 separate and distinct units, is recognized 
globally as a leader in park management and resource 
preservation. The national park system represents much of the 
finest the Nation has to offer in terms of scenery, historical 
and archeological relics, and cultural heritage. Through its 
varied sites, the National Park Service attempts to explain 
America's history, interpret its culture, preserve examples of 
its natural ecosystems, and provide recreational and 
educational opportunities for U.S. citizens and visitors from 
all over the world. In addition, the National Park Service 
provides support to tribal, local, and State governments to 
preserve culturally significant, ecologically important, and 
public recreational lands.
    The bill includes a total of $2,512,172,000 in the 
aggregate for the National Park Service, an increase of 
$222,737,000 over the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and an 
increase of $148,388,000 over the request. These funds are 
allocated among six different appropriation accounts as 
described below:



                    NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CENTENNIAL

    Restoring the Parks for the Centennial.--The National Park 
Service (NPS) will be 100 years old in 2016 and the Service has 
embarked on an historic ten-year, $3 billion effort to enhance 
the national parks leading up to the Centennial celebration. 
The Committee welcomes the Administration's new initiative and 
has, with the few exceptions noted below, approved the budget 
request in support of the Centennial effort. The $2,512 million 
recommended in this bill for 2008 is the largest appropriation 
ever for the Parks, an increase of $223 million over the 2007 
enacted level. These amounts will provide the resources to 
begin preparing the system for a second century of 
conservation, environmental stewardship and recreation 
benefiting millions of visitors from throughout the world. The 
fiscal year 2008 increase includes, for example:
          A $199 million increase for core park operations, the 
        largest increase for park operations in history and an 
        11 percent increase over fiscal year 2007. Every park 
        in the system will receive a budget increase in fiscal 
        year 2008.
          Provides full fixed costs for parks for the second 
        year in a row.
          Provides $40.6 million for 3,000 new seasonal, 
        uniformed park rangers for interpretation, maintenance, 
        and resource protection to augment existing seasonal 
        staff. In addition to the seasonals, funding is 
        provided to increase permanent staffing by 590 full 
        time equivalents (FTEs).
          Provides $50 million in additional funds for facility 
        maintenance programs of cyclic maintenance and repair 
        and rehabilitation.
          Provides $3.8 million to expand park volunteer 
        programs, $1 million to expand the junior ranger 
        program, $1.8 million to augment youth programs, and $1 
        million to improve the NPS website content and better 
        connect to all segments of the population.
    The Committee believes that the fiscal year 2008 request 
provides an excellent foundation for the ten-year effort to 
achieve these goals and commends the Secretary of the Interior 
and Director of the National Park Service for their leadership 
in presenting this request.
    Centennial Challenge Matching Funds.--A key part of the 
Centennial effort is its ten-year proposal for a $2 billion 
public-private partnership program called the Centennial 
Challenge. This is in addition to the $1 billion commitment for 
enhancements in the basic operational budget of the parks. 
Under the Centennial Challenge program, $200 million per year, 
$100 million each of public and private funds, would be 
dedicated to support ``signature projects,'' which provide 
critical enhancements for the parks beyond the amounts 
necessary for their basic operations. The President has 
proposed new legislation providing that the $100 million of 
annual public funding for this program be permanent funding. 
This legislation is being considered by the Natural Resources 
Committee, but it may not be enacted in time for fiscal year 
2008. For this reason, the Committee has recommended a 2008 
discretionary appropriation of $50 million, using the existing 
challenge cost-share authorization, to initiate this important 
aspect of the Centennial effort.
    The Committee notes that the National Park System has a 
long history of philanthropic support and encourages this 
public-private partnership effort. It wishes, however, to 
emphasize several points in approving funds for this purpose.
    First, the amount provided for the Centennial Challenge is 
intended to supplement funding for core operations. The 
Committee expects the Administration to fully fund the day-to-
day operational costs of the parks through its core 
appropriations accounts.
    Second, the Park Service should be aggressive in 
structuring its partnership agreements to avoid projects which 
commercialize the parks and ensure that projects are chosen 
through a transparent and completely apolitical process.
    Lastly, the Service, in structuring this large public-
private partnership, must ensure that control of projects 
remains with the Federal government and that projects are 
consistent with Park Service needs and priorities, as reflected 
in general management plans or other Service-wide needs 
documents. In order to ensure that appropriated funds are spent 
on activities which meet these standards, the Committee directs 
that the House and Senate Appropriations Committees be kept 
informed as the Centennial Challenge program criteria are 
finalized. It also directs that the Committees be consulted 
before final action is taken on all projects.
    The Committee, in approving these funds, recognizes that 
the scope of this effort, both in terms of the amounts of money 
and duration of time, is unique and that new procedures and 
mechanisms may be required for handling private donations of 
this magnitude. This includes financial arrangements through 
private foundations or other third parties. It is essential, 
however, that control of projects be retained by the National 
Park Service, which retains the fundamental stewardship 
responsibility for the parks.

                 OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................    $1,847,897,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     2,057,132,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     2,046,809,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................      +198,912,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       -10,323,000
    The Committee recommends $2,046,809,000 for operation of 
the National Park System (NPS), an increase of $198,912,000 
above the 2007 enacted level and $10,323,000 below the request. 
This account funds the day-to-day operations of individual park 
units as well as regional and headquarters support operations. 
This includes funding for 21,589 FTE positions. The increases 
approved by the Committee include the full amount necessary to 
cover fixed costs and support for an additional 3,000 seasonal 
employees and 590 additional full-year FTE positions, as 
requested. This is the largest increase for the park operations 
ever requested or appropriated. Funds will be used to restore 
staffing for parks in areas of visitor services, maintenance 
and interpretation as well as for rebuilding and refurbishing 
park landscapes and infrastructure.
    The Committee has consolidated funding for activities of 
the United States Park Police within the ``Operations of the 
National Park System'' account to allow more flexibility in 
administering this budget. Funding was requested in a separate 
account by the President. The Committee has approved the full 
amount requested for the Park Police, $88,122,000.
    The Committee has not approved the request for $7,000,000 
to initiate restoration studies related to the Hetch Hetchy 
Valley in California. This highly controversial proposal, with 
a potential cost of as much as $10 billion, was not well 
justified in the budget materials. The Committee has also 
rejected the request for $5,108,000 in this account related to 
development costs of the department-wide Financial and Business 
Management System (FBMS). Funding for FBMS activity has been 
consolidated in the ``Office of the Secretary'' account. 
Lastly, the Committee has reallocated $1,000,000 from 
``maintenance'' to ``park support'' to expand social science 
support for the park system, as discussed below.
    Park Base Funding.--The Committee has provided not less 
than $1,233 million for the support of individual park units 
under the ``park base'' funding category. This is an increase 
of $105 million over the 2007 enacted level and the same as the 
President's request. This increase will support improved 
visitor services including, but not limited to, education, 
interpretation, maintenance and law enforcement. All parks will 
benefit from this increase. Funding provided for the direct 
support of parks through the ``park base'' activity should not 
be reduced or reallocated to any other activity without the 
express approval of the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations following the reprogramming guidelines in this 
report.
    Social Science Support/Diversity in the Parks.--The 
Committee continues to be concerned that minorities do not use 
the parks more frequently despite their growing numbers within 
the U.S. population. To address this challenge, the Committee 
believes that the Service must first improve its system for 
collecting basic visitation statistics, including which 
demographic and economic groups are not using the parks and 
why. To address these challenges, the Committee has reallocated 
$1,000,000 from the maintenance program to park support to 
expand the social science capacity of the park system.
    South Florida Initiative.--The Committee continues to 
support the restoration of the Everglades and the protection 
and preservation of the national parks and national wildlife 
refuges located in South Florida. Since this initiative began 
over a decade ago, the Committee has provided over $1 billion 
to the Department of the Interior and its bureaus for 
restoration projects and activities. The Committee appreciates 
the progress that has been made to restore the Everglades but 
it remains critical to hold all parties accountable for the 
environmental goals, which are the ultimate justification for 
the public's investment and support. Without clean water, the 
Everglades will be irretrievably altered, and its unique 
habitat will continue to be degraded. The Committee intends to 
continue to monitor this project carefully and requests that 
the Department submit a detailed report by February 1, 2008, 
describing the status of the Everglades restoration program.
    The following additional guidance is provided with respect 
to funding provided under this account:
    National Trail System.--The Committee has provided 
$10,000,000 for the National Trail System, an increase of 
$1,785,000 above the request.
    Partnerships Wild and Scenic Rivers.--The Committee has 
provided $2,000,000 for the Partnerships Wild and Scenic Rivers 
program, an increase of $1,142,000 above the request. This 
funding level permits inclusion of additional partnerships and 
expanded support for existing programs.
    Park Service Police Helicopter.--The Committee is aware 
that the Park Service Police helicopter is aging and encourages 
the Service to develop a plan for its replacement in its fiscal 
year 2009 budget submission.
    Civil War Sesquicentennial.--The Committee encourages the 
Park Service to begin a focused effort to develop plans for 
commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and to 
submit a report to the Committee prior to the fiscal year 2009 
appropriations hearings on its efforts in this regard. The 
Committee also wishes to commend the Service for its expanded 
efforts to include the role of slavery in its interpretations 
at Civil War battlefields and monuments.
    Japanese American Confinement Sites.--The Committee is 
aware that legislation passed at the end of the 109th Congress 
authorizing a new program of grant support to preserve Japanese 
American World War II confinement sites through partnerships 
with local preservation groups (P.L. 109-441). The Committee 
directs that the Service analyze the scope of such an effort 
and submit a report on how this legislation might be 
implemented. The Committee expects to receive this report prior 
to the fiscal year 2009 appropriation hearings.
    Buffalo National River.--The Committee expects the Service 
to fully consult with local and regional officials and the 
public before taking any actions with respect to access or road 
closings related to the Buffalo National River, Arkansas.
    Gettysburg Historic Landscape.--The Committee remains 
supportive of efforts to restore the historic landscapes of the 
Gettysburg battlefields.
    Chesapeake Bay Historic Heritage Support.--The Committee is 
fully supportive of Park Service activities related to historic 
tourism and recreation in the Chesapeake Bay region and 
encourages continuation of these efforts.
    Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Visitor 
Center.--The Committee encourages the National Park Service to 
consider recognizing the contributions of former Congressman 
Bruce Vento to the creation of the Mississippi National River 
and Recreation Area by naming its new visitor center in his 
honor.
    Connecting Children with Nature.--The Committee recognizes 
that the growing disconnection of America's children from the 
natural world impacts the children's health as well as the 
future of natural resource conservation. The Service should 
implement projects that help connect children and their 
families with nature using visitor services and Centennial 
Challenge funds, as appropriate.
    4th of July and Memorial Day Concerts.--The Committee is 
appreciative of the Park Service support of the 4th of July and 
Memorial Day concerts conducted on the grounds of the U.S. 
Capitol and has included funds which will allow expansion of 
this support at levels determined to be appropriate by the 
Director.
    Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.--The 
Committee is supportive of efforts by the Service for enhanced 
interpretation and visitor services at the Brown v. Board of 
Education National Historic Site and encourages the 
continuation of these activities.
    Virgin Islands National Park.--The Committee supports the 
Department's proposal to convert the present retained use 
estate at Virgin Islands National Park to a lease and urges the 
Department to move expeditiously to achieve that goal.
    National Park System Advisory Board.--The Committee has 
included language in the bill extending the authorization for 
the National Park System Advisory Board for one year.
    Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program.--The Secretary 
and National Park Service have on-going statutory duties with 
respect to the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery (UPARR) 
program (16 USC 2501 et seq.) that are unaffected by funding 
levels in this bill. The Committee expects the Park Service to 
continue to carry out these duties, including, but not limited 
to, on-going monitoring and active enforcement of Section 1010 
(16 USC 2509) concerning conversion of UPARR-funded projects 
from public recreational use to other uses.
    Kenilworth Park South:--The Committee is aware of efforts 
by non-profit organizations to partner with the National Park 
Service in providing educational and recreational facilities on 
National Park Service property at Kenilworth Park South in the 
District of Columbia whose primary purpose will be the 
development of life skills and character-enhancing values. The 
Committee encourages the National Park Service to act promptly 
on this partnership proposal.

                          CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................                $0
Budget estimate, 2008.................................      100,000,000*
Recommended, 2008.....................................        50,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +50,000,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................      -50,000,000*These funds were requested as permanent funding under the President's
  budget. This proposal has not yet been considered by the Congress.
  Funds in this bill are annual appropriations.

    The bill includes $50,000,000 of annual appropriations to 
initiate the new Centennial Challenge matching grant program. 
This is in lieu of the $100,000,000 of permanent appropriation 
funding proposed by the President but not yet enacted into law. 
The Committee's instructions regarding the expenditure of these 
funds are included under the section on the ``National Park 
Service Centennial.''

                  NATIONAL RECREATION AND PRESERVATION

    The National recreation and preservation appropriation 
provides for outdoor recreation planning, preservation of 
cultural and National heritage resources, technical assistance 
to Federal, State and local agencies, and administration of 
Historic Preservation Fund grants.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $54,369,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        48,885,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        62,881,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +8,512,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +13,996,000
    The Committee recommends $62,881,000 for national 
recreation and preservation, an increase of $13,996,000 above 
the request and an increase of $8,512,000 above the enacted 
level (see NPS table for details).
    Heritage Partnership Program.--The Committee recommends 
$20,000,000 for the heritage partnership program, an increase 
of $9,996,000 over the budget request and $6,665,000 above the 
enacted level. These funds finance grants to local non-profit 
groups in support of historical and cultural recognition, 
preservation and tourism activities. The Committee has 
recommended this increase to allow funding for the expanded 
number of heritage partnerships authorized during the 109th 
Congress. The number of authorized partnerships has increased 
from 27 to 37. The Committee has not specified funding levels 
for individual heritage partnership grants in the bill or in 
this report. The Park Service is directed to allocate funding 
based on competitive criteria, following the general approach 
used in 2007.
    Statutory or Contractual Aid.--The Committee has 
recommended $5,000,000 for grants and contracts in support of 
national, State and regional recreation and preservation 
activities. This is $1,777,000 above the 2007 enacted level. 
The President did not request funding for this program.
    National Inventory of Historic Properties within the 
National Park System.--The Committee has not approved the 
request for $1 million to begin a ten-year program to inventory 
all historic assets within the national parks. The Committee 
does not believe that the budget adequately justifies this 
program. In particular, the Committee did not have enough 
information about the definitions of historic assets to be 
used, methodologies for conducting the inventories or the long-
term cost of such an undertaking.

                       HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND

    The Historic Preservation Fund allows the State historic 
preservation offices to perform a variety of functions. These 
include 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 to develop data for planning use. 
Funding in this account also supports direct grants to 
qualifying organizations for individual preservation projects 
and for activities in support of heritage tourism and local 
historic preservation.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $55,663,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        63,658,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        81,500,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +25,837,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +17,842,000
    The Committee recommends $81,500,000 for historic 
preservation programs, an increase of $17,842,000 above the 
request and $25,837,000 above the enacted level (see NPS table 
for details).
    State Historic Preservation Offices.--The Committee is 
fully supportive of longstanding efforts of the State Historic 
Preservation Offices to identify and protect irreplaceable 
historic and archeological resources. The Committee has 
provided $45,000,000 for State Historic Preservation offices, 
an increase of $7,783,000 over the 2007 enacted level for these 
programs.
    National Inventory of Historic Properties.--The Committee 
has not approved the request for $4 million to begin a ten-year 
program to inventory all historic assets throughout the United 
States. While the Committee believes that the concept of a 
comprehensive inventory and database of historic sites has 
potential merit, it does not believe that the 2008 budget 
request adequately justified this expenditure. In particular, 
the Committee did not have enough information about the 
definitions of historic assets to be used, methodologies for 
conducting the inventories or the long term cost of such an 
undertaking.
    Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) 
Grants.--The Committee remains strongly supportive of HBCU 
historic preservation activities, but there have been 
significant carryover balances over the last three years in 
this program. The Committee has deferred consideration of 
further funding for this program until prior year funds have 
been utilized.
    Save America's Treasures.--The Committee has recommended 
$20,000,000 for the Save America's Treasures program for 2008. 
This is $10,000,000 more than requested by the President and 
$11,926,000 more than the 2007 enacted level. These funds are 
used to make small, one-time grants for specific local, 
historic projects to preserve a building or artifact which 
might otherwise be lost to future generations. All projects 
require a 50 percent match.
    Preserve America.--The Committee has recommended 
$10,000,000 for the Preserve America program, the same as 
requested by the President and $5,074,000 above the 2007 
enacted level. This program provides small grants to local 
communities in support of heritage tourism, education and 
historic preservation planning activities. The Committee is 
fully supportive of this program.

                              CONSTRUCTION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $297,482,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       201,580,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       201,580,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       -95,902,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $201,580,000 for construction, the 
same amount as the budget request and a decrease of $95,902,000 
below the 2007 enacted level. While the construction and 
facility improvement needs of the parks are substantial, the 
Park Service construction program has had significant funding 
increases in recent years and has accumulated a large backlog 
of incomplete projects. Agency personnel testified to the 
Committee that there are over $370 million of unobligated 
balances in the ``Construction'' account. Based on this 
information, the Committee recommends approval of the budget 
request.
    Bill language carried in previous years requiring pre-
approval by the Committee of any partnership construction 
agreement with a value in excess of $5 million has been deleted 
from the bill. The Committee directs, however, that the Service 
continue to submit such projects for review in advance of final 
approval, as in previous years.
    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. Following are examples of National Park 
Service construction projects submitted by the Administration:

Everglades National Park water delivery projects (FL),..     $14,526,000
Ford's Theater National Historic site (DC)..............       3,521,000
Channel Islands National Park, pier replacement (CA)....       9,294,000
Five Forks National Historic Landmark (VA)..............       3,045,000
Redwood National Park maintenance facility (CA).........      11,144,000
San Francisco National Maritime Park amphitheater (CA)..      10,051,000
White House, Washington, utility upgrade (DC)...........       5,902,000

    The Administration, in selecting these projects, goes 
through a process that is the functional equivalent of 
earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it 
goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or 
modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

                    LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND

                               RESCISSION
 Appropriation enacted, 2006...........................      -$30,000,000
Budget estimate, 2007.................................       -30,000,000
Recommended, 2007.....................................       -30,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2006...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2007.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends the rescission of $30,000,000 in 
the annual contract authority provided by 16 U.S.C. 46l-10a. 
There are no plans to use this authority in fiscal year 2008. 
The Committee does not agree with the Administration's proposal 
to permanently cancel the authority.

                 LAND ACQUISITION AND STATE ASSISTANCE
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $64,024,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        22,529,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        99,402,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +35,378,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +76,873,000
    The Committee recommends $99,402,000 for land acquisition 
and State assistance, an increase of $35,378,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 enacted level and $76,873,000 above the 
request.
    The Committee recommends funding levels of $50,000,000 for 
assistance to States, $34,535,000 for land acquisition 
projects, $9,786,000 for acquisition management, $2,540,000 for 
inholdings, and $2,541,000 for emergencies and hardships.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

                    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 up-to-date 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 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 State 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.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:



                 SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $982,780,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       974,952,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     1,032,764,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +49,984,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +57,812,000
    The Committee recommends $1,032,764,000 for surveys, 
investigations, and research, an increase of $57,812,000 above 
the budget request and $49,984,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level. Changes to the budget request are discussed 
below.
    Geographic Research, Investigations, and Remote Sensing.--
The Committee recommends $79,955,000 for geographic research 
and remote sensing, $5,000,000 above the budget request and 
$235,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
recommendation includes $2,000,000 for the national cooperative 
geographic information system mapping program and $3,000,000 
for the geographic analysis and monitoring activity to enhance 
the integrated multi-hazards initiative and to restore 
reductions in the request. The recommendation fully funds the 
budget request of $24,150,000 for the Landsat Data Continuity 
Mission.
    Geologic Hazards, Resources and Processes.--The Committee 
recommends $249,834,000 for geologic hazards, resources, and 
processes, $27,749,000 above the budget request and $12,831,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The recommendation 
includes a total of $51,636,000 for the minerals resources 
program, an increase of $21,749,000 above the request. This 
large funding increase restores the minerals assessment team; 
the Committee strongly encourages the Administration to support 
this vital program and not suggest its elimination again. Other 
changes include increases of $4,000,000 for the earthquake 
multi-hazards program, $500,000 each for the volcano and global 
seismographic network programs, and $1,000,000 for national 
cooperative geologic mapping. The increase for earthquake 
science and monitoring should be used to enhance monitoring and 
analysis around the Nation and be implemented in cooperation 
with the integrated multi-hazards demonstration project. The 
Committee is aware that earthquake science is vital to the 
Nation and the Survey should consider major faults wherever 
they occur.
    Water Resources Investigations.--The Committee recommends 
$223,489,000 for water resources investigations, $11,035,000 
above the budget request and $8,593,000 above the fiscal year 
2007 enacted level. Changes from the request include: an 
increase of $2,667,000 for the National streamflow information 
program to enhance the multi-hazards initiative and to rebuild 
basic capacity for this vital network; $1,000,000 for 
hydrologic research and development; $964,000 for the 
cooperative water program; and an increase of $6,404,000 for 
the Water Resources Research Act program to bring its funding 
back to the fiscal year 2006 level.
    Biological Research.--The Committee recommends $187,114,000 
for biological research, $6,000,000 above the budget request 
and $11,422,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
recommendation includes the requested amount to continue 
support of the national rare species data network and the 
highly pathogenic avian influenza monitoring effort. Changes 
from the request include a non-specified increase of $4,500,000 
to restore basic biological research and monitoring capacity 
such as restoring funding for contaminant/endocrine biology and 
northwest forest biology, and $1,500,000 for the cooperative 
research units. The Committee recommendation fully funds the 
budget request of $5,000,000 for the Healthy Lands Initiative, 
and provides no less than the request for the multi-hazards 
initiative.
    Enterprise Information.--The Committee recommends 
$112,120,000 for enterprise information as requested, $338,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level.
    The Committee notes with concern that the Survey continues 
to have difficulties consolidating the National Geospatial 
Technical Operations Center (NGTOC). The ongoing delays are 
harming the Federal functions of geospatial and technical 
science. Services to the national geospatial community are too 
important to risk loss or delay of these functions. The 
Committee directs the Survey to implement a new and streamlined 
approach to establish a future Federal NGTOC with operations 
centers in both existing sites.
    Science Support.--The Committee recommends $68,699,000 for 
science support, $468,000 above the budget request and $917,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The Committee has 
rejected the request for $2,440,000 in this account related to 
development costs of the department-wide financial and business 
management system (FBMS). Funding for the FBMS activity has 
been consolidated in the ``Office of the Secretary'' account.
    Facilities.--The Committee recommends $101,553,000 for 
facilities as requested, a $6,118,000 increase to the fiscal 
year 2007 enacted level. The Committee fully supports the 
needed updates in the request for the wildlife research 
facilities.
    Global Climate Change Research Program Increase.--The 
Committee recommends a $10,000,000 increase for vital research 
efforts of Survey scientists related to various aspects of 
global climate change. The Committee notes the overall high 
quality of research programs of the Survey in this important 
area, and requests that the Survey notify the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations of its allocation of these funds 
within 60 days of enactment. The Committee notes that these 
funds may be used to support the National Global Warming and 
Wildlife Science Center, if authorized.

                      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 
2007, MMS expects to collect and distribute about $14.0 billion 
from active Federal and Indian leases. 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 several years, 
MMS has been 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. Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, MMS has new 
responsibilities over Federal offshore renewable energy and 
related uses of America's offshore public lands. Fiscal year 
2007 marks the start of the Coastal Impact Assistance Program; 
it will provide $1 billion in mandatory funding over the next 4 
years from offshore oil and gas receipts to coastal States 
(primarily Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi) and counties for 
environmental restoration and other important civic projects.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:



                ROYALTY AND OFFSHORE MINERALS MANAGEMENT
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $152,612,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       155,048,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       153,552,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +940,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        -1,496,000
    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $153,552,000 
for royalty and offshore minerals management, a decrease of 
$1,496,000 below the budget request and $940,000 above the 2007 
enacted level. The Committee recommends use of $135,730,000 in 
receipts, as requested, which agrees with the Administration 
request to increase receipts by $7,000,000. The recommendation 
decreases the leasing activity by $1,000,000 below the request, 
but still $2,672,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. In 
addition, the Committee has rejected the request for $496,000 
in this account related to development costs of the department-
wide financial and business management system (FBMS). Funding 
for the FBMS activity has been consolidated in the ``Office of 
the Secretary'' account.
    The Committee is concerned about recent Departmental 
Inspector General reports regarding the need for more and 
better audits, in addition to ongoing compliance monitoring. 
The Committee expects the Service to report back by January 31, 
2008 on steps it is taking to remedy this situation, including 
a discussion of what kind of auditors are needed, and comments 
from the Department regarding whether auditors should be housed 
in separate bureaus or perhaps in the Inspector General's 
office.
    The Committee is aware that concerns have been raised about 
the MMS's methods for collecting royalties for extraction of 
gas from certain Federal and Indian lands. The Committee 
believes it is imperative that the Interior Department's 
inspection, audit and enforcement activities result in proper 
revenue collections. Accordingly, the Committee directs the 
Department of the Interior to provide a report to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations by January 31, 2008. The 
report should include a proposed timetable and estimated costs 
associated with analyzing options for changing regulations for 
Federal and Native American natural gas leases, to institute 
more accurate measurement and reporting of natural gas that can 
improve the accuracy of gas flow measurements including but not 
limited to: requiring the use of digital meters on all leases 
which are calibrated monthly; checking for pipeline bypasses; 
ensuring condensates are reported; and regularly inspecting 
measurements taken at company master meters which can then be 
compared to well-specific meters for accuracy.
    The Committee expects that the authorizing committees of 
jurisdiction will provide a thorough legislative solution to 
the deepwater royalty relief issue. Until that occurs, the 
Committee expects the Secretary to conduct negotiations with 
holders of offshore leases which were previously issued without 
price thresholds on royalty relief to see that fair royalties 
are provided for the American taxpayers.
    The Committee is concerned about potential oil and gas 
leasing in Alaska's North Aleutian OCS Planning Area, also 
known as Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay is home to one of the world's 
great fisheries, and is home to a vital Alaska culture, both of 
which could be at risk from off-shore drilling or spills. Given 
the extreme oceanographic and meteorological conditions 
prevalent in the North Aleutian Basin, and the extremely 
valuable fishery, it is vital that outer continental shelf oil 
or gas drilling only be conducted only after detailed studies 
and information are available and guarantee safety.
    The Committee is very concerned that there is a lack of 
sound, peer-reviewed scientific data to support OCS leasing 
decisions in this area. The Committee directs the MMS, working 
with the U.S. Geological Survey and other technical and 
scientific bodies, to document technological and economic 
aspects of currently available, state-of-the-art oil spill 
containment, responses to blowouts, and the availability and 
response time for seagoing response tugboats and skimmer 
vessels; recommend appropriate necessary networks of oceanic 
monitoring infrastructure capable of providing real-time data 
in support of oil spill response operations, including 
predictive ocean surface current data, and probable impacts to 
affected shoreline segments from barge and tanker transport; 
and develop a worst-case scenario cost analysis of the maximum 
credible OCS accident in the North Aleutian Basin, including 
lost access to commercial and indigenous fisheries and long-
term damage to fisheries and other marine resources.
    The Committee is also concerned that MMS has had inadequate 
coordination with other Federal agencies to ensure the best 
available protection of this region. The Committee directs the 
Minerals Management Service to coordinate with National Marine 
Fisheries Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the 
National Meteorological Center and to conduct a gap-analysis 
literature review of all available peer-reviewed scientific 
papers to determine what studies must be subjected to further 
analysis, including a literature review on the impacts of oil 
spills on commercial fisheries and marine mammals.
    In addition, the Committee directs the GAO to conduct an 
economic analysis and provide a report to the Committee as soon 
as possible delineating the total anticipated cost to the 
American taxpayer of additional OCS royalty forgiveness 
provisions that will be applied to the North Aleutian Basin and 
to other Alaskan OCS waters as a result of the relevant 
provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the cost, in 
2007 dollars, of federal repurchase or buybacks of previously-
leased OCS tracts within the North Aleutian Basin that were 
deemed too risky to develop.

                           OIL SPILL RESEARCH
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $6,903,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         6,403,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         6,403,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          -500,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $6,403,000, as requested, 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.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    The Committee recommendation includes bill language on 
three legislative matters requested by the Administration. 
First, language is included to continue to allow three percent 
of the coastal impact assistance funds provided in section 31 
of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to be used for 
necessary administrative requirements of the Service. The 
Service should include information on activities and funding 
related to the coastal impact program in future budget 
justifications. Second, the Committee has included bill 
language which deducts a portion of State royalties to help 
cover Federal administrative costs, resulting in a $43,000,000 
revenue source for the bill. Finally, the recommendation has 
language which defers an Ultradeepwater oil and gas research 
and development grant directed by the Energy Policy Act of 
2005, resulting in a $50,000,000 addition to the bill.

          Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

    The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 
(OSMRE), through its regulation and technology account, 
regulates surface coal mining operations to ensure that the 
environment is reclaimed once mining is completed. The OSMRE 
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 OSMRE 
administers the regulatory programs in the States that do not 
have their own programs and on Federal and Tribal lands. 
Through its Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation account, the 
OSMRE provides environmental restoration at abandoned coal 
mines using tonnage-based fees collected from current coal 
production operations. In their un-reclaimed condition these 
abandoned sites endanger public health and safety, and prevent 
the beneficial use of land and water resources. The Surface 
Mining Control and Reclamation Act amendments of 2006 
dramatically changed the manner in which AML funds are 
distributed. Beginning in 2007, the State AML payments are 
mandatory and not subject to appropriation, resulting in a net 
savings of $133,000,000 to the discretionary appropriation 
account.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee for each Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement appropriation 
account, compared with the budget estimates by activity, are 
shown in the following table:



                       REGULATION AND TECHNOLOGY
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $109,198,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       115,460,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       117,337,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +8,139,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +1,877,000
    The Committee recommends $117,337,000 for regulation and 
technology, $1,877,000 above the budget request and $8,139,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The amounts 
recommended by the Committee compared with the budget estimates 
by activity are shown in the table at the beginning of the 
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement entry. The 
recommendation includes an increase of $2,000,000 above the 
request and $7,110,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level for 
support to the State regulatory programs. The Committee 
encourages continued support for the State regulatory programs 
which provide important services to their States and to the 
Nation. In addition, the Committee has rejected the request for 
$123,000 in this account related to development costs of the 
department-wide financial and business management system 
(FBMS). Funding for the FBMS activity has been consolidated in 
the ``Office of the Secretary'' account.

                    ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION FUND
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $185,393,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        52,835,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        52,774,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................      -132,619,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................           -61,000
    The Committee recommends $52,774,000 for the Abandoned Mine 
Reclamation Fund, $61,000 below the budget request and 
$132,619,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
large reduction below the fiscal year 2007 level is due to the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act amendments passed in 
late 2006 which move the coal tax and abandoned mine land fund 
payments from discretionary to mandatory payments. All States 
will receive increases over past practices. The amounts 
recommended by the Committee compared with the budget estimates 
by activity are shown in the table at the beginning of the 
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement entry. The 
only change from the budget request is that the Committee has 
rejected the request for $61,000 in this account related to 
development costs of the department-wide financial and business 
management system (FBMS). Funding for the FBMS activity has 
been consolidated in the ``Office of the Secretary'' account. 
The Committee notes that the acid mine drainage set-aside was 
expanded from 10 percent to 30 percent, and therefore the 
Committee strongly encourages the States to utilize the 
increased mandatory funding provided for acid mine drainage 
remediation to support the clean stream efforts.

                        Bureau of Indian Affairs

    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 1.6 million Native 
Americans. In addition, the Bureau provides education programs 
to Native Americans through the operation of 170 schools and 14 
dormitories. The Bureau administers more than 56 million acres 
of land held in trust status. Over 10 million of these acres 
belong to individuals and 46 million acres are held in trust 
for Tribes.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:



                      OPERATION OF INDIAN PROGRAMS
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................    $1,988,223,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     1,990,918,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     2,093,545,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................      +105,322,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................      +102,627,000
    The Committee recommends $2,093,545,000 for the operation 
of Indian programs, $105,322,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level and $102,627,000 above the budget request.
    Tribal Government.--The Committee recommends $403,009,000 
for Tribal Government activities, an increase of $10,748,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and $5,311,000 above 
the budget request.
    The change to the request is to fund compacts associated 
with the Johnson-O'Malley educational assistance grants in the 
consolidated tribal government and self governance compacts 
programs.
    Human Services.--The Committee recommends $146,548,000 for 
human services, an increase of $1,724,000 above the fiscal year 
2007 enacted level and $25,845,000 above the budget request.
    Changes to the request include increases of $18,830,000 to 
restore the housing improvement program, $6,015,000 to restore 
the welfare assistance program and $1,000,000 for the Indian 
Child Welfare Act program.
    The Committee is concerned that the housing needs in areas 
of Indian Country are not being met. The Committee directs the 
Bureau to work with the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Bureau's 
Housing Improvement Program and determine whether the program 
and its criteria could be successfully integrated into HUD's 
existing housing programs and expanded to better meet the needs 
in Indian Country.
    Bill Language.--The Committee has included bill language, 
as proposed by the Administration, to allow the Secretary to 
exceed the welfare budget cap in cases of designated Federal 
disasters.
    Trust: Natural Resources Management.--The Committee 
recommends $152,684,000 for natural resources management and 
oversight, an increase of $7,446,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level and $11,000,000 above the budget request.
    Changes to the request include $2,000,000 for the general 
natural resource program, $4,000,000 for rights protection 
implementation, $3,000,000 for tribal management development 
programs, $1,000,000 for endangered species management and 
$1,000,000 for irrigation operations and maintenance.
    Trust: Real Estate Services.--The Committee recommends 
$150,722,000 for real estate services and oversight, $6,649,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and the same as the 
budget request.
    Education.--The Committee recommends $699,040,000 for 
education, $41,128,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level 
and $38,500,000 above the budget request.
    Changes to the request include increases of $16,500,000 to 
restore the Johnson-O'Malley assistance grants, $3,000,000 to 
restore the early childhood development program, $5,000,000 to 
restore scholarships and adult education, $7,000,000 for 
elementary and secondary education program enhancements, 
$1,000,000 for student transportation, and $6,000,000 for 
tribal technical colleges.
    The Committee directs that not less than $2,000,000 of the 
increase provided for education program enhancements should be 
used to implement anti-drug education programs in Bureau 
schools.
    The Committee agrees with the premise put forward by the 
Administration that we must work to improve Indian education to 
boost student learning and academic achievement. However, the 
Administration's initiative to increase funding for one portion 
of education is financed by decreasing other vital areas of 
education. Reducing funding for adult education and 
scholarships, tribal technical colleges, early childhood 
development and Johnson-O'Malley assistance grants under the 
premise of improving education is clearly disingenuous. The 
Committee has restored these important programs and provided 
additional increases for elementary and secondary education 
programs, student transportation, and tribal technical 
colleges.
    The Committee has once again rejected the Administration's 
proposal to eliminate the Johnson-O'Malley Education Assistance 
grants. Every attempt by this Administration to terminate this 
program has been resoundingly rejected by Congress. The 
feckless justification for the termination of this program--
that Department of Education programs can take the place of 
these grants--has never been substantiated or explained to any 
level of adequacy. The Committee implores the Administration to 
include this program in future requests.
    The Committee is concerned about the coordination of 
educational opportunities between the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
and the Department of Education. The Committee expects the 
Bureau to establish a formal way of tracking individual 
students, including a formal point of contact at the Bureau, as 
they alternate between Bureau schools and public schools to 
ensure that Indian children's educational progress is tracked 
sufficiently. The Bureau should report to the Committee on its 
progress in meeting this goal by January 30, 2008.
    Public Safety and Justice.--The Committee recommends 
$250,018,000 for public safety and justice, an increase of 
$32,407,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and 
$16,200,000 above the budget request.
    Changes to the request include $9,500,000 for tribal law 
enforcement to combat methamphetamine use in Indian Country, 
$500,000 for increased training activities at the Indian police 
academy, $5,000,000 for increased capacity for tribal courts, 
and $1,200,000 to restore the fire protection program.
    The Committee is extremely concerned about the increasing 
use of methamphetamine in Indian Country and has provided 
language delineating these concerns in the front of this 
report.
    Community and Economic Development.--The Committee 
recommends $47,339,000 for community and economic development, 
an increase of $5,105,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
level and $8,278,000 above the request.
    Executive Direction and Administration Services.--The 
Committee recommends $244,185,000, an increase of $115,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and a decrease of 
$2,507,000 below the request.
    The Committee has rejected the request for $2,507,000 
related to development costs of the department-wide financial 
and business management system (FBMS). Funding for FBMS 
activity has been consolidated in the ``Office of the 
Secretary'' account.

                              CONSTRUCTION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $271,823,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................      $197,627,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       207,983,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       -63,840,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +10,356,000
    The Committee recommends $207,983,000 for construction, a 
decrease of $63,840,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
level and an increase of $10,356,000 above the budget request.
    Education.--The Committee recommends $145,200,000 for 
education construction, a decrease of $59,756,000 below the 
fiscal year 2007 enacted level and an increase of $5,356,000 
above the budget request.
    Changes to the request include $356,000 to restore employee 
housing repair and $5,000,000 for facilities improvement and 
repair.
    Public Safety and Justice.--The Committee recommends 
$14,621,000 for public safety and justice construction, an 
increase of $3,016,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level 
and $3,000,000 above the budget request.
    The change to the request is for maintenance and 
improvement of existing detention centers.
    The Committee is concerned about the deplorable conditions 
that exist in detention centers in Indian Country. The 
Committee directs the Bureau, in partnership with the 
Department of Justice, to develop a plan for the replacement 
and construction of deteriorated detention centers, including 
recommendations on the location of those detention facilities 
based on need by March 30, 2008.
    Resources Management.--The Committee recommends $39,916,000 
for resources management construction, a decrease of $5,209,000 
below the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and an increase of 
$2,000,000 above the request.
    The change to the request is for repair and rehabilitation 
of Indian irrigation projects.
    General Administration.--The Committee recommends 
$2,114,000 for general administration, a decrease of $1,994,000 
below the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and the same as the 
budget request.
    Construction Management.--The Committee recommends 
$6,132,000 for construction management, an increase of $103,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and the same as the 
budget request.

 INDIAN LAND AND WATER CLAIM SETTLEMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS PAYMENTS TO 
                                INDIANS

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $42,000,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        34,069,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        39,136,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        -2,864,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +5,067,000
    The Committee recommends $39,136,000 for Indian land and 
water claim settlements and miscellaneous payments to Indians, 
a decrease of $2,864,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
level and an increase of $5,067,000 above the request.
    The change to the request is an increase of $5,067,000 for 
the Nez Perce/Snake River settlement, which was requested in 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cooperative Endangered 
Species Fund account.

                 INDIAN GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $6,258,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         6,276,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         6,276,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................           +18,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $6,276,000 for the Indian 
guaranteed loan program account, an increase of $18,000 above 
the fiscal year 2007 enacted level and the same as the budget 
request.

                          Departmental Offices


                        Office of the Secretary


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $116,265,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       101,445,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       136,413,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +20,148,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +34,968,000
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:


    The Committee recommends $136,413,000 for salaries and 
expenses for the Office of the Secretary, an increase of 
$20,148,000 above the enacted and $34,968,000 above the 
official budget request. With the exception of a reduction in 
funding for the Financial and Business Management System (FBMS) 
as discussed below, the Committee has approved the amounts 
requested for this account.
    Financial and Business Management System.--The President's 
budget requests $38,858,000 for the new department-wide 
financial and business management system spread throughout 
various appropriation accounts of the Department. The Committee 
bill includes $35,262,000 for the FBMS system in this account. 
This is $3,596,000 below the request and $13,026,000 above the 
comparable amount available in fiscal year 2007.
    The Committee continues to be concerned about the 
development of the new financial and business management system 
(FBMS). Numerous sources within the Department have indicated 
that early implementation efforts at the Minerals Management 
Service and the Office of Surface Mining have not gone smoothly 
and that substantial improvements in the system are required 
but have not yet been fully tested. Because of the potential 
for serious and costly errors, which may occur when large scale 
restructuring of financial control systems are implemented, the 
Committee directs that the FBMS system not be implemented in 
other bureaus until all issues raised during the MMS and OSMRE 
implementation have been addressed and the FBMS system 
readiness for deployment has been validated by an external 
review organization with experience with such systems.

                            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 of Guam, American Samoa (AS), U.S. Virgin 
Islands (USVI) and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands (CNMI) and also the three freely associated States: the 
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands (RMI) 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. During fiscal year 2004 new financial arrangements 
for the Compacts of Free Association with the FSM and the RMI 
were implemented; this also included mandatory payments for 
certain activities previously provided in discretionary 
appropriations as well as Compact impact payments of 
$30,000,000 per year split among Guam, CNMI, AS, and Hawaii.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $76,197,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        74,921,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        78,292,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +2,095,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +3,371,000
    The amounts recommended by the Committee for the Office of 
Insular Affairs appropriations accounts compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:


    The Committee recommends $78,292,000 for assistance to 
territories, $3,371,000 above the budget request and $2,095,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 level.
    Territorial Assistance.--The Committee recommends 
$27,692,000 for territorial assistance, $3,371,000 above the 
budget request and $2,095,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. 
Increases to the budget request should be used to allow 
previous initiatives on health and retired government workers 
to continue as in the past, and to provide critically needed 
oversight of the compacts of free association and territorial 
negotiations. In addition, the Committee has rejected the 
request for $8,000 in this account related to development costs 
of the department-wide financial and business management system 
(FBMS). Funding for the FBMS activity has been consolidated in 
the ``Office of the Secretary'' account.
    The Committee directs that the funds provided for water and 
wastewater projects not be allocated to the CNMI until and 
unless the Commonwealth has a unified territorial 
infrastructure plan certified by the Secretary.
    The Committee has included $500,000 above the request for 
the coral reef initiative to enhance work at the U.S. 
territories in the Pacific and the USVI and the freely 
associated States; the Secretary should notify the Committees 
on the intended use of these funds within 60 days of enactment 
of this Act.
    American Samoa.--The Committee recommends $22,880,000 for 
American Samoa operations, the same as both the budget request 
and the fiscal year 2007 level.
    Northern Mariana Islands/Covenant Grants.--The Committee 
recommends $27,720,000 for CNMI covenant grants, the same as 
the budget request and the fiscal year 2007 level. The 
Committee is very concerned about the process used by the 
Department and the territorial government to allocate these 
funds, especially those needed in American Samoa. The Committee 
directs the Office of Insular Affairs and the Secretary to work 
with all territorial governmental bodies and the Congressional 
Delegate for American Samoa to be sure that the highest 
priority construction projects receive the covenant funding.

                      COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $5,313,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         4,862,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         5,362,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................           +49,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................          +500,000
    The Committee recommends $5,362,000 for the compact of free 
association, $500,000 above the budget request and $49,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 level. The Committee recommendation 
continues Enewetak support.

                        OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $55,018,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        58,949,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        59,250,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +4,232,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................          +301,000
    The Committee recommends $59,250,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Office of the Solicitor. The Committee has 
added $500,000 to the budget request to upgrade filing and 
record keeping capacity in the Office. The Committee has 
rejected the request for $199,000 in this account related to 
development costs of the department-wide financial and business 
management system (FBMS). Funding for the FBMS activity has 
been consolidated in the ``Office of the Secretary'' account.

                      OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $38,823,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        42,322,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        43,822,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +4,999,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +1,500,000
    The Committee recommends $43,822,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Office of Inspector General. The Committee 
greatly values this office and the important contributions it 
makes to the performance of the Department and its bureaus. The 
Committee believes that increased resources for this office 
will pay substantial dividends in savings to the taxpayer and 
has added $1,500,000 to the request to expand the investigation 
and audit functions of the Office. The Committee also believes 
that the increased resources will allow the Inspector General 
to expand efforts to share best management practices among the 
Department's bureaus and offices and ethics oversight.

             OFFICE OF SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS

                         FEDERAL TRUST PROGRAMS

    The Office of Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) 
was established by the American Indian Trust Fund Management 
Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-412). The Special Trustee is 
charged with general oversight of Indian trust asset reform 
efforts Department-wide to ensure proper and efficient 
discharge of the Secretary's trust responsibilities to Indian 
Tribes and individual Indians. The Office of the Special 
Trustee was created to ensure that the Department of the 
Interior establishes appropriate policies and procedures, 
develops necessary systems, and takes affirmative actions to 
reform the management of Indian trust funds. In carrying out 
the management and oversight of the Indian trust funds, the 
Secretary has a responsibility to ensure that trust accounts 
are properly maintained, invested and reported in accordance 
with the American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 
1994, Congressional action, and other applicable laws.
    The Special Trustee for American Indians also has 
responsibility for the related financial trust functions 
including deposit, investment, and disbursement of trust funds. 
The Department has responsibility for what may be the largest 
land trust in the world. Indian trust lands today encompass 
approximately 56 million acres of land--over 10 million acres 
belonging to individual Indians and nearly 45 million acres 
owned by Indian Tribes. On these lands, the Interior Department 
manages over 100,000 leases for individual Indians and Tribes. 
Leasing, use permits, sale revenues, and investment income of 
over $330 million per year are collected into over 300,000 
individual Indian money accounts, and over $460 million per 
year is collected into over 1,400 Tribal accounts per year. In 
addition, the trust manages approximately $2.9 billion in 
tribal funds and $400 million in individual Indian funds.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $189,251,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       186,158,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       182,542,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        -6,709,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        -3,616,000
    The Committee recommends $182,542,000 for Federal Trust 
programs, a decrease of $6,709,000 below the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level and $3,616,000 below the budget request.
    The change to the request is a reduction of $3,616,000 for 
the Office of Historical Accounting.
    Since the inception of the Cobell case, the Committee has 
appropriated hundreds of millions of dollars for litigation and 
accounting activities. The Committee believes that these funds 
would have been better used to fund greatly needed health care, 
law enforcement and education programs in Indian country. The 
Committee believes that this case must be resolved without 
further negatively impacting funding levels for Indian 
programs. Proposals to settle this case and all other trust-
related litigation should be expeditiously considered by the 
litigants, Indian Country, Congress, and the Administration. 
Any settlement of trust-related litigation must also address 
the land fractionation issue which is at the core of the trust 
issue. The Committee strongly suggests that the parties settle 
trust litigation in its entirety and finally move on to focus 
on the more pertinent needs in Indian Country.
    The Committee has rejected the request to allocate $211,000 
related to development costs of the department-wide financial 
and business management system (FBMS). Funding for FBMS 
activity has been consolidated in the ``Office of the 
Secretary'' account.
    Bill Language.--As in previous fiscal years, the Committee 
has included bill language under the Office of Special Trustee 
that limits the amount of funding available for historical 
accounting to $56,384,000. The clear intent of the Committee is 
to definitively limit the amount of funding available to 
conduct historical accounting activities.

                       INDIAN LAND CONSOLIDATION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $34,006,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        10,000,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        10,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       -24,006,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $10,000,000 for Indian Land 
Consolidation, a decrease of $24,006,000 below the fiscal year 
2007 enacted level and the same as the budget request.
    The Committee accepts the proposed reduction to this 
activity and reiterates its position that any settlement in 
ongoing Trust litigation includes a comprehensive reform to 
solve the problem of land fractionation.

                        DEPARTMENT-WIDE PROGRAMS

                       PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES

    Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) provide for payments to 
local units of government containing certain Federally owned 
lands. These payments are designed to supplement other Federal 
land receipt sharing payments that local governments may be 
receiving. The recipients may use payments received for any 
governmental purpose.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $232,528,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       190,000,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       232,528,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +42,528,000
    The Committee recommends $232,528,000 for PILT, $42,528,000 
above the budget request and the same amount as fiscal year 
2007.

                    CENTRAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS FUND

    The Central Hazardous Materials Fund was established to 
fund response action-related studies and remediation/cleanup of 
contaminated sites for which the Department of the Interior may 
be 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 
related response activities. Prior to fiscal year 2007 this 
account was located in the Bureau of Land Management.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $9,715,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         9,954,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         9,954,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +239,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $9,954,000 for the central 
hazardous materials fund, as requested, an increase of $239,000 
above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level.

           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. Operating on a ``polluter pays'' principle, the 
program anticipates recovering about $40 million in receipts in 
fiscal year 2008, with the vast majority to be used for the 
restoration of injured resources. The program works to restore 
sites ranging in size from small town landfills to the Exxon 
Valdez oil spill of 1989 in Alaska.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $6,043,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         6,224,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         6,224,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +181,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $6,224,000 for the natural 
resource damage assessment fund, an increase of $181,000 above 
the fiscal year 2007 level and the same as the budget request.

             General Provisions, Department of the Interior


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

    Sections 101 and 102 provide for emergency transfer 
authority with the approval of the Secretary.
    Section 103 provides for the use of appropriations for 
certain services.
    Section 104 continues a provision which prohibits the 
expenditure of funds for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing 
activities in California, the North Atlantic, Washington, 
Oregon, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico near Florida.
    Section 105 continues a provision which prohibits the 
expenditure of funds for oil and gas leasing activities in the 
Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic planning areas.
    Section 106 permits the transfer of funds between the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of Special Trustee for 
American Indians.
    Section 107 continues a provision permitting the 
redistribution of tribal priority allocation and tribal base 
funds to alleviate funding inequities.
    Section 108 continues a provision permitting the conveyance 
of the Twin Cities Research Center of the former Bureau of 
Mines for the benefit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    Section 109 continues a previous provision and authorizes 
the Secretary of the Interior to hereafter use helicopter or 
motor vehicles to capture and transport horses and burros at 
the Sheldon and Hart National Wildlife Refuges, OR.
    Section 110 continues a provision limiting compensation for 
the Special Master and Court Monitor appointed by the Court in 
Cobell v. Kempthorne to 200 percent of the highest Senior 
Executive Service rate of pay.
    Section 111 continues a provision allowing the Secretary to 
pay private attorney fees for employees and former employees in 
connection with Cobell v. Kempthorne.
    Section 112 continues a provision dealing with the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service's responsibilities for mass marking 
of salmonid stocks.
    Section 113 makes funds appropriated for fiscal year 2008 
available to the tribes within the California Tribal Trust 
Reform Consortium and others on the same basis as funds were 
distributed in fiscal year 2005, and separates this 
demonstration project from the Department of the Interior's 
trust reform reorganization.
    Section 114 continues a provision authorizing the Secretary 
of the Interior to acquire lands in support of transportation 
of visitors to Ellis, Governors, and Liberty Islands, NJ and 
NY.
    Section 115 limits funds to issue new leases for oil or 
natural gas under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
U.S.C. 1331 et. seq.) to any lessee where such existing lease 
is not subject to limitations on royalty relief based on market 
price.
               TITLE II--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created by 
Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970, which consolidated nine 
programs from five different agencies and departments. Major 
EPA programs include air and water quality, drinking water, 
hazardous waste, research, pesticides, radiation, toxic 
substances, enforcement and compliance assurance, pollution 
prevention, oil spills, Superfund, Brownfields, and the Leaking 
Underground Storage Tank program. In addition, EPA provides 
Federal assistance for wastewater treatment, sewer overflow 
control, drinking water facilities, other water infrastructure 
projects, and diesel emission reduction projects. The Agency is 
responsible for conducting research and development, 
establishing environmental standards through the use of risk 
assessment and cost-benefit analysis, monitoring pollution 
conditions, seeking compliance through a variety of means 
including enforcement, managing audits and investigations, and 
providing technical assistance and grant support to States and 
tribes, which are delegated authority for much of the program 
implementation. Under existing statutory authority, the Agency 
contributes to specific homeland security efforts and may 
participate in international environmental activities.
    Among the statutes for which the Environmental Protection 
Agency has sole or significant oversight responsibilities are:
          National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
        amended.
          Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 
        as amended.
          Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended.
          Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended.
          Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended.
          Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 
        1972, as amended.
          Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
          Public Health Service Act (Title XIV), as amended.
          Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended.
          Clean Air Act, as amended.
          Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended.
          Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002.
          Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
          Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
        and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended.
          Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields 
        Revitalization Act of 2002 (amending CERCLA).
          Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 
        1986.
          Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.
          Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended.
          Pollution Prosecution Act of 1990.
          Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2003.
          Energy Policy Act of 2005.

    For fiscal year 2008, the Committee recommends 
$8,085,915,000 for the Environmental Protection Agency, an 
increase of $886,515,000 above the President's request and 
$360,785,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the budget 
request and 2007 enacted levels are shown by account, program 
area and selected activity in the following table.


    Reprogrammings.--The EPA is held to the bill-wide 
reprogramming limitation of $1,000,000 annually or increases or 
decreases of more than 10 percent annually. This limitation 
will be applied to each program area in every account at the 
levels provided in the detailed table above. This will allow 
the Agency the flexibility to reprogram funds within a set 
program area. However, the Committee has cited funding levels 
for certain program-projects or activities within a program 
area. The reprogramming limitation applies to those funding 
levels cited within a program area. The other guidelines laid 
out in the ``Reprogramming Guidelines'' section of the 
Committee's Report continue to be in effect.
    Congressional Budget Justification.--The Committee 
continues to be disappointed by the lack of transparency in the 
Agency's budget submission. In order to address these concerns, 
the Committee directs a number of changes to all future EPA 
Budget Justifications. First, if the reader is unfamiliar with 
the Agency's budget structure, it is difficult to find specific 
programs in the Budget Justification. The Committee directs the 
Agency to include in its Budget Justifications a comprehensive 
index by topic and program, specifically providing a page 
reference for major programs and activities within the program-
projects.
    Second, in organizing the budget structure by program-
project, and by justifying the budget at that level, the Agency 
does not provide to Congress the requested levels for many 
programs below the program-project level. Many of these 
programs are important to the Committee, Congress as a whole, 
and the public at large. For example, the budget includes a 
program-project entitled, ``National Estuary Program/Coastal 
Waterways'', which funds, among other things, the National 
Estuary grants authorized by Section 320 of the Clean Water 
Act. However, the requested level for this important grant 
program does not appear in the Budget Justification. The 
Committee directs the Agency to include in its Budget 
Justifications the budget request for the major component 
activities below the program-project level.
    Third, the Committee finds it very useful to have the 
appropriations bill language included in the Budget 
Justification, as the Agency did in its fiscal year 2007 Budget 
Justification. The Committee directs the Agency to include the 
requested bill language, with changes highlighted, at the 
beginning of each account section in its Budget Justifications.
    GAO Review of Agency Budget Execution.--The Committee 
directs the Government Accountability Office to review EPA's 
execution of the budget as directed by Congress. Specifically, 
for selected EPA programs, GAO should identify the factors that 
influence the Agency's allocation of funds to the regional 
offices, and the allocation of funds to individual projects 
within the regional offices. In addition, GAO should evaluate 
EPA's internal controls for ensuring that offices obligate 
funds consistent with the budget as justified to and amended by 
the Congress. This review should include sampling of obligation 
documents in at least 3 regional offices, and one large and one 
small headquarters office, to ensure that obligations align 
with program projects identified in the operating plan. GAO 
should make all efforts to provide its findings to the 
Committee before EPA's fiscal year 2009 budget hearing.

                         Science and Technology

    The Science and Technology (S&T) account funds all 
Environmental Protection Agency research, including, Superfund 
research activities paid with funds moved into this account 
from the Hazardous Substance Superfund account. This account 
includes programs carried out through grants, contracts, and 
cooperative agreements with other Federal agencies, States, 
universities, and private business, as well as in-house 
research. It also funds personnel compensation and benefits, 
travel, supplies and operating expenses, including rent, 
utilities and security, for all Agency research. Research 
addresses a wide range of environmental and health concerns 
across all environmental media and encompasses both long-term 
basic and near-term applied research to provide the scientific 
knowledge and technologies necessary for preventing, 
regulating, and abating pollution, and to anticipate emerging 
environmental issues.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $733,387,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       754,506,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       788,269,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +54,882,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +33,763,000
    The Committee recommends $788,269,000 for science and 
technology, $33,763,000 above the budget request and 
$54,882,000 above the 2007 enacted level. The Committee notes 
that a portion of the increase above the 2007 enacted level in 
this account is attributable to the realignment of rent, 
utilities and security from the Environmental Programs and 
Management (EPM) account. The Committee recommends that 
$26,126,000, as requested by the President, be paid to this 
account from the Hazardous Substance Superfund account for 
ongoing research activities consistent with the intent of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980, as amended. The changes to the request, 
as recommended by the Committee, are discussed by program area 
below.
    Air Toxics and Quality.--The Committee recommends an 
increase of $2,000,000 above the request for Federal Vehicles 
and Fuels Standards and Certification. This increase is for 
activities related to greenhouse gas emission reductions.
    Climate Protection Program.--The Committee recommends an 
increase of $5,500,000 above the request for the Clean 
Automotive Technology Program, which is an increase of 
$5,727,000 above fiscal year 2007. To the extent possible, the 
Committee expects that not less than $9,000,000 will be 
available for research and engineering for this program. The 
Committee continues to believe that the Agency's collaborative 
research with industry partners to advance hydraulic hybrid 
technology and clean combustion engines holds significant 
potential to cost-effectively reduce harmful emissions and 
greenhouse gases from motor vehicles. The Committee continues 
to believe the Administration should give this program high 
priority within its budget request.
    Homeland Security.--The Committee recommends a decrease of 
$6,884,000 below the request, which is a decrease of 
$13,293,000 below fiscal year 2007. The decrease from the 
President's budget shall be applied as follows:
          -$3,884,000 from the Water Security Initiative. The 
        Committee supports the Water Security Initiative, but 
        has deferred funding a small portion of the fiscal year 
        2008 request for two pilot projects. The Committee 
        understands that the late action on the 2007 enacted 
        budget will delay the obligation of funds for those 
        pilot projects until 2008. The Agency should be 
        prepared to brief the Committee in January 2008 on the 
        status of the initiative and the Agency's plan for how 
        it will use this information once the pilots are 
        completed.
          -$2,000,000 from Safe Buildings. Should the Agency 
        continue to request funds for this program, the 
        Committee directs the Agency to more fully justify the 
        program in its future Budget Justification.
          -$1,000,000 from overall Homeland Security activities 
        in this account.
    Research: Clean Air.--The Committee recommends an increase 
of $16,400,000 above the request, which is $20,084,000 above 
the fiscal year 2007 level. The increase is directed to Global 
Change Research. The Committee urges the Agency to expand its 
research related to climate and global change and suggests at 
least two areas for fruitful research. Given the interest in 
sequestering carbon emissions from power plants, the Committee 
suggests the Agency increase its research efforts into the 
ecosystem and public health impacts of carbon sequestration. To 
the extent necessary, the Agency shall use this increase for 
any necessary research or technology testing related to the 
development of the greenhouse gas regulation called for in the 
Administrative Provisions section of this bill. Finally, the 
Committee expects the Agency to use as much of these funds as 
possible to fund exploratory grants through the Science To 
Achieve Results (STAR) program.
    Research: Clean Water.--The Committee recommends an 
increase of $5,000,000 for a new Breakthrough Technology Fund 
to develop, test and evaluate innovative water and wastewater 
technologies. The gap between the funding need for water and 
wastewater infrastructure and the funds available for such 
projects is enormous. The Committee supports the Agency's 
Sustainable Infrastructure Strategy, funded in the EPM account, 
which attempts to deal with this shortfall in innovative ways. 
The approach includes an emphasis on better management at water 
and wastewater facilities, water efficiency, reuse and 
conservation, and full cost pricing. The Committee believes 
that an added investment into clean water research will allow 
the Agency to make great strides in identifying and evaluating 
new technologies and compliment the Sustainable Infrastructure 
Strategy. To the extent the Agency chooses, these funds are 
available for STAR extramural grants, as well as intramural 
work.
    Research: Human Health and Ecosystems.--The Committee 
recommends an increase of $11,747,000 above the request, which 
provides the fiscal year 2007 level of $229,321,000 for this 
program area. With the increase provided, the Committee 
directs:
          +$2,776,000 for the STAR portion of the Fellowships 
        program, for a total of $11,214,000.
          +$350,000 for Endocrine Disruptor research to restore 
        the program to the fiscal year 2007 level of 
        $10,481,000. An additional increase for Endocrine 
        Disruptor work is found in the EPM account.
          -$2,776,000 from Computational Toxicology.
          +$11,397,000 for basic research in this program area. 
        From within this amount, the Committee directs no less 
        than $5,000,000 to the Environmental Monitoring and 
        Assessment Program (EMAP), to restore the majority of 
        the reduction proposed by the President. The Committee 
        finds the decreases to ecosystems research 
        unacceptable.
    The Committee notes that by providing over $229 million for 
the Research: Human Health and Ecosystems program area, it has 
approved the requested increase of $6,098,000 for Human Health 
Risk Assessments. The Committee expects the Agency to use as 
much of that increase as necessary to expedite its new risk 
assessment for trichloroethylene (TCE), as recommended by the 
National Academy of Science's National Research Council.
    The Committee has included the following additional 
guidance with respect to funding provided under this account.
    Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Across the Science and 
Technology Account.--The Committee continues to stress the 
importance of the STAR program and has attempted to target 
increases to areas that will both expand research and support 
the STAR program. Funding reductions to the STAR program are 
not acceptable because such reductions ultimately result in 
gaps in critical environmental research.
    Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) Study.--The 
Committee urges the Agency to study human health effects and 
ecosystem impacts from exposure to polycyclic aromatic 
hydrocarbons (PAH) through parking lot seal-coatings.
    Study of Trona.--The Committee is aware of concerns about 
the public health impacts of using the chemical Trona as a 
means to control sulfur dioxide emissions at coal-fired power 
plants. The Committee urges the Agency to use a portion of the 
increase provided to the Research: Human Health and Ecosystems 
program area to investigate the potential adverse health and 
environmental impacts of Trona.
    Endocrine Disruptor Research.--It has been more than 10 
years since Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act 
(FQPA) and amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). 
Both Acts contain provisions that call for the screening and 
testing of chemicals and pesticides for possible endocrine 
disrupting effects. These laws require EPA to develop a 
screening program that uses appropriate validated test systems 
and other scientifically relevant information and to determine 
if the effect that certain substances have in humans is similar 
to the effect produced by a naturally occurring hormone. The 
Committee is troubled by the lack of progress in fulfilling 
this Federal mandate and believes that this lack of progress 
merits serious consideration of an alternative approach. The 
Committee, therefore, directs EPA to draft a proposal for an 
extramural research grant program and estimates of funding 
levels. The research program should be based at academic 
institutions which would apply in a competitive process for 
funding to address critical questions in endocrine disruption. 
The research should include interdisciplinary collaboration and 
research designs using sensitive models at environmentally 
relevant doses and vulnerable life stages.
    The Committee supports the Agency's effort to review the 
costs associated with running its laboratories. The Committee 
understands that the purpose of the study is not to close labs, 
but to identify efficiencies and cost savings applicable to all 
labs. The Committee expects the Agency to report near term 
recommendations, and any resulting savings by the end of the 
summer 2007, and its plans for a long term assessment of lab 
network needs over the next ten years as soon as possible, 
preferably before the 2009 budget hearings.
    California Emissions Standards.-- The transportation sector 
accounts for approximately one third of CO2 emissions within 
the United States. A reduction in vehicle emission levels will 
provide a significant public health benefit from decreased 
levels of respiratory illness and mitigation of global climate 
change forcing pollutants. In the absence of action by the 
federal government, the State of California, with the support 
of at least 11 other states, has proactively developed 
standards to address passenger car, light-duty truck, and 
medium-duty passenger vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. The 
Committee strongly encourages the EPA to promptly issue a 
decision on the State of California's December 2005 petition 
for a waiver to enact car emissions standards that would reduce 
greenhouse gases from vehicles by 30 percent by 2016. In light 
of the 2006 report by the National Academies of Sciences 
recommending a two-year limit on all waiver reviews, the 
committee believes it is reasonable to expect the Agency to 
issue this waiver no later then December 31, 2007. If the EPA 
is unable to issue a decision by that date, the committee 
expects the EPA to provide a report detailing why the review 
could not be completed by that date, the current status of the 
review, and a timeline for completion of any remaining phase of 
the review.

         Commission on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................                $0
Budget estimate, 2008.................................                 0
Recommended, 2008.....................................        50,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +50,000,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +50,000,000
                       CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION

    As noted in the introduction to this report, the Committee 
views global climate change as one of the great challenges 
facing our country. The recent reports of the Intergovernmental 
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have eliminated any lingering 
doubt about whether global warming is occurring. In fact, these 
reports make clear that global warming has already resulted in 
real and significant impacts. This was confirmed at hearings 
held by the Appropriations Committee in April during which 
witnesses from the land management agencies of the Interior 
Department and Forest Service described climate related changes 
already occurring in the national parks, wildlife refuges and 
on other public lands. These impacts included increased 
wildfires, changing precipitation and water availability 
patterns, increasing presence of invasive species, changing 
migratory patterns for many animals and birds, and significant 
loss of habitat for many species. The conclusions are clear. 
Climate change is real; its impacts are already present; and, 
irrespective of regulatory or technological changes put in 
place over the next few years, climate change will remain a 
reality for the foreseeable future. The challenge now is how to 
live with this reality.
    To begin to address this reality, society must now initiate 
a new stage of the debate which focuses on effective steps to 
facilitate adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. This 
debate will take many forms and it will be a long process which 
may lead us in unknown directions. At the onset of this effort, 
we know, however, that science will be a key tool for 
monitoring climate change and for developing and testing 
different adaptation and mitigation strategies and tools. For 
this reason, the Committee has included $50 million in this 
bill to jump-start the scientific effort around the adaptation 
and mitigation challenges.
    The specific science activity which will be required will 
not be limited to agencies funded in the Interior and 
Environment Appropriations bill. The Committee has taken the 
unusual step, therefore, of creating a temporary, two-year 
Commission whose mission is to analyze the science needs 
throughout government with regard to climate change adaptation 
and mitigation. The design for this Commission follows that of 
the recent and widely cited National Academy of Sciences 
``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' review of American 
competitiveness. It is important to understand that the new 
Commission established in this bill is not charged with 
studying the question of whether climate change is occurring or 
at what rate. Nor is it a Commission to determine the causes of 
global warming or regulatory approaches to ameliorate these 
causes. Its charter is limited to making recommendations on the 
science questions that need to be addressed and the initial 
steps which should be taken to begin serious research related 
to those questions. The first set of recommendations of the 
Commission under this charter is due by July 1, 2008 and the 
second set of recommendations by March 30, 2009. The Commission 
will terminate on September 30, 2009 after submitting a final 
report on implementation of its recommendations.
    While the use of a commission or advisory committee to 
guide Federal science investment is not unusual, this 
Commission is atypical in two ways. First, it cuts across all 
areas of climate related science which might contribute to 
these challenges. Second, it may be unique in that money is 
included in this fiscal year 2008 bill to begin implementation 
of the Commission's recommendations during 2008. Of the $50 
million included in the bill, $45 million will be transferred 
on July 1, 2008 by the Administrator of the EPA to various 
Federal science agencies for implementation of Commission 
recommendations. The amounts of the various transfers are to be 
based on the Commission's report. In short, this is a 
Commission which will actually have money to invest, making it 
at the same time both more credible and more effective.
    The Commission will be comprised of science leaders both 
inside and outside government. Specifically, it will include 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Director of the National Science Foundation, the Administrator 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
Director of the United States Geological Survey, the 
Undersecretary for Science of the Department of Energy, the 
Administrator of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric 
Administration, the Chief of the United States Forest Service, 
the President of the National Academy of Engineering, the 
President of the National Academy of Sciences, and six 
additional members with appropriate expertise to be selected by 
the Chairman. The President of the National Academy of Sciences 
is designated as the Chairman by statute. The Commission will 
be housed within the Environmental Protection Agency for 
administrative and logistical support. The bill includes $5 
million for support costs of the Commission. In addition to 
supporting employment of Commission staff directly, funds are 
provided for contractual support from the National Academy of 
Sciences.

                 Environmental Programs and Management

    The Environmental Programs and Management account 
encompasses a broad range of abatement, prevention, 
enforcement, and compliance activities, and personnel 
compensation, benefits, travel, and expenses for all programs 
of the Agency except Science and Technology, Hazardous 
Substance Superfund, Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust 
Fund, Oil Spill Response, and the Office of Inspector General.
    Abatement, prevention, and compliance activities include 
setting environmental standards, issuing permits, monitoring 
emissions and ambient conditions and providing technical and 
legal assistance toward enforcement, compliance, and oversight. 
In most cases, the States are directly responsible for actual 
operation of the various environmental programs and the 
Agency's activities include oversight and assistance.
    In addition to program costs, this account funds 
administrative costs associated with the operating programs of 
the Agency, including support for executive direction, policy 
oversight, resources management, general office and building 
services for program operations, and direct implementation of 
Agency environmental programs for headquarters, the ten EPA 
Regional offices, and all non-research field operations.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................    $2,358,370,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     2,298,188,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     2,375,582,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +17,212,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +77,394,000
    The Committee recommends $2,375,582,000 for environmental 
programs and management, an increase of $77,394,000 above the 
budget request and an increase of $17,212,000 above the 2007 
enacted level. The changes to the request, as recommended by 
the Committee, are discussed by program area below.
    Air Toxics and Quality.--The Committee recommends an 
increase of $2,000,000 to the request, which is a decrease of 
$1,245,000 from fiscal year 2007. Based on the recent Supreme 
Court decision, Massachusetts et al. v. EPA et al., the 
Committee directs the Agency to use this increase to begin the 
process to develop a rule to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
An Administrative Provision at the end of Title II makes these 
funds available only for this purpose. The Agency may, of 
course, spend more on this effort, as it sees fit.
    The Committee believes the Agency could begin as early as 
2008 to promulgate a regulation to control greenhouse gas 
emissions. To the extent further research or technology testing 
is required, the Agency may use a portion of the $16,400,000 
increase provided in the Science and Technology account under 
the Research: Clean Air program. Additional direction related 
to this provision is found in the EPA Administrative Provisions 
section below.
    Climate Protection.--The Committee recommends a net 
increase of $7,574,000 above the request, which is $3,299,000 
above fiscal year 2007. From within the new total, the 
Committee directs an increase of $8,074,000 for the Energy Star 
program to bring the total program level to $52,000,000. The 
Committee also has reduced the amount for the Asia-Pacific 
Partnership by $2,500,000, which is half the requested amount. 
The Committee intends the remainder of the increase provided in 
this program area for other core climate protection programs. 
The Committee has provided the budget request for the Methane-
to-Markets program.
    Enforcement.--The Committee recommends an increase of 
$10,178,000 above the request, which is $11,828,000 above 
fiscal year 2007. From the increase, the Committee directs 
$3,178,000 for the Environmental Justice program. This increase 
brings the total program to $7,000,000, almost $1,500,000 above 
the fiscal year 2006 level. The remaining increase of 
$7,000,000 is directed to support additional personnel in the 
Civil and Criminal Enforcement areas, to be allocated between 
the two at the Agency's discretion.
    Geographic Programs.--The Committee recommends an increase 
of $24,557,000 in this program area in order to augument 
efforts to protect and save the Nation's great water bodies. 
This amount is $23,398,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. 
This increase, coupled with funds provided elsewhere for the 
National Estuaries Program and the Great Lakes Legacy Act, 
greatly expands the Committee's commitment to a number of 
important water bodies throughout the country. The Committee 
directs the increase in this program area to be distributed to 
provide the following total program levels:
          $30,000,000 for the Chesapeake Bay Program. Of this 
        amount, $22,000,000 is for the base program, $4,000,000 
        for small watershed grants, and $4,000,000 for targeted 
        watershed grants. The Committee notes recent GAO 
        findings that EPA should focus on a cost effective 
        strategy for nitrogen reductions and restoration 
        activities that help the Agency achieve its Chesapeake 
        2000 commitments by 2010. To the extent possible, the 
        Agency should focus the funds provided for targeted 
        watershed grants to cost-effective, nitrogen reductions 
        and restoration activities that have already been 
        identified.
          $25,000,000 for the Great Lakes National Program 
        Office. A majority of the increase should be used for 
        additional staff to implement the Great Lakes Legacy 
        Act.
          $15,000,000 for implementation of the Puget Sound 
        program, including funding for both grants and 
        contracts necessary to accomplish the goals of the 
        section 320 management plan.
          $10,000,000 for the Long Island Sound program to 
        implement both the Long Island Sound Restoration and 
        Stewardship Acts.
          $4,448,000 for the Community for a Renewed 
        Environment (CARE) program.
          $3,651,000 for Other Geographic Activities, not 
        specified in the detailed table.
    In addition, the Committee directs a $4,953,000 reduction 
to the Regional Administrators' Geographic Initiative, for a 
total program level of $4,600,000. The Committee notes that the 
Agency's budget provides little justification on how these 
funds will be used in fiscal year 2008. At a minimum, future 
Budget Justifications should include the criteria used to 
allocate the funds by Region and the criteria used by each 
Region to select priojects. To the extent that the Agency can 
list the projects proposed to be funded, it should do so. In 
addition, the Committee also directs the Agency to submit a 
report by January 15, 2008, to include for fiscal years 2005, 
2006, and 2007: (1) the criteria used to allocate these funds 
to each regional office; (2) the criteria used to select the 
projects funded by each Region; (3) a list, by Region, of the 
projects and amounts funded; and, (4) a summary of how each 
project met the selection criteria and its accomplishments.
    Indoor Air.--The Committee recommends an increase of 
$500,000, which is $1,745,000 below fiscal year 2007. The 
Committee directs this increase to the Reduced Risks from 
Indoor Air program.
    Information Exchange/Outreach.--The Committee recommends an 
increase of $9,000,000, which is $4,538,000 above fiscal year 
2007. The Committee provides the increase to restore the 
Environmental Education Program and directs the Agency to apply 
the formula mandated in the statute to the entire amount 
provided.
    Legal/Science/Regulatory/Economic Review.--The Committee 
provides the request and directs, from within that amount:
    -$1,300,000 from the Regulatory Innovation and Regulatory/ 
Economic-Management and Analysis program-projects, to be 
allocated between the two at the Agency's discretion.
    +$1,300,000 to the Legal Advice: Environmental Program and 
Legal Advice: Support Program, to be allocated between the two 
at the Agency's discretion.
    Operations and Administration.--The Committee recommends a 
decrease of $6,000,000, to be distributed as follows:
    -$2,000,000 from facilities infrastructure and operations. 
The Committee takes this action in anticipation of rent savings 
identified from its building consolidation study. The Committee 
urges the Agency to complete this study as expeditiously as 
possible and report its findings, and any additional budget 
savings, to the Committee at that time.
    -$2,000,000 from Acquisition Management from development of 
the new acquisition management system. According to information 
received by the Committee this new funding level will still 
provide a $1,000,000 increase above fiscal year 2007 for this 
new data system.
    The Agency has the discretion to decide where within this 
program area to take the remainder of the reduction.
    The Committee commends the Agency for its work to improve 
grants management and believes it has created a model program. 
Although the Committee has not specifically increased the 
request for ``Financial Assistance Grants and IAG Management'', 
it recognizes the additional workload associated with many of 
the programmatic increases recommended in this bill, including 
the grants for diesel emission reductions, environmental 
education, geographic specific and other programs. The Agency 
should brief the Committee as soon as possible on the impact of 
this additional workload and how the Agency will address it 
both at headquarters and in the regions.
    Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.--The Committee 
recommends a decrease of $2,000,000, which is $166,000 less 
than fiscal year 2007. Within this program area, the Committee 
denies, without prejudice, the Agency's request of $4,000,000 
for an electronic manifest for hazardous waste. The Committee 
takes this action because Congress has yet to authorize the 
Agency to collect fees to run this program. The Committee is 
willing to reconsider funding in future years once the 
authorization is enacted. Due to prior year shortfalls in this 
area, the Committee recommends $2,000,000 of the funds remain 
in this program area. The Committee is aware of the 
extraordinary delays in issuing a final regulation on disposal 
of industrial wipes. With a portion of the $2,000,000, the 
Committee expects the Agency to expedite completion of this 
regulation and report to the Committee no later than January 
30, 2008 on its status.
    Toxics Risk Review and Prevention.--The Committee 
recommends an increase of $3,585,000, which is $644,000 below 
fiscal year 2007. The Committee directs $2,360,000 of the 
increase to the Endocrine Disruptor program, which restores 
this program to its 2007 level. The remainder of the increase, 
$1,225,000, is directed to the High Production Volume Challenge 
and Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Programs, 
restoring those programs to the enacted levels.
    Water: Ecosystems.--The Committee recommends an increase of 
$12,000,000, which is $13,225,000 above fiscal year 2007. The 
Committee directs $10,000,000 of the increase to the National 
Estuary Program grant, authorized by section 320 of the Clean 
Water Act. This increase will provide a total of $16,832,000 
for the grant program. The Committee directs all that each 
national estuary receive a minimum of $600,000.
    The Committee has also provided an increase of $2,000,000 
for the Great Lakes Legacy Act, for a total of $37,000,000. 
This is $6,920,000 above fiscal year 2007. The Committee notes 
its concern that the backlog to review proposals may delay the 
timely obligation of funds and the completion of clean-ups. As 
such, the Committee notes GAO observations that Agency staffing 
resources do not match the complexity of the program and may 
not be sufficient to administer the program. Furthermore, GAO 
observed that the program has completed only three clean-up 
actions. Thus, the Committee provided, under the Geographic 
Program elsewhere in this account, resources to fund additional 
staff in the Great Lakes National program Office specifically 
to implement the Great Lakes Legacy Act.
    Water: Ecosystems.--The Committee recommends an increase of 
$10,000,000, which is $11,225,000 above fiscal year 2007. The 
Committee directs the increase to the National Estuary Program 
grant, authorized by section 320 of the Clean Water Act. This 
increase will provide a total of $16,832,000 for the grant 
program. The Committee directs that each national estuary 
receive a minimum of $600,000.
    The Committee has also provided the request of $35,000,000 
for the Great Lakes Legacy Act. However, the Committee notes 
its concern that the backlog to review proposals may delay the 
timely obligation of funds and the completion of clean-ups. As 
such, the Committee notes GAO observations that Agency staffing 
resources do not match the complexity of the program and may 
not be sufficient to administer the program. Furthermore, GAO 
observed that the program has completed only one clean-up 
action. Thus, the Committee provided under the Geographic 
Program elsewhere in this account, resources to fund additional 
staff in the Great Lakes National Program Office specifically 
to implement the Great Lakes Legacy Act.
    Water: Human Health Protection.--The Committee recommends 
an increase of $16,000,000, which is $5,528,000 over fiscal 
year 2007. The Committee directs the increase to a competitive 
program to provide technical assistance to rural and small 
public water systems, as authorized by section 1442(e) of the 
Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended. Such a program should 
include assistance to small public water systems for managing, 
financing, planning and developing new and existing water 
facilities to enable such water systems to achieve and maintain 
compliance with applicable national drinking water standards. 
Such assistance may include multi-state regional technical 
assistance. In addition, this competitive program should 
provide for source water and groundwater protection work, 
eligible to be provided under section 104 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act, as amended. The Committee expects the 
Agency to issue the competitive announcement in a timely 
fashion to ensure no lag in assistance for small systems.
    Rural Water Technical Assistance.--The Committee 
understands that EPA is planning to allocate approximately $7.6 
million of FY 07 funds for competitive grants for rural water 
technical assistance activities. The Committee notes that the 
importance of continuing assistane to rural communities as 
virtually all the systems out of compliance with federal 
standards are small--having 3300 population or less. A recent 
report by the Agency indicated that there is still substantial 
need for third party technical assistance. For this reason, the 
Committee urges the Agency to expedite the process for making 
grants for rural water technical assistance and expects the 
Agency to complete the process no later than December 31, 2007.
    The Committee has included the following additional 
guidance with respect to funding provided under this account.
    Underground Injection of Carbon Dioxide.--The Committee 
recognizes that a safe system for underground sequestration of 
carbon dioxide emissions from industrial operations may be a 
key element of efforts to deal with global climate change. The 
Agency has recently issued draft guidelines for permitting 
experimental carbon dioxide underground injection pilot 
projects. The Committee encourages the Agency to expand its 
efforts to analyze the safety and permanence issues associated 
with this procedure if it is implemented on a large scale and 
to develop a regulatory framework for how these risks might be 
minimized. The Committee expects the Agency to be prepared to 
testify on this matter during the fiscal year 2009 
appropriations hearings.
    Voluntary Programs.--The Agency implements a number of 
programs it refers to as ``Voluntary Programs'', which are 
designed in part to foster partnerships with the regulated 
community. Information received by the Committee indicates that 
more than $180 million, or almost 8 percent of the funds 
requested in EPM, are associated with Voluntary Programs. To 
better understand the funding of and environmental benefits 
associated with these programs, the Committee directs the 
Agency to submit a report within 60 days of enactment on each 
voluntary program funded through this account and the Science 
and Technology account, to include the following for fiscal 
years 2006, 2007 and 2008: a short summary of the purpose of 
the program and an estimate of the environmental benefits 
achieved through the program; the funding for each program, by 
account and program-project; for each grant program, the 
salary, contract and grant amounts; to the extent grants are 
awarded in the program, the statutory authority used to award 
the grants and a short summary of the criteria used to select 
the grantee.
    Migrant Farm Workers.--The Committee supports the Agency's 
programs on pesticides education, particularly those directed 
to migrant farm workers and encourage expansion of this effort.
    Environmental Justice.--The Committee directs the Agency to 
submit a report, no later than 180 days after enactment of this 
bill, on its implementation of recommendations included in the 
2004 and 2006 Inspector General (2004-P-00007 and 2006-P-00034) 
and 2005 Government Accountability Office (GAO-05-289) reports 
on environmental justice. The report should also identify 
actions to modify the Administrator's emergency management 
procedures to incorporate environmental justice in the Agency's 
Incident Command Structure (in accordance with the December 18, 
2006, letter from the Deputy Administrator to the Acting 
Inspector General of the Agency). The Agency shall submit the 
report to both the Committees on Appropriations and Energy and 
Commerce.
    Waste-Coal Fired Power Plant Emissions.--The Committee is 
aware of concerns that the Agency's Clean Air Interstate Rule 
(CAIR) includes provisions to regulate waste-coal fired power 
plants. Within 30 days of enactment, the Agency is directed to 
report to the Committee on the waste-coal plant inclusion in 
CAIR. This report should include the reasons the rule 
incorporated this type of plant, the economic impact to the 
included facilities and the environmental impact if the plants 
were to be excluded.
    Green Infrastructure Partnership.--The Committee is 
supportive of the Agency's efforts to foster work in the area 
of green infrastructure and approaches to control combined 
sewer overflows and storm water pollution. The Committee is 
aware of and supports the Agency's April 19, 2007, partnership 
agreement to promote this type of infrastructure and supports 
Agency efforts to provide technical assistance, training, and 
resource materials to Federal, State, and local partners who 
want to implement green infrastructure projects. The Committee 
urges the Agency to include information on implementation in 
its fiscal year 2009 Budget Justification.
    Great Lakes Legacy Act Cost Share Criteria.--The Committee 
directs the Environmental Protection Agency to provide as soon 
as possible a report outlining the criteria it uses to 
determine the types of projects which qualify for the non-
Federal match under the Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA). The 
Committee understands that the Agency has denied the Toledo 
Waterways Initiative as the required non-Federal share for a 
GLLA sediment remediation project on the Ottawa River. Because 
the denial came after an initial indication that the project 
would be acceptable, the Committee is concerned that the 
criteria used to determine applicability of the match 
requirement may be unclear. The Toledo Waterways Initiative and 
other Combined Sewer Overflow projects represent significant 
expenditures of local resources. Concerned that the Agency may 
have missed opportunities to remediate dangerous, toxic 
outflows into the Great Lakes, the Committee expects the Agency 
to explain its decision and the steps it has taken to clarify 
the criteria for future proposals.
    Pesticide and Endocrine Disruptor Report.--Given that the 
Committee has restored funding for the Endocrine Disruptor 
Program, it expects the Agency to accelerate its schedule for 
completing validation of screening and testing assays. To that 
end, the Committee directs the Agency to report to Congress 
within six months of enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, on: (a) the number of pesticides that EPA has 
registered or re-registered, and the number of pesticides for 
which EPA has made either a re-registration eligibility 
decision, issued a tolerance, or conducted a registration 
review, since August 3, 1999; (b) the number of such pesticides 
for which EPA has conducted or required testing for endocrine 
disrupting effects; (c) the number of such pesticides for which 
EPA has considered and made a determination regarding endocrine 
disrupting effects; (d) the number and identity of endocrine 
disruptor screening and testing assays EPA has validated; (e) 
the number and identity of endocrine disruptor screening and 
testing assays that EPA has not validated; and (f) the reasons 
each assay has not been validated. The Committee encourages the 
Agency to expedite its validation of Tier 2 screening and 
directs the Agency to include in this report a schedule for 
completing validations for Tier 2 screening and testing assays. 
The Committee is aware that EPA plans to complete its 
validation of the Tier 1 assay system for screening endocrine 
disruptor chemicals and expects to require Tier 1 screening 
during calendar year 2008. The Committee directs the Agency to 
begin, by August 2008, to require the use of a battery of 
assays for endocrine disruptor screening as required by section 
408(p) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Should EPA 
decide to delay implementation of the Tier 1 screening, the 
Agency should notify the Committee of the reasons for such 
delay and provide a revised date for implementation.
    Water Quality Best Management Practices.--The Committee 
urges the Agency to conduct a comprehensive update of the Water 
Quality National Best Management Practices Database and to 
contribute data to update international best management 
practices databases.

                      Office of Inspector General

    The Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides audit, 
evaluation, and investigation products and advisory services to 
improve the performance and integrity of EPA programs and 
operations. For at least one additional fiscal year, the 
Inspector General (IG ) will perform the function of IG for the 
Chemical Safety Board. This account funds personnel 
compensation and benefits, travel, and expenses (excluding 
rent, utilities, and security costs) for the Office of 
Inspector General. In addition to the funds provided under this 
heading, this account receives funds from the Hazardous 
Substance Superfund account.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $37,172,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        38,008,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        43,500,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +$6,328,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +$5,492,000
    The Committee recommends $43,500,000, $5,492,000 above the 
budget request and $6,328,000 above the 2007 enacted level. In 
addition, the Committee recommends that $10,000,000, an 
increase of $2,851,000 above the request, be paid to this 
account from the Hazardous Substance Superfund account.
    The Committee has approved an increase to maintain the 
Office's staffing levels prior to the reductions implemented by 
the Acting Inspector General. The Committee directs that none 
of the funds provided in fiscal year 2008 be used for ``buy 
outs'' associated with proposed staffing reductions. The 
Committee believes the IG acted prematurely in pursuing staff 
``buy outs'', based on the President's fiscal year 2008 budget 
request, prior to Congressional action on that request. The 
Committee is concerned that this action will result in loss of 
experienced staff, adversely affecting the OIG's ability to 
perform audits and respond to Congressional requests. The IG is 
directed to provide quarterly staffing reports to the 
Committee, to make every effort to maintain experienced staff, 
and in the future consult with Congress before taking actions 
to reduce the staff.
    The Committee has again included authorization for the EPA 
IG to serve as the IG for the Chemical Safety and Hazard 
Investigation Board. The Committee has included direction in 
the Chemical Safety Board section of this report that it hopes 
will limit this activity of the EPA IG to only one more year. 
However, no matter how long this arrangement, the Committee 
recognizes the efforts of the Office of the Inspector General 
in this area.

                        Buildings and Facilities

    The Buildings and Facilities account provides for the 
design and construction of EPA-owned facilities as well as for 
the repair, extension, alteration, and improvement of 
facilities used by the Agency. The funds are used to correct 
unsafe conditions, protect health and safety of employees and 
Agency visitors, and prevent deterioration of structures and 
equipment.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $39,626,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        34,801,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        34,801,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        -4,825,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $34,801,000, the budget request, 
which is a decrease of $4,825,000 from the enacted level.

                     Hazardous Substance Superfund


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

    The Hazardous Substance Superfund (Superfund) program was 
established in 1980 by the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act to clean-up emergency 
hazardous materials, spills, and dangerous, uncontrolled, and/
or abandoned hazardous waste sites. The Superfund Amendments 
and Reauthorization Act (SARA) expanded the program 
substantially in 1986, authorizing approximately $8,500,000,000 
in revenues over five years. In 1990, the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act extended the program's authorization through 
1994 for $5,100,000,000 with taxing authority through calendar 
year 1995. Subsequent to the tax expiring, funding has come 
primarily by appropriation from the General Fund of the 
Treasury.
    The Superfund program is operated by EPA subject to annual 
appropriations from a dedicated trust fund and from general 
revenues. Enforcement activities are used to identify and 
induce parties responsible for hazardous waste problems to 
undertake clean-up actions and pay for EPA oversight of those 
actions. In addition, responsible parties have been required to 
cover the cost of fund-financed removal and remedial actions 
undertaken at spills and waste sites by Federal and State 
agencies. Funds are paid from this account to the Office of 
Inspector General and the Science and Technology accounts for 
Superfund related activities.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................    $1,255,097,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     1,244,706,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     1,272,008,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +16,911,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +27,302,000
    The Committee recommends $1,272,008,000 for the Hazardous 
Substance Superfund, increases of $27,302,000 above the request 
and $16,911,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
changes to the request, as recommended by the Committee, are 
discussed by program area below.
    Audits, Evaluations and Investigations.--The Committee 
recommends an increase of $2,851,000, which is $3,337,000 below 
fiscal year 2007. The Committee directs these funds to 
partially restore the reduction in Superfund work assumed by 
the President's budget and directs that none of these funds be 
used for buyouts associated with staffing reductions. The 
Committee notes that nowhere in the Agency's budget 
justification does it explain why it has proposed such a large 
decrease in the IG portion of the Superfund. Considering that 
the Superfund program is the largest single program the Agency 
administers, recognizing past issues with implementation of the 
program, and acknowledging the need for effective management to 
stretch Federal dollars further, the Committee cannot agree to 
a large reduction in this program. The Committee cites, as an 
example of the OIG's important Superfund work, the recent 
report on the Agency's management of Interagency Agreements 
with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    Enforcement.--The Committee recommends an increase of 
$9,000,000, which is an increase of $4,716,000 above fiscal 
year 2007. The Committee directs this increase to the Superfund 
Enforcement program, including a $1,500,000 increase for the 
Department of Justice Interagency Agreement. The Agency's focus 
on the ``Enforcement First'' philosophy for the Superfund 
program has been crucial in leveraging Federal funds. This 
effort has led to potentially responsible parties (PRPs) 
cleaning up 70 percent of the Superfund sites. A strong 
enforcement component is essential both to securing consent 
order agreements with PRPs for fund studies and clean-ups and 
to recovering from those PRPs Federal money spent on clean-ups. 
The more the Agency uses its enforcement program to leverage 
private resources from PRPs, the more limited Federal resources 
are available for those ``orphan'' sites without responsible 
parties. The Committee recognizes the importance of the correct 
``mix'' between enforcement and clean-up funds. In the past, 
the program has demonstrated that when the two components work 
together to encourage private sector clean-up of sites, more is 
accomplished. To that end, the Committee has also recommended 
an increase in remedial clean-up funds, as referenced below.
    Legal/Science/Regulatory/Economic Review.--The Committee 
recommends an increase of $287,000, which is an increase of 
$213,000 above fiscal year 2007. The Committee directs this 
increase to the Legal Advice: Environmental Program.
    Superfund Cleanup.--The Committee recommends an increase of 
$15,164,000, which is $22,763,000 above fiscal year 2007. The 
Committee directs the increase to the Superfund Remedial 
program, providing a total funding level for this effort of 
$600,000,000. The Committee recognizes the ever increasing 
complexity of the remaining sites on the Superfund National 
Priority List. However, the Committee was most disappointed 
when the Agency reduced the number of completed constructions 
from the historic high of 88 per year to the new, low estimate 
of 24. With these additional funds, the Committee expects the 
Agency to raise its estimate of construction completes.
    Bill Language.--Bill language is included to pay funds from 
this account to the Office of Inspector General and the Science 
and Technology accounts. The funds paid to the Office of the 
Inspector General account are increased above the budget 
request by $2,851,000.
    The Committee has included the following additional 
guidance with respect to funding provided under this account.
    Use of the Army Corps of Engineers To Oversee Superfund 
Clean-ups.--The Committee is concerned by the recent OIG report 
on the Agency's management of Superfund Interagency Agreements 
(IAGs) with the Army Corps of Engineers (the COE). According to 
the OIG, the Agency has spent over $500,000,000 in the last two 
completed fiscal years on Superfund IAGs with the COE. The 
Committee is disappointed to learn that the Agency does not 
routinely consider alternatives to using the COE. In principle, 
the Committee does not object to using the COE as a means to 
clean-up Superfund sites. However, cost considerations should 
always be an important consideration when determining how best 
to perform work at a Superfund site. The Committee believes the 
COE should be used only when it is the most cost effective and 
timely mechanism to complete clean-ups.
    The Committee agrees with the OIG report that the Agency 
needs to develop its own independent cost estimates of the COE 
work and conduct cost analysis of alternatives prior to 
determining whether or not to engage the COE. The Committee 
appreciates the Agency's decision to update and reissue past 
policy guidance to the Regions. However, the Committee expects 
the Agency to also implement controls to ensure that the 
Regional Offices comply with the updated guidance. Therefore, 
the Committee directs the Agency to report on how it will 
monitor compliance with the policy to ensure implementation in 
all Regions. The report is due to the Committee on December 31, 
2007.
    Superfund Alternative Sites.--The Committee appreciates the 
Agency's responses to the Committee's questions on Superfund 
Alternative Sites (SAS), which are those sites that are 
eligible for the National Priority List (NPL) but not listed. 
The Committee understands the Agency has re-evaluated the 
number of sites it categorizes as SAS. Where it once reported 
109 SAS in 2003, it now reports only 22 as of the end of 2005. 
The Committee notes that even at this lower number, 90 percent 
of the SAS are in three of the four Regions with the highest 
percentage of completed NPL sites. At best, this indicates an 
inconsistent use of Superfund Alternative Sites among the 
Regions.
    The Committee directs the Agency to report by December 31, 
2007 on these sites. The report should include a discussion of: 
(1) the steps the Agency has taken to ensure that the criteria 
the Regions use to identify and fund Alternative Sites are 
uniform; and, (2) how the Agency prioritizes these sites along 
with NPL sites to ensure that response funds are spent on sites 
with the highest risk. In addition, the Committee requests the 
Agency to report, at the end of each fiscal year, the number of 
SAS funded, by Region; the intramural and extramural costs 
associated with those sites; and information on each site 
listed including the risk posed by each site.
    Relocations.--The Committee is aware of concerns about 
inconsistent policies regarding payment of relocation costs 
associated with Superfund sites. The Committee directs the 
Agency to provide information on: (1) the criteria it uses to 
determine when to relocate a jurisdiction (town, municipality, 
subdivision, etc.); (2) a list of the requests for relocation 
it received in 2006 and 2007; (3) the final determination on 
the request; and, (4) the Agency's reasons for approving or 
denying the request.

          Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program

    Subtitle I of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by 
the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, authorized 
the establishment of a response program for clean-up of 
releases from leaking underground storage tanks. Owners and 
operators of facilities with underground tanks must demonstrate 
financial responsibility and bear initial responsibility for 
clean-up. The Federal trust fund is funded through the 
imposition of a motor fuel tax of one-tenth of a cent per 
gallon.
    In addition to State resources, the Leaking Underground 
Storage Tank (LUST) Trust Fund provides funding to clean-up 
sites, enforce necessary corrective actions and recover costs 
expended from the Fund for clean-up activities. The underground 
storage tank response program is designed to operate primarily 
through cooperative agreements with States. Funds are also used 
for grants to non-State entities, including Indian tribes, 
under Section 8001 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery 
Act. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 expanded the authorized 
activities of the Fund to include the underground storage tank 
program. In 2006, Congress amended section 9508 of the Internal 
Revenue Code to authorize expenditures from the trust fund for 
prevention and inspection activities.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $100,252,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        92,235,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       117,961,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +17,709,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +25,726,000
    The Committee recommends $117,961,000 for the Leaking 
Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program (LUST) Trust Fund, 
which is an increase of $25,726,000 above the request and 
$17,709,000 above the 2007 enacted level. To facilitate 
comparisons to the President's request, the amounts referenced 
below reflect the movement of the underground storage tank 
grants, as authorized by the Energy Policy Act, into this 
account. The changes to the request, as recommended by the 
Committee, are discussed by program area below
    Underground Storage Tanks (LUST/UST).--After adjusting the 
account to reflect the movement of the grant program from the 
State and Tribal Assistance (STAG) account to the LUST account, 
the Committee's recommendation is an increase of $25,726,000. 
With the increase provided, the Committee directs:
     +$10,000,000 for the LUST Cooperative Agreements with the 
States.
     +$15,726,000 for the Underground Storage Tank Grants 
authorized by the Energy Policy Act. This increase, combined 
with the funds moved from the STAG account, will provide a 
total of $35,500,000 for this new grant program. A small 
portion of the President's request, which would fund State 
activities not authorized to be funded through the LUST Trust 
Fund, remains in the STAG account.
    Bill Language.--Bill language is included to fund the 
underground storage tank grant program, authorized by the 2005 
Energy Policy Act and tribal grants from this account. The 
President had proposed $22,274,000 for UST grants in the State 
and Tribal Assistance Grants account. However, the Energy 
Policy Act envisioned these grants to be funded from the LUST 
Trust Fund. Consistent with that authorization, the Committee 
includes bill language to provide LUST Trust Fund resources to 
fund the portion of the State and tribal grants associated with 
activities authorized by the Energy Policy Act. The President's 
budget had also requested an amendment to the Energy Policy Act 
to change the types and frequency of State inspections, in part 
to offset the impact of the proposed reduction in grant 
resources. With the increase provided, the Committee sees no 
need to accept the President's proposal to amend the Energy 
Policy Act.
    The Committee also includes bill language which authorizes, 
for one year, the Administrator to use the LUST Trust Fund for 
tribal grants to develop and implement underground storage tank 
programs.

                           Oil Spill Response

    This appropriation, authorized by the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act, as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 
1990, provides funds to prepare for and prevent releases of oil 
and other petroleum products in navigable waterways. In 
addition, EPA is reimbursed for incident specific response 
costs through the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the 
United States Coast Guard.
    EPA is responsible for directing all clean-up and removal 
activities posing a threat to public health and the 
environment; conducting site inspections; providing a means to 
achieve clean-up activities by private parties; reviewing 
containment plans at facilities; reviewing area contingency 
plans; pursuing cost recovery of fund-financed clean-ups; and 
conducting research of oil clean-up techniques. Funds for this 
appropriation are provided through the Oil Spill Liability 
Trust Fund which is composed of fees and collections made 
through provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the 
Comprehensive Oil Pollution Liability and Compensation Act, the 
Deepwater Port Act of 1974, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
Act Amendments of 1978, and the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act, as amended. Pursuant to law, the Trust Fund is managed by 
the United States Coast Guard.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $15,734,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        17,280,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        17,280,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +1,546,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $17,280,000 for oil spill 
response, the budget request, which is an increase of 
$1,546,000 above the enacted level.

                   State and Tribal Assistance Grants

    The State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) account 
provides grant funds for programs operated primarily by State, 
local, tribal and other governmental partners. The account 
includes two broad types of funds: (1) Infrastructure 
Assistance, which is used primarily by local governments for 
projects supporting environmental protection; and, (2) 
Categorical Grants, which assist State and tribal governments 
with the operation of environmental programs.
    In the STAG account, EPA provides funding for 
infrastructure projects through two State Revolving Funds 
(Clean Water and Drinking Water), geographic specific projects 
in Alaskan Native Villages and on the United States-Mexico 
Border, Brownfield revitalization projects, Diesel emission 
reduction grants and other targeted special projects.
    The State Revolving Funds (SRFs) provide Federal financial 
assistance to protect the Nation's water resources. The Clean 
Water SRF helps eliminate municipal discharge of untreated or 
inadequately treated pollutants and thereby helps maintain or 
restore the country's water to a swimmable and/or fishable 
quality. The Clean Water SRF provides resources for municipal, 
inter-municipal, State, and interstate agencies and tribal 
governments to plan, design, and construct wastewater 
facilities and other projects, including non-point source, 
estuary, stormwater, and sewer overflow projects. The Safe 
Drinking Water SRF finances improvements to community water 
systems so that they can achieve compliance with the mandates 
of the Safe Drinking Water Act and continue to protect public 
health.
    All of the major Federal environmental statutes include 
provisions that allow the Federal government, through EPA, to 
delegate to the States and tribes the day-to-day management of 
environmental programs. The Federal statutes were designed to 
recognize the State as partners and co-regulators, allowing the 
States to issue and enforce permits, carry out inspections and 
monitoring and collect data. To assist the States in this task, 
the statutes also authorized EPA to provide grants to the 
States and tribes. These grants, which cover every major aspect 
of environmental protection, include those programs authorized 
by sections 319 and 106 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act, as amended (for non-point source pollution and the water 
quality permits programs), sections 105 and 103 of the Clean 
Air Act (for State and Local air quality management programs), 
section 128 of CERCLA (for the Brownfields program management), 
section 1443(a) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (for public 
water system supervision), and section 3011 of RCRA (for 
hazardous waste financial assistance.)
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................    $3,185,492,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     2,724,676,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     3,391,514,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................      +206,022,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................      +666,838,000
    The Committee recommends $3,391,514,000 for State and 
tribal assistance grants, increases of $666,838,000 above the 
request and $206,022,000 above the 2007 enacted level. The 
changes to the request, as recommended by the Committee, are 
discussed below by program area.
    For the infrastructure assistance portion of this account, 
the Committee recommends $2,277,667,000, an increase of 
$598,188,000 above the request and $177,033,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The Committee recognizes the 
growing need to not only build new, but also repair and replace 
existing, water and wastewater infrastructure. Given the 
documented need, the Committee is concerned by the continued 
downward trend in the President's request for infrastructure 
assistance. Therefore, the Committee recommends $1,125,000,000 
for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which is $437,446,000 
above the request and $41,183,000 above the enacted level. 
Based on a rough historical average, this increase will assist 
as many as 150 communities with their water and wastewater 
needs. The Committee also has provided the requested level of 
$842,167,000 for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, an 
increase of $4,672,000 above the enacted level.
    For other infrastructure programs in this account, the 
Committee recommends: (1) an allocation of $140,000,000 for 
grants to local communities for water and sewer infrastructure; 
(2) $100,000,000 for Brownfield projects, which is $10,742,000 
above the request; (3) the requested level of $10,000,000 for 
the Mexican Border program; (4) $10,500,000 for the Alaskan 
Native Villages grant program, a reduction of $5,000,000 from 
the request; and, (5) $50,000,000 for the Diesel emissions 
reduction grant program, an increase of $15,000,000 above the 
request. The Diesel Emission Grant Program, authorized by 
Sections 791-797 of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, supersedes the 
Clean School Bus Demonstration Initiative. It targets emission 
reduction grants in five sectors: freight, construction, school 
buses, agriculture and ports.
    For categorical grants to States, the Committee recommends 
a net increase of $68,650,000, to be allocated has follows:
    -$2,850,000 from the Environmental Information grant 
program. This mature program, which supports the flow of 
environmental data between EPA and the States, will have 
operational nodes in all 50 States by 2008. The Committee 
encourages the Agency to focus future efforts on tribal and 
territorial programs, taking into account the unique needs of 
these smaller partners and expects the Agency to offer active 
assistance to advance small partner capabilities.
    +$10,000,000 for Section 319 Non-point Source Grants, which 
restores the program to the fiscal year 2006 level.
    -$1,000,000 from Pollution Prevention Grants, which 
provides a level slightly above the fiscal year 2007 level.
    +$2,500,000 from Public Water System Supervision Grants, 
which is $3,321,000 above fiscal year 2007. The additional 
funding is intended to help the States implement new drinking 
water standards and rules.
    +$35,000,000 for State and Local Air Quality Management 
Grants, an increase of $20,419,000 above fiscal year 2007. The 
Committee recognizes the importance of these grants to the 
States, which implement the majority of clean air regulations. 
This increase restores the grants to the fiscal year 2006 
level.
    +$25,000,000 for Targeted Watershed grants, an increase of 
$8,392,000 above fiscal year 2007. The Committee supports this 
grant program as an innovative way to target funding to some of 
the Nation's most problematic watersheds. Of the funds 
provided, the Committee directs $15,000,000 to continue the 
Western Estuaries Program initiated by the Agency in fiscal 
year 2007. The Committee also supports, through this grant 
program, work done in the mid-Atlantic highlands area.
    +$1,000,000 for wastewater operator training grants, offset 
by an equal decrease to the Sector Grant.
    In addition to these changes from the request, the 
Committee has moved to the LUST Trust Fund account all but 
$2,500,000 of the funding for the underground storage tank 
grants, as authorized by the 2005 Energy Policy Act. The amount 
remaining in the STAG account funds those activities not 
authorized to be funded through LUST Trust Fund receipts.
    Bill Language.--The Committee recommendation retains 
language included in prior years on the State administrative 
costs of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Targeted 
Watershed grants. The Committee rejects bill language, as 
proposed by the President, that would have the effect of 
requiring a State match of funds provided for the particulate 
matter monitoring network. The Committee also rejects the 
proposal to limit funds provided for water quality monitoring 
to only those activities that meet standards for statistically 
representative monitoring programs. The Committee believes that 
these funds should be available in part to fund the States' 
monitoring needs for Total Maximum Daily Loads and National 
Pollutant Discharge and Elimination Systems (NPDES) permits.
    The Committee includes a new provision to provide STAG 
account funds for a small portion of the underground storage 
tank program.
    The Committee has included the following additional 
guidance with respect to funding provided under this account.
    NPDES Permit Fees.--The Committee is aware of concerns 
expressed about the proposed pilot program to encourage States 
to charge fees for NPDES permits. The Committee understands 
that the Agency received many negative comments during the 
comment period on the proposed rule. Therefore, the Committee 
urges the Agency to delay implementation of this program until 
the concerns are addressed. Until then, the Committee denies, 
without prejudice, the $5,000,000 request for the fees pilot 
program.
    State use of bonds as match for the SRFs.--The Committee is 
interested in the policy implications of a recent OIG report on 
the States' use of bonds to meet Clean Water and Drinking Water 
Revolving Fund match requirements (Report No. 2007-P-00012, 
March 29, 2007). The OIG found that the current EPA regulations 
and practices allowing States to use bonds, repaid from 
interest on the SRFs, to meet the State match requirement have 
resulted in an estimated $937 million reduction in funds 
available for loans since the inception of the SRFs. Given the 
Agency's own estimated need for capital water and wastewater 
infrastructure, the Committee questions a policy which results 
in almost a billion dollar reduction in funds available for 
loans. However, the Committee also recognizes the constraints 
on States' abilities to quickly raise the 20 percent match 
required by law and the need for flexibility in obtaining that 
match. The Committee directs the Agency to survey the States on 
their use of bonds to raise the required match, assess the 
impacts of the policy on the current program, and report to the 
Committee by January 31, 2008, on its findings and 
recommendations for improvements or changes.
    Decentralized water projects.--The Committee recognizes the 
water quality benefits from many types of decentralized water 
projects, including distributed stormwater controls, 
decentralized wastewater treatment, low-impact development 
practices, conservation easements, stream buffers and wetlands 
restoration. The Committee expects the Agency to encourage 
States to use their SRF funds for these types of projects and 
has included bill language, carried in prior years, to allow 
the States to use up to $75,000,000 of the Clean Water SRF for 
these types of projects.
    Mexican Border.--The Committee recommends the President's 
funding request for the Mexican Border program; however, the 
Committee remains concerned about the high unliquidated 
balances in this account. Since 1995, Congress has provided 
over $800,000,000 for important water projects along the 
border. As of April, 2007, $255,500,000 of those funds remain 
unliquidated. That sum, combined with the funds provided in 
fiscal year 2007, leaves more than $300,000,000 in funds still 
available for projects along the border. Until these balances 
are reduced, the Committee can not agree to provide large 
additional increases. In order to expedite the reduction of 
these funds and complete these important projects, the 
Committee directs the Agency to report by December 31, 2007, on 
the steps it has taken to reduce the balances and the reforms 
it has put in place to prevent future high unliquidated 
balances. It also directs the Agency to report on a quarterly 
basis the unobligated and unliquidated balances in this 
program.

                       Administrative Provisions

    The Committee recommendation continues language carried in 
prior years on Tribal Cooperative Authority, Environmental 
Justice and the collection and obligation of pesticides fees. 
The Committee recommends new bill language, as proposed by the 
President, on the following:
    A limitation on reimbursements for consultants. This 
language is identical to a provision carried in fiscal year 
2005 and earlier restricting EPA's use of consultants.
    A rescission of $5,000,000 in unobligated balances from 
older, prior year accounts.
    The Committee rejects bill language, as proposed by the 
President, on the following:
    A limitation on diesel emission reduction grants to those 
areas not in attainment with air quality standards. Such a 
limitation is not included in the Authorizing Act.
    An amendment to the Energy Policy Act to change the 
requirements for State inspection and enforcement of the 
underground storage tank program.
    The Committee includes a new provision, not requested by 
the President, which restricts $2,000,000 of EPM funds to only 
that work required to develop a regulation to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions. The Committee directs the Agency to publish in 
the Federal Register by July 1, 2008, an Advanced Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) indicating options to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation, electricity 
generation and industrial/commercial sectors, soliciting 
comment on those options, and providing an opportunity for the 
public to suggest additional options. The Committee directs the 
Agency to report prior to the submission of the fiscal year 
2009 budget justification its schedule and budget for issuing a 
final regulation. In addition, the Committee expects the Agency 
to provide quarterly updates on its progress towards developing 
a proposal and its plans for promulgating a greenhouse gas 
emissions reduction regulation.
                      TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES


                       Department of Agriculture


                             FOREST SERVICE

    The U.S. Forest Service manages 193 million acres of public 
lands for multiple use, including lands in 44 States and Puerto 
Rico, and cooperates with States, other Federal agencies, 
Tribes and others to sustain the Nation's forests and 
grasslands. 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 
155 National forests, 20 National grasslands, 20 National 
recreation areas, a National Tallgrass prairie, 6 National 
monuments, and 6 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 Forest Service 
celebrated its centennial in 2005.
     Administration Request Inadequacies.--The Committee notes 
that the Administration request for the Forest Service in 
fiscal year 2008 is severely lacking in a number of ways, 
including inadequate financial support for fundamentally 
important land management, public service, and science, as well 
as unacceptable policy recommendations. Once again, despite 
wide-spread criticism last year, the Administration has 
proposed selling off national forest system lands to generate 
funds for rural schools, primarily in the west. The Committee 
strongly encourages the Administration to permanently abandon 
this notion, and to work with the Congress to come up with 
meaningful reform to aid counties.
    Wildland Fire Funding Problems.--The Committee also notes 
that the Federal funding situation for wildland fire management 
and for emergency wildfire suppression activities is 
unacceptable. The Committee has partially remedied this 
situation by increasing funding for preparedness, hazardous 
fuels reduction, State assistance and forest health work, and 
rehabilitation of burned areas. Yet, the overriding situation 
still exists that the Forest Service budget has been 
constrained by the Administration in order to provide for 
emergency wildfire suppression. The Committee supports methods 
to reduce and manage emergency suppression costs. But by all 
accounts, this will continue to be a major Federal and State 
activity due to the widespread human occupation of the 
wildlands, the extensive drought and climate change, and 
hazardous fuels build-ups. The Committee has directed the 
Administration, working with the Congress, to establish a high 
level commission to develop and evaluate a number of policy and 
funding recommendations to help remedy the existing situation. 
This is discussed under the wildland fire management account.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee for each Forest 
Service appropriation account, compared with the budget 
estimates by activity, are shown in the following table:


                     FOREST AND RANGELAND RESEARCH

    Forest and rangeland research and development sponsors 
basic and applied scientific research. This research provides 
both credible and relevant knowledge about forests and 
rangelands and new technologies that can be used to sustain the 
health, productivity, and diversity of private and public lands 
to meet the needs of present and future generations. Research 
is conducted across the U.S. through six research stations, the 
Forest Products Laboratory, and the International Institute of 
Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico, as well as cooperative 
research efforts with many of the Nation's universities.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $280,488,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       263,000,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       295,937,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +15,449,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +32,937,000
    The Committee recommends $295,937,000 for forest and 
rangeland research, an increase of $32,937,000 above the budget 
request and $15,449,000 above the fiscal year 2007 funding 
level. The Committee was very concerned about the large cuts to 
basic and applied research sought by the Administration. Forest 
Service science is important, and therefore the Committee 
recommendation provides a $10,000,000 increase above the fiscal 
year 2007 enacted level to both cover fixed costs and to 
reestablish fundamental, core research efforts. Given this 
increase, the Committee anticipates that there is no need to 
close any existing Forest Service research facility. In 
addition, the Committee recommendation includes $2,500,000 as a 
non-specified increase for the Forest Service global climate 
change program. The Service should notify the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations within 60 days of enactment of its 
desired use of these climate research funds.
    The Forest Service should treat the funding for the forest 
inventory and analysis (FIA) program as a budget line item. 
Funding for FIA under this heading is $62,329,000 as requested, 
$2,949,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
Committee notes that an additional $5,000,000 for the FIA 
program is provided within the State and private forestry 
appropriation under the forest resource information and 
analysis budget line item. The two FIA program components thus 
receive a total of $67,329,000, an increase of $5,000,000 over 
the Administration request and $3,361,000 above the fiscal year 
2007 enacted level.

                       STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY

    Through cooperative programs with State and local 
governments, non-industrial private forest landowners, forest 
industry and conservation organizations, the Forest Service 
supports the protection and management of the nearly 500 
million acres of non-Federal forests in the country. Technical 
and financial assistance is offered to improve wildland fire 
management and protect communities from wildfire; control 
insects and disease; improve management of private forests; 
conserve environmentally important forests; and enhance 
stewardship of urban and rural forests. 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, 2007...........................      $279,761,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       202,458,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       280,602,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +841,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +78,144,000
    The Committee recommends $280,602,000 for State and private 
forestry, $78,144,000 above the budget request and $841,000 
above the 2007 funding level. The amounts recommended by the 
Committee compared with the budget estimates by activity are 
shown in the table at the beginning of the Forest Service 
entry. Aspects of the budget request are approved, unless 
otherwise stated below. Funding levels are presented as changes 
from the request.
    Forest Health Management.--The Committee recommends 
$101,067,000 for forest health management, $9,978,000 above the 
request and equal to the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
forest health program should continue to stress strategic 
funding allocations, and should continue the slow-the-spread, 
suppression and eradication efforts for gypsy moth at or near 
historic levels, depending on pest activity, and continue to 
emphasize bark beetle and mountain pine beetle work in the 
West.
    Cooperative Fire Protection.--The Committee recommends 
$42,122,000 for cooperative fire protection as requested, 
$3,315,000 above the fiscal year 2007 funding level. Most of 
this increase is for the volunteer fire assistance program. The 
Committee expects the Forest Service volunteer fire program to 
work carefully with the Department of the Interior bureaus to 
see that all rural fire assistance needs are properly 
considered. The Committee expects the Forest Service to 
implement a funding allocation based primarily on need for 
States and territories. The allocations should relate to the 
amount of forest-land and population in the States; small 
territories with low population levels should not receive 
larger allocations than heavily forested and populated States. 
The Committee also notes that the cooperative fire portion of 
the national fire plan within the wildland fire management 
account includes an additional $46,221,000 for State fire 
assistance and $10,000,000 for volunteer fire assistance.
    Forest Stewardship.--The Committee recommends $36,947,000 
for forest stewardship, $16,947,000 above the budget request 
and $5,000,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
Committee encourages the new strategic direction taken by this 
program, especially in the Southern region.
    Forest Legacy Program.--The Committee recommends 
$62,787,000 for forest legacy, $33,476,000 above the request 
and $6,451,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
recommendation provides $57,216,000 for projects and $5,571,000 
for administration, and uses $6,451,000 in prior year funds 
from failed projects to offset the total.
    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. For example, following is a list of some 
Forest Service forest legacy projects submitted by the 
Administration:
          $1,500,000 for Turkey Creek, Texas, phase II
          $3,500,000 for Paulding County land area, GA
          $2,000,000 for Mobile Tensaw Delta, AL
          $1,750,000 for the Koochiching property, MN
    The Administration, in selecting these projects, goes 
through a process that is the functional equivalent of 
earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it 
goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or 
modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained in either the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.
    Urban and Community Forestry.--The Committee recommends 
$31,130,000 for urban and community forestry, $13,694,000 above 
the budget request and $1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
level. The Committee expects the Forest Service to focus 
funding allocations on efforts in large urban areas and on 
various efforts to enhance green infrastructure, including 
strategic selection of several projects of national and 
regional significance.
    Forest Resource Information and Analysis.--The Committee 
recommends $5,000,000 for forest resource information and 
analysis, which was excluded from the Administration request, 
and $412,000 above the 2007 enacted level.
    International Program.--The Committee recommends $8,000,000 
for the International Program, $5,500,000 above the request and 
$1,114,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. The Committee 
supports the Program's various partnership and emergency 
response activities, as well as work on combating illegal 
logging and promoting sustainable forestry, thus helping 
mitigate climate change by conserving the world's forests. The 
Committee also clarifies that the International Program has 
authority to sign agreements directly with the U.S. Agency for 
International Development, Department of State, or Millennium 
Challenge Corporation.
    Bill Language.--The Committee recommends continuing bill 
language deriving forest legacy funds from the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund (LWCF).

                         NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM

    Within the National Forest System (NFS), which covers 193 
million acres, there are 51 Congressionally designated areas, 
including 20 National recreation areas, and 7 National scenic 
areas. The NFS hosted over 211 million visits in fiscal year 
2002. The NFS includes over 133,000 miles of trails and 25,000 
developed facilities, including 4,389 campgrounds, 58 major 
visitor centers, and about one-half of the Nation's ski-lift 
capacity. Wilderness areas cover 35 million acres, nearly two-
thirds of the wilderness in the contiguous 48 States. The NFS 
includes a substantial amount of the Nation's softwood 
inventory. In fiscal year 2006 over 249,000 acres of national 
forest vegetation was managed through timber sale activities, 
which produced nearly 2.9 billion board feet of timber volume. 
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 422 threatened or endangered species. 
Half of the Nation's big game habitat and coldwater fish 
habitat, including salmon and steelhead, is located on NFS 
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, 2007...........................    $1,452,729,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     1,344,377,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     1,506,502,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +53,773,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................      +162,125,000
    The Committee recommends $1,506,502,000 for the National 
Forest System, an increase of $162,125,000 above the request 
and $53,773,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level (a 2.8 
percent increase). The amounts recommended by the Committee 
compared with the budget estimates by activity are shown in the 
table at the beginning of the Forest Service entry. Aspects of 
the budget request are approved, unless otherwise stated below. 
Funding levels are presented as changes from the request.
    Land Management Planning.--The Committee recommends 
$52,607,000 for land management planning as requested, a 
decrease of $5,068,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
level. The Committee requests the Service to provide a report 
summarizing the extent to which existing and future forest 
plans take the prospects of global climate change into account. 
The Committee notes that general provisions in Title IV no 
longer contain a previous temporary legislative moratorium on 
completing the Resources Planning Act 5 year plan. The 
Committee looks forward to periodic reports on the Service's 
plans to implement the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act's 5 year program.
    Inventory and Monitoring.--The Committee recommends 
$170,638,000 for inventory and monitoring, $4,000,000 above the 
budget request and $24,176,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
level.
    Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness.--The Committee 
recommends $271,797,000 for recreation, heritage and 
wilderness, $40,397,000 above the President's budget request 
and $13,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. A portion of 
the increase should be used to raise the base funding level for 
the operation of the various national scenic and historic 
trails.
    The Committee directs the Service to guarantee full public 
participation and careful analyses of recreational facilities 
before extensive closures are implemented. The Committee 
expects that the increased funding will be directed to the 
highest priority locations benefiting the most visitors and 
aiding local economies. The Committee directs the Service not 
to use recreation or wildlife and fisheries program funding for 
various NEPA clearance activities in direct support of other 
commodity programs which receive separate funding.
    The Committee recognizes that the growing disconnection of 
America's children from the natural world impacts the 
children's health as well as the future of natural resource 
conservation. The Forest Service should implement projects that 
help connect children and their families with nature using 
funds from the recreation, heritage and wilderness management, 
challenge cost share, and other Forest Service appropriations, 
as appropriate.
    Wildlife and Fish Habitat Management.--The Committee 
recommends $136,734,000 for wildlife and fish habitat 
management, an increase of $19,101,000 above the budget request 
and $5,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. The Committee 
encourages the Service to increase its efforts toward recovery 
of listed plant and animal species on Forest Service managed 
lands and waters and take actions which will protect sensitive 
plant and animal species from requiring listing.
    Grazing Management.--The Committee recommends $48,826,000 
for grazing management, $1,801,000 above the budget request and 
$1,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 funding level. The 
increase above the request is to maintain existing programs.
    Forest Products.--The Committee recommends $332,614,000 for 
forest products, an increase of $14,052,000 above the request 
and $13,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 funding level. The 
recommendation supports the policy in the budget request to 
fund court-ordered forestry activities in support of the 
President's Pacific Northwest forest plan. In addition, the 
Committee directs the Forest Service to set aside $10,000,000 
within the forest products activity to be allocated to those 
national forests which have the highest ratio of timber 
receipts produced compared to timber sales budget allocation. 
The Committee encourages the Service to direct timber sales 
funding to those areas where existing roads are available and 
where there are lower engineering costs for making roads 
suitable for harvest activities.
    The Committee believes the existing budget allocation 
procedures and implementation do not serve the Nation. 
Therefore, the Committee directs the Service to devise and 
implement a new, clear and transparent budget allocation 
process. This procedure must include forest by forest budget 
displays, publicly available on the agency's website, 
throughout the annual budget allocation and distribution 
process. When changes are made during the process, they should 
be reasoned, justified, and publicly explained. Before 
allocating forest products funding, KV funds, timber pipeline 
funds, and hazardous fuels reduction funds to the field in 
fiscal year 2008, the Committee directs the Forest Service to 
provide the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a 
fourteen-day review period to examine the methodology utilized.
    Vegetation and Watershed Management.--The Committee 
recommends $179,349,000 for vegetation and watershed 
management, an increase of $25,027,000 above the request and an 
increase of $2,500,000 above the fiscal year 2007 funding 
level. The Committee is disturbed by the requested 63 percent 
reduction in reforestation activities. Given the importance of 
forests for our future, the Committee expects the Service to 
revisit the allocations within this budget activity. The 
Committee expects that some vegetation and watershed management 
funds will be used for timber stand improvement where the 
thinning will increase the future habitat, watershed and 
commercial value of the forests, and that vegetation management 
will focus on native plant restoration and removal of invasive 
species.
    Minerals and Geology Management.--The Committee recommends 
$84,164,000 for minerals and geology management, an increase of 
$13,329,000 above the request and equal to the 2007 funding 
level. The Committee directs the Service to use increased 
minerals and geology program funds above the request for 
managing geologic hazards and resources as well as managing 
environmental restoration, and not use these funds for 
processing mineral applications.
    Land Ownership Management.--The Committee recommends 
$92,932,000 for land ownership management, $12,092,000 above 
the budget request and $2,000,000 above the 2007 funding level. 
The Committee directs the Service not to use any funds to 
continue the ill-conceived proposal to sell off national forest 
system lands to support rural schools.
    Law Enforcement Operations.--The Committee recommends 
$123,841,000 for law enforcement operations as requested, an 
increase of $8,841,000 above the 2007 funding level. The 
Committee expects that some of the increased funding for law 
enforcement be used to combat drug trafficking, marijuana 
plantations, and methamphetamine labs.
    Valles Caldera National Preserve.--The Committee recommends 
$3,500,000 for the Valles Caldera National Preserve, equal to 
the 2007 funding level and $2,650,000 above the budget request.
    Challenge Cost-share.--The Committee recommends $9,500,000 
to re-establish the challenge cost program back to the fiscal 
year 2005 level, an increase of $5,066,000 over the fiscal year 
2006 level. The Committee commends the Service for its 
implementation of this program during these years, and expects 
a similar program in fiscal year 2008. The Committee is also 
encouraged by the Service's recent efforts in cooperative 
conservation education and encourages use of some challenge 
cost-share funds to further those outdoor education programs in 
cooperation with Interior Department bureaus and the National 
Environmental Education Foundation.

                  CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $436,400,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       422,565,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       480,197,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +43,797,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +57,632,000
    The Committee recommends $480,197,000 for capital 
improvement and maintenance, $57,632,000 above the request and 
$43,797,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. This 
includes $15,000,000 obtained by virtue of legislative language 
which brings the roads and trails fund activities on budget. In 
addition to these sums, the Committee recommendation increases 
the infrastructure improvement program by an additional 
$40,000,000 by transferring $40,000,000 of Forest Service 
purchaser elect road funds which are excess to their previous 
needs. This is discussed below. The amounts recommended by the 
Committee compared with the budget estimates by activity are 
shown in the table at the beginning of the Forest Service 
entry.
    Facilities Maintenance.--The Committee recommends 
$72,466,000 for facilities maintenance, $8,858,000 above the 
request and $3,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. The 
Committee notes that it has maintained the Administration 
requested bill language in the Administrative provisions 
allowing assessment of programs for maintenance of facilities. 
The Committee notes that the Forest Service expects to generate 
an additional $49,200,000 for maintenance and construction of 
facilities through the use of the funds generated by selling 
administrative sites no longer needed. The Committee expects to 
get regular updates on this program and continued detailed 
tables in the annual budget justification.
    Facilities Capital Improvement.--The Committee recommends 
$58,039,000 for facilities capital improvement, $2,000,000 
above the request and $2,635,000 below the fiscal year 2007 
level.
    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. For example, following is a list of some 
Forest Service facility construction projects submitted by the 
Administration:
          $2,500,000 for the Texas National Forest Supervisor's 
        office, phase I
          $15,000,000 for the Forest Products Lab, Madison WI, 
        modernization, Phase II
          $1,651,000 for the Verde Valley, AZ, administrative 
        site
          $1,177,000 for the False Island, AK, remote facility
    The Administration, in selecting these projects, goes 
through a process that is the functional equivalent of 
earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget request, it 
goes through a process of rigorous review and may alter or 
modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.
    Road Maintenance.--The Committee recommends $144,832,000 
for road maintenance, $30,329,000 above the request and 
$11,594,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. The recommended 
funding level is equal to the fiscal year 2006 level. The 
Committee finds the drastic cut in road maintenance proposed by 
this Administration to be totally unacceptable. In response, 
the Committee has included a major new road remediation program 
which is discussed below. Forest Service roads in disrepair 
make it difficult for visitors and others to get around, but 
more importantly, these extensive, decayed roads fail and 
degrade streams, destroying habitat and community water 
supplies. The Committee has increased the road decommissioning 
authority to $65,000,000.
    The Committee is concerned that the creation of 
unauthorized roads on National Forests poses serious threats to 
public safety, water quality and natural resources, increases 
road maintenance expenses, and causes recreational conflicts. 
Because most unauthorized roads were created illegally without 
public review or any National Environmental Policy Act 
compliance, their removal from the landscape should be 
encouraged and expedited under current travel management 
planning processes. The Committee encourages the use of 
categorical exclusions, as appropriate, under the National 
Environmental Policy Act, to expedite the decommissioning of 
the burgeoning network of unauthorized roads. If certain 
unauthorized roads are deemed appropriate for addition to the 
transportation system at a later date, they may be added in 
compliance with travel management regulations at that time.
    Road Capital Improvement.--The Committee recommends 
$90,560,000 for road capital improvement, $22,368,000 below the 
request and equal to the fiscal year 2007 level. The Committee 
expects the Forest Service to focus its timber road program on 
those areas that do not need expensive construction or 
engineering support. The Service has not justified the high 
costs of road engineering nor the need for the large requested 
increase. The Service is directed to carefully evaluate road 
engineering costs, especially for timber roads, and be able to 
justify specific road costs.
    Trail Maintenance.--The Committee recommends $49,800,000 
for trail maintenance, $10,733,000 above the budget request and 
equal to the fiscal year 2007 level. The Committee 
recommendation includes base funding for maintenance, 
construction, and operation of the network of national scenic 
and historic trails at least $2,000,000 above the fiscal year 
2006 levels. Future budget justifications should continue to 
provide specific trail operation, maintenance and construction 
funding and accomplishment data for the national scenic and 
historic trails.
    Trail Capital Improvement.--The Committee recommends 
$29,000,000 for trail capital improvement, $1,680,000 above the 
budget request and $5,438,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level.
    Infrastructure Improvement.--The Committee recommends 
$10,500,000 for infrastructure improvement, an increase of 
$1,400,000 over both the Administration request and the fiscal 
year 2007 enacted level.
    Legacy Road and Trail Remediation.--The Committee 
recommendation includes a major, new $65,000,000 strategic 
effort to fix roads and trails in environmentally sensitive 
areas, roads and trails damaged by recent storms, and roads 
which may harm community water systems. These funds should be 
used for urgently needed road decommissioning, road and trail 
repair and maintenance and associated activities, and the 
removal of fish passage barriers, especially in areas where 
Forest Service roads may be contributing to water quality 
problems in streams and water bodies which support threatened, 
endangered or sensitive species or community water sources. The 
initiative funding includes a transfer of $40,000,000 that is 
not needed for its original purpose from the purchaser elect 
road fund, and bill language which directs that the road and 
trails fund receipts go into the Treasury, allowing the use of 
the $15,000,000 in this acount. The Service should utilize 
public input to help select projects, and report back to the 
Committee on the selected projects.
    Bill Language.--The recommendation includes bill language: 
(1) transferring $40,000,000 from the timber purchaser election 
fund into the capital improvement and maintenance account; (2) 
allowing up to $65,000,000 to be used for road decommissioning; 
(3) encouraging expedited decommissioning of unauthorized roads 
in response to threats to public safety, water quality, or 
natural resources; and (4) transferring funds from the road and 
trail fund into the Treasury, netting a $15,000,000 addition to 
this account.

                            LAND ACQUISITION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $41,936,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        15,703,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        44,485,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +2,549,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +28,782,000
    The Committee recommends $44,485,000 for land acquisition, 
$2,549,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level and an increase of 
$28,782,000 above the budget request.
    The Committee recommends funding levels of $31,549,000 for 
land acquisition projects, $12,087,000 for acquisition 
management, $500,000 for cash equalization, and $349,000 for 
critical inholdings/wilderness protection.
    Projects.--Congress has made significant reforms in the way 
it reviews funding for the Federal government; reforms which 
the Committee takes very seriously as it executes its 
constitutional authority. Earmarking or directed spending of 
Federal dollars does not begin with Congress. It begins with 
the Executive Branch. The following is a list of examples of 
land acquisition projects submitted by the Administration: 
$4,500,000 for the Sun Ranch in Montana; $500,000 for the 
Thunder Mountain parcel in Idaho; and $650,000 for the Garner 
Ranch in California. The Administration, in selecting these 
projects, goes through a process that is the functional 
equivalent of earmarking. When the Committee reviews the budget 
request, it goes through a process of rigorous review and may 
alter or modify this list to reflect additional priorities.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

         ACQUISITION OF LANDS FOR NATIONAL FORESTS SPECIAL ACTS
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $1,053,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         1,053,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         1,053,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $1,053,000 for acquisition of 
lands for National forests, special acts, as requested.

            ACQUISITION OF LANDS TO COMPLETE LAND EXCHANGES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................          $231,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................           231,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................           231,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $231,000, as requested, 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, 2007...........................        $2,876,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         3,750,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         3,750,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +874,000
    Budgimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $3,750,000, as requested, 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, 2007...........................           $63,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................            56,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................            56,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................            -7,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $56,000, 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.

        MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL FOREST LANDS FOR SUBSISTENCE USES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $5,009,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         5,053,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         5,053,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................           +44,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $5,053,000, the same as the budget 
request and $44,000 above the enacted level, for the management 
of national forest lands for subsistence uses in Alaska.

                        WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................    $1,823,603,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     1,868,627,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     1,974,648,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................      +151,045,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................      +106,021,000
    The Committee recommends $1,974,648,000 for wildland fire 
management, an increase of $106,021,000 above the budget 
request and $151,045,000 above the enacted level. The amounts 
recommended by the Committee compared with the budget estimate 
by activity are shown in the table at the beginning of the 
Forest Service entry.
    The Committee recommendation supports the direction 
provided by the national fire plan and therefore rejects the 
budget request to establish a new appropriation account for the 
salaries of wildland firefighters. The concept of a new 
wildland firefighter appropriation account was not supported by 
a single outside expert witness and was poorly justified in the 
budget request and by departmental witnesses. Therefore, the 
Committee recommendation retains preparedness funding as it has 
been structured in the past and the same as it is structured 
for the Interior Department.
    The Committee recommendation also rejects the 
Administration request cutting funding for essential fire 
preparedness activities by $96,590,000. That proposal is 
clearly irresponsible and would impair the ability of the 
Forest Service and its partners to launch successful initial 
attacks, thereby making more destructive and expensive fires 
not just possible, but inevitable. Although the Committee 
shares the concern of the Administration and others about the 
large costs of wildfires, the Committee feels the 
Administration approach is misguided and would result in more 
large, expensive fires and greater harm to the environment. The 
Committee recommendation also invests in maintaining key 
aspects of the national fire plan, including increased funding 
for hazardous fuels reduction, increased State fire assistance 
and forest health management, increased fire suppression 
funding, increased burned area rehabilitation funding, and an 
investment in fire science.
    The Committee recognizes the existing, highly undesirable 
situation for Federal funding of natural resource and emergency 
wildfire suppression. The Committee directs the Administration, 
working with the Congress and the States, to establish a high-
level commission to propose alternative methods to fund and 
manage fire suppression and firefighting capacity in the 
Federal and State sectors. The Service may use up to $500,000 
from the preparedness activity to support this commission. The 
inter-departmental Wildland Fire Leadership Council should 
begin this process during the summer of 2007 and be ready to 
report back to the House and Senate Appropriations and 
authorizing committees within 60 days of enactment of this Act 
with proposals for final commission composition and schedules.
    Wildfire Preparedness.--The Committee recommends 
$675,382,000 for wildfire preparedness, an increase of 
$106,590,000 above the request for both preparedness plus 
wildland firefighters, and an increase of $10,000,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 level.
    The Committee directs the Forest Service to maintain the 
levels of readiness needed for public safety that were 
established in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. Accordingly, the 
Committee directs the Forest Service to analyze current 
readiness levels to determine whether maintaining preparedness 
resources in the field at a level not less than that 
established in fiscal year 2005 will, based on the best 
information available, result in lower overall firefighting 
costs. If the Forest Service makes such a determination, the 
Committee directs the Forest Service to adjust the levels for 
preparedness and suppression funding accordingly and report on 
these adjustments to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations. The Secretary of Agriculture should advise the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in writing prior 
to the decision.
    The Committee is concerned about recent reports that 
firefighters may be subject to personal liability for on-the-
job activities during emergencies. The Service should report to 
the Committees on this situation and suggest appropriate 
remedies.
    The Committee also notes the importance of the seemingly 
endless development of the Fire Program Analysis System that is 
being jointly developed with the Department of the Interior. 
The Department and the Forest Service should continue this 
effort, but should provide public benchmarks, project costs, 
and progress reports, as well as summaries of expected model 
outputs, on the government wildfire management website with 
quarterly updates. The full cost and scope of this effort 
should be included in subsequent budget justifications.
    Wildfire Suppression Operations.--The Committee recommends 
$859,021,000 for wildfire suppression operations, an increase 
of $117,544,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level and 
$52,011,000 below the budget request. The Committee 
recommendation for wildfire suppression operations fully funds 
the average of the actual obligations for the preceding 10 
years, inflation adjusted to 2006 dollars. This is an honesty-
in-budgeting provision, so that the Congress allocates a 
reasonable sum for anticipated emergencies. This year, however, 
for the Forest Service, the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) changed this procedure. The Administration request 
miscalculated this average because the OMB added 9 years of 
estimated administrative costs which were never actually 
charged to the wildfire suppression account. The 10-year 
obligation values are:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                10-year average
                                           Wildfire      GDP deflater 2006       Inflated         of inflated
             Fiscal year                 suppression           = 1.0           suppression        suppression
                                         obligations                           obligations        obligations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997................................       $179,100,000            0.82020        218,361,000        473,111,000
1998................................        306,800,000            0.82786        370,596,000        442,219,000
1999................................        361,100,000            0.83956        430,108,000        434,767,000
2000................................      1,076,000,000            0.86029      1,250,742,000        522,521,000
2001................................        683,122,000            0.87999        776,284,000        581,477,000
2002................................      1,279,000,000            0.89410      1,430,491,000        684,971,000
2003................................      1,023,500,000            0.91251      1,121,633,000        772,747,000
2004................................        726,000,000            0.93462        776,788,000        752,039,000
2005................................        690,000,000            0.96610        714,208,000        776,943,000
2006................................      1,501,000,000            1.00000      1,501,000,000        859,021,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OMB included estimates of what the administrative cost 
pools would have been if they had been charged to wildfire 
suppression for the years prior to 2006. Before 2006, these 
administrative costs were not obligated from the wildfire 
suppression account. Hence, the OMB budget request is 
$52,011,000 higher than the actual 10-year average, inflation 
adjusted.
    The Committee remains concerned about the high costs of 
large fire incidents. The Department of the Interior, along 
with the Forest Service, should ensure that cost containment is 
an important priority when suppressing wildland fires. 
Therefore, the Committee directs the Department of the Interior 
and the Forest Service to continue reports directed previously 
and to examine, using independent panels, any individual 
wildfire incident which results in expenses greater than 
$10,000,000. The Forest Service should work carefully with the 
Department of the Interior, States, tribes and others to 
evaluate and implement various cost efficiencies, and jointly 
report back with the Forest Service to the Committee by March 
30, 2008 on specific actions taken to potentially reduce the 
increased wildfire suppression costs.
    The Committee supports increased use of the appropriate 
management response concept, the use of wildland fire use, and 
implementation of management efficiencies and program 
leadership and training methods discussed in recent hearings. 
The Committee supports an increase in the number of strike 
teams qualified and experienced in managing wildland fire use, 
adding wildland fire use acres to fuel reduction accomplishment 
targets, and taking administrative steps to reduce barriers to 
increased, responsible wildland fire use.
    The Committee recommendation continues previous bill 
language requiring the Forest Service to treat wildfire 
suppression like other non-emergency appropriations with regard 
to indirect cost pools to support agency overhead.
    Hazardous Fuels.--The Committee recommends $310,258,000 for 
hazardous fuels reduction work, $18,725,000 above the budget 
request and $9,000,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level. The 
recommendation includes $7,000,000 for biomass grants, 
$2,000,000 above the request. The Committee recognizes the 
Federal role in helping develop and implement new technologies 
to bring value to otherwise unwanted woody materials.
    The Committee has provided a substantial increase for 
hazardous fuels activities. Yet, the Committee is concerned 
that the Service does not have a fully open and coherent way of 
allocating hazardous fuels funds among regions. The GAO is 
continuing to evaluate this situation, but so far it is clear 
that Federal funding does not always go to the highest priority 
fuels projects. It is essential that scarce program dollars are 
used for projects which have the greatest benefit to the 
Nation. This will require much greater collaboration with the 
Department of the Interior and others. The Committee directs 
the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to 
deliver a joint report to the Committee by March 30, 2008, to 
be publicly posted on the wildfire management website, which 
clearly indicates how funds are allocated among bureaus and 
agencies, and regions and States. The report should include 
clear metrics to evaluate program performance, and these 
metrics must rely on measures that indicate project impacts to 
protect communities, lives, property, and ecosystems, and which 
reward successful field units that design projects in 
accordance with community wildfire protection plans or their 
equivalent. Funding allocations need to go to projects that 
reduce risk to communities and to firefighters, and should 
emphasize areas near large population centers. Both Departments 
need to implement additional program metrics beyond merely 
acres treated; these metrics must account for important 
tactical goals including protection of communities and 
populations.
    The Committee realizes that the existing designation of 
wildland/urban interface (WUI) on maps includes areas that have 
extremely sparse human habitation, as well as areas of large 
cities and communities. The existing situation makes the WUI 
concept less useful in practice than it should be. Therefore, 
the Committee directs the partners to reevaluate the existing 
definitions and criteria for WUI and adjust the Forest Service, 
the Department of the Interior, and State maps and policies 
accordingly.
    The Committee supports the goals of the Southwest Forest 
Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 as well as the 
continued participation of all the stakeholders.
    Rehabilitation.--The Committee has restored $18,000,000 for 
the burned area rehabilitation and restoration program which 
was excluded from the request, an increase of $11,811,000 above 
the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. Rehabilitation is a key 
aspect of the national fire plan. The Committee notes that 
record wildfire years have occurred recently, and the National 
forest lands have not had adequate restoration activities. The 
Service and the Interior Department should include updates on 
rehabilitation needs in future budget justifications. As 
outlined in the budget request, the Committee expects the 
Forest Service, in close partnership with the Department of the 
Interior, to continue the native plant materials program 
funding at no less than the fiscal year 2007 level.
    Fire Plan Research and Development.--The Committee 
recommends $23,500,000 for research and development, $1,500,000 
above the budget request and $711,000 above the fiscal year 
2007 enacted level.
    Joint Fire Sciences Program.--The Committee recommends 
$8,000,000 for the joint fire science program as requested, an 
increase of $118,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. 
The Committee stresses that it is vital that both the Interior 
Department and the Forest Service work on these research 
efforts jointly, and that the program continue to stress 
practical solutions and collaboration with the Nation's 
forestry schools and other partners. The Committee commends the 
managers of this program and the many partners for the advances 
made possible by this program.
    Forest Health Management, Federal Lands and Co-op Lands.--
The Committee recommends $24,266,000 for the forest health 
portion of the national fire plan as requested, including 
$14,252,000 for Federal lands and $10,014,000 for cooperative 
efforts with the States and others.
    State Fire Assistance.--The Committee recommends 
$46,221,000 for State fire assistance, $11,217,000 above the 
request and equal to the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
program is essential to maintain and enhance the partnership 
between State foresters, State fire agencies and the Federal 
wildfire management enterprise. The Committee believes that 
safe and effective responses to wildland fire requires 
coordination and leadership among all those with suppression/
protection responsibility, including local, State and Federal 
entities. More and more wildfires occur in the wildland urban 
interface (WUI), where initial attack on wildfires increasingly 
falls to local and State response. The effectiveness of these 
non-Federal forces directly impacts the need for allocation of 
Federal resources to protect lives, property and community 
infrastructure, as well as to prevent damage to critical 
natural resources across ownerships. It is in the Federal 
interest to facilitate the effectiveness of State and local 
efforts in wildland fire planning, prevention and mitigation, 
as well as suppression. In recognition of this interest, the 
Forest Service should direct funds towards increasing the 
effectiveness and responsibilities of non-Federal partners to 
address WUI capability. The Committee directs the Service to 
allocate at least 10 percent of the State fire assistance 
funding to address suppression response in the WUI. The 
Committee encourages the Forest Service to select approximately 
12 national forests for cross boundary protection 
responsibility which can be provided by State and local forces.
    Volunteer Fire Assistance.--The recommendation includes 
$10,000,000 for volunteer fire assistance, $2,000,000 above the 
request and $2,227,000 above the enacted level.

               ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS, FOREST SERVICE

    The Committee has continued most administrative provisions 
included in previous years. The Committee has continued the 
wildland fire transfer authority, allowing use of funds from 
other accounts available to the Forest Service during wildfire 
emergencies when other wildfire emergency funds are not 
available, but unlike last year, there is no requirement that 
the first transfer of funds into the wildland fire management 
account must include unobligated funds from the land 
acquisition and the forest legacy accounts.
    The Committee limits funding for the working capital fund 
of the Department of Agriculture to the $73,285,000 requested 
in the budget and limits the transfers to the USDA reimbursable 
programs (Greenbook charges) to the request of $24,021,000. The 
Committee is concerned that the Department of Agriculture over-
assesses the Forest Service for the Greenbook charges. The 
Department should report to the Committees on Appropriations 
within 120 days of enactment of this Act on specifically what 
each charge is for and how it is calculated; charging solely on 
an FTE basis is insufficient.
    The Committee is concerned about the huge costs of agency 
business process centralization and therefore directs that 
detailed reports remain a part of the budget justification and 
that all expenses be carefully evaluated and explained, and 
transparent to the public at large.
    The Committee has amended previous language concerning 
interactions with foreign countries to clarify that the Forest 
Service International Program has the authority to sign 
agreements directly with the U.S. Agency for International 
Development, the Department of State, the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation and natural resource institutions around the world 
to address natural resource issues.
    The Committee continues the authority for transfers to the 
National Forest Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife 
Foundation; the former $500,000 above the requested level for a 
total of $3,000,000 and the latter recommendation at the 
request of $2,650,000. The Committee notes that it is 
acceptable for these foundations to make grants to Federal 
recipients, including Forest Service offices. The Committee 
allows $100,000 in administrative funds to be used by the 
National Forest Foundation but this will be the final year of 
Federal administrative support. The Foundation should be 
independent of this Federal administrative funding support like 
the National Park and National Fish and Wildlife Foundations.
    The recommendation provides that $5,000,000 is available 
for Youth Conservation Corps and Public Lands Corps projects, 
in accordance with P.L. 109-154.
    The Committee notes that the Forest Service has done a poor 
job of implementing its competitive sourcing program. Section 
414 in Title IV general provisions includes bill language 
providing a one-year moratorium for the Forest Service on this 
matter. The Committee notes that its investigations staff 
previously found widespread management lapses which required 
legislative action. P.L. 109-54 Sec. 422(d) requires the Forest 
Service to report, ``in accordance with full cost accounting 
principles, all costs attributable to developing, implementing, 
supporting, managing, monitoring, and reporting on competitive 
sourcing, including personnel, consultant, travel, and training 
costs associated with program management.'' This has not been 
implemented. The Committee understands that alleged savings are 
not substantiated. The Forest Service has inadequately 
considered the potential impact on its ability to provide 
emergency wildfire staffing when engaging in competitive 
sourcing which could dramatically alter the Federal workforce.

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


                         Indian Health Service

    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 1830s 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 33 hospitals, 52 health centers, 2 school health 
centers, and 38 health stations. Tribes and tribal groups, 
through contracts and compacts with the IHS, operate 15 
hospitals, 220 health centers, 9 school health centers, and 282 
health stations (including 166 Alaska Native village clinics). 
The IHS, tribes, and tribal groups also operate 11 regional 
youth substance abuse treatment centers and 2,241 units of 
staff quarters.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget estimates by activity are shown in the following table:


                         INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................    $2,826,222,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................     2,931,530,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................     3,023,532,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................      +197,310,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +92,002,000
    The Committee recommends $3,023,532,000 for Indian Health 
Services, an increase of $197,310,000 above the fiscal year 
2007 enacted level and $92,002,000 above the budget request. 
Changes to the budget request are detailed below.
    Clinical Services.--The Committee recommends increases of 
$25,000,000 for the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund, 
$10,000,000 for Contract Care and $15,000,000 for prevention 
and treatment of methamphetamine use in Indian Country.
    The Committee directs the Service to allocate the increased 
funding for the Indian Health Care Improvement fund to bring 
those units with the highest level of need up to at least 40 
percent of need before allocating any additional funds to units 
with needs above 40 percent.
    Within the increase provided for the prevention and 
treatment of methamphetamine use, at least $5,000,000 should be 
used for the mental health and behavioral issues associated 
with methamphetamine use, including programs that combat youth 
suicide. The Committee has included language at the front of 
this report delineating its position on methamphetamine use and 
the use of the increased funding.
    The Committee remains interested in encouraging more 
volunteer health care providers to serve Indian country. Last 
year the Committee requested that the Service report on the 
feasibility of establishing a central credentialing system to 
facilitate increased use of volunteers. The Committee 
understands that the Service completed the report but it has 
not been released by the Department of Health and Human 
Services. The Committee expects to receive the report no later 
than October 31, 2007.
    The Committee commends the Service for its electronic 
health records initiative, but is concerned that this effort 
does not include dental records. The Committee encourages the 
Service to include dental records in future efforts.
    Urban Indian Health Clinics.--The Committee does not agree 
with the elimination of the urban Indian clinics and provides 
an increase of $34,000,000 above the request.
    The Committee believes that the Urban Health program in the 
Indian Health Service provides vital, culturally sensitive 
health care in Indian Country and should not be eliminated in 
future requests. The Administration's proposal to terminate 
this program was a clear attempt to eliminate a program based 
entirely on the premise of reducing overall funding with no 
merit-based justification. The stated justification that other 
Health and Human Services programs would be available to take 
the place of the Urban Indian Clinics was not fully supported. 
Further, no plan was provided for transitional benefits for 
users who would need to shift to other health care resources.
    Indian Health Professions.--The Committee recommends an 
increase of $5,000,000 above the request for Indian Health 
Professions for the loan repayment program.
    The Committee continues to be concerned about the high 
vacancy rates of health care providers at IHS and tribal 
facilities. The Service should determine whether loan repayment 
is the most effective means of retaining health care 
professionals and evaluate what funding level for loan 
repayment would maximize the number of professionals retained 
by IHS. The Service should report on the results of this effort 
by January 30, 2008.
    Contract Support Costs.--The Committee recommends 
$274,638,000 for contract support costs, an increase of 
$9,908,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level and $3,002,000 
above the request.
    Bill language.--Bill language is included extending the 
availability of Indian Health Services funding to two years and 
specifying the minimum level of expenditures for contract 
health care.

                        INDIAN HEALTH FACILITIES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $353,926,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       339,196,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       360,895,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +6,969,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +21,699,000
    The Committee recommends $360,895,000 for Indian health 
facilities, an increase of $6,969,000 above the fiscal year 
2007 enacted level and $21,699,000 above the budget request. 
Changes to the budget request are detailed below.
    The increases from the request include $732,000 for 
maintenance and improvement, $5,503,000 for sanitation 
facilities, $7,615,000 for facilities construction, $7,500,000 
for facilities and environmental health support, and $349,000 
for equipment.
    Within the facilities construction total, $2,000,000 is for 
joint venture projects, $5,000,000 is for small ambulatory 
facilities, $3,000,000 is for dental units, and $10,279,000 is 
for outpatient facilities construction.
    The Committee encourages the Service to provide additional 
credit to tribes that are willing to provide full funding for 
facility equipment in addition to providing full funding for 
facility construction when determining priorities for project 
funding under the joint ventures program.
    The Committee has reluctantly agreed with budget requests 
by this Administration in recent years that reduced funding for 
the construction of health care facilities. Short term 
reductions in funding in order to fulfill other compelling 
needs in health care are acceptable, but the Committee believes 
that in the future, a renewed effort must be made to focus on 
facilities construction. The Committee stipulates that the 
Administration should provide adequate funding requests for 
facilities construction in future budget requests to address 
the growing needs in Indian Country.
    The Committee provides no recommendation at this time for 
specific projects contained either in the Administration's 
budget or proposed by Members of Congress. Individual project 
allocations will be considered comprehsensively after the 
Committee has properly analyzed all relevant information.

                     National Institutes of Health


          NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

    The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
(NIEHS), an agency within the National Institutes of Health, 
was authorized in section 311(a) of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 
and in section 126(g) of the Superfund amendments and 
Reauthorization Act of 1986 to conduct certain research and 
worker training activities associated with the Nation's 
Hazardous Substance Superfund program.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $79,117,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        78,434,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        79,117,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................          +683,000
    The Committee recommends $79,117,000, an increase of 
$683,000 above the request and equal to fiscal year 2007. The 
additional funds are intended to allow NIEHS to maintain a 
comparable effort for grants in the Superfund Basic Research 
Program and the Worker Education and Training Program.

            Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry


            TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH

    The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 
(ATSDR), an agency of the Public Health Service, was created in 
section 104(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. The ATSDR's primary 
mission is to conduct surveys and screening programs to 
determine relationships between exposure to toxic substances 
and illness. Other activities include the maintenance and 
annual update of a list of hazardous substances most commonly 
found at Superfund sites, the preparation of toxicological 
profiles on each such hazardous substance, consultations on 
health issues relating to exposure to hazardous or toxic 
substances, and the development and implementation of certain 
research activities related to ATSDR's mission.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $75,212,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        75,004,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        75,212,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................          +208,000
    The Committee recommends $75,212,000 for toxic substances 
and environmental public health programs, an increase of 
$208,000 above the budget request and equal to fiscal year 
2007.
    Bill Language.--The Committee has not limited, as it had in 
prior years, the administrative costs paid to the Centers for 
Disease Control (CDC) through this account. However, the 
Committee will carefully review those costs in fiscal year 2008 
and may decide to institute the cap in later years should it 
find the costs excessive.
    The Committee has included the following additional 
guidance with respect to funding provided under this account.
    Minority Health Professions.--The Committee encourages the 
Agency to provide adequate funding for its cooperative 
agreement with the minority health professions community.
    Congressional Budget Justification.--The Committee directs 
the Agency to prepare future Budget Justifications using the 
following four functional areas, which the Committee believes 
captures the work of the Agency very well: protecting the 
public from hazardous exposure; increasing knowledge about 
toxic substances; educating health care providers and the 
public about toxic chemicals; and maintaining registries to 
track the effects of exposures to hazardous substances. To the 
extent possible, the Agency should display prior year budgets 
by these four functional areas, to facilitate comparisons.

                         OTHER RELATED AGENCIES


                   Executive Office of the President


  COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

    The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) was established 
by Congress under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA). The Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ), which 
provides professional and administrative staff for the Council, 
was established in the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 
1970. The Council on Environmental Policy has statutory 
responsibility under NEPA for environmental oversight of all 
Federal agencies and is to coordinate interagency decision-
making of all environmental matters.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $2,698,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         2,703,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         2,703,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................            +5,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $2,703,000 for the Council on 
Environmental Quality and the Office of Environmental Quality, 
the same as the budget request and $5,000 more than fiscal year 
2007.

             Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board was 
authorized by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 to 
investigate accidental releases of certain chemical substances 
resulting in, or that may cause, serious injury, death, 
substantial property damage, or serious adverse effects on 
human health. The Board became operational in fiscal year 1998.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $9,113,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         9,049,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         9,549,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +436,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................          +500,000
    The Committee recommends $9,549,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, 
an increase of $500,000 above the budget request and $436,000 
above fiscal year 2007.
    The Committee directs the $500,000 increase, as follows:
    Investigative Positions.--The Committee has provided 
$361,000 for salaries and related costs of three new 
investigative positions, not requested by the President. 
According to testimony received by the Committee, the Board is 
unable to investigate more than half of the accidents scoring 
high enough to warrant the Board's attention. The Committee 
believes that it is a wise use of funds to provide these 
additional investigators.
    Video Production.--The Committee has provided $139,000 to 
support video production, not requested by the President. The 
Committee agrees that the availability of videos will 
facilitate improvements in training, engineering and process 
design and help to prevent multiple tragic and costly workplace 
accidents around the country.
    Bill Language.--The Committee continues to carry language, 
as in prior years, authorizing the Inspector General (IG) of 
the Environmental Protection Agency to act as the IG for the 
Board. The Committee is aware that this situation frustrates 
both parties, but also believes that the role of Inspector 
Generals is a very important management component for all 
agencies regardless of their size. In light of the issues 
surrounding this arrangement, the Committee directs the GAO to 
update its 2000 report on the Board, review the Board's 
management and make recommendations on the best way to provide 
IG oversight function for the Board. The Committee expects the 
GAO to provide its recommendations in time for consideration of 
the fiscal year 2009 budget process.

              Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    The dispute between the Hopi and Navajo tribes is 
centuries-old. The Hopi trace their origin on the land back to 
the Anasazi race whose presence is recorded back to 1150 A.D. 
Later in the 16th century Navajo settlement led to the 
isolation of the Hopi Reservation as an island within the area 
occupied by the Navajo reservation. 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 Navajo tribe and 
the 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.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $8,509,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         9,000,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         9,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +491,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $9,000,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, an 
increase of $491,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level 
and the same as the budget request.

    Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts 
                              Development


                        PAYMENT TO THE INSTITUTE
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $6,207,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         7,297,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         7,297,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +1,090,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $7,297,000 for the Institute of 
American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, 
an increase of $1,090,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted 
level and the same as the budget request.

                        Smithsonian Institution

    The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum 
and research complex, with 18 museums and galleries, the 
National Zoo, and nine research centers around the world. 
Funded by both private and Federal sources, the Smithsonian is 
unique in the Federal establishment. Created by an act of 
Congress in 1846 to carry out the trust included in James 
Smithson's will, it has been engaged for more than 150 years in 
the ``increase and diffusion of knowledge.'' In 2006, the 
Smithsonian attracted more than 24 million visitors to its 
museums, galleries, and zoological park. Additional millions 
also view Smithsonian traveling exhibitions and participate in 
the annual Folklife Festival on the National Mall. As custodian 
of the National Collections, the Smithsonian is responsible for 
more than 140 million art objects, natural history specimens, 
and artifacts. These scientific and cultural collections are a 
vital resource for global research and conservation efforts. 
The 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.
    Crisis at the Smithsonian.--The long simmering crisis of 
leadership, governance and principle at the Smithsonian reached 
critical mass earlier this year with new revelations of 
excessive compensation and inappropriate expenditures at the 
Institution. The Inspector General described these in detail in 
her review of these matters issued on February 23, 2007, and 
her findings have been widely published in the press. These new 
scandals followed years of complaints by this Committee about 
such behavior and about policies that commercialized 
Smithsonian assets for short term financial gains. Attempts by 
this Committee over the last several years to convince, cajole 
or direct that the Smithsonian conduct its business more in 
keeping with a dominantly taxpayer financed institution were, 
unfortunately, largely unsuccessful because of a recalcitrant 
Secretary and a largely passive and co-opted Board of Regents.
    While the Committee remains dismayed that it took the Board 
of Regents far too long to respond to public concerns, the 
Committee is pleased that these new revelations appear to have 
finally convinced the Regents to take the initial actions 
necessary to restore integrity and public confidence. These 
first steps include acceptance of the resignation and immediate 
departure of the Secretary and appointment of two credible 
outside review committees. These committees will focus on 
reforms of governance and on how the Smithsonian spends both 
its appropriated and its trust fund resources. Reports of these 
two review committees are due by early summer, and each is 
expected to make specific and far reaching recommendations for 
change. The Committee believes that these steps are serious 
attempts by the Regents to begin a process of systemic reform. 
The Committee wishes to make clear, however, that conduct of 
serious reviews and the removal of one official is only a 
beginning of a difficult process. Adoption and implementation 
of reforms are necessary before Congress and the public can be 
convinced that public funding is being invested wisely.
    Given the remaining concerns about the scope of changes at 
the Smithsonian which will be adopted by the Regents, the 
Committee has taken the unfortunate step of rejecting the $35 
million increase proposed for the Institution's ``Salaries and 
Expenses'' account in the President's budget. The Committee is 
hopeful that the concerns it has expressed will have been 
addressed prior to our review of the 2009 budget, and that we 
will then have the confidence to provide increased public funds 
to address the very real and longstanding needs of the 
Institution, especially its aging infrastructure. The amounts 
recommended by the Committee compared with the budget estimates 
by activity are shown in the following table:


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $536,295,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       571,347,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       536,295,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................                 0
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       -35,052,000
    The ``Salaries and Expenses'' account funds the day-to-day 
operational costs of the museums and research centers as well 
as the overall administrative functions of the Institution.
    As noted above the Committee has recommended an 
appropriation for ``Salaries and Expenses'' which is 
$35,052,000 below the requested amount. The Committee has 
provided maximum flexibility to the Institution in deciding how 
the Smithsonian should implement necessary retrenchments except 
that funding for the Office of the Inspector General may not be 
reduced below the $1,977,000 in the request.
    The Committee is concerned that the increasing use of 
exclusive licensing agreements and the awarding of contracts 
through non-competitive processes conflicts with the 
Smithsonian Institution's public trust obligations and its 
mission to increase and diffuse knowledge. The recent awarding 
of a contract with respect to the Smithsonian Institution's 
student travel program is an example of an agreement which 
causes the Committee concern. The Committee expects the 
Smithsonian Institution to address the issues of sole-sourcing 
and competitive bidding processes with respect to its business 
ventures, particularly when it grants licenses or contracts to 
companies to operate under the Smithsonian logo through non-
competitive processes. Within 60 days of enactment of this 
legislation, the Smithsonian Institution is directed to submit 
a report to the Committee describing under what circumstances 
it considers it appropriate to license the use of its logo to 
businesses and nonprofit organizations, and under what 
circumstances, it considers it appropriate for such licenses to 
be exclusive. The report should also include a detailed 
analysis of the Smithsonian Institution's due diligence 
practices with respect to potential business activities, risk 
analysis with respect to such arrangements, and monitoring of 
business activities to ensure compliance with its contractual 
obligations and consistency with its mission.

                           FACILITIES CAPITAL
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $98,600,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       107,100,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       116,100,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +17,500,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +9,000,000
    The Committee recommends $116,100,000 for facilities 
capital, an increase of $9,000,000 above the budget request and 
an increase of $17,500,000 above the enacted level. This 
account provides for major facility revitalization projects 
including replacement of failed or failing systems, and 
upgrades to facilities, as well as for security improvements 
and other critical infrastructure investments. The additional 
amount added by the Committee is to address urgent fire safety 
issues at the National Zoo.

                        National Gallery of Art

    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, 
DC, and the Nation. In 1999, the Gallery opened a sculpture 
garden, which provides an opportunity for the public to have an 
outdoor, artistic experience in a contemplative setting.
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with the 
budget request and 2007 enacted levels are shown by account, 
program area and selected activity in the following table:


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $95,767,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        97,983,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       101,850,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +6,083,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +3,867,000
    The Committee recommends $101,850,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the National Gallery of Art, increases of 
$3,867,000 above the request and $6,083,000 above fiscal year 
2007. The changes to the request, as recommended by the 
Committee, are discussed by functional area below.
    Care and Utilization of the Art Collection.--The Committee 
recommends an increase of $2,567,000 above the request and 
$940,000 over fiscal year 2007. With the increase, the 
Committee directs $928,000 to restore funds for the repair and 
maintenance of fixed equipment and $1,639,000 to increase the 
Federal share of the Special Exhibitions Program to the fiscal 
year 2007 level.
    Operations and Maintenance.--The Committee recommends an 
increase of $500,000 for expected increases in the Gallery's 
utility usage.
    Protection of Buildings, Grounds and Contents.--The 
Committee recommends an increase of $800,000 for hiring 
security personnel. The Committee understands that at least 20 
security positions have remained unfilled, as the Gallery has 
had to shift funds to pay for fixed costs, such as increased 
utilities.
    The Committee has included the following additional 
guidance with respect to funding provided under this account.
    Congressional Budget Justification.--The Committee finds 
useful the budgetary detail provided in the Gallery's Budget 
Justification. However, the organization of the document makes 
it difficult to follow the budgetary changes by functional 
area. In future Budget Justifications, the Committee directs 
the Gallery to provide budget detail and narrative summaries 
for the Salaries and Expenses Account by the four functional 
areas listed in the Committee's detailed table. This 
information will provide a clearer picture of proposed program 
initiatives and/or budget stressors on the Gallery.

            REPAIR, RESTORATION AND RENOVATION OF BUILDINGS
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $15,962,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        18,017,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        18,017,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +2,055,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $18,017,000, the budget request, 
for repair, restoration and renovation of buildings at the 
National Gallery of Art, an increase of $2,055,000 above fiscal 
year 2007.

             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 is the 
National Center for the Performing Arts. The Center houses nine 
stages, six of which have a total of more than 7,300 seats. The 
Center consists of over 1.5 million square feet of usable floor 
space with visitation averaging 10,000 on a daily basis. The 
support systems in the building, the operation and maintenance 
of which are funded through this account, often operate at 
capacity 18 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

                       OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $17,575,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        20,000,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        20,200,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +2,625,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................          +200,000
    The Committee recommends $20,200,000 for operations and 
maintenance, an increase of $200,000 above the budget request 
and an increase of $2,625,000 above fiscal year 2007. The 
Committee directs the increase above the request for minor 
repairs.

                     CAPITAL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $12,814,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        19,350,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        23,150,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +10,336,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +3,800,000
    The Committee recommends $23,150,000 for capital repair and 
restoration, an increase of $3,800,000 above the budget request 
and $10,336,000 above the enacted level. The Committee notes 
that the reduced levels provided in this account under the 
Fiscal Year 2007 Continuing Resolution required the Kennedy 
Center to shift projects in its Comprehensive Building Plan in 
order to keep the Eisenhower Theater renovation on schedule. 
Due to this shift, funding for replacement of the windows in 
the Grand Foyer would be delayed until fiscal year 2009. The 
Committee has provided this increase to allow the Center to 
begin that project in fiscal year 2008.

            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 President 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 this 
Nation and the world.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $9,100,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         8,857,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        10,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +900,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +1,143,000
    The Committee recommends $10,000,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for 
Scholars, an increase of $900,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level and $1,143,000 above the request. The Committee 
continues to support the work of the Center and has provided 
increased resources to encourage further research and expanded 
outreach efforts.

           National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities


                    NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

                       GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $124,562,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       128,412,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       160,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +35,438,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +31,588,000
    The amounts recommended by the Committee compared with 
estimates by activity are shown in the following table:


    The Committee recommends $160,000,000 for the National 
Endowment for the Arts (NEA), $31,588,000 above the budget 
request and $35,438,000 above the 2007 enacted level. The 
Committee has recommended this large increase in recognition of 
the high quality of new programs initiated by the agency over 
the last several years and the broad and bipartisan support it 
garners. The Committee has been especially pleased with the 
American Masterpieces, Big Read and Operation Homecoming 
initiatives. Funding for the Endowment was reduced by over 40 
percent in the mid-1990s, and the $35 million increase 
recommended for 2008 will begin the process of restoring 
funding to historic levels. All programs of the NEA will 
benefit from this increase.

                 NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES

    The Committee bill provides $160,000,000 for the National 
Endowment for the Humanities, an increase of $18,895,000 over 
the 2007 enacted level and an increase of $18,645,000 above the 
President's requests. These amounts are appropriated in two 
separate accounts as shown in the table which follows:


                       GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................      $125,884,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................       126,845,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................       145,500,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................       +19,616,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +18,655,000
    The Committee recommends $145,500,000 for grants and 
administration, $18,655,000 above the budget request and 
$19,616,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level. The 
Committee is fully supportive of the We the People and Digital 
Humanities initiatives and has added substantial funding for 
these programs. Within the $7,761,000 million increase for We 
the People, the Committee believes that expansion of the new 
Picturing America program into a nationwide effort should be 
given the highest priority. The remainder has been used to 
restore cuts in longstanding NEH program areas and to expand 
efforts of the Federal-State partnerships program.
    The Committee believes that the Endowment can play an 
expanded role in helping Americans develop a broader 
understanding of other cultures and encourages a broadening of 
its global society programs. This can be critical in making 
Americans more knowledgeable and sensitive to other cultures. 
The Committee requests that the Endowment submit a report to 
the Committee by February 1, 2008 on its existing global 
outreach efforts and any plan to expand this program in 2008.

                            MATCHING GRANTS
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $15,221,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        14,510,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        14,500,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          -721,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................           -10,000
    The Committee recommends $14,500,000 for the Challenge 
Grants and Treasury Funds programs as matching grants to non-
profit organizations to support a wide variety of humanities 
initiatives, $10,000 below the budget request and $721,000 
below the fiscal year 2007 level. This program supports 
projects which are able to generate private matching funds for 
various humanities projects as a way to develop a broader 
private sector donor base for these organizations.

                        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, 2007...........................        $1,873,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         2,092,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         2,092,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +219,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $2,092,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Commission of Fine Arts as requested, an 
increase of $219,000 over the fiscal year 2007 enacted level.

               NATIONAL CAPITAL ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................        $7,143,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................                 0
Recommended, 2008.....................................        10,000,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +2,857,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................       +10,000,000
    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 $10,000,000, an increase of $2,857,000 above the 
fiscal year 2007 enacted level and $10,000,000 above the budget 
request. Significantly more funding has been provided than in 
previous years to reflect increased costs and an expanded 
program. The Committee believes that these grants provide 
valuable support for cultural institutions in the District of 
Columbia and foster a greater appreciation for the arts 
throughout the region. The bill provides that no recipient 
shall receive a grant in excess of $650,000.

               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, 2007...........................        $4,828,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         5,348,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         5,348,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................          +520,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $5,348,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as 
requested, an increase of $520,000 above the fiscal year 2007 
enacted level.

                  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, 2007...........................        $8,168,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................         8,265,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................         8,265,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................           +97,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $8,265,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the National Capital Planning Commission, an 
increase of $97,000 above the fiscal year 2007 enacted level 
and the same as the budget request.

                United States Holocaust Memorial Museum


                       HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

    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 
came solely from donated funds raised by the U.S. Holocaust 
Memorial Museum Campaign and appropriated funds were 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 and Public Law 106-292.
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $42,349,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        44,996,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        44,996,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +2,647,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The Committee recommends $44,996,000 for the Holocaust 
Memorial Museum as requested, an increase of $2,647,000 above 
the fiscal year 2007 enacted level.

                             Presidio Trust


                          PRESIDIO TRUST FUND
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................       $19,706,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................        18,450,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................        22,400,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................        +2,694,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................        +3,950,000
    The Committee recommends $22,400,000 for the Presidio Trust 
Fund, an increase of $3,950,000 above the budget request and 
$2,694,000 above the enacted level. These funds are used to 
support the transition of the Presidio army base in San 
Francisco to a mixed use, financially independent facility by 
the year 2013, as authorized by P.L 104-333. Federal 
appropriations have been provided to the Presidio Trust since 
1999 based on the self-sufficiency plan required by the basic 
legislation. Unfortunately, the accumulated effect of multiple 
years of across-the-board reductions in annual Interior 
Appropriations Acts has left the Federal government $12 million 
in arrears on its total commitment under the self-sufficiency 
plan. The increase recommended by the Committee is intended to 
begin to address this shortfall. The additional funds should 
allow the Presidio to escalate projects including efforts for 
development around the Parade Grounds and the officers club.

      White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
 Appropriation enacted, 2007...........................          $247,000
Budget estimate, 2008.................................           200,000
Recommended, 2008.....................................           200,000
Comparison:
    Appropriation, 2007...............................           -47,000
    Budget estimate, 2008.............................                 0
    The White House Commission on the National Moment of 
Remembrance, established by Public Law 106-579, was created to 
(1) sustain the American spirit through acts of remembrance, 
not only on Memorial Day, but throughout the year; (2) 
institutionalize the National Moment of Remembrance; and (3) to 
enhance the commemoration and understanding of Memorial Day. 
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $200,000, a 
decrease of $47,000 below the fiscal year 2007 enacted level 
and the same as the budget request. The Committee recognizes 
the importance of the sacrifices made by the men and women of 
the armed forces who serve this country. Because of this, the 
Committee directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
administer all future funds and activities of the Commission. 
The Committee believes this program can more efficiently 
continue to honor the memory of our service men and women if it 
is administered through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

                      TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    Section 401 continues a provision providing for public 
availability of information on consulting services contracts.
    Section 402 continues a provision prohibiting activities to 
promote public support or opposition to legislative proposals.
    Section 403 continues a provision providing for annual 
appropriations unless expressly provided otherwise in this Act.
    Section 404 continues a provision limiting the use of 
personal cooks, chauffeurs or servants.
    Section 405 provides for restrictions on departmental 
assessments unless approved by the Committees on 
Appropriations.
    Section 406 prohibits the transfer of funds unless provided 
in this or other Acts.
    Section 407 continues a provision prohibiting the sale of 
giant sequoia trees.
    Section 408 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 409 continues a provision limiting 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 410 continues a provision allowing Forest Service 
land management plans to be more than 15 years old if the 
Secretary is acting in good faith to update such plans.
    Section 411 continues a provision limiting preleasing, 
leasing, and related activities within the boundaries of 
National monuments.
    Section 412 continues a provision providing the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture the authority 
to enter into reciprocal agreements with foreign nations 
concerning the personal liability of firefighters.
    Section 413 continues a provision authorizing the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to give 
consideration to rural communities, local and non-profit 
groups, and disadvantaged workers in entering into contracts 
for hazardous fuels and watershed projects.
    Section 414 continues a provision which provides guidance 
on competitive sourcing activities and clarifies annual 
reporting requirements to specify the reporting of the full 
costs associated with sourcing studies and related activities. 
The provision continues the funding cap of $3,450,000 for the 
Department of the Interior and also establishes a moratorium 
for one-year regarding Forest Service competitive sourcing 
activities. Forest Service competitive sourcing is discussed in 
more detail under the Forest Service, Administrative Provisions 
heading.
    Section 415 extends through 2012 a previous Forest Service 
pilot program to enhance administration of rights-of-way by 
allowing certain cost-recovery.
    Section 416 extends through 2010 a previous provision 
concerning Forest Service cooperative agreements with third 
parties that are of mutually significant benefit.

            TITLE V--GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE SENSE OF CONGRESS

    This title continues a provision from the fiscal year 2007 
House passed bill which states that it is the sense of Congress 
that greenhouse gases are accumulating and causing climate 
change, that human activity is a substantial cause, and that 
mandatory steps will be required to slow or stop the growth of 
greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the sense of Congress is 
that a comprehensive and effective national program of 
mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on greenhouse 
emissions should be enacted.
                    BILL-WIDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

                        Constitutional Authority

    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.

                   Comparison With Budget Resolution

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(A) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 the following table compares 
the levels of new budget authority provided in the bill with 
the appropriate allocation under section 302(b) of the Budget 
Act.
                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Sec. 302(b)                           This bill--
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Discretionary        Mandatory        Discretionary        Mandatory
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority....................             27,598                 54             27,598                 54
Outlays.............................             28,513                 55             28,493                 55
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      Five-Year Outlay Projections

    Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 the following table contains five-year 
projections prepared by the Congressional Budget Office of 
outlays associated with the budget authority provided in the 
accompanying bill:

                        [In millions of dollars]
 Budget authority (discretionary)
Outlays:
    Fiscal year 2008..................................            17,343
    Fiscal year 2008..................................             5,622
    Fiscal year 2009..................................             2,527
    Fiscal year 2010..................................             1,346
    Fiscal year 2011..................................               612
               Assistance to State and Local Governments

    Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 the amount of financial assistance to State 
and local governments is as follows:

                        [In millions of dollars] New budget authority..................................             6,028
Fiscal year 2008 outlays resulting therefrom..........             2,370
                              Rescissions

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following table lists the 
rescissions in the accompanying bill:

                        Rescissions in the Bill


        Department or Activity                         Amounts rescinded

Department of the Interior: Land and Water Conservation 
    Fund (contract authority)...........................     $30,000,000
Environmental Protection Agency: Activities under 
    section 206(a) of the Federal Waster Pollution 
    Control Act.........................................      $5,000,000

                           Transfer of Funds

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following table lists the 
transfers of funds included in the accompanying bill.

            Appropriation Transfers Recommended in the Bill


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Account to which transfer is
    Account from which transfer is made            Amount                    made                    Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of          9,000,000  Department of Agriculture              9,000,000
 Land Management, (BLM), Wildland Fire                           (USDA), Forest Service,
 Management.                                                     Wildland Fire Management.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),              10,000,000  EPA, Office of Inspector              10,000,000
 Hazardous Substance Superfund.                                  General.
EPA, Hazardous Substance Superfund.........         26,126,000  EPA, Science and Technology..         26,126,000
EPA, Commission on Climate Change                   45,000,000  Various Federal Science               45,000,000
 Adaptation and Mitigation.                                      agencies to be determined by
                                                                 the Commission.
USDA, Forest Service, Timber Purchaser              40,000,000  USDA, Forest Service, Capital         40,000,000
 Election Fund.                                                  Improvement and Maintenance.
USDA, Forest Service, Wildland Fire                  9,000,000  DOI, BLM, Wildland Fire                9,000,000
 Management.                                                     Management.
USDA, Forest Service, Wildland Fire                 31,500,000  USDA, Forest Service, Forest          31,500,000
 Management.                                                     and Rangeland Research.
USDA, Forest Service, Wildland Fire                 80,487,000  USDA, Forest Service, State           80,487,000
 Management.                                                     and Private Forestry.
USDA, Forest Service, Wildland Fire                 18,000,000  USDA, Forest Service,                 18,000,000
 Management.                                                     National Forest System.
White House Commission on the National                 200,000  Department of Veterans                   200,000
 Moment of Remembrance.                                          Affairs, Departmental
                                                                 Administration, General
                                                                 Operating Expenses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is a statement of 
general performance goals and objectives for which this measure 
authorizes funding:

          The Committee on Appropriations considers program 
        performance, including a program's success in 
        developing and attaining outcome-related goals and 
        objectives, in developing funding recommendations.

               Changes in the Application of Existing Law

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following statements are 
submitted describing the effect of provisions in the 
accompanying bill that directly or indirectly change the 
application of existing law. In most instances these provisions 
have been included in prior appropriations Acts.
    The Bill includes the following changes in application of 
existing law:

                              OVERALL BILL

    1. Providing that certain appropriations remain available 
until expended or extends the availability of funds beyond the 
fiscal year where programs or projects are continuing but for 
which legislation does not specifically authorize such extended 
availability. This authority tends to result in savings by 
preventing the practice of committing funds on low priority 
projects at the end of the fiscal year to avoid losing the 
funds.
    2. Limiting, in certain instances, 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.
    3. Limiting official entertainment or reception and 
representation expenses for selected agencies in the bill.
    4. Continuing ongoing activities of those Federal agencies, 
which require annual authorization or additional legislation, 
which has not been enacted.

                  TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


                       Bureau of Land Management


                   MANAGEMENT OF LANDS AND RESOURCES

    5. Providing funds to the Bureau for the management of 
lands and resources.
    6. Providing funds to the Youth Conservation Corp for high 
priority projects.
    7. Providing funds to the National Fish and Wildlife 
Foundation under certain conditions.
    8. Permitting use of fees for application processing for 
permits to drill.
    9. Permitting the use of fees from communication site 
rentals.
    10. Permitting the use of mining fee collections for 
program operations.

                   OREGON AND CALIFORNIA GRANT LANDS

    11. Providing that certain receipts are made as a charge 
against the Oregon and California Land Grants Fund.

               FOREST ECOSYSTEMS HEALTH AND RECOVERY FUND

    12. Permitting the use of salvage timber receipts in the 
forest ecosystems health and recovery fund.

               SERVICE CHARGES, DEPOSITS, AND FORFEITURES

    13. Allowing the use of service charges, deposits and 
forfeitures funds on any damaged public lands.
    14. Authorizing the Secretary to use monies from 
forfeitures, compromises or settlements for improvement, 
protection and rehabilitation of public lands under certain 
conditions.

                        WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

    15. Permitting the repayments of funds transferred from 
other accounts for firefighting.
    16. Permitting the use of funds for lodging and subsistence 
of firefighters.
    17. Permitting the use of grants, contracts and cooperative 
agreements for hazardous fuels reduction, including cost-
sharing and local assistance.
    18. Permitting reimbursement to the Fish and Wildlife 
Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service for 
consultation activities under the Endangered Species Act.
    19. Providing for the transfer of funds between the 
Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture 
for wildland fire management.
    20. Providing funds for support of Federal emergency 
response actions.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    21. Permitting the payment of rewards for information on 
violations of law on Bureau lands.
    22. Providing for cost sharing arrangements for printing 
services.
    23. Amending 30 U.S.C. 28.
    24. Permitting the use of refunds and rebates from an 
information technology vendor.

                United States Fish and Wildlife Service


                          RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

    25. Allowing for the maintenance of the herd of long-horned 
cattle on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
    26. Providing funding for the Youth Conservation Corps.
    27. Limiting funding for certain Endangered Species Act 
listing programs.
    28. Permitting payment for information or rewards in the 
law enforcement program.
    29. Designating funds for contaminant analyses.

                            LAND ACQUISITION

    30. Limiting the use of funds for administrative overhead, 
planning, and other management costs.

                      STATE TRIBAL WILDLIFE GRANTS

    31. Specifying the State and Tribal Wildlife grants 
distribution formula, the planning and cost-sharing 
requirements, requiring that funds unobligated after two years 
be reapportioned, and limiting administrative costs.
    32. Providing that no State, Territory, or other 
jurisdiction shall receive a grant if its conservation plan is 
disapproved.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    33. Providing for repair of damage to public roads.
    34. Providing options for the purchase of land not to 
exceed $1.
    35. Permitting cost-shared arrangements for printing 
services.
    36. Permitting the use of funds for employment related 
legal services.
    37. Permitting the acceptance of donated aircraft.
    38. Limiting the use of funds for establishing new refuges.

                         National Park Service


                 OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

    39. Designating funds for everglades restoration.
    40. Providing for repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of 
National Park Service Assets.
    41. Providing for a Youth Conservation Corps and Public 
Lands Corps program.

                          CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE

    42. Providing that cost share agreements for signature 
centennial challenge projects receive a 50 percent non-Federal 
match.

                  NATIONAL RECREATION AND PRESERVATION

    43. Providing for expenses not otherwise provided for.

                       HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND

    44. Providing grants for Save America's Treasures and 
Preserve America to be matched by non-Federal funds, that 
individual projects are only eligible for one grant and are 
subject to consultation, and that funds for Federal projects 
are available by transfer to individual agencies.

                   CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR MAINTENANCE

    45. Providing funds for modified water deliveries to 
Everglades National Park with certain restrictions.

                    LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND

    46. Rescinding $30,000,000 in land and water conservation 
fund contract authority.

                 LAND ACQUISITION AND STATE ASSISTANCE

    47. Requiring that funding for the program is derived from 
the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    48. Allowing the Secretary of the Interior to appeal value 
determinations.
    49. Allowing certain franchise fees to be available for 
expenditure without further appropriation to extinguish or 
reduce liability for certain possessory interests.
    50. Extending National Park System Advisory Board 
authorization through 2009.

                    United States Geological Survey


                 SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH

    51. Providing for 2-year availability of funds, and 
designating certain funds to remain available until expended 
for satellite operations.
    52. Prohibiting the conduct of new surveys on private 
property without permission.
    53. Requiring cost sharing for cooperative topographic 
mapping and water resource data collection activities.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    54. Permitting the use of certain contracts, grants, and 
cooperative agreements.
    55. Recognizing students and recent graduates as Federal 
employees for the purposes of travel and work injury 
compensation.

                      Minerals Management Service


                ROYALTY AND OFFSHORE MINERALS MANAGEMENT

    56. Permitting the use of excess receipts from Outer 
Continental Shelf leasing activities.
    57. Providing for reasonable expenses related to volunteer 
beach and marine cleanup activities.
    58. Providing for refunds for overpayments on Indian 
allottee leases.
    59. Permitting the use of receipts for administration of 
the Coastal Impact Assistance Program.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    60. Prohibits any funds from being used to transfer funds 
into the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and 
Other Petroleum Research Fund.
    61. Requires the Secretary of Interior to deduct 2 percent 
from the amount payable to States from certain payments under 
section 35(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act.

          Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


                       REGULATION AND TECHNOLOGY

    62. Permitting the use of monies collected pursuant to 
assessment of civil penalties to reclaim lands affected by coal 
mining after August 3, 1977.
    63. Permitting payment to State and tribal personnel for 
travel and per diem expenses for training.

                    Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund

    64. Allowing the use of debt recovery to pay for debt 
collection.
    65. Allowing funds to be used for travel expenses while 
attending training.

                        ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

    66. Permits the Secretary to transfer title for computer 
equipment to States and tribes.

                        Bureau of Indian Affairs


                      OPERATION OF INDIAN PROGRAMS

    67. Limiting funds for welfare assistance payments, except 
for disaster relief.
    68. Limiting funds for contract support costs and for 
administrative cost grants for schools.
    69. Permitting the use of tribal priority allocations for 
general assistance payments to individuals, for contract 
support costs, and school operations costs.
    70. Providing for an Indian self-determination fund.
    71. Allowing the transfer of certain forestry funds.

                              CONSTRUCTION

    72. Providing for the transfer of Navajo irrigation project 
funds to the Bureau of Reclamation.
    73. Providing that six percent of Federal Highway Trust 
Fund contract authority may be used for construction management 
costs.
    74. Providing Safety of Dams funds on a nonreimbursable 
basis.
    75. Requiring the use of administrative and cost accounting 
principles for certain school construction projects and 
exempting such projects from certain requirements.
    76. Requiring conformance with building codes and health 
and safety standards and allowing the Secretary to assume 
control of a construction project under certain conditions.
    77. Specifying the procedure for dispute resolution.
    78. Allowing reimbursement of construction costs from the 
Office of Special Trustee.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    79. Allowing contracting for the San Carlos Irrigation 
Project.
    80. Limiting the use of funds for contracts, grants and 
cooperative agreements.
    81. Allowing tribes to return appropriated funding to the 
Bureau without future impact on appropriations.
    82. Prohibiting funding of Alaska schools.
    83. Limiting the number of schools and the expansion of 
grade levels in individual schools.
    84. Permitting the use of Indian Student Equalization 
Program funds to offset costs associated with significant 
enrollment increases.
    85. Specifying distribution of indirect and administrative 
costs for certain tribes.

                          Departmental Offices


             OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    86. Permitting payments to former Bureau of Mines workers.
    87. Designating funds for the Financial and Business 
Management System.

               INSULAR AFFAIRS, ASSISTANCE TO TERRITORIES

    88. Designating funds for various programs and for salaries 
and expenses of the Office Insular Affairs and providing until 
expended for the latter.
    89. Requiring audits of the financial transactions of the 
Territorial governments by the GAO.
    90. Providing grant funding under certain terms of the 
Agreement of the Special Representatives on Future United 
States Financial Assistance for the Northern Mariana Islands.
    91. Allowing grants for the Pacific Basin Development 
Council.
    92. Providing a grant to the Close Up foundation.
    93. Providing for capital infrastructure in various 
Territories.
    94. Allowing appropriations for disaster assistance to be 
used as non-Federal matching funds for hazard mitigation 
grants.

                      COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION

    95. Providing grants to Palau, the Marshall Islands, and 
Micronesia.

             Office of Special Trustee for American Indians


                         FEDERAL TRUST PROGRAMS

    96. Limiting the amount of funding available for the 
historical accounting of Indian trust fund accounts.
    97. Allowing transfers to other Department of the Interior 
accounts.
    98. Specifying that the statute of limitations shall not 
commence on any claim resulting from trust funds losses.
    99. Exempting quarterly statements for Indian trust 
accounts $15 or less.
    100. Requiring annual statements and records maintenance 
for Indian trust accounts.
    101. Limiting use of funds to correct administrative errors 
in Indian trust accounts.
    102. Permitting the use of recoveries from erroneous 
payments pursuant to Indian trust accounts.

                       INDIAN LAND CONSOLIDATION

    103. Permitting transfers of funds to the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs and Departmental Management accounts from Indian land 
consolidation for administrative expenses.

                        Department-wide Programs


                       PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES

    104. Excluding any payment pursuant to the Payments in Lieu 
of Taxes that is less than $100.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    105. Allowing the sale of existing aircraft with proceeds 
used to offset the purchase price of replacement aircraft.

             GENERAL PROVISIONS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

    106. Allowing transfer of funds in certain emergency 
situations and requiring replacement with a supplemental 
appropriation request.
    107. Permitting the Department to use limited funding for 
certain services.
    108. 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 areas, Eastern 
Gulf of Mexico planning area, North Aleutian Basin planning 
area, Northern, Southern and Central California planning areas, 
and Washington/Oregon planning area.
    109. Permitting the transfer of funds between the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and the Office of Special Trustee for American 
Indians.
    110. Permitting the redistribution of certain Indian funds 
with limitations.
    111. Permitting the conveyance of the Twin Cities Research 
Center.
    112. Allowing the use of helicopters and motor vehicles on 
Sheldon and Hart National Wildlife Refuges.
    113. Limiting compensation for the Special Master and Court 
Monitor for the Cobell v. Kempthorne litigation.
    114. Allowing payment of attorney fees for Federal 
employees related to the Cobell v. Kempthorne litigation.
    115. Requiring the Fish and Wildlife Service to mark 
hatchery salmon.
    116. Providing for a tribal trust demonstration program.
    117. Authorizing for the acquisition of lands and leases 
for Ellis Island.
    118. Prohibiting use of funds to issue new Outer 
Continental Shelf oil or natural gas leases any lessee where 
such existing lease is not subject to limitations on royalty 
relief based on market price.

               TITLE II--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY


                         SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    119. Limiting certain per diem rates.

         COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION

    120. Provides for the creation of a new commission and 
limits existence to two years.

                 ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AND MANAGEMENT

    121. Limiting certain per diem rates, official 
representation and reception expenses and providing two year 
funding availability for administrative costs of Brownfields 
program.

                     HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE SUPERFUND

    122. Providing for the transfer of funds within certain 
agency accounts.

          LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK TRUST FUND PROGRAM

    123. Providing for certain activities authorized by the 
Solid Waste Disposal Act.
    124. Providing for grants to Federally-recognized Indian 
tribes.

                   STATE AND TRIBAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS

    125. Permitting the use of limited State Revolving Funds 
for decentralized projects.
    126. Limiting use of funds provided for Alaska Native 
Villages.
    127. Designating a minimum 45 percent cost-share for water 
and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects.
    128. Designating grants for water quality monitoring and 
competitive targeted watershed grants.
    129. Providing for State grants for leaking underground 
storage tank prevention.
    130. Providing waivers for certain uses of clean water 
State revolving funds for State administrative cost and for 
grants to Federally-recognized Indian Tribes.
    131. Prohibiting the use of funds for jurisdictions that 
permit development or construction of additional colonia areas.
    132. Allowing for grants for air monitors under the Clean 
Air Act.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    133. Allowing awards of grants to Federally-recognized 
Indian tribes.
    134. Authorizing the collection of pesticide registration 
service fees.
    135. Limiting the use of funds for consultants.
    136. Prohibiting the use of funds in contravention of 
executive order 12898. Regarding environmental justice in 
minority populations.
    137. Directing use of funds for clean air regulations.

                      TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES


                             Forest Service


                     FOREST AND RANGELAND RESEARCH

    138. Designating funds for the forest inventory and 
analysis program.

                       STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY

    139. Deriving forest legacy funding from the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund.
    140. Designating funds for the International program.

                         NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM

    141. Allowing 50 percent of the fees collected under the 
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to remain available until 
expended.
    142. Requiring the budget justification to display 
unobligated balances available at the start of fiscal year.

                  CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

    143. Allowing capital improvement and maintenance funds to 
be used for road decommissioning.
    144. Designating funds for special road and trail 
maintenance and repair activities.
    145. Requiring that funds becoming available in fiscal year 
2008 for the road and trails fund (16 U.S.C. 501) shall be 
transferred to the treasury.

                         RANGE BETTERMENT FUND

    146. Providing that six percent of range betterment funds 
may be used for administrative expenses.

                        WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT

    147. Allowing the use of wildland fire funds to repay 
advances from other accounts.
    148. Allowing reimbursement of States for certain wildfire 
emergency activities.
    149. Requiring 50 percent of any unobligated balances 
remaining at the end of the fiscal year, except hazardous fuels 
funding, to be transferred to the Knutson-Vandenberg Fund as 
repayment for past advances.
    150. Permitting the use of funds for the joint fire science 
program.
    151. Permitting the use of forest and rangeland research 
funds for fire science research.
    152. Permitting the use of funds for emergency 
rehabilitation and restoration and hazardous fuels reduction to 
support emergency response and wildfire suppression.
    153. Designating funds for hazards fuels reduction, 
rehabilitation, restoration, and research and permitting 
competitive research grants.
    154. Designating funds for State fire assistance, volunteer 
fire assistance and forest health on Federal, State and private 
lands.
    155. Permitting funding transfers with Committee approval 
in certain cases.
    156. Providing for cost-shared cooperative agreements.
    157. Providing for the use of funds on adjacent, non-
Federal lands for hazard reduction.
    158. Providing for the use of hazardous fuels reduction 
funds to create incentives for increased use of biomass on 
National Forest lands.
    159. Providing that funds for wildfire suppression shall be 
assessed for indirect costs.
    160. Providing for the transfer of wildland fire funds 
between the Department of the Interior and the Department of 
Agriculture.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    161. Permitting the purchase of passenger motor vehicles.
    162 Providing that proceeds from the sale of aircraft may 
be used to purchase replacement aircraft.
    163. Allowing funds for certain employment contracts.
    164. Allowing funds to be used for purchase and alteration 
of buildings.
    165. Allowing for acquisition of certain lands and 
interests.
    166. Allowing expenses for certain volunteer activities.
    167. Providing for the cost of uniforms.
    168. Providing for debt collections on certain contracts.
    169. Permitting the transfer of funds for emergency 
firefighting from other forest service accounts under certain 
circumstances.
    170. Allowing funds to be used through the Agency for 
International Development for work in foreign countries and to 
support other forestry activities outside of the United States.
    171. Prohibiting the transfer of funds under the Department 
of Agriculture transfer authority under certain conditions.
    172. Prohibiting reprogramming of funds without approval.
    173. Limiting funds to be transferred to the USDA Working 
Capital Fund and reimbursable expenses account.
    174. Designating funds for the Youth Conservation Corps and 
Public Lands Corps.
    175. Limiting the use of funds for official reception and 
representation expenses.
    176. Providing for matching funds and administrative 
expenses for the National Forest Foundation and matching funds 
for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
    177. Permitting the use of funds for payments to counties 
in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
    178. Providing Federal employee status for certain 
individuals employed under the Older Americans Act of 1965.
    179. Permitting funding assessments for facilities 
maintenance, rent, utilities, and other support services.

                         Indian Health Service


                         INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES

    180. Providing that tribal contract and grant funding is 
deemed obligated at the time of grant or contract award and 
remains available until expended.
    181. Limiting funds for catastrophic care and loan 
repayment and providing no year availability for loan repayment 
funds.
    182. Designating a minimum funding level for Contract 
health care.
    183. Providing for loan repayment under section 108 of the 
Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
    184. Providing for use of collections and reporting of 
collections under Title IV of the Indian Health Care 
Improvement Act.
    185. Providing that certain contracts and grants may be 
performed in two fiscal years.
    186. Permitting the use of Indian Health Care Improvement 
Fund monies for facilities improvement and providing no year 
funding availability.
    187. Providing no year funding availability for scholarship 
funds.
    188. Exempting certain tribal funding from fiscal year 
constraints.
    189. Limiting contract support cost spending.
    190. Providing for the collection of individually 
identifiable health information relating to the Americans with 
Disabilities Act by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

                        INDIAN HEALTH FACILITIES

    191. Providing that facilities funds may be used to 
purchase land, modular buildings and trailers.
    192. Providing for TRANSAM equipment to be purchased from 
the Department of Defense.
    193. Prohibiting the use of funds for sanitation facilities 
for new homes funded by the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development.
    194. Allowing for the purchase of ambulances.
    195. Providing for a demolition fund.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    196. Allowing per diem for senior level positions.
    197. Providing for payments for telephone service in 
private residences in the field, purchase of motor vehicles, 
aircraft and reprints.
    198. Providing for purchase and erection of modular 
buildings.
    199. Providing funds for uniforms.
    200. Allowing funding for attendance at professional 
meetings.
    201. Providing that health care may be extended to non-
Indians at Indian Health Service facilities, subject to 
charges, and for the use of those funds.
    202. Allowing the transfer of funds from HUD to IHS.
    203. Permitting the use of funds transferred from the 
Department of Health and Human Services.
    204. Prohibiting limitations on certain Federal travel and 
transportation.
    205. Allowing deobligation and reobligation of funds 
applied to self-governance funding agreements.
    206. Prohibiting personnel ceilings assessments by the 
Department of Health and Human Services.
    207. Prohibiting the expenditure of funds to implement new 
eligibility regulations.
    208. Permitting certain reimbursements and the use of those 
funds.
    209. Providing that reimbursements for training provide 
total costs.
    210. Prohibiting changing the appropriations structure 
without approval of the Appropriations Committees.

            Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry


            TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH

    211. Designating funds for Individual Learning Accounts and 
providing no year funding availability.
    212. Providing for the conduct of health studies, testing, 
and monitoring.
    213. Providing deadlines for health assessments and 
studies.

                   Executive Office of the President


  Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality

    214. Designating the appointment and duties of the 
chairman.

             Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

    215. Limiting the use of funds for per diem expenses and 
the number of senior level positions.
    216. Providing that in fiscal year 2008 and thereafter the 
EPA, Inspector General shall not serve as Inspector General for 
the Board.

              Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    217. Defining eligible relocatees.
    218. Prohibiting movement of any single Navajo or Navajo 
family unless a new or replacement home is available.
    219. Limiting relocatees to one new or replacement home.
    220. 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.

                        Smithsonian Institution


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    221. Limiting lease terms.
    222. Providing for purchase of passenger vehicles and 
certain rental, repair and cleaning of uniforms.
    223. Designating funds for facilities maintenance at the 
Zoo and for certain programs at the National Museum of African 
American History and Culture and repatriation of skeletal 
remains and providing no year funding availability.
    224. Designating funds for fellowships and scholarly awards 
and providing two year funding availability.
    225. Providing that funds may be used to support American 
overseas research centers.
    226. Allowing for advance payments to independent 
contractors performing research services or participating in 
official Smithsonian presentations.

                           FACILITIES CAPITAL

    227. Designating funds for maintenance, repair, 
rehabilitation, and construction and for consultant services.

                        National Gallery of Art


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    228. Allowing payment in advance for membership in library, 
museum, and art associations or societies.
    229. Providing for restoration and repair of works of art 
by contract without advertising.
    230. Providing no-year availability of funds for special 
exhibitions.

            REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND RENOVATION OF BUILDINGS

    231. Permitting the Gallery to perform work by contract or 
otherwise and to select contractors for certain purposes on the 
basis of contractor qualifications as well as price.

           National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities


       NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION

    232. Permitting transfer of funds within certain accounts 
and requiring funds to be expensed in accordance with Public 
Law 108-447.

         NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES, MATCHING GRANTS

    233. Allowing obligation of National Endowment for the 
Humanities current and prior year funds from gifts, bequests, 
and devises of money for which equal amounts have not 
previously been appropriated.

                       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

    234. Prohibiting the use of funds for grants and contracts 
which do not include the text of 18 U.S.C. 1913.
    235. Prohibiting the use of appropriated funds and 
permitting the use of nonappropriated funds for reception 
expenses.
    236. Allowing the chairperson of the National Endowment for 
the Arts to approve small grants under certain circumstances.
    237. Specifying that grants and contracts supported 
entirely with nonappropriated funds are not subject to matching 
requirements.
    238. Amending PL 108-447 to include opera.

                        Commission of Fine Arts


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    239. Permitting the charging and use of fees for its 
publications.

               NATIONAL CAPITAL ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

    240. Limiting each annual grant to a maximum of $650,000.

               Advisory Council on Historic Preservation


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    241. Restricting hiring at Executive Level V or higher.

                  National Capital Planning Commission


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

    242. Permitting limited use of funds for official reception 
and representation expenses.

                United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

    243. Designating funds for equipment replacement and for 
repair, rehabilitation and for exhibition design and production 
and providing no year availability for these funds.

      White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance

    244. Transferring administration of the Commission to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.

                      TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    245. Providing for public availability of information on 
consulting services contracts.
    246. Prohibiting the use of funds to distribute literature 
either to promote or oppose legislative proposals on which 
Congressional action is incomplete.
    247. Specifying that funds are for one year unless provided 
otherwise.
    248. Prohibiting the use of funds to provide personal 
cooks, chauffeurs or other personal servants to any office or 
employee.
    249. Limiting assessments against programs funded in this 
bill.
    250. Limiting transfer of funds.
    251. Prohibiting the sale of giant sequoia trees in a 
manner different from 2005.
    252. 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.
    253. Limiting the use of funds for contract support costs 
on Indian contracts.
    254. Providing that certain Forest plans are not in 
violation of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act.
    255. Limiting leasing and preleasing activities within 
National Monuments.
    256. Providing the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Agriculture the authority to enter into reciprocal 
agreements with foreign nations concerning the personal 
liability of firefighters.
    257. Permitting consideration, when awarding contracts, to 
local contractors who provide employment and training for 
dislocated and displaced workers in economically disadvantaged 
rural communities.
    258. Limiting the use of funds for competitive sourcing 
studies.
    259. Extending Forest Service pilot program to enhance 
administration of rights-of-ways.
    260. Extending Forest Service cooperative agreement 
program.

                  Appropriations Not Authorized by Law

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following table lists the 
appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not 
authorized by law for the period concerned:

                                             [Dollars in thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Appropriations in
          Agency / program               Last year of      Authorization       last year of    Appropriations in
                                        authorization          level          authorization        this bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau of Land Management:
    All discretionary programs......               2002          Such sums         $1,681,437         $1,853,029
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:
    Resource Management:
        Endangered Species Act                     1992            $41,500             35,721            152,543
         Amendments of 1988.........
        Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife                2004              4,000                498                560
         Restoration Grants.........
        Marine Mammal Protection Act               1999             10,296              2,008              2,523
         Amendments of 1994.........
        Klamath River Basin Fishery                2006             21,000              3,399              3,398
         Resources Restoration Act..
    General Administration:
        Great Ape Conservation......               2005              5,000              1,381              2,000
        Fisheries Restoration                      2005             25,000              2,000              4,000
         Irrigation Mitigation Act..
        Neotropical Migratory Birds.               2005              5,000              3,944              5,000
        National Fish and Wildlife                 2005             25,000              7,761              7,656
         Foundation Establishment
         Act........................
U.S. Geological Survey
        National Geologic Mapping                  2005             64,000             25,162             27,048
         Reauthorization Act of 1999
Bureau of Indian Affairs
        The Tribal Colleges or                     1999          Such sums             32,400             54,721
         Universities Assistance Act
         of 1978....................
        The Indian Tribal Justice                  2007          Such sums             12,013             12,065
         Act........................
        Indian Child Protection and                2007             30,000             10,063             10,167
         Family Violence Prevention
         Act........................
        The No Child Left Behind Act               2007          Such sums            549,293            562,020
Environmental Protection Agency:
    Hazardous Substance Superfund...               1994          5,100,000          1,480,853          1,272,008
    State and Tribal Assistance
     Grants:
        Alaska Native Villages......               1979              2,000      Not available             10,500
        Clean Water SRF.............               1992          1,800,000          2,400,000      1,125,000,000
        Drinking Water SRF..........               2003          1,000,000  .................            842,167
        Clean Air Act...............               1997          Such sums            167,230            231,220
        Radon Abatement Act.........               1991             10,000              9,000              8,074
        Clean Water Act (FWPCA).....               1991  .................  .................            468,534
        BEACH Act...................               2005             30,000              9,920              9,900
        Safe Drinking Water Act.....               2003            115,000  .................            112,491
        Solid Waste Disposal Act                   1988             70,000             71,391            103,346
         (RCRA).....................
        Toxic Substances Control Act               1983              1,500              5,100             18,663
        Pollution Prevention Act....               1993              8,000              6,800              4,940
        Indian Environmental General               1998          Such sums             38,585             56,925
         Assistance Program Act.....
        Underground Storage Tanks...               1988             10,000             14,400              2,500
Forest Service, International                      2007          Such sums              6,886              8,000
 Forestry Program...................
National Endowment for the Arts.....               1993          Such sums            174,460            160,000
National Endowment for the                         1993          Such sums            177,403            160,000
 Humanities.........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee notes that authorizing legislation for many 
of these programs is in various stages of the legislative 
process and expects these authorizations to be enacted into law 
later this year.

         Compliance With Clause 3 of Rule XIII (Ramseyer Rule)

  In compliance with clause 3(e) 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 2324 OF THE REVISED STATUTES OF THE UNITED STATES


                             (30 U.S.C. 28)

  Sec. 2324. The miners of each mining district may make 
regulations not in conflict with the laws of the United States, 
or with the laws of the State or Territory in which the 
district is situated, governing the location, manner of 
recording, amount of work necessary to hold possession of a 
mining claim, subject to the following requirements: The 
location must be distinctly marked on the ground so that its 
boundaries can be readily traced. All records of mining claims 
made after May 10, 1872, shall contain the name or names of the 
locators, the date of the location, and such a description of 
the claim or claims located by reference to some natural object 
or permanent monument as will identify the claim. On each claim 
located after the tenth day of May, eighteen hundred and 
seventy-two, that is granted a waiver under section 10101 of 
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, and until a 
patent has been issued therefor, not less than $100 worth of 
labor shall be performed or improvements made during each year. 
On all claims located prior to the 10th day of May 1872, $10 
worth of labor shall be performed or improvements made each 
year, for each one hundred feet in length along the vein until 
a patent has been issued therefor; but where such claims are 
held in common, such expenditure may be made upon any one 
claim; and upon a failure to comply with these conditions, the 
claim or mine upon which such failure occurred shall be open to 
relocation in the same manner as if no location of the same had 
ever been made, provided that the original locators, their 
heirs, assigns, or legal representatives, have not resumed work 
upon the claim after failure and before such location. Upon the 
failure of any one of several coowners to contribute his 
proportion of the expenditures required hereby, the coowners 
who have performed the labor or made the improvements may, at 
the expiration of the year, give such delinquent co-owner 
personal notice in writing or notice by publication in the 
newspaper published nearest the claim, for at least once a week 
for ninety days, and if at the expiration of ninety days after 
such notice in writing or by publication such delinquent should 
fail or refuse to contribute his proportion of the expenditure 
required by this section, his interest in the claim shall 
become the property of his co-owners who have made the required 
expenditures. The period within which the work required to be 
done annually on all unpatented mineral claims located since 
May 10, 1872, including such claims in the Territory of Alaska, 
[shall commence at 12 o'clock meridian on the 1st day of 
September] shall commence at 12:01 ante meridian on the 1st day 
of September succeeding the date of location of such claim.
  Where a person or company has or may run a tunnel for the 
purposes of developing a lode or lodes, owned by said person or 
company, the money so expended in said tunnel shall be taken 
and considered as expended on said lode or lodes, whether 
located prior to or since May 10, 1872; and such person or 
company shall not be required to perform work on the surface of 
said lode or lodes in order to hold the same as required by 
this section. On all such valid claims the annual period ending 
December 31, 1921, shall continue to 12 o'clock meridian July 
1, 1922.
                              ----------                              


               OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1993


                        (30 U.S.C. 28f and 28g)



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE X--NATURAL RESOURCE PROVISIONS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


           Subtitle B--Hardrock Mining Claim Maintenance Fee

SEC. 10101. FEE.

  (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, on or 
after the enactment of this Act, shall pay to the Secretary of 
the Interior, on or before September 1 of each year [for years 
2004 through 2008], a claim maintenance fee of $100 per claim 
or site Such claim maintenance fee shall be in lieu of the 
assessment work requirement contained in the Mining Law of 1872 
(30 U.S.C. 28-28e) and the related filing requirements 
contained in section 314 (a) and (c) of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1744 (a) and (c)).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 10102. LOCATION FEE.

  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for every 
unpatented mining claim, mill or tunnel site located after the 
date of enactment of this subtitle [and before September 30, 
2008,] 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 10101, of $25.00 per claim.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


                SECTION 3 OF THE ACT OF AUGUST 21, 1935

  Sec. 3. (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (f) The National Park System Advisory Board shall continue to 
exist until January 1, [2007] 2009. The provisions of section 
14(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (the Act of October 
6, 1972; 86 Stat. 776) are hereby waived with respect to the 
Board, but in all other respects, it shall be subject to the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


                 CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005


                   (Division E of Public Law 108-447)



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
      DIVISION E--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005


TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



                      Minerals Management Service


                ROYALTY AND OFFSHORE MINERALS MANAGEMENT

  For expenses necessary for minerals leasing and environmental 
studies, regulation of industry operations, and collection of 
royalties, as authorized by law; for enforcing laws and 
regulations applicable to oil, gas, and other minerals leases, 
permits, licenses and operating contracts; and for matching 
grants or cooperative agreements; including the purchase of not 
to exceed eight passenger motor vehicles for replacement only, 
$169,175,000, of which $76,106,000 shall be available for 
royalty management activities; and an amount not to exceed 
$103,730,000, to be credited to this appropriation and to 
remain available until expended, from additions to receipts 
resulting from increases to rates in effect on August 5, 1993, 
from rate increases to fee collections for Outer Continental 
Shelf administrative activities performed by the Minerals 
Management Service (MMS) over and above the rates in effect on 
September 30, 1993, and from additional fees for Outer 
Continental Shelf administrative activities established after 
September 30, 1993: Provided, That to the extent $103,730,000 
in additions to receipts are not realized from the sources of 
receipts stated above, the amount needed to reach $103,730,000 
shall be credited to this appropriation from receipts resulting 
from rental rates for Outer Continental Shelf leases in effect 
before August 5, 1993: Provided further, That $3,000,000 for 
computer acquisitions shall remain available until September 
30, 2006: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this 
Act shall be available for the payment of interest in 
accordance with 30 U.S.C. 1721(b) and (d): Provided further, 
That not to exceed $3,000 shall be available for reasonable 
expenses related to promoting volunteer beach and marine 
cleanup activities: Provided further, That notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, $15,000 under this heading shall be 
available for refunds of overpayments in connection with 
certain Indian leases in which the Director of MMS concurred 
with the claimed refund due, to pay amounts owed to Indian 
allottees or tribes, or to correct prior unrecoverable 
erroneous payments: Provided further, That MMS may under the 
royalty-in-kind program, or under its authority to transfer oil 
to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, use a portion of the 
revenues from royalty-in-kind sales, without regard to fiscal 
year limitation, to pay for transportation to wholesale market 
centers or upstream pooling points, to process or otherwise 
dispose of royalty production taken in kind, and to recover MMS 
transportation costs, salaries, and other administrative costs 
directly related to the royalty-in-kind program: Provided 
further, That MMS shall analyze and document the expected 
return in advance of any royalty-in-kind sales to assure to the 
maximum extent practicable that royalty income under the pilot 
program is equal to or greater than royalty income recognized 
under a comparable royalty-in-value program: Provided further, 
That in fiscal year 2005 and thereafter, notwithstanding 30 
U.S.C. 191(a) and 43 U.S.C. 1338, the Secretary shall pay 
amounts owed to States and Indian accounts under the 
[provision] provisions of 30 U.S.C. 1721(b) and (d) from 
amounts received as current receipts from bonuses, royalties, 
interest collected from lessees and designees, and rentals of 
the public lands and the outer continental shelf under 
provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), 
and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et 
seq.), which are not payable to a State or the Reclamation 
Fund.

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                              ----------                              


  SECTION 331 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000

  Sec. 331. Enhancing Forest Service Administration of Rights-
of-way and Land Uses. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
develop and implement a pilot program for the purpose of 
enhancing forest service administration of rights-of-way and 
other land uses. The authority for this program shall be for 
fiscal years 2000 through [2006] 2012. Prior to the expiration 
of the authority for this pilot program, the Secretary shall 
submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the 
House of Representatives that evaluates whether the use of 
funds under this section resulted in more expeditious approval 
of rights-of-way and special use authorizations. This report 
shall include the Secretary's recommendation for statutory or 
regulatory changes to reduce the average processing time for 
rights-of-way and special use permit applications.
  (b) Deposit of Fees.--Subject to subsections (a) and (f ), 
during fiscal years 2000 through [2006] 2012, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall deposit into a special account established in 
the Treasury all fees collected by the Secretary to recover the 
costs of processing applications for, and monitoring compliance 
with, authorizations to use and occupy National Forest System 
lands pursuant to section 28(l) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
U.S.C. 185(l)), section 504(g) of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1764(g)), section 9701 of 
title 31, United States Code, and section 110(g) of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470h-2(g)).

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                              ----------                              


  SECTION 321 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2003


                    (Division F of Public Law 108-7)

  Sec. 321. Until September 30, [2007] 2010, the authority of 
the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into an agreement under 
the first section of Public Law 94-148 (16 U.S.C. 565a-1) for a 
purpose described in such section includes the authority to use 
that legal instrument when the principal purpose of the 
resulting relationship is to the mutually significant benefit 
of the Forest Service and the other party or parties to the 
agreement, including nonprofit entities. An agreement entered 
into under this section shall not be subject to Public Law 95-
224, Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act (1977).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2005


                   (Division E of Public Law 108-447)

    Sec. 309. Of the funds provided to the National Endowment 
for the Arts:
          (1) The Chairperson shall only award a grant to an 
        individual if such grant is awarded to such individual 
        for a literature fellowship, National Heritage 
        Fellowship, National Opera Fellowship, or American Jazz 
        Masters Fellowship.

                        Reprogramming Guidelines

    The Committee has revised the reprogramming guidelines to 
modify the threshold and approval requirements for agencies 
funded within the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies 
Appropriations bill. This added flexibility is provided with 
the understanding that the remaining guidelines will be 
strictly adhered to by the agencies. The following guidelines 
replace all other instructions previously issued by the 
Committee.
    1. Definitions.--(a) The term ``reprogramming,'' as defined 
in these procedures, is the administrative process for 
reallocating funds from one budget activity to another after an 
appropriations bill has been enacted into law. For purpose of 
these guidelines the term ``budget activity'', sometimes 
referred to by the agencies as ``budget line-item'' or 
``program area,'' means any program for which a specific 
appropriation level is specified in Committee reports including 
reports of a Committee of Conference. For construction and land 
acquisition accounts, a reprogramming constitutes the 
reallocation of funds from one construction or land acquisition 
project, which is individually identified in the justification 
or Committee report, to another such project. Beyond these 
specific requirements, a reprogramming also is defined as a 
budget change which represents any significant departure from 
the program described in the agency's budget justifications.
    2. General Guidelines for Reprogramming.--(a) A 
reprogramming should be made only when an unforeseen situation 
arises; and then only if postponement of the project or the 
activity until the next appropriation year would result in 
actual loss or damage.
    (b) Reprogramming should not be employed to initiate new 
programs or to change allocations specifically denied, limited 
or increased by the Congress.
    (c) Reprogramming proposals submitted to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations for approval shall be 
considered approved 30 calendar days after receipt if the 
Committees have posed no objection. However, agencies will be 
expected to extend the approval deadline if specifically 
requested by either Committee.
    3. Criteria and Exceptions.--A reprogramming must be 
submitted to the Committees in writing prior to implementation 
if it exceeds $1,000,000 annually or results in an increase or 
decrease of more than 10 percent annually in affected programs, 
with the following exceptions:
    (a) With regard to the tribal priority allocations activity 
of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, there is no restriction on 
reprogrammings among the programs within this activity. 
However, the Bureau shall report on all reprogrammings made 
during a given fiscal year no later than November 1 of that 
year.
    (b) With regard to the Environmental Protection Agency, 
State and Tribal Assistance Grants account, reprogramming 
requests associated with States and Tribes applying for 
partnership grants do not need to be submitted to the 
Committees.
    (c) With regard to Department of Interior or U.S. Forest 
Service construction projects, the threshold is $2,000,000 or 
25 percent per project, except that reallocations that will 
result in a project cancellation or deferral must be submitted.
    4. Report Language.--Any limitation, directive, or 
earmarking contained in either the House or Senate report which 
is not contradicted by the other report nor specifically denied 
in the conference report shall be considered as having been 
approved by both Houses of Congress for purposes of these 
reprogramming guidelines.
    5. Assessments.--Increased assessments for centralized 
services or other purposes or new transfers of funds to 
contingency or reserve accounts which have not been described 
in the budget should be treated as reprogrammings if the 
amounts assessed or transferred exceed the thresholds.
    6. Land Acquisitions and Forest Legacy.--(a) Lands shall 
not be acquired for more than the approved appraised value (as 
addressed in section 301(3) of Public Law 91-646) except for 
condemnations and declarations of taking, unless such 
acquisitions are submitted to the Committees for approval in 
compliance with these procedures.
    (b) Subsection (a) does not apply to tracts with an 
appraised value of $1,000,000 or less.
    7. Land Exchanges.--Land exchanges, wherein the estimated 
value of the Federal lands to be exchanged is greater than 
$2,000,000, shall not be consummated until the Committees have 
had a 30-day period in which to examine the proposed exchange, 
and the Committee shall be provided advance notification of 
exchanges valued between $500,000 and $2,000,000.
    8. Sequestrations or Across-the-Board Reductions.--The 
definition of the term ``budget activity'' established by 
paragraph 1(a) of these instructions shall also be the 
definition of the level at which any general, across-the-board 
or sequestration related reductions mandated by law are to be 
applied to activities funded in any Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

                                Earmarks

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI.



            ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF JERRY LEWIS AND TODD TIAHRT

    Chairman Dicks is to be commended for the reasonable and 
even-handed manner in which he has conducted the business of 
the subcommittee. The subcommittee's work this year has been a 
bipartisan, collaborative effort. In spite of the comity 
reflected in much of the subcommittee's work, however, we have 
genuine policy differences with the Democrat majority and a 
divergence in views over the level of funding necessary to 
address the critical needs of this bill.
    Our 38 subcommittee hearings revealed many unmet needs and 
urgent priorities. Still, while we have an obligation to be 
good stewards of our environment and public lands for future 
generations, we also have an obligation to be good stewards of 
our tax dollars. In that respect, this legislation falls short.
    The 302(b) allocation for this bill is $27.6 billion, a 
$1.9 billion increase over the President's budget request and a 
$1.2 billion increase over the enacted fiscal year 2007 
Interior bill. The enacted FY07 Interior bill, itself, was $400 
million above the House passed level. This FY08 subcommittee 
allocation represents a seven percent increase above the budget 
request, and a 4.3 percent increase over the FY07 enacted 
level.
    The initial subcommittee allocation--which was $858 million 
above the FY07 enacted level--though very generous, would have 
resulted in a better, more balanced bill. The additional $335 
million, added at the last minute to the subcommittee's already 
charitable allocation, is simply unnecessary and, more 
importantly, unsustainable.
    We would submit that this subcommittee allocation 
represents exactly the kind of unfettered spending that so 
closely identifies the differences of philosophies between 
Republicans and Democrats. And, who is going to pay for this 
increased spending?
    In 2004, 50 percent of the total Federal tax burden was 
shouldered by the 65 million households earning between $24,000 
and $65,000 per year. The vast majority of those taxes are 
being paid by individuals between the ages of 45 and 54 with 
incomes between $55,000 and $77,000 a year. These are middle-
income families, many of them from ``the sandwich generation,'' 
shouldering the financial burden of supporting both young 
children and aging parents. Middle-income families end up 
paying the bill for expanded government, and this 302(b) 
allocation by the Democrat majority guarantees years of 
payments middle-income families do not want and cannot afford.
Repeating the mistakes of the past
    No matter how well-intentioned the Democrat majority, this 
allocation will cause many of the same problems down the road 
that this subcommittee has been trying to resolve in recent 
years--namely, huge backlogs in operations and maintenance.
    This circumstance is, in many respects, similar to a 
homeowner who receives a big bonus and uses these extra funds 
to buy a bigger house for his family. The bonus is welcome and 
unexpected. Buying a bigger house seems like a great idea at 
the time. But down the road, he realizes that he can't depend 
on getting a bonus every year and he finds himself unable to 
afford living in his new house. He, like this subcommittee, 
risks becoming overextended and unable to pay the bills. The 
difference is the homeowner goes bankrupt; the government just 
keeps on spending.
    It is human nature that we desire to create new programs, 
build new structures, and buy new land. Yet, no one worries 
about the future costs to maintain them. 
    Over the years, this subcommittee has learned through good 
oversight that too little money can do real harm. The same is 
true for too much money. We believe the subcommittee should 
strive for balance. And that is precisely what the original 
subcommittee allocation achieved.
    We ought to provide enough money to allow the agencies to 
carry out their primary mission. We should focus on taking good 
care of what we presently have in the public trust. We have to 
give careful, thoughtful consideration before purchasing 
something new. Again, we must strive for balance. As this bill 
continues through the legislative process, we are hopeful that 
Chairman Dicks will be sensitive and responsive to this 
challenge.
    Many areas within this legislation have achieved balance. 
We applaud Chairman Dicks' focus on the operating accounts 
within this bill. There has clearly been erosion in this area 
due in part to the absorption of pay and fixed costs over the 
years.
    However, we believe the subcommittee should move more 
cautiously in providing funds for new land acquisition and 
construction. While there are high priority needs in these 
areas, it is important that we focus on the core missions of 
these agencies and not become over-extended. The subcommittee 
risks creating a larger problem down the road by hastily 
expanding current areas that we cannot oversee or creating new 
ones we cannot maintain.
    Many will recall that when Congress provided these agencies 
too much funding, too quickly, in the early to mid-1990's, they 
lost focus. The result was huge backlogs, redundant programs, 
large unobligated balances (many of which still remain), and 
numerous operational shortfalls. Our job is to provide for core 
needs, be vigilant about oversight, and avoid the mistakes of 
the past.
Needed attention to Park Service, Indian Country
    We recognize that Chairman Obey has a special place in his 
heart for the great open spaces in our country. And, we know 
that he appreciates the grandeur of our National Parks. We join 
the Chairman in supporting the $198 million increase in the 
Operations budget for the National Park Service.
    We are also pleased with the needed attention this bill 
provides to Native Americans. There are many unmet needs within 
Indian Country--in education, health care, law enforcement, 
methamphetamine treatment, and other areas--and this bill does 
a great deal to address these priorities. We also believe it 
critically important to restore full funding for the Urban 
Indian Health Clinics--and this bill does that.
Items of concern
    While Chairman Dicks' Committee mark is positive in many 
respects, we would be remiss if we didn't outline several 
specific areas where we would have written this bill 
differently.
    The fire season is upon us once again and it is appropriate 
that this bill provides additional funding for wildfire 
preparedness at the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest 
Service. Subcommittee hearings this year demonstrated that 
there is great interest--and great concern--over this ongoing 
wildfire challenge which is presently consuming almost 45 
percent of the Forest Service budget. In light of the large 
subcommittee allocation, and the tremendous anticipated need 
during this fire season, we think the subcommittee could have 
done even more to address fire preparedness, particularly 
within the state fire assistance account.
    While reasonable people may disagree over the cause, there 
is clearly a need for more focused science on Climate Change. 
We believe Chairman Dicks would agree that our response to 
climate change must look at long-term solutions rather than 
simply trying to provide a quick fix. The USGS is the science 
agency for the Department of the Interior, and we believe they 
should manage any additional funds directed to address this 
issue for the Department.
    While we have the greatest respect for Chairman Dicks, we 
are concerned about including the Global Climate Change Sense 
of the Congress resolution in this bill. Our concern is based 
on the simple fact that it does not reflect the consensus 
opinion of the many climate change experts who testified before 
the subcommittee this year. It proposes conclusions and 
solutions to a problem that is not yet fully understood. 
Historically, mandatory market-based limits have not worked.
    We believe we need to make wise, science-based decisions 
rather than merely respond to the heated rhetoric of the day. 
As one agency scientist testified this year, our greatest need 
is to focus on the gaps in credible scientific information. 
Without understanding the complete scientific data, we will be 
unable to solve the problems created by climate change. And, it 
will create false hope, presenting bad solutions to the wrong 
problems.
Securing our energy future
    America needs to secure its own sources of energy--be it 
from oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, renewable, or other 
sources. A strong and vibrant economy, and the well-paying jobs 
that go along with it, is inextricably linked with reliable--
and preferably inexpensive--energy sources. If we want to help 
businesses and the workers they employ to continue to build and 
strengthen our economy, we must provide them with the tools 
they need to pursue reliable sources of energy. We believe 
responsible use of our resources is precisely the right course 
to ensure that American workers and their employers in 
manufacturing and other industries have the energy sources 
necessary for future generations.
    The approximately 43 million Outer-Continental Shelf (OCS) 
acres under lease generally account for about 20 percent of 
America's domestic natural gas. To address the growing demand 
for domestic sources of natural gas, Mr. Peterson last year 
offered a common-sense amendment in full committee which was 
supported on a bipartisan basis. Republicans and Democrats 
alike agreed that the United States needed to lessen its 
dependence on foreign sources of natural gas. Unfortunately, 
that same amendment offered by Mr. Peterson in full committee 
this year was defeated on a largely party-line vote.
    In a 33-30 vote, the Committee also narrowly adopted an 
amendment offered by Mr. Hinchey that would delay or even 
prevent potential oil and gas leasing in Alaska's North 
Aleutian OCS Planning Area. In spite of more than two years of 
scheduled environmental analysis by the Mineral Management 
Service, including an environmental impact statement based on 
the most current science, Committee Democrats chose to forego 
yet another opportunity to explore a potential domestic source 
of energy. At a time when most Americans are spending more than 
three dollars for a gallon of gas, this amendment strikes us as 
exceedingly shortsighted. Recent actions by Venezuelan 
President Hugo Chavez, who is using his country's oil resources 
as a weapon against the United States, underscore our concern.
    In closing, while we have real policy differences and 
spending concerns relating to this legislation, it is our hope 
that between now and conference negotiations with the Senate 
later this year, we can address the most disconcerting issues 
and seek bipartisan consensus on a reasonable, sustainable 
subcommittee allocation. Our sincere desire is to work with 
Chairman Dicks to fashion a responsible, balanced conference 
report worthy of broad, bipartisan support.

                                   Jerry Lewis.
                                   Todd Tiahrt.

                                  
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