[Senate Report 116-123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 227
116th Congress} { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 116-123
======================================================================
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2020
_______
September 26, 2019.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Murkowski, from the Committee on Appropriations,
submitted the following
REPORT
[To accompany S. 2580]
The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 2580)
making appropriations for the Department of the Interior,
environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2020, and for other purposes, reports favorably
thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.
Total obligational authority, fiscal year 2020
Total of bill as reported to the Senate................. $38,113,720,000
Amount of 2019 appropriations........................... 37,703,691,000
Amount of 2020 budget estimate.......................... 32,472,531,000
Bill as recommended to Senate compared to--
2019 appropriations................................. +410,029,000
2020 budget estimate................................ +5,641,189,000
========================================================
__________________________________________________
CONTENTS
----------
Page
Summary of Bill.................................................. 4
Major Changes Recommended in the Bill........................ 4
Reprogramming Guidelines..................................... 12
Title I:
Department of the Interior:
Land and Water Resources: Bureau of Land Management...... 15
Fish and Wildlife and Parks:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service........................... 21
National Park Service.................................... 35
Energy and Minerals:
U.S. Geological Survey................................... 44
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management........................ 49
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement........... 51
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement..... 51
Indian Affairs:
Bureau of Indian Affairs................................. 53
Bureau of Indian Education............................... 61
Departmental Offices:
Office of the Secretary.................................. 64
Insular Affairs.......................................... 65
Office of the Solicitor.................................. 67
Office of Inspector General.............................. 67
Department-wide Programs:
Wildland Fire Management................................. 67
Central Hazardous Materials Fund......................... 68
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration....... 68
Working Capital Fund..................................... 69
Payments in Lieu of Taxes................................ 69
General Provisions: Department of the Interior............... 69
Title II:
Environmental Protection Agency:
Program Description...................................... 71
Program Guidance......................................... 73
Science and Technology................................... 74
Environmental Programs and Management.................... 78
Office of Inspector General.............................. 89
Buildings and Facilities................................. 90
Hazardous Substance Superfund............................ 90
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.............. 92
Inland Oil Spill Program................................. 92
State and Tribal Assistance Grants....................... 93
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program...... 98
Administrative Provisions................................ 98
Title III:
Related Agencies:
Department of Agriculture: Undersecretary for Natural
Resources and the Environment.......................... 99
Department of Agriculture: Forest Service................ 99
Administrative Provisions................................ 111
Department of Health and Human Services:
Indian Health Service................................ 112
National Institutes of Health........................ 118
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry..... 119
Other Related Agencies:
Executive Office of the President.................... 120
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board....... 120
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation.......... 121
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native
Culture and Arts Development....................... 121
Smithsonian Institution.............................. 122
National Gallery of Art.............................. 124
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts....... 125
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars..... 126
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities:
National Endowment for the Arts.................. 126
National Endowment for the Humanities............ 127
Commission of Fine Arts.............................. 127
National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs........... 128
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation............ 128
National Capital Planning Commission................. 129
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.............. 129
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission............. 130
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission............... 130
Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission.... 131
Title IV: General Provisions..................................... 132
Compliance with Paragraph 7, Rule XVI of the Standing Rules of
the
Senate......................................................... 134
Compliance with Paragraph 7(c), Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
of the Senate.................................................. 135
Compliance with Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of
the Senate..................................................... 136
Budgetary Impact of Bill......................................... 137
Comparative Statement of Budget Authority........................ 138
SUMMARY OF BILL
For this bill, estimates totaling $38,113,720,000 in new
obligational authority are provided for the programs and
activities of the agencies and bureaus of the Department of the
Interior, except the Bureau of Reclamation, and the following
related agencies:
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Agriculture:
Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment
Forest Service
Department of Health and Human Services:
Indian Health Service
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental
Quality
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts
Development
Smithsonian Institution
National Gallery of Art
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities:
Commission of Fine Arts
National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
National Capital Planning Commission
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission
World War I Centennial Commission
Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native
Children
Major Changes Recommended in the Bill
This bill includes revisions to the budget estimate for the
2020 fiscal year.
A comparative summary of funding in the bill is shown by
agency or principal program in the following table:
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Committee recommendation
Budget estimate recommendation compared with
budget estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management.............................. 1,187,415 1,399,388 211,973
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service......................... 1,327,572 1,630,383 302,811
National Park Service.................................. 2,741,687 3,355,646 613,959
United States Geological Survey........................ 983,467 1,209,601 226,134
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management...................... 133,426 133,426 .................
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement......... 131,033 135,240 4,207
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement... 121,673 257,481 135,808
Bureau of Indian Affairs............................... 1,838,345 1,987,607 149,262
Bureau of Indian Education............................. 936,274 1,144,091 207,817
Departmental Offices................................... 437,943 478,194 40,521
Department-Wide Programs............................... 1,443,122 1,485,680 42,558
PILT................................................... 465,000 500,000 35,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Total, Title I--Department of the Interior....... 11,746,957 13,716,737 1,969,780
========================================================
TITLE II--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Science and Technology................................. 463,060 713,259 250,199
Environmental Programs and Management.................. 2,149,268 2,623,582 474,314
Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund........ ................. ................. .................
Office of Inspector General............................ 38,893 41,489 2,596
Buildings and Facilities............................... 39,553 34,467 -5,086
Hazardous Substance Superfund.......................... 1,045,351 1,167,783 122,432
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund............ 47,801 91,941 44,140
Inland Oil Spill Programs.............................. 15,962 18,290 2,328
State and Tribal Assistance Grants..................... 2,774,602 4,247,028 1,472,426
WIFIA.................................................. 25,000 73,000 48,000
Rescission............................................. -377,000 ................. 377,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Total, Title II--EPA............................. 6,222,490 9,010,839 2,788,349
========================================================
TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES
Department of Agriculture
Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the 875 875 .................
Environment.......................................
Forest Service..................................... 7,085,998 7,471,440 385,442
Department of Health and Human Services................ 6,038,148 6,199,453 161,305
Indian Health Service.............................. 5,909,567 6,041,762 132,195
National Institutes of Health: National Institute 66,581 81,000 14,419
of Environmental Health Science...................
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry... 62,000 76,691 14,691
Council on Environmental Quality and Office of 2,750 2,994 244
Environmental Quality.................................
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board......... 10,200 12,000 1,800
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation............ 7,500 7,500 .................
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture 10,210 10,210 .................
and Arts Development..................................
Smithsonian Institution................................ 978,345 1,047,609 69,264
National Gallery of Art................................ 154,114 172,225 18,111
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts......... 39,690 43,290 3,600
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars....... 8,139 14,000 5,861
National Endowment for the Arts........................ 29,333 157,000 127,667
National Endowment for the Humanities.................. 37,891 157,000 119,109
Commission of Fine Arts................................ 3,050 3,050 .................
National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs............. ................. 2,750 2,750
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.............. 7,000 7,000 .................
National Capital Planning Commission................... 7,948 7,948 .................
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum................ 59,000 59,500 500
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission............... 1,800 1,800 .................
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission................. ................. 1,000 1,000
World War I Centennial Commission...................... 21,093 7,000 -14,093
Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Native ................. 500 500
Children's Commission.................................
--------------------------------------------------------
Grand Total...................................... 32,472,531 38,113,720 5,641,189
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND
The following table displays appropriations from the Land
and Water Conservation Fund.
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2019 Fiscal year 2020
enacted budget request In this bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land and Water Conservation Fund.......................... 435,003 -22,640 465,000
Federal Land Acquisition:
Bureau of Land Management............................. 26,516 -10,000 28,800
Fish and Wildlife Service............................. 65,189 9,864 57,270
National Park Service................................. 44,438 14,828 49,899
Forest Service........................................ 72,564 ................ 73,741
Forest Legacy Program..................................... 63,990 ................ 63,990
State and Local Programs:.................................
National Park Service, State Assistance............... 124,006 ................ 140,000
Cooperative Endangered Species Fund................... 30,800 -31,008 30,800
Highlands Conservation Act............................ 20,000 ................ 1,500
American Battlefields Protection Act.................. 10,000 ................ 10,000
Office of Valuation Services.............................. 9,000 9,000 9,000
Rescissions............................................... -9,300 -56,332 -29,045
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WILDLAND FIRE BUDGETING REFORMS
Division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018
(Public Law 115-141) created a budget cap adjustment, to be
made available in fiscal year 2020, for extraordinary wildfire
suppression costs. Beginning in this fiscal year, the cap
adjustment is available to both the Forest Service and the
Department of the Interior for suppression costs above the
fiscal year 2015 10-year average for the respective agencies.
This important tool will stabilize agency budgets and provide
for better oversight of program investments. The bill provides
a total of $2,250,000,000 in cap adjustment funding for fiscal
year 2020, including $1,950,000,000 for the Forest Service and
$300,000,000 for the Department of the Interior. The Committee
is hopeful that the fiscal year 2019 fire season will not
result in fire borrowing and that both the Forest Service and
Department will begin utilization of the fire cap adjustment on
sound fiscal footing with the ability to account for all fire
spending in a transparent manner.
MULTI-AGENCY DIRECTIVES
Wildlife Data Coordination.--The Department of the Interior
and the Forest Service are expected to prioritize continued
coordination with other Federal agencies and State wildlife
agencies to utilize State fish and wildlife data and analyses
as an applicable source to inform land use, land planning, and
related natural resource decisions. Federal agencies should not
unnecessarily duplicate raw data, but when appropriate,
evaluate existing analysis of data prepared by the States and
reciprocally, share data with State wildlife managers, to
ensure that the most complete data set is available for
decision support systems. Agencies are also encouraged to
coordinate with the Western Governors' Association on
collaborative conservation efforts benefitting wildlife and the
lands they rely on.
Land Grants, Acequias and Community Ditches.--The
Secretaries of the Department of the Interior and the
Department of Agriculture are urged to recognize the
traditional use of State-recognized community land grants,
acequias, and community ditches in the American Southwest
during the land use planning process.
Multi-Agency Transparency.--The Committee expresses support
for increasing transparency within all agencies of the
Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the
Environmental Protection Agency. The agencies are encouraged to
disclose costs associated with analyses required by the
National Environmental Policy Act (Public Law 91-90).
Recreational Access.--The Committee believes increasing
access to our public lands is important and provides funding to
all four land management agencies--the Bureau of Land
Management, National Park Service, Forest Service, and the Fish
and Wildlife Service--to complete projects that enhance access
to public lands for hunting, fishing, and other recreational
activities. The Committee expects recreational access projects
to be selected based on their role in meeting key recreation
needs, and the agencies should work with their respective
regions, State offices, and/or management units to identify all
potential projects. Further, the agencies are again directed to
include in future budget justifications an explanation of the
process and criteria used for allocating funds for recreational
access in the previous year.
Land and Water Conservation Fund [LWCF].--The Committee's
recommendation for fiscal year 2020 is $465,000,000. Consistent
with the directive contained in division G of the explanatory
statement accompanying Public Law 115-141, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2019, the Department of the Interior and
the Forest Service provided ranked prioritized lists of Federal
land acquisition projects to the Committee, as requested. The
Committee utilized these lists as ranked by the agencies in
priority order to include projects and funding levels for LWCF
programs in this recommendation.
The agencies are directed to continue their longstanding
process of identifying and prioritizing potential Federal land
acquisition projects in anticipation of program appropriations.
As consistent with previous years and as part of the annual
budget process, the Committee directs each agency to submit a
comprehensive list of ranked projects to the Committee within
30 days of the submission of the fiscal year 2021 budget or
March 1, 2020, whichever comes first. The comprehensive list is
expected to be comprised of projects for which a willing seller
has been identified, an appraisal or market research has been
initiated, and the projects have been deemed by management
units and regional or State offices to meet resource management
goals or the parcel is part of an exchange, inholding, or
donation. To the extent that the President's Budget includes
funding for land acquisition projects, the prioritization of
projects should be consistent with the comprehensive list of
ranked projects provided to the Committee.
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act [ANILCA]
Training.--The Committee continues the directive for the
Department of the Interior and the Forest Service to conduct
annual ANILCA (Public Law 96-487) training for all employees
with any oversight, regulatory, or managerial duties or
responsibilities for the State of Alaska. Additionally, the
Department of the Interior and the Forest Service shall conduct
annual ANILCA training in a village within a conservation
system unit for all land managers stationed within the State of
Alaska.
The Committee also encourages both the Department of the
Interior and the Forest Service to utilize local hiring
authorities included within ANILCA, which increases management
efficiencies, maximizes retention of employees, and facilitates
a workforce with knowledge of local cultural and resource
values.
Paper Reduction Efforts.--The Committee is concerned about
the millions of taxpayer dollars spent on wasteful printing
practices each year and the lack of clear printing policies
within each of the agencies. The Committee encourages each
agency funded by this act to continue efforts to reduce
wasteful printing practices.
Transparency of Information.--Federal agencies funded under
this act shall clearly state within the text, audio, or video
used for advertising or educational purposes, including emails
or Internet postings, that the communication is printed,
published, or produced and disseminated at U.S. taxpayer
expense. The funds used by a Federal agency to carry out this
requirement shall be derived from amounts made available to the
agency for advertising or other communications regarding the
programs and activities of the agency.
Invasive Species.--The Committee recognizes the critical
importance of early detection and rapid response [EDRR] of
invasive species as a strategy to mitigate the threats and
impacts of invasive species and expects the Department of the
Interior and the Forest Service to prioritize EDRR and control
of invasive species that imperil endangered, threatened, or
candidate species. In particular, the Committee supports
efforts to prioritize EDRR in areas with large populations of
invasive species. Within 180 days of the date of enactment of
this act, the agencies shall provide the Committee with a
report on their efforts to prioritize EDRR as part of their
expected program of work for fiscal year 2020, including detail
on how the agencies plan to protect specific native species and
natural resource values on public lands across the Nation.
Cooper Landing.--The Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60
Project Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Section
4(f) Evaluation were published for public review and comment on
March 9, 2019. The Committee understands that in order to
effectuate the Juneau Creek route for the Project, the
Department must initiate a land exchange with Cook Inlet Region
Incorporated. The Committee continues the direction for the
Department to provide a briefing to the Committee on its plans
to initiate the land exchange within 60 days after the Record
of Decision on the Project has been signed.
Rural Airstrips.--The Committee encourages the Department
of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to coordinate
with Federal land management agencies, including but not
limited to the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and
National Park Service, as well as the Federal Aviation
Administration, to ensure consistency in charting airstrips
located on Federal lands that are and may be useful for
administrative, recreational, and emergency purposes.
Public Access.--The Department of the Interior and the
Forest Service are directed to notify the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations in advance of any proposed project
specifically intending to close an area to recreational
shooting, hunting, or fishing on a non-emergency basis of more
than 30 days.
Domestic Production of Critical Minerals.--The Committee
supports the Administration's ``Executive Order on a Federal
Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical
Minerals,'' issued on December 20, 2017, and the related
Interior Secretarial Order No. 3359, issued on December 21,
2017, respectively. The United States is not only reliant upon
foreign sources for many of the raw materials needed for our
economic and national security, but is also attracting a
decreasing share of global investment in this important sector.
These trends have serious and negative implications for the
domestic mineral supply chains for technological innovation,
modern infrastructure, and national security. The Department of
the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the
Forest Service are directed to work collaboratively to reverse
such trends in a timely manner. Consistent and concurrent with
these changes, the Forest Service is encouraged to align their
regulations governing hardrock mineral production on Federal
land with those in place at the Bureau of Land Management.
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.--The Committee
acknowledges the unique opportunity for Miami-Dade County to
assist in land purchases and swaps to protect a vital project
footprint to implement the Bird Drive Basin Conveyance, Seepage
Collection, and Recharge concept and achieve the goals of the
original Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan [CERP] Bird
Drive Recharge Area project. The Committee encourages the
Department to work with the Federal and state partners to make
progress towards completing an important element of the CERP.
Additionally, the Committee expects the National Park Service
to complete and transmit the complete design package for the
Tamiami Trail Next Steps Final Phase to the Florida Department
of Transportation no later than February 28, 2020.
Delivery of Reports and Correspondence.--All reports,
correspondence, and reprogramming requests from the agencies to
the Committee shall be provided in both physical and electronic
formats.
Dead and Downed Trees.--The Committee is concerned by the
substantial increase in the number of dead and downed trees as
a result of drought and invasive pests on public lands in the
West managed by the Forest Service, National Park Service, and
Bureau of Land Management. Given the increased potential for
devastating wildfires, the Committee directs the Forest
Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and
Bureau of Land Management to work with State and local
governments to facilitate the prompt removal of these trees and
to prioritize funding for projects that reduce fire threats to
communities, drinking water supplies, and utilities.
Harassment-Free Workplace.--The Department of the Interior,
Forest Service, and Environmental Protection Agency are
directed to continue reporting annually on agency actions to
address harassment of employees, including plans to improve
monitoring, training, and enforcement, and implement policies
that prevent retaliation. The report should include a detailed
list of any actions taken or expected to be taken during fiscal
years 2020 and 2021.
Deferred Maintenance.--The Committee has made a concerted
effort to address the backlog maintenance needs on our public
lands and directs the Department of the Interior and Forest
Service to maintain a updated 5-year deferred maintenance plans
that, to the extent practicable, include a list of all
outstanding deferred maintenance needs, and to provide them to
the Committee upon request.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.--The Committee is
concerned about the crisis of missing, trafficked, and murdered
indigenous women. Native American women face high rates of
violence and the lack of data on the number of women and girls
who go missing or murdered further complicates the Nation's
ability to address this crisis. The Committee recommendation
includes both funding and report language under the Bureau of
Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service in order to
improve the Federal response to this epidemic.
Trespassing on Alaska Native Lands.--The Committee is
concerned by ongoing reports of trespassing on Alaska Native
lands that border Federal lands. The Committee believes the
Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Fish and
Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management must do
more to ensure that agreements between Alaska Native
organizations that prohibit such trespassing are enforced. The
Committee directs these agencies to each develop a plan to
reduce such trespassing and to provide the Committee with that
plan within 180 days of enactment of this act.
Vegetation Management Relating to Electric Transmission
Rights-of-Way.--The Committee directs the Secretaries of the
Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to
report to the committees of jurisdiction of the House and the
Senate on the implementation of section 211 of division O of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141).
Wildland Firefighter Operational Requirements.--The
Committee encourages the National Interagency Fire Center to
review operational requirements to ensure that wildland
firefighters maintain proper hydration and have access to on-
the-move, hands-free hydration systems.
PFAS and Contaminants of Emerging Concern.--The Committee
provides increases totaling $25,000,000 across the bill to help
meet the public health and safety risks of per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS] and other contaminants of
emerging concern, along with base funding for numerous programs
that also address these contaminants. The increased funding
supports PFAS related regulatory actions, research on the human
health and environmental impacts of PFAS, and State-led cleanup
and remediation efforts of PFAS contaminated water sources,
water systems, and lands. Of this increased funding, the
Environmental Protection Agency receives $21,000,000:
$1,000,000 for priority actions associated with PFAS as the
Agency requested in the budget request and $20,000,000 in grant
funding for State cleanup and remediation efforts of PFAS and
other contaminants of emerging concern. Further, the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry each receive an increase
of $2,000,000 for improved capacity and further research on the
health and environmental effects of PFAS and other contaminants
of emerging concern.
Everglades Restoration.--The Committee notes that critical
progress towards restoring the Everglades ecosystem is within
reach with several projects to improve infrastructure for
enhanced water deliveries nearing completion. The Committee
continues to support this multiyear effort to preserve one of
the great ecological treasures of the United States and urges
the Department of the Interior and its relevant bureaus to
ensure that restoration activities, research, and monitoring
are not hindered by bureaucratic delays. These activities are
critical to restoring Federal lands in South Florida such as
Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, combating invasive
species like the Burmese python and the invasive exotic plant
invasions ongoing at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee
National Wildlife Refuge, reducing polluted water discharges
from Lake Okeechobee to Florida's coastal waterways, and
helping ensure clean drinking water for millions across the
State.
Regional Biosecurity for the Pacific Region.--The Committee
is aware of the Department of the Navy's ``Regional Biosecurity
Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii'' [RBP] which provides
recommendations for Hawaii and other Pacific islands to
implement in order to enhance biosecurity in the region. The
Department of the Interior and the Forest Service are
referenced in the RBP and are encouraged to consider the
recommendations put forth to mitigate current and future
biosecurity threats in the Pacific region.
Transparency of Information Regarding Grants, Agreements,
Research, and Conferences Attendance.--The Committee
acknowledges that transparency is key to good governance, and
that the U.S. taxpayer would benefit from having more
information about how much money comes from Federal sources for
every project or grant, across all Federal departments and
agencies. The agencies covered by this act are encouraged to
disclose the full costs of grants or projects in any public
documents. Additionally, the Committee urges each agency, prior
to undertaking research, to evaluate whether the research will
promote the progress of science in the United States or will
advance a national security or economic interest. Further, the
Committee is also aware of the need for accountability in
spending on conferences and believes that agencies funded by
this act should evaluate spending on conferences and only send
individuals whose attendance is necessary to achieving an
objective that could otherwise not be achieved without physical
attendance at the conference.
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.--The Committee
directs the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service
to annually post on a centralized agency website, the list of
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act projects performed in
each fiscal year, which should include a project title,
description, location, and amount obligated for each project,
beginning with fiscal year 2019.
Reprogramming Guidelines
The following are the procedures governing reprogramming
actions for programs and activities funded in the Department of
the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act. The Committee is dismayed by multiple agencies' lack of
strict adherence to the Committee's reprogramming guidelines
and reminds agencies funded by this act that no reprogramming
shall be implemented without the advance approval of the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations in accordance with the
procedures detailed in this section. The Committee also reminds
the agencies funded in this act that these reprogramming
guidelines are in effect, and must be complied with, until such
time as the Committees modify them through bill or report
language.
Definitions.--``Reprogramming,'' as defined in these
procedures, includes the reallocation of funds from one budget
activity, budget line-item, or program area to another within
any appropriation funded in this act. In cases where either the
House or Senate Committee on Appropriations report displays an
allocation of an appropriation below that level, the more
detailed level shall be the basis for reprogramming.
For construction, land acquisition, and forest legacy
accounts, a reprogramming constitutes the reallocation of
funds, including unobligated balances, from one construction,
land acquisition, or forest legacy project to another such
project.
A reprogramming shall also consist of any significant
departure from the program described in the agency's budget
justifications. This includes all proposed reorganizations or
other workforce actions detailed below which affect a total of
10 staff members or 10 percent of the staffing of an affected
program or office, whichever is less, even without a change in
funding. Any change to the organization table presented in the
budget justification shall also be subject to this requirement.
The Committee is aware that agencies funded by this act are
continuing to work to implement Executive Order 13781, a
Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch, and
have included in the fiscal year 2020 budget request funding
for these activities. The Committee is also aware that agencies
funded by this act continue to weigh additional organizational
changes during the fiscal year. Agencies are reminded that this
recommendation continues longstanding General Guidelines for
Reprogramming that require agencies funded by this act to
submit reorganization proposals for Committee review prior to
their implementation. It is noted that such reprogramming
guidelines apply to proposed reorganizations, workforce
restructure, reshaping, transfer of functions, or bureau-wide
downsizing and include closures, consolidations, and
relocations of offices, facilities, and laboratories. In
addition, no agency shall implement any part of a
reorganization that modifies regional or State boundaries for
agencies or bureaus that were in effect as of the date of
enactment of this act unless approved consistent with the
General Guidelines for Reprogramming procedures specified
herein. Any such reprogramming request submitted to the
Committees on Appropriations shall include a description of
anticipated benefits, including anticipated efficiencies and
cost-savings, as well as a description of anticipated personnel
impacts and funding changes anticipated to implement the
proposal.
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) Any project or activity, which may be deferred
through reprogramming, shall not later be accomplished
by means of further reprogramming, but instead, funds
should again be sought for the deferred project or
activity through the regular appropriations process.
(c) Except under the most urgent situations,
reprogramming should not be employed to initiate new
programs or increase allocations specifically denied or
limited by Congress, or to decrease allocations
specifically increased by the Congress.
(d) Reprogramming proposals submitted to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations for approval will
be considered as expeditiously as possible, and the
Committee reminds the agencies that in order to process
reprogramming requests, adequate, and timely
information must be provided.
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
or projects, whichever amount is less, with the following
exceptions:
(a) With regard to the Tribal priority allocations of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs [BIA] and Bureau of Indian
Education [BIE], there is no restriction on
reprogrammings among these programs. However, the
Bureaus shall report on all reprogrammings made during
a given fiscal year no later than 60 days after the end
of the fiscal year.
(b) With regard to the EPA, the Committee does not
require reprogramming requests associated with the
States and Tribes Partnership Grants or up to a
cumulative total of $30,000,000 from carryover balances
among the individual program areas delineated in the
Environmental Programs and Management account. No
funds, however, shall be reallocated from individual
Geographic Programs.
Assessments.--``Assessment'' as defined in these procedures
shall refer to any charges, reserves, or holdbacks applied to a
budget activity or budget line item for costs associated with
general agency administrative costs, overhead costs, working
capital expenses, or contingencies.
(a) No assessment shall be levied against any program,
budget activity, subactivity, budget line item, or
project funded by the Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act unless such
assessment and the basis therefore are presented to the
Committee in the budget justifications and are
subsequently approved by the Committee. The explanation
for any assessment in the budget justification shall
show the amount of the assessment, the activities
assessed, and the purpose of the funds.
(b) Proposed changes to estimated assessments, as such
estimates were presented in annual budget
justifications, shall be submitted through the
reprogramming process and shall be subject to the same
dollar and reporting criteria as any other
reprogramming.
(c) The Committee directs that each agency or bureau
which utilizes assessments shall submit an annual
report to the Committee which provides details on the
use of all funds assessed from any other budget
activity, line item, subactivity, or project.
(d) In no case shall contingency funds or assessments be
used to finance projects and activities disapproved or
limited by Congress or to finance programs or
activities that could be foreseen and included in the
normal budget review process.
(e) New programs requested in the budget should not be
initiated before enactment of the bill without
notification to, and the approval of, the Committee.
This restriction applies to all such actions regardless
of whether a formal reprogramming of funds is required
to begin the program.
Quarterly Reports.--All reprogrammings between budget
activities, budget line-items, program areas, or the more
detailed activity levels shown in this recommendation,
including those below the monetary thresholds established
above, shall be reported to the Committee within 60 days of the
end of each quarter and shall include cumulative totals for
each budget activity or budget line item, or construction, land
acquisition, or forest legacy project.
Land Acquisitions, Easements, and Forest Legacy.--Lands
shall not be acquired for more than the approved appraised
value, as addressed in section 301(3) of Public Law 91-646,
unless such acquisitions are submitted to the Committees on
Appropriations for approval in compliance with these
procedures.
Land Exchanges.--Land exchanges, wherein the estimated
value of the Federal lands to be exchanged is greater than
$1,000,000, shall not be consummated until the Committee have
had 30 days in which to examine the proposed exchange. In
addition, the Committee shall be provided advance notification
of exchanges valued between $500,000 and $1,000,000.
Budget Structure.--The budget activity or line item
structure for any agency appropriation account shall not be
altered without advance approval of the Committee.
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
LAND AND WATER RESOURCES
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management [Bureau] manages over 245
million acres of public lands, primarily in 11 Western States
and Alaska. The Bureau also has responsibility for 700 million
acres of federally owned sub-surface mineral estate. The Bureau
is mandated to administer these lands for multiple uses,
including recreation, wildlife habitat, mineral and energy
production, timber harvesting, and rangeland grazing, while
managing natural, cultural, and historical resources.
MANAGEMENT OF LANDS AND RESOURCES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $1,178,696,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 1,054,430,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,229,970,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $1,229,970,000
for the Management of Lands and Resources account. This amount
is $51,274,000 above the enacted level and $175,540,000 above
the request. Program changes to the enacted level are detailed
in the following budget activity narratives. Funding levels for
each subactivity can be found in the table that accompanies
this statement.
The United States, as an Arctic Nation, has broad interest
in the region, which includes meeting security needs,
protecting the environment, responsibly managing resources,
supporting indigenous communities, promoting scientific
research, and strengthening international cooperation. The
Bureau is directed to focus on enhancing economic opportunities
for the people who live and work in the Arctic. While the
Committee appreciates the diverse mission of the Arctic
Council, it believes that focusing on subsistence and improving
the lives of the local communities through economic development
is of the utmost importance.
Land Resources.--The bill provides $248,742,000 for Land
Resources, an increase of $37,000,000 above the enacted level
and $55,140,000 above the request. Within the funds provided
for Rangeland Management, the Committee expects the Bureau to
continue to implement the Secretary's directive to adopt more
aggressive practices to prevent catastrophic wildfires through
robust fuels reduction and pre-suppression techniques and to
manage the spread of invasive plants. Additionally, the Bureau
is directed, to the greatest extent practicable, to make vacant
grazing allotments available to a holder of a grazing permit or
lease when lands covered by the holder of the permit or lease
are unusable because of drought or wildfire.
Plant Conservation and Restoration Program.--The Committee
continues to support the Bureau's Plant Conservation and
Restoration Program as a subactivity of Wildlife and Aquatic
Habitat Management and recognizes the importance of the
National Seed Strategy. The Committee directs that both the
Program and National Seed Strategy be funded and operated
consistent with prior years. Additionally, because of the
importance of healthy and diverse ecosystems especially in the
aftermath of severe fires, the Committee directs the Bureau to
continue to implement the National Seed Strategy in a manner
that balances the need for a variety of seeds to accomplish
immediate and long-term restoration goals.
Wild Horses and Burros.--The Committee acknowledges that
on-range wild horse and burro population growth is and has been
on an unsustainable trajectory. Without appropriate remedial
action, rangelands face continued and severe deterioration in
condition, other species face the loss of habitat, and the wild
horse and burro populations face the threat of population
collapses. The Committee, after consultation with the Bureau on
an achievable investment in Bureau resources and fiscal year
2020 programmatic capacity, includes a $35,000,000 increase to
the Wild Horse and Burro Program to enable the Bureau to
implement an aggressive, non-lethal population control
strategy. A central focus of this strategy must be prioritizing
overpopulated Herd Management Areas for removals that exceed
the projected annual growth rate coupled with comprehensive on-
range population growth suppression to reduce the future growth
rate. All removals must be conducted in strict compliance with
the Bureau's Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program and any
population growth suppression strategies must be proven, safe,
and humane. The strategy will not include any sale or actions
that result in the destruction of healthy animals, which
continues to be prohibited by this bill. The Bureau should work
with interested stakeholders to further develop and implement
appropriate removal, fertility control, and relocation plans,
including the relocation of horses from both the range and
high-cost holding facilities into lower-cost, off-range
pastures; and to increase adoptions. The Bureau is directed to
keep the Committee informed of its progress. As noted above,
the current prohibitions on destruction and sale authority are
continued in this bill.
Badger-Two Medicine Area.--The Committee encourages the
Department of the Interior to continue working with the
Blackfeet Tribe to protect the Badger-Two Medicine area. The
Department shall report to the Committee on its plans and
efforts to protect this culturally significant area and its
continued coordination with the Tribe to protect this
landscape.
Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat Management.--The bill provides
$183,504,000 for Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat Management,
$65,072,000 above the request. The Committee expects that no
less than $21,567,000 will be spent on activities previously
covered under the threatened and endangered species standalone
budget line item.
Salinity Control Program.--The Committee supports the
Bureau's Salinity Control Program and the Bureau's involvement
in the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum. The Program
should continue the mission of addressing sediment and salt
discharges to ensure usable water supplies for downstream
users. The Committee directs that the Program be funded and
maintained consistent with prior years.
Recreation Management.--The bill provides $75,229,000 for
Recreation Management, an increase of $1,500,000 above the
enacted level and $3,500,000 above the request. Of the funds
provided, $18,264,000 is for Wilderness Management and
$56,965,000 is for Recreation Resources Management activities.
Of the funds made available for wilderness, priority shall be
given to activities to improve wilderness habitat and adjoining
habitat by managing for noxious weed infestations and fuels
management.
Energy and Minerals Management.--The bill provides
$196,363,000 for oil, gas, coal, renewable, and other minerals
management, an increase of $1,939,000 above the enacted level
and $2,002,000 below the request. The detailed allocation of
funding by program is included in the table that accompanies
this statement. Within the oil and gas programs, funding levels
are sufficient to maintain program capacity and to continue
progress toward cleanup of the next cluster of legacy wells in
need of remediation. The Committee continues the directive for
the Bureau to conduct a pilot program to incorporate technology
to remotely manage permitting workloads in up to two high-
volume offices. The Committee is aware of the difficulty the
Bureau has in recruiting and maintaining personnel in some
areas where demand for permitting activities is greatest. The
Committee believes that the utilization of certain data files,
such as those containing high definition video and/or Global
Positioning System location data, provided at the expense of
the permittee, may allow the Bureau to more efficiently utilize
time and resources within the program by obviating the need for
site visits. The goal of the pilot should be to utilize
personnel in remote field offices and demonstrate the utility
of using advancements in technology to validate compliance with
permit conditions.
Chaco Canyon.--On May 28, 2019, the Secretary announced
that the Department will refrain from oil and gas leasing
within the 10-mile radius of Chaco Culture National Historical
Park pending completion of planning activities and tribal
consultation. The Committee appreciates this commitment and
therefore directs the Bureau not to conduct any oil and gas
leasing activities authorized by section 17 of the Mineral
Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 226) in the withdrawal area identified
on the map of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park
prepared by the Bureau of Land Management and dated April 2,
2019. The Committee notes that this directive does not affect
mineral rights of an Indian Tribe or member of an Indian Tribe
to trust land or allotment land.
Soda Ash.--The Committee is concerned about maintaining the
United States' global competitiveness in the production of
natural soda ash and supports a reduction in the Federal
royalty rate for soda ash mined on Federal land to a minimum of
2 percent, which is consistent with current law. The Committee
encourages the Bureau to work with soda ash producers to assist
them in reducing royalty rates and directs the Bureau to take
the necessary steps to reduce the Federal royalty rate for soda
ash as appropriate.
Required Reports.--The Committee directs the Bureau to
submit all outstanding reports required under 42 U.S.C.
15924(e) no later than 30 days after the enactment of this act.
Legacy Wells.--The Bureau is directed to provide the
Committee, within 90 days of enactment of this act, with a
detailed strategy for funding completion of remediation of the
remaining legacy wells within its jurisdiction within the next
10 years.
Tribal Coordination.--The Committee directs that any
coordinating office created by the Bureau in partnership with
other oil and gas related permitting agencies shall closely
coordinate with the Fort Berthold Tribal authorities.
Placer Mining Reclamation Activities.--The Bureau is
instructed to utilize existing revegetation standards and
approve reclamation where evidence of regrowth exists within
180 days of enactment of this act.
Validity Exams for Placer Mines.--The Committee is
concerned with the Bureau's application of 43 CFR 3809.100 as
it relates to the use of its discretion to require completion
of a mineral examination report, also known as validity
examinations, for existing mine claims prior to approval of a
plan of operation, especially in the case of placer miners in
the State of Alaska. The Bureau is directed to review and, if
appropriate, modify existing regulations and procedures for
determining when and how validity exams are required and
performed. The review and modification shall ensure discretion
of field managers is exercised carefully, require external
characteristics indicating validity to be considered before
mandating a costly validity examination, and recognize that the
law provides broad authority to determine the validity of a
mining claim for any reason.
Competitive Leasing Rule.--Pursuant to the June 6, 2018,
recommendation provided to the Secretary of the Interior, the
Committee encourages the Secretary to issue a Secretarial Order
to grandfather projects that were under construction or
development, or for which an application had been accepted when
the Bureau of Land Management issued the December 19, 2016,
rule entitled ``Competitive Processes, Terms, and Conditions
for Leasing Public Lands for Solar and Wind Energy Development
and Technical Changes and Corrections.''
Realty and Ownership Management.--The bill provides
$74,125,000 for public land realty and ownership management
activities, $3,835,000 above the enacted level and $645,000
above the request. The Committee continues the direction to the
Bureau to coordinate with all responsible Federal agencies to
expedite the cleanup process of contaminated Alaska Native
lands, including the Department of Defense and the Forest
Service, so that the lands meet appropriate environmental
standards at the earliest possible date.
Red River Survey.--The Bureau is directed to utilize funds
provided to the Bureau to commission surveys pursuant to
section 1120 of Public Law 116-9. The Bureau is expected to
defer any final decision-making regarding land use plans as
part of the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas Resource Management
Plan Revision until the required surveys have been conducted to
determine ownership along the Red River.
Resource Protection and Maintenance.--The bill provides
$132,741,000 for Resource Protection and Maintenance, an
increase of $3,500,000 above the enacted level and $22,630,000
above the request. The Bureau is expected to prioritize
marijuana eradication programs. The Bureau is encouraged to
consider recurring recreational events carefully as land use
plans are revised or updated.
Ring of Fire Resource Management Plan.--The Committee is
concerned about the lengthy planning process for an amendment
to the Bureau's Ring of Fire Resource Management Plan regarding
the Haines Planning Block. The Committee directs the Bureau to
swiftly work through the remainder of the planning process in
order to finalize the amendment to the Ring of Fire Resource
Management Plan.
Eastern Interior Planning Area of Alaska.--The Committee
supports the Department of the Interior's conveyance of lands
selected by the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Corporations
within the Fortymile Subunit of the Eastern Interior of Alaska.
The Committee instructs the Bureau to initiate the process of
replacing the Fortymile Resource Management Plan with a
management document that reflects the inventory and nature of
Federal lands that will exist once those conveyances are
complete. Any new management documents should address the
restrictions imposed through the current Fortymile Record of
Decision and Resource Management Plan, which continue to impact
the people who live in and near the area. The Bureau is further
instructed to evaluate reopening its Tok field office in order
to locate the Eastern Interior field office within its
operating area.
Ambler Mining District.--The Committee continues to closely
monitor the Alaska Industrial Development and Export
Authority's application for a right-of-way authorization across
Federal public land for an industrial access road from Dalton
Highway to the Ambler Mining District in north-central Alaska.
The Committee expects all Federal agencies charged with the
processing of the application, including the BLM, National Park
Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, and
the Federal Highway Administration, to adhere to the
expeditious review requirements outlined in the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act (Public Law 96-487) while
ensuring appropriate local consultation and subsistence impact
reviews are completed.
Bonneville Salt Flats.--The Committee expects the
Department to continue working with the State of Utah,
including exploring options such as cooperative agreements, on
restoration activities for the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Transportation and Facilities Maintenance.--The bill
provides $115,000,000 for Transportation and Facilities
Maintenance, equal to the enacted level and $21,674,000 above
the request.
Workforce and Organizational Support.--The bill provides
$181,251,000 for Workforce Organization and Support, equal to
the enacted level and $1,674,000 above the request. The
Committee supports efforts to invest in Service First
initiatives to increase efficiency and provide better service
to the public. While the Committee believes the Bureau can make
significant improvements, the Committee believes it is
unrealistic to expect the Bureau to find more than $6,580,000
in efficiencies in one fiscal year.
National Landscape Conservation System.--The bill provides
$43,319,000 for the National Landscape Conservation System,
$3,500,000 above the enacted level and $6,207,000 above the
request. It is the Committee's belief that when developing a
plan for a national monument, livestock grazing should
continue.
Mining Law Administration.--The bill provides $40,696,000
for Mining Law Administration. This amount is $1,000,000 above
the budget request and the enacted level and is fully offset by
collections from mining claims fees.
LAND ACQUISITION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $24,716,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... -10,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ \1\28,800,000
\1\Includes a rescission of $2,367,000 from unobligated balances.
The bill provides $28,800,000 in new spending authority for
land acquisition in fiscal year 2020, with a rescission of
$2,367,000 from unobligated balances for a total of
$26,433,000. The Committee identified the rescission based upon
a review of projects that either have a remaining balance due
to a cost savings from previously appropriated funds or those
projects that no longer have a willing seller. The Committee is
concerned about the length of time the Bureau is spending to
approve projects and encourages the Bureau to complete the
review and closing of projects on a timely basis. The Committee
provides $10,000,000 for recreational access, $1,000,000 above
the enacted level, and increases funding for acquisition
management, inholdings, emergencies, and hardships. The amount
provided within this bill is available for the following
distribution of funds and projects as ranked and provided by
the administration:
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Bill
State Project estimate (Discretionary)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AZAravaipa Canyon Access .............. 2,600
CABodie Hills .............. 900
CALos Gatos Creek Ranch .............. 1,200
COMcInnis Canyons National .............. 600
Conservation Area
IDCoeur d'Alene Lake Special .............. 1,300
Recreation Management Area
MTBlackfoot River Watershed .............. 3,500
ORSandy River .............. 500
ORTable Rocks Special Recreation .............. 2,700
Management Area
----------------------------------
Subtotal .............. 13,300
Sportsman/Recreational Access .............. 10,000
Acquisition Management .............. 2,500
Inholdings, Emergencies, and .............. 3,000
Hardships
.............. 28,800
Rescission -10,000 -2,367
----------------------------------
Total, Land Acquisition .............. 26,433
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OREGON AND CALIFORNIA GRANT LANDS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $106,985,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 106,985,000
Committee recommendation................................ 106,985,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $106,985,000 for
Oregon and California Grant Lands, equal to the enacted level
and the request. The Committee appreciates the unique and
important role of the Oregon and California Grant Lands within
the Bureau. The Committee is concerned about the Bureau's
ability to generate an adequate and predictable supply of
timber and the resulting county revenues in Western Oregon
under the agency's plan that limits sustained yield management
to just 20 percent of the forest land. The Committee encourages
the Bureau to regularly report its timber sale accomplishments
for sales that have been sold and awarded, rather than merely
offered for sale.
Sudden Oak Death.--The Committee is aware that since 2001,
the Bureau, in partnership with the Forest Service, has been
treating Sudden Oak Death infestations on public lands in
Oregon. The Committee expects the funding provided to be
adequate to continue these efforts.
RANGE IMPROVEMENTS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $10,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 10,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 10,000,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $10,000,000 for range
improvements, an amount equal to the enacted level.
SERVICE CHARGES, DEPOSITS, AND FORFEITURES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $25,850,000
Offsetting collections.............................. -25,850,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 26,000,000
Offsetting collections.............................. -26,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 26,000,000
Offsetting collections.............................. -26,000,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $26,000,000 for
service charges, deposits, and forfeitures. The appropriation
is fully offset by the collection of fees to pay for reasonable
administrative and other costs.
MISCELLANEOUS TRUST FUNDS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $24,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 26,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 26,000,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $26,000,000 for
miscellaneous trust funds, $2,000,000 above the enacted level
and equal to the request.
FISH AND WILDLIFE AND PARKS
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Service] is the
principal Federal agency responsible for conserving,
protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their
habitats. The Service manages more than 150 million acres in
the National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 566
national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and
other special management areas and Marine National Monuments.
It also operates 72 national fish hatcheries, 65 fish and
wildlife management offices, and 80 ecological services field
stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws,
administers the Endangered Species Act (Public Law 93-205),
manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their
conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in
excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and
wildlife agencies.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $1,292,078,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 1,257,161,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,357,182,000
The bill provides $1,357,182,000 for resource management.
This amount is $65,104,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted
level.
Ecological Services.--$257,322,000 is provided for
Ecological Services activities. Within the ecological services
program, funding is provided as follows:
Listing.--$18,318,000 is provided for endangered species
listing activities. The Service is directed to brief the
Committee on its work plan for this funding as it relates to
petition activities, listing of foreign species, and critical
habitat designations.
Lesser Prairie-Chicken [LPC].--The Committee continues the
direction regarding Lesser Prairie-Chicken contained in the
Statement of Managers accompanying the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6) and further, the
Committee directs the Service to collaborate with local and
regional stakeholders on improving voluntary solutions to
conserve the species with the goal of avoiding the necessity of
listing the LPC under the Endangered Species Act [ESA] (Public
Law 91-135).
Settlement Agreements.--The Committee continues to be
concerned that there is not adequate transparency for impacted
stakeholders when the Service chooses to enter into a
settlement agreement on an endangered species listing petition.
This is particularly concerning in the context of multiple
species, as happened in the 2011 multispecies litigation
settlement agreements. The Committee urges the Service to avoid
entering into any multi-species settlement agreement unless the
State and local governments where the species are located are a
party to that agreement.
Transparency of Data.--The Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2018 (Public Law 115-141) [Act] included language directing the
Service to develop a plan to improve the transparency of the
underlying data used to make listing determinations and
critical habitat designations. The Committee expects the
Service to provide the report required by the Act and improve
upon its efforts to make underlying data publicly available.
Traditional Knowledge.--The Committee remains concerned
that the Service has not fully incorporated traditional Tribal
knowledge in its implementation of the ESA. When appropriate,
the Committee expects the Service to make every effort to
incorporate traditional knowledge in ESA decisions. The
Committee also expects the Service to engage in additional
outreach to Tribal governments in circumstances where
traditional knowledge may provide valuable information,
including for species like the northern sea otter.
Planning and Consultation.--The bill provides $107,516,000
for planning and consultation, $1,437,000 above the fiscal year
2019 level. The increase should be used to assist the Service
with National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA] (Public Law 91-
190) compliance and specifically avoid delays in permitting
energy development and infrastructure projects. Within planning
and consultation, $4,000,000 is provided for Gulf Coast
Restoration activities to ensure that the Service has the
resources necessary to avoid delays in projects related to the
Deepwater Horizon incident. This is consistent with the amount
provided in fiscal year 2019. Because the Committee has
provided the Service with substantial resources for Gulf Coast
Restoration, the Committee expects the Service to move forward
with project reviews in a timely manner.
Native Watershed Forests.--Watershed forests provide the
important ecological service of recharging aquifers and other
underground water resources. Such forests may also provide
critical habitat for endangered endemic species uniquely
evolved for the ecosystems they create. In such cases, active
management becomes a cost effective way to support multiple
conservation goals. The Committee urges the Service to support
State and local management of native watershed forests.
Central Everglades Planning Project [CEPP].--The Committee
urges the Service to continue all efforts to consult and
coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite
the biological opinions for the CEPP South Phase and New Water
Phase, including the Everglades Agricultural Area Storage
Reservoir, to enable the initiation of construction critical
elements of the CEPP in fiscal year 2020.
Conservation and Restoration.--The bill provides
$32,396,000 for conservation and restoration. This is equal to
the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
Recovery.--$99,092,000 is provided for recovery, an
increase of $4,060,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted
level. The Service should focus its resources on delisting and
downlisting of species that have met articulated conservation
goals and should use funding to propose or finalize rules for
species with completed 5-year review status reviews that
recommend delisting and downlisting. Within the funds provided,
$730,000 is for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish
Recovery Program.
Within the funds provided, $6,000,000 is provided for
Recovery Challenge matching grants to increase partnerships
with agencies and organizations implementing high priority
recovery activities as prescribed in recovery plans. Of this
amount, $2,500,000 is for longstanding partnerships that were
funded prior to the creation of these grants in the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, including for the
northern aplomado falcon, California condor, and Stellar's
eider. The remaining $3,500,000 shall be spent in accordance
with the instructions in the report accompanying the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019. $3,250,000 is for the
State of the Birds program. Additionally, the Service is
directed to use $1,000,000 of the amount provided to reinstate
the wolf-livestock loss demonstration program as authorized by
Public Law 111-11. States with de-listed wolf populations shall
continue to be eligible for funding, provided that those States
continue to meet the eligibility criteria contained in Public
Law 111-11. Additionally, the bill provides $1,200,000 to
implement the Prescott Grant Program as authorized by section
408(e) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1421f-
1(e)).
Monarch Butterfly Populations.--The Committee directs the
Service to provide information on whether there are areas
currently under Federal stewardship where milkweed habitat
could be restored, enhanced, or expanded.
American Burying Beetle.--The Committee is aware that the
Service proposed to downlist the American burying beetle from
endangered to threatened under the ESA in May 2019 and has
announced the reopening of the public comment period on the
proposed rule. Within funds provided, the Service is directed
to finalize a rule by the end of the fiscal year that will
provide regulatory certainty to the public while contributing
to the conservation of the American burying beetle.
Eider Recovery Efforts.--The Service is directed to
continue its support of captive propagation of the spectacled
and Stellar's eiders and fund it at not less than the fiscal
year 2019 level.
Florida Grasshopper Sparrow.--The Committee directs the
Service to support Florida Grasshopper Sparrow recovery efforts
and provides an additional $100,000 in funding above the fiscal
year 2019 enacted level. Furthermore, the Committee is
encouraged by the success of the Service's captive breeding
program as managed by its conservation partners and notes
augmenting the wild population with captive bred releases as
early as this year will mark an important new phase in the
species' recovery. The Committee notes that the disease and
health studies necessary to understand and combat captive bred
sparrow mortality may have important benefits to the recovery
of other endangered birds including the Cape Sable Seaside
Sparrow.
Native Handicrafts.--On July 6, 2016, the Service issued
regulation that implemented a ``near-total ban'' on the
commercial trade of elephant ivory in the United States. The
Committee is concerned that the Federal prohibition on the sale
and trade of elephant ivory has negatively impacted the Alaska
Native arts economy. The Committee reiterates that the
Service's 2016 regulation does not apply to Alaska Native
handicrafts made from walrus ivory and mammoth ivory. The
Committee appreciates the Service's efforts on this matter to
date. The Committee expects the Service to continue its efforts
to promote this distinction and directs the Service to develop
a plan for greater outreach on this matter.
Subsistence Activities.--The Committee is closely
monitoring the Service's efforts to implement an agreement
between the United States and the Russian Federation on
management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population. The
Service should seek the most current science on this matter as
it works to implement the agreement and should incorporate
traditional knowledge from Alaska Natives. The Committee
believes successful management of the population can only occur
with the engagement of Alaska Natives and expects the Service
to consult with Alaska Native Organizations and other wildlife
management organizations with expertise on matters related to
subsistence. Subsistence is culturally important and a primary
source of Alaska Natives' nutritional needs. The Committee
directs the Service to implement a civil-based, co-management
regime.
Habitat Conservation.--The bill provides $70,433,000 for
habitat conservation, an increase of $5,425,000 above the
fiscal year 2019 enacted level. The Partners for Fish and
Wildlife Program is funded at $57,058,000. Funding is provided
for nutria eradication at not less than the fiscal year 2019
level of $1,750,000 and $3,000,000 is included for Urban
Wildlife Conservation.
Partners for Fish and Wildlife.--Funds made available above
the enacted level are available for habitat restoration needs
associated with the anticipated removal of the four mainstream
dams on the Klamath River in 2021.
National Wildlife Refuge System.--$504,366,000 is provided
for the National Wildlife Refuge System, an increase of
$16,115,000 above the fiscal year 2019 level.
Within that amount, $235,410,000 has been provided for
wildlife and habitat management, an increase of $943,000 over
fiscal year 2019. Funding for the subsistence program is
provided at $2,835,000 and $11,925,000 is provided for invasive
species with an emphasis on invasive species activities within
the Everglades. Additionally, the bill provides $1,500,000 for
the Pacific Marine National Monuments and $1,750,000 for nutria
eradication in the Chesapeake Bay.
Refuge Visitor Services has been provided $76,319,000 and
refuge maintenance is funded at $146,919,000.
Trapping in National Wildlife Refuges.--The Committee
understands that the Service makes efforts to provide
information to the public regarding acceptable trapping
practices on refuge lands. The Service is directed to improve
efforts to inform the public about acceptable trapping
practices and collect data on trapping activities in refuges
and to share those efforts and outcomes with the Committee.
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.--The Committee
encourages the Service to contribute funding aligned with
commitments established in the 2018 license agreement with the
South Florida Water Management District towards the management
of invasive plant infestations, including Old World Climbing
Fern, which threaten the value of this resource; ongoing
Everglades restoration efforts; the provision of critical
wildlife habitat; and the enjoyment of the public.
Polar Bear Tourism.--The Committee is aware of significant
concerns among residents in Kaktovik, Alaska, related to the
Service's program for polar bear viewing. While tourism has
increased significantly in recent years, the Committee has
received reports of bears becoming less fearful of humans as a
result of tourism, leading to more human encounters with bears
within the village. In addition, tourism has reportedly made it
more difficult for local residents to travel to and from
Kaktovik, given the limited availability of air service. The
Committee instructs the Service to review its program for polar
bear tourism, consult and incorporate the views of Kaktovik
residents in its decisions related to the program, and explore
co-management of the Beaufort polar bear population with Native
peoples in the village.
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.--The Committee
appreciates the Service's recent announcement related to a
visitor's center at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
The Committee encourages the Service to consider and prioritize
Leadership in Energy and Environment Design certification as a
goal for the planning and design, construction, operations, and
maintenance of a visitor center and administrative building at
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.--The Committee
continues to follow the impacts to landowners of high runoff
rates and oversaturation in the areas adjacent to the Pocosin
Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The Committee expects the
Service to continue to work with landowners to find ways to
improve management practices and infrastructure to address
flooding from weather events.
Green River National Wildlife Refuge.--The Committee
appreciates the efforts of the Service regarding a potential
national wildlife refuge consisting of approximately 24,000
acres, to be acquired willingly from landowners, in the Green
River Bottoms area near the confluence of the Green River and
Ohio River in Henderson County, Kentucky. The Committee
continues to direct the Service to forgo the development of the
preliminary Land Protection Strategy and proceed directly to
the full Land Protection Plan in order to expedite its
establishment of the Green River National Wildlife Refuge in
that area to provide high-quality hunting and sportfishing
opportunities; opportunities for environmental education,
interpretation, and wildlife-oriented recreation; and habitat
for waterfowl, nongame birds, fish, and wildlife. As the
Service establishes the refuge, the Committee encourages the
Service to look for opportunities to partner with other
Federal, State, local, and non-governmental entities. Within 30
days of the date of enactment of this act, the Service is
directed to report to the Committee on its progress toward
establishment of the refuge.
Continued Funding Prohibitions.--The Committee directs the
Service to continue to follow the directive from previous
fiscal years that prohibits a caribou hunt on Kagalaska Island
and efforts to remove cattle on Chirikof and Wosnesenski
Islands in the State of Alaska.
Corolla Wild Horses.--The Corolla Wild Horses are a unique
piece of America's history that can be traced back over 400
years to the arrival of Spanish explorers on the Outer Banks of
North Carolina. Due to economic development in Currituck
County, North Carolina, the herd size has diminished, resulting
in lack of genetic diversity and consequently threatening the
entire herd. Because the horses roam on private and Service
lands, a management plan is needed between the Service, the
State of North Carolina, Currituck County, North Carolina, and
the Corolla Wild Horses Fund that allows for the herd size to
be grown to no fewer than 110 and no greater than 130 horses,
which may be achieved through the introduction of horses from a
related herd. The Committee expects this management plan be
entered into between the four parties no later than 180 days
after enactment of this act, and the Committee expects the
Corolla Wild Horses Fund to continue to pay all costs
associated with managing the Corolla horses.
Planning and Management of Remote Sites.--Physically
isolated sites present special challenges for the Service
because of the high cost of transportation to and from such
areas. The Committee commends the Service's use of satellites
and other remote sensing data for such areas and urges the
Service to conduct site assessments in accordance with a
comprehensive plan for conservation and management.
Conservation and Enforcement.--$151,023,000 has been
provided for Conservation and Enforcement, which is $9,733,000
above the enacted level in fiscal year 2019.
Within Conservation and Enforcement, the bill includes
$50,692,000 for the migratory bird management program. This
includes $2,000,000 for aviation management to continue the
Service's efforts on aviation safety and training for pilots.
Further, $82,539,000 is included for law enforcement
activities to help combat illegal global wildlife trafficking
and for implementation of the Lacey Act as amended, (Public Law
110-246) an increase of $3,486,000 over the enacted level.
$3,500,000 is provided for the Service's work with the Indian
Arts and Crafts Board to combat international trafficking of
counterfeit arts and crafts and to conduct criminal
investigations of alleged violations of the Indian Arts and
Crafts Act (Public Law 101-644).
Additionally, the bill includes $17,792,000 for
international affairs, which is $1,976,000 above the enacted
level. The Committee is aware that while the United States is
no longer chairing the Arctic Council, prioritization of work
in the Arctic is still critical and significant work remains
for coordination with other member countries, and funding is
provided to continue these efforts.
Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize.--The Committee provides
$1,000,000 to implement section 7001 of Public Law 116-9, the
Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver [WILD] Act. Among its
provisions, the WILD Act requires the Secretary to establish
five Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prizes for technological
innovation to prevent poaching and trafficking; promote
wildlife conservation; manage invasive species; protect
endangered species; and provide nonlethal management of human-
wildlife conflicts. Under the new law, a $100,000 cash prize
may be awarded for each category on an annual basis. Additional
cash prizes may be awarded if the initial cash prize and any
additional cash prize are awarded using only non-Federal funds.
The cash prizes are intended to further incentivize
technological innovation in order to advance successful
wildlife conservation. The Committee recognizes that
technological innovation has become increasingly important in
wildlife management and is hopeful that the Theodore Roosevelt
Genius Prizes will help create the next innovative uses of
technology to conserve and manage wildlife.
Wildlife Trafficking.--The Service plays a critical role in
the ongoing effort to combat the global crisis of wildlife
poaching and trafficking, which is driven by demand for high-
value illegal wildlife products and facilitated by
sophisticated criminal networks profiting from this multi-
billion dollar black market industry. Poaching of rhinoceros,
pangolin, loris, and elephants has reached unprecedented
levels, and illegal trade is undermining the conservation of
scores of other species. The Committee continues to support
government-wide efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and has
provided significant resources to that effort. These resources
will support the Service in continuing to strengthen its
forensic capabilities to disrupt smuggling networks, improve
collaboration with other Federal, State, local, and foreign
governments, and promote international wildlife conservation.
Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora [CITES] Permits.--The Committee directs
the Service to conduct an internal review of their current
CITES Flora permitting process, in an effort to identify any
inefficiencies resulting in significant delays of permit
approval. Within 150 days of enactment of this act, the
Committee directs the Service to provide a detailed report of
their findings to the Committee. The Service should consider
alternative solutions to the current CITES permitting process
that would ameliorate any delays and include these suggestions
in their report to the Committee.
Fish and Aquatic Conservation.--$201,258,000 is provided
for Fish and Aquatic Conservation, an increase of $34,031,000
above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. Adequate funding is
provided to ensure that no fish hatcheries will close in fiscal
year 2020. The Committee encourages the Service to include
adequate support for mitigation activities at National Fish
Hatcheries in future budget submissions. Additionally, funds
made available above the enacted level are available for
improvements to aquatic habitat through the removal of locks
and dams. The bill provides $3,000,000 for Klamath Basin
restoration and monitoring activities. The Service is directed
to work with the affected tribes on fish restoration
activities. Additionally, $4,700,000 is provided for
implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty and the Service is
directed to work in cooperation with State fish and game
agencies on marking of anadromous salmonids. Marked fish must
have a visible mark that can be readily identified by
commercial and recreational fishers.
The Committee is aware of the importance of the Ouray
National Fish Hatchery to the Upper Colorado River's hatchery
stocking objectives. The Committee expects the Service to
continue to meet ongoing operation, maintenance, and upkeep
expenses associated with this innovative program.
Within the Fish and Aquatic Conservation program, funding
is provided for national fish hatchery system operations,
maintenance and equipment, and aquatic habitat and species
conservation as follows:
National Fish Hatchery System Operations.--$60,655,000 is
provided for National Fish Hatchery System Operations, an
increase of $833,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
The bill continues the enacted funding and direction on Klamath
Basin Restoration activities.
It is recognized that the Service has entered into
reimbursable agreements with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Department of the
Interior's Central Utah Project, and the Bonneville Power
Administration in order to ensure the continued operation of
mitigation hatcheries. So that operations at these hatcheries
are not disrupted, future budget requests must ensure that
Federal partners have committed to making sufficient funding
available to reimburse the Service before the Service proposes
to eliminate funding for mitigation hatcheries.
Maintenance and Equipment.--$25,846,000 is provided for
maintenance and equipment expenses related to the National Fish
Hatchery System, an increase of $2,926,000 above the fiscal
year 2019 enacted level. A portion of the funding provided for
National Fish Hatchery Maintenance and Equipment should be
allocated to hatcheries where partner agencies fund mitigation
work.
Aquatic Habitat and Species Conservation.--$114,757,000 is
provided for aquatic habitat and species conservation, an
increase of $30,272,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted
level. Within aquatic habitat and species conservation, funding
is provided as follows:
--Habitat Assessment and Restoration.--$40,823,000 is
provided for habitat assessment and restoration
activities. Within the funds provided, $1,680,000 is
provided for the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration grants, an increase of $300,000 above the
enacted level, and $6,500,000 has been provided for
activities associated with the Delaware River Basin
Conservation Act (Public Law 114-322). The Committee
also provides $18,998,000 for fish passage
improvements. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Southeast Region and Kentucky Field Office is to be
commended for its ongoing efforts to work with Federal,
State, and local partners to remove deauthorized and
defunct locks and dams on the Green River and a key
tributary, the Barren River. Removal of additional dams
will provide important ecological, safety, and public
access improvements, benefiting local communities and a
growing outdoor recreation economy and the Committee
encourages these efforts. The Committee also encourages
the Service to complete a feasibility study of the
removal of the Warren Mill Dam for improvement of
habitat for migratory fish.
--Population Assessment and Cooperative Management.--
$35,179,000 is provided for population assessment and
cooperative management activities. Fisheries
subsistence is funded at $9,554,000, equal to the
fiscal year 2019 enacted level, and $818,000 is
provided for the Lake Champlain Sea lamprey program.
The Service is directed to fully fund its contributions
under the Coded Wire Tag Program. Additionally, the
Population Assessment and Cooperative Management
program supports critical work to restore Great Lakes
fisheries and inform management decisions through sound
science. This includes the Great Lakes Mass Marking
Program, which is essential to assessing hatchery
production and supporting a robust fishery. Within
funds provided, the Service is encouraged to support
these important efforts.
--Aquatic Invasive Species.--$38,755,000 is provided for
aquatic invasive species activities, an increase of
$16,407,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
Within these funds, the enacted level has been provided
to implement section 5(d)(2) of the Lake Tahoe
Restoration Act (Public Law 114-322).
Non-Intrusive Zebra Mussel Elimination.--The Committee is
aware of the environmental and economic threat posed by
invasive quagga and zebra mussels. The Committee directs the
Service to pursue technologies to aid in the elimination,
mitigation, or control of aquatic nuisance species and invasive
species, with an emphasis on methods that do not result in the
addition of chemical agents to the ecosystem and that do not
result in harmful secondary by-products, such as algal blooms,
taste and odor concerns, and toxic by-products. Of particular
interest are those technologies that can be implemented without
extensive infrastructure modification and those that show
immediate economic benefit as compared to the currently used
methods of control, such as periodic physical removal and
ongoing or periodic chemical treatment.
Asian Carp.--The Committee recognizes the importance of the
work conducted by the Service to combat the serious threat of
Asian carp and provides $25,000,000 for Asian carp activities,
an increase of $14,000,000 above the enacted level. This
significant increase in funding is aimed at protecting and
enhancing Asian carp activities in the Great Lakes to prevent
them from entering and establishing in the Great Lakes and for
Asian carp activities in the Mississippi River and its
tributaries, including its sub-basins. Increased funding should
be used to control Asian carp in the Mississippi River and its
Sub-basins, including the Upper Mississippi River Sub-basin,
Missouri River Sub-basin, Arkansas-Red-White River Sub-basin,
Lower Mississippi River Sub-basin, Tennessee Cumberland Sub-
basin, and Ohio River Sub-basin including in Kentucky Lake,
Lake Barkley, and the Ohio River. The Service should consider
the utility of creating a dedicated funding source to increase
the intensity and geographic scope of efforts to prevent entry
into the Great Lakes and control in areas where Asian carp are
currently located. Additionally, $4,400,000 is included for
implementation of State Aquatic Nuisance Species management
plans to help control the spread of Asian carp.
Invasive Species.--The Committee is aware that work is
ongoing in several regions to address the threats posed by
aquatic invasive species and directs the Service to continue to
make available competitive grant funding for projects to
eliminate these destructive, non-native species.
Prioritization of Combatting Invasive Plant and Animal
Species.--Invasive plant and animal species are a pervasive
problem affecting communities across the Nation. Invasives,
such as the Asian carp, quagga and zebra mussels, emerald ash
borer, Eurasian milfoil, elodea, and the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
threaten our natural resources and wreak havoc on the
communities and industries that rely upon them. Preventing
invasive species from gaining a foothold in our communities and
suppressing established species is of most importance. The
Committee makes several increases to programs designed to
combat invasive species before and after they become a problem.
The Committee encourages the Service to support research,
monitoring, and mitigation efforts, as well as efforts to
disseminate such work, in all regions.
Cooperative Landscape Conservation.--Cooperative landscape
conservation is funded at $12,500,000, equal to the fiscal year
2019 enacted level. Within that amount, $1,000,000 is provided
for Gulf Coast restoration.
The Committee is aware of the changes made to the Landscape
Conservation Cooperatives [LCC] program in consultation with
States and is disappointed that the Service did not follow the
Committee's explicit reprogramming guidelines that require that
any deviation from the budget justification must be transparent
and officially presented to the Appropriations Committees of
the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Committee is
also aware that implementation of those changes to provide
funding for projects for LCCs, rather than operational funding
for LCCs, resulted in changes to organizational structures on
the ground that would make requiring the Service to reestablish
or begin providing direct funding to defunct LCCs for
operations again problematic. The Service is directed to
provide the Committee with the following from fiscal year 2016
to the present: recipients, funding allocations, and a detailed
analysis for why the Service believes the program change is
beneficial.
Science Support.--The Committee has rejected the proposal
to eliminate the Service's Science Support program and has
provided $17,267,000 for the program. Adaptive science is
funded at $10,517,000, of which $931,000 is for Gulf Coast
restoration activities. Service science is funded at
$6,750,000.
Within Service Science, $3,500,000 is provided for white-
nose syndrome research. In addition to these funds, the Service
is encouraged to continue dedicating at least $2,000,000 of
funds appropriated for species recovery to white-nose syndrome
work. The Committee also directs that best practices developed
in response to White Nose Syndrome be applied in response to
other new and emerging high-risk wildlife diseases with the
support of these funds. The Service should also continue, along
with the U.S. Geological Survey, to lead and implement the
North American Bat Monitoring Program in association with other
Federal natural resource management agencies and offices,
States, and non-governmental partners.
Unknown Florida Panther Disorder.--The Committee is
concerned about a disorder detected in some Florida panthers
and bobcats and encourages the Service to work with the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to provide technical
assistance to diagnose and determine the cause[s] of this
disorder that could threaten Florida panther recovery.
General Operations.--$143,013,000 is provided for general
operations. Funding for central and regional operations is
provided at the requested level. Funding for the National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation is maintained at the fiscal year 2019
level of $7,022,000.
CONSTRUCTION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $54,113,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 15,693,000
Committee recommendation................................ 43,226,000
The bill provides $43,226,000 for Construction and includes
$26,793,000 for the backlog of deferred maintenance principally
at national fish hatcheries and national wildlife refuges. The
Service is directed to provide a spend plan to the Committee
within 120 days of enactment of this act for the additional
deferred maintenance funding. The detailed allocation of
funding by activity is included in the table at the end of this
explanatory statement. For line-item construction, the Service
is expected to follow the project priority list in the table
below. When a construction project is completed or terminated
and appropriated funds remain, the Service may use these funds
for reconstruction, replacement, or repair of facilities or
equipment damaged or destroyed by storms, floods, fires, and
similar unanticipated events.
The amount provided within the bill is available for the
following distribution of funds and projects requested by the
administration:
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Committee
State Project estimate Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Don Edwards San Francisco 5,875 5,875
Bay NWR
MI Jordan River NFH 500 500
VA Harrison Lake NFH 558 558
GA Chattahoochee Forest NFH 816 816
WY Saratoga NFH 644 644
HQ Branch of Dam Safety 250 250
HQ Branch of Dam Safety 200 200
HQ Information Resources & 250 250
Technology Management
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAND ACQUISITION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $65,189,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 4,540,000
Committee recommendation................................ \1\58,770,000
\1\Includes a rescission of $3,628,000 from unobligated balances.
The bill provides $58,770,000 in new spending authority for
land acquisition in fiscal year 2020, with a rescission of
$3,628,000 from unobligated balances for a total of
$55,142,000. The Committee identified the rescission based upon
a review of projects that either have a remaining balance due
to a cost savings from previously appropriated funds or those
projects that no longer have a willing seller. The Committee
provides $6,000,000 for recreational access. The Committee
includes $1,500,000 to support the work of the Highlands
Conservation Act (Public Law 108-421) grants to protect and
preserve the priority projects in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New
York, and Connecticut and expects the Service to continue to
obligate funding from prior years to support eligible projects.
The Committee strongly encourages the Service to continue to
provide outreach to all units of the National Wildlife Refuge
System, including both Clarks and Cahaba River, to ensure these
refuges are aware of all funding opportunities available to
fulfill the vision of Secretarial Order 3356. The Committee is
aware that newly established refuges and those nearing
establishment, such as the Green River, are eligible for
funding under the recreational access, inholding, and other
lines included in the detail table; therefore, the Committee
encourages the Service to use the additional funding provided
in the recommendation to purchase parcels as they become
available for newly established refuges. The amount provided
within this bill is available for the following distribution of
funds and projects as ranked and provided by the
administration:
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Bill
State Project estimate (Discretionary)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IA/MN Northern Tallgrass .............. 1,000
Prairie NWR
TX Lower Rio Grande Valley .............. 2,000
NWR
SD/ND Dakota Grassland .............. 4,250
Conservation Area
FL Everglades Headwaters .............. 3,700
NWR and Conservation
Area
WA Steigerwald Lake NWR .............. 1,900
IA Neal Smith NWR .............. 500
LA Bayour Sauvage NWR .............. 2,000
TX Laguna Atascosa NWR .............. 2,000
FL St Marks NWR .............. 1,500
WA Willapa NWR .............. 1,500
IA/IL/MN/WI Upper Mississippi .............. 1,000
National Wildlife and
Fish Refuge
MT Montana NWR and .............. 2,000
Conservation Areas
CA North Central Valley .............. 500
Wildlife Management
Area
KS Flint Hills Legacy .............. 3,000
Conservation Area
NC Alligator River NWR .............. 1,000
CT/MA/ME/NH/ Great Thicket NWR .............. 500
NY/RI
CA Humboldt Bay NWR .............. 1,000
AR Cache River NWR .............. 1,800
Acquisition Management 9,526 12,055
Land Protection Planning .............. 465
Inholdings/Emergencies/ 338 6,000
Hardships
Exchanges .............. 1,500
Sportsman/Recreational .............. 6,000
Access
Highlands Conservation .............. 1,500
.............. 54,988
Rescission 5,324 3,628
----------------------------------
Total, Land .............. 51,360
Acquisition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COOPERATIVE ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $45,995,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... -31,008,000
Committee recommendation................................ \1\53,495,000
\1\Includes a rescission of $18,771,000 from unobligated balances.
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund
program has been provided $53,495,000 including a rescission of
$18,771,000. Funds are to be distributed as follows:
$12,508,000 for endangered species conservation grants to
States and territories; $7,485,000 for habitat conservation
planning grants; $19,638,000 for habitat conservation land
acquisition grants; and $11,162,000 for species recovery land
acquisition. The Committee is aware there is currently an
unobligated balance of over $142,000,000 for this program, with
over $89,000,000 in prior years. The Committee has rescinded
$18,771,000 from this substantial balance, but is very
concerned about the obligation of funds. The Service is
directed to brief the Committee within 30 days after the
enactment of this act on the geographical distribution funds,
the unobligated balances, and the overall management of the
program.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $13,228,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 13,228,000
The National Wildlife Refuge Fund has been provided
$13,228,000. This amount is equal to the fiscal year 2019
enacted level.
NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $42,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 40,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 44,000,000
The North American Wetlands Conservation Fund program has
been provided $44,000,000. This amount is $2,000,000 above the
fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $3,910,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 3,900,000
Committee recommendation................................ 4,910,000
The recommendation for the neotropical migratory bird
conservation fund is $4,910,000, an increase of $1,000,000
above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
MULTINATIONAL SPECIES CONSERVATION FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $11,561,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 6,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 12,800,000
The multinational species conservation fund programs have
been provided $12,800,000, an increase of $1,239,000 above the
fiscal year 2019 enacted level. Funds are distributed as
follows: $3,100,000 for African elephant conservation;
$3,800,000 for rhinoceros and tiger conservation; $1,900,000
for Asian elephant conservation; $2,200,000 for great ape
conservation; and $1,800,000 for marine turtle conservation.
STATE AND TRIBAL WILDLIFE GRANTS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $64,571,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 31,286,000
Committee recommendation................................ 65,171,000
The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program has been
provided $65,171,000. This amount is $600,000 above the fiscal
year 2019 enacted level. The recommended level provides
$54,000,000 for State and Tribal apportioned grants; $4,809,000
for competitive grants for Tribes; and $6,362,000 for
competitive grants for States.
Pacific Flyway.--The Committee is concerned about the loss
of seasonal wetland habitat along the Pacific Flyway. The
Committee encourages the Service to work with private
landowners and organizations representing agriculture,
conservation science, and waterbird habitat enhancement to
develop critical waterbird conservation programs that provide
temporary, seasonal, and working wetland habitat for
shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and other species.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
The bill continues several administrative provisions from
previous years.
National Park Service
Since the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872,
the National Park System has grown to encompass 401 sites
spanning more than 84 million acres in all 50 States, the
District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico,
Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. The National Park Service
[Service], created in 1916, is charged with preserving these
sites ``unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.''
The Service and its more than 20,000 employees also contribute
to the protection of other historical, cultural, and
recreational resources through a variety of grant and technical
assistance programs.
Unless otherwise noted in the narratives below, the
Committee recommendation rejects all proposed cuts to programs
and parks, and also rejects any proposed program eliminations.
OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $2,502,711,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 2,425,517,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,564,597,000
The Committee recommends $2,564,597,000 for the operation
of the national park system, an increase of $139,080,000 above
the budget request. The Committee has focused on maintaining
services and the physical infrastructure at the Nation's parks
in order to preserve the visitor experience. The Committee
notes that funding recommendations are provided with the
Service's fiscal year 2019 operating plan as the measure of
actual spending. Fiscal year 2019 operating plan levels are
detailed in the following table:
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2019
Operation of the National Park -----------------------------------
System Enacted Operating plan
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resource Stewardship................ 334,437 334,332
Visitor Services.................... 255,683 252,152
Park Protection..................... 357,226 369,595
Faciltiy peratios and Maintenance... 821,538 833,608
Park Support........................ 548,902 528,099
External Administrative Costs....... 184,925 184,925
-----------------------------------
Total, Operation of the 2,502,711 2,502,711
National Park System.........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee believes that the practice of providing an
operating plan does not provide enough transparency in
budgeting or ability for Congress to provide increases to
priority programs and is not intended as a vehicle to address
policy priorities not included in the budget request. As a
result, the Committee is committed to working with the Service
to identify a structure that will allow the Service to execute
spending at the levels provided and end the practice of
redistributing recommendations in a fiscal year 2020 operating
plan. Program changes are detailed below and in the table that
accompanies the Committee report. The bill continues the
Committee's longstanding commitment to funding requested
increases for new responsibilities at existing parks and
including newly authorized park units, and has provided a total
increase of $2,245,000 as requested within the program below.
Resource Stewardship.--The Committee recommends
$341,338,000 for resource stewardship, an increase of
$6,901,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and
$19,776,000 above the budget request. Funds within the Resource
Stewardship program, a total of $1,500,000 shall be used to
continue landscape restoration projects at newly authorized
national parks, as provided by Public Law 114-113. $800,000 is
provided for cave and karst ecosystem research. The Committee
expects these landscape restoration funds to be merged with
park unit operating budgets beginning in fiscal year 2020.
Within the funds provided, $4,000,000 is also provided to
address active forest management at national parks; $3,000,000
is provided to address quagga and zebra mussels; $12,316,000 is
for natural resources projects and $300,000 to fund Alaska
subsistence activities. A total of $10,032,000 is provided for
Everglades restoration, consistent with fiscal year 2019.
Visitor Services.--The Committee recommends $257,245,000
for visitor services, which is $1,562,000 above the enacted
level and $20,158,000 above the budget request, which includes
funding for the National Capital Performing Arts program at the
enacted level. The recommendation includes $1,200,000 for
recreational fishing as requested and maintains enacted level
for funding volunteers in parks programs, interpretation and
education programs, and youth partnership programs.
Park Protection.--The Committee recommends $371,470,000 for
park protection, a $14,244,000 increase above the fiscal year
2019 level.
Within the amounts provided, the bill supports the
requested increase of $1,500,000 for veterans' fire corps.
U.S. Park Police.--The Committee is concerned about the
lack of information provided to members of Congress in response
to inquiries of U.S. Park Police policies and procedures
relating to body-worn cameras, use of force, officers'
authority outside national parks, and the number of officers
involved in shootings. The Committee directs the Service to
provide a report to the Committee no later than 90 days after
enactment of this Act which details: (1) the agency's standard
operating procedures relating to officers' authority outside of
national parks; (2) policies regarding when and how body-worn
cameras are used and when and how footage from cameras is
retained; and (3) statistics on use-of-force incidents for each
of the last five fiscal years, including the number of officers
involved in shootings.
Facility Operations and Maintenance.--The Committee
recommends $850,795,000 for facility operations and
maintenance, an increase of $29,257,000 above the fiscal year
2019 enacted level and $54,005,000 above the budget request.
The bill includes $153,575,000 for cyclic maintenance and
$135,980,000 for repair and rehabilitation projects. Requested
increases for utility payments are also provided.
Park Support.--The Committee recommends $547,482,000 for
park support, a decrease of $1,420,000 below the fiscal year
2019 enacted level and $32,961,000 above the budget request.
Except as detailed below, increases requested in the budget
request are not included in the recommendation. The bill does
accept the request of $5,000,000 in matching program funds for
the National Park Foundation within the Operation of the
National Park System appropriation rather than in the
Centennial Challenge appropriation as in previous years.
Requested increases for new responsibilities and outdoor
recreation and tourism opportunities are also provided. The
recommendation includes funding for the Service's Chesapeake
Bay Office at the fiscal year 2019 level and retains funding
provided in fiscal year 2019 for the Honouliuli units,
Coltsville National Historic Park, and the Partnership Wild and
Scenic River program. Funding for the Roosevelt-Campobello
International Park shall also be maintained at the fiscal year
2019 enacted level and the Service is directed to follow the
direction contained in the explanatory statement accompanying
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113)
concerning budget submissions for the park.
Within the funds provided for Park Support, the Committee
has provided the request of $580,000 to support operations at
the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The Service is
directed to continue its collaborative work to ensure the
development of a Management Plan for the Katahdin Woods and
Waters National Monument that addresses the concerns of
affected stakeholders including, but not limited to, local
communities and businesses. The Committee directs the
department to maintain the line item and program summary in the
budget for Honouliuli. Further, the agency shall not construe
Section 2206 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation,
Management, and Recreation Act, to result in any reduction in
funding for Honouliuli.
Within Park Support, the recommendation includes $500,000
for the 400 Years of African-American History Commission to be
spent in accordance with the 400 Years of African-American
History Commission Act (Public Law 115-102) and $3,300,000 for
the Semiquincentennial Commission to be spent in accordance
with the Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016 (Public Law
114-196).
The Committee is aware that the Semiquincentennial
Commission is finalizing its required report to the President
outlining a strategic plan for the years leading up to the
Semiquincentennial. The Committee understands the need for
appropriations as a foundation to facilitate fundraising
efforts, which the Committee expects to make up the majority of
funding for Semiquincentennial related activities. The
Semiquincentennial Commission is directed to provide the
Committee with quarterly reports detailing spending by activity
to help the Committee understand the Semiquincentennial
Commission's needs.
External Administrative Costs.--The Committee recommends
$196,267,000 for external administrative costs, which is a
$11,342,000 increase above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
The Committee notes the rising costs associated with
assessments for the Department's working capital fund and
encourages the Department to seek efficiencies to reduce these
charges to the individual agencies. Requested reductions to
employee compensation payments are not included.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.--The
recommendation continues funding for the Blackstone River
Valley National Historical Park at no less than the fiscal year
2019 enacted level and expects that the Service will continue
to make funds available to the local coordinating entity to
maintain staffing and capacity to assist in management of the
park, as authorized in Public Law 113-291. Further, the
Committee is concerned by the lack of progress in fulfilling
the statutory requirements of the park authorization in the 5
years since the Blackstone River Valley National Historical
Park was established. The Service is directed to complete a
General Management Plan for the Park, as required by Public Law
113-291, and to prioritize activities that will advance
development of the Park, including the establishment of
boundaries and the acquisition of key sites as outlined in the
law. The Service shall brief the Committee on its plan to
fulfill this directive within 30 days of enactment of this act.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.--The
Committee is concerned that the Federal Advisory Commission for
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park has not
had a scheduled meeting since the first quarter of 2017 and the
Committee expects the Commission to schedule a public meeting
within 90 days of enactment of this act and notify the
Committee once such a meeting has been scheduled.
National Trails System.--The Committee understands the
importance of providing adequate funding to develop and
maintain the National Trails System for future generations to
enjoy. In preparation for the National Trails System's 50-year
anniversary in 2020, the Committee urges the Service to
continue its efforts to support construction and maintenance
projects and volunteer coordination efforts, including
activities in support of non-unit National Scenic Trails.
Trail Building.--The Committee recognizes the great need
for trail building and repair and commends the Service on its
work to engage and support volunteers who contribute thousands
of hours each year completing this work. The Committee is
concerned that the National Scenic Trails lack capacity to
coordinate volunteers who would be willing to help address
local maintenance backlogs and to buildout new miles of trail
and therefore encourages the Service to support trail design,
project planning, and volunteer coordination necessary to
facilitate use of volunteer hours on non-unit National Scenic
Trails.
Director's Order 21.--Given the Service's budget
constraints of the last decade and the need to find other
revenue sources, Congress provided the Service authority to
expand its donor acknowledgement policies as part of Public Law
113-291. Within 90 days of enactment of this act, the Service
shall report to the Committee on the steps that it has taken or
is planning to take in fiscal year 2020 to implement the law.
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.--The Oklahoma
City National Memorial is critical educational asset that
honors the lives lost and affected in the tragic domestic
terror event of April 19, 1995 at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal
Building in Oklahoma City and the Committee is committed to
working with the department to provide the remaining funds
authorized by Congress for the Oklahoma City National Memorial
Foundation as authorized by Congress.
Digitization Partnerships.--The Committee continues to
support the Service's continued efforts to increase outreach
and work to develop partnerships and programs with Hispanic
Serving Institutions and Historical Black Colleges and
Universities by focusing on public-private partnerships. These
collaborative efforts will allow our nationally recognized
parks to disseminate critical and historically significant
information such as the National Underground Railroad
collection to the public through digital means.
Denali National Park Road.--The Secretary of the Interior,
acting through the Director of the National Park Service, shall
submit to Congress a report regarding the feasibility of
rerouting the Denali National Park Road [Road] should current
stabilization efforts fail; as well as options for
reconstruction of the Road in the future, including cost
estimates and alternatives, within 90 days of enactment of this
act. The Department is encouraged to allocate sufficient
funding provided in this act to ensure the report is published
in an expedited timeframe. The Department is also directed to
provide quarterly updates to the Committees on Appropriations
of both the House and Senate on the progress and status of
efforts to inform additional vulnerability assessments along
the road as well as to inform risk reduction techniques,
including the use of emergency procedures.
The Department shall continue to collaborate with the U.S.
Geological Survey, Federal Highway Administration, and Army
Corps of Engineers, to further monitor, predict, and respond to
geohazard threats along the road. The multidisciplinary team
shall continue to develop both long and short-term plans for
incorporating geohazards into the rerouting and potential
reconstruction of the road. Any findings of such an evaluation
shall be included in the quarterly briefings to the Committees
on Appropriations.
NATIONAL RECREATION AND PRESERVATION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $64,138,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 32,337,000
Committee recommendation................................ 68,084,000
The Committee recommends $68,084,000 for national
recreation and preservation programs, an increase of
$35,747,000 above the budget request and $3,946,000 above the
fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
Natural Programs.--The Committee recommends $15,257,000 for
natural programs, an increase of $1,087,000 above the fiscal
year 2019 enacted level. $3,000,000 is provided for the
Chesapeake Gateways and Trails program and Rivers, Trails, and
Conservation Assistance.
Cultural Programs.--The Committee recommends $28,545,000
for cultural programs, an increase of $2,983,000 above the
enacted level. The increase above the enacted level is provided
pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 4451(b) for grants to nonprofit
organizations or institutions for the purpose of supporting
programs for Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native culture and arts
development at a total program level of $1,500,000 as provided
in the explanatory statement accompanying the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2019. This program is a good example of a
multi-State, multi-organizational collaboration as envisioned
under the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian
Culture and Art Development Act (20 U.S.C. Ch. 56). Other
cultural programs, including grants to preserve and interpret
Japanese American Confinement Sites and Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act grants, are continued at their
fiscal year 2019 levels.
9/11 Memorial Competitive Grant Program.--The Committee
provides $2,000,000 for the competitive grant program
authorized by the 9/11 Memorial Act (Public Law 115-413).
Heritage Partnership Programs.--The Committee recommends
$21,944,000 for heritage partnership programs, which is an
increase of $1,623,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted
level. This level of funding provides $20,962,000 for grants to
national heritage areas and $982,000 to administer the program.
The Committee believes that Heritage areas serve an important
purpose in support of historical and cultural education,
preservation, and tourism activities. The Committee continues
to encourage individual heritage areas to develop plans for
long-term sufficiency and supports longstanding efforts to
develop and implement a new distribution formula that provides
additional resources for newer areas while maintaining the
robust capabilities of more established areas. The Committee is
aware that progress has been made towards this goal but
understands that more work is still needed to develop a
consensus among the Service and all congressionally authorized
areas on an equitable funding distribution. Accordingly, the
Committee expects the Service to continue its work with
currently authorized areas to develop and implement a
sustainable, long-term funding solution for the program. In the
meantime, $21,944,000 is provided to continue Heritage
Partnership Program grants in the same manner as fiscal year
2019, which provides that the increase above the fiscal year
2017 funding level shall be equally distributed to Tier 1 areas
or Tier 2 areas currently receiving the minimum funding levels,
including newly authorized areas.
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails.--The Committee
notes that the recommendation has increased support for the
Gateways and Watertrails program to a total of $3,000,000, in
recognition of its longstanding role in supporting the
conservation and interpretation of the Chesapeake Bay region.
The Committee notes that efforts to enact a long-term
reauthorization of this program continue and expects that the
Service will continue to implement the program at the funding
level appropriated by Congress in the meantime, pursuant to a
recent opinion by the Service's comptroller and consistent with
the U.S. Government Accountability Office's principles of
Federal appropriations law.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $102,660,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 32,672,000
Committee recommendation................................ 113,160,000
The Committee recommends $113,160,000 for the historic
preservation fund, an increase of $80,488,000 above the budget
request and $10,500,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted
level. Program changes are detailed below and in the
comprehensive table that accompanies the Committee report.
The Committee recommendation provides $52,675,000 for
grants-in-aid to States and territories and $13,735,000 for
grants-in-aid to Tribes.
The Committee has provided $15,500,000 to continue the
Civil Rights in America portion of the Centennial Initiative.
These funds are available to protect and preserve the history
and sites associated with the Civil Rights movement as well as
recently discovered sites and stories of the transatlantic
slave trade. The recommendation also provides $9,000,000 to
fund preservation grants for Historically Black Colleges and
Universities and continues $750,000 in grants for underserved
populations.
The Committee provides $7,500,000 for preservation grants
to revitalize historic properties of national, State, and local
significance in order to restore, protect, and foster economic
development of rural villages and downtown areas. Grants shall
be made available to States, local governments, Tribes, or
community non-profit organizations for the purpose of making
sub-grants to eligible projects. Priority shall be given to
applicants with a demonstrated capacity for allocating similar
awards for preservation of such sites. The Committee recommends
that applicants cap their administrative costs at no more than
5 percent. The Service shall provide a spend plan for the
Committee's review no later than 60 days after the enactment of
this act and shall distribute grants expeditiously. Further,
the Committee designates these grants the ``Paul Bruhn Historic
Revitalization Grants,'' in recognition of his 40-year
commitment to historic preservation and downtown
revitalization, and his exceptional legacy of public service.
National Register of Historic Places.--The Committee is
concerned by the March 1, 2019, proposal by the Service to
modify the long-standing procedure used to nominate properties
for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (84
Fed. Reg. 6996). The Committee is aware of concern from the
Historic Preservation Community that the proposed changes are
not required by the minor amendments Congress made to the
National Historic Preservation Act in 2016 as part of Public
Law 114-298. Further, the Committee is troubled that the
Service has failed to appropriately conduct meaningful tribal
consultation or adequately consult with other Federal land
management agencies, state and tribal historic preservation
officers or other key stakeholders during the proposal's
development. The Committee directs the Department to complete
meaningful government-to-government consultation with Tribes
pursuant to Executive Order 13175 and consult with these key
stakeholders prior to finalizing or implementing the rule.
The Save America's Treasures program is provided
$14,000,000. The recommendation supports this program because
of its important role in providing preservation and
conservation assistance to nationally significant historical
properties and collections, including historic courthouses.
CONSTRUCTION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $364,704,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 246,333,000
Committee recommendation................................ 392,185,000
The bill includes $392,185,000 for construction
requirements for the national park system, which is $27,481,000
above the enacted level, and $145,852,000 above the request.
The Committee directs the Service to provide no later than 60
days after enactment of this act an operating plan for the
allocation of funds. Requests for reprogramming will be
considered pursuant to the guidelines in the front of this
report. Within 180 days of enactment of this act, the Secretary
is directed to submit to the Committees on Appropriations and
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives a formal evaluation
of the National Park Service's Capital Investment Strategy,
including any assessment of performance metrics and
opportunities for investment.
The Committee has not yet received an updated fiscal year
2020 construction priority list from the Service due to the
late passage of fiscal year 2019 appropriations. As a result, a
detailed list of distribution of line-item construction
projects is not included in this report. The Committee expects
the Service to provide its updated fiscal year 2020 priority
list as expeditiously as possible.
Ft. Vancouver National Historic Site Rehabilitation.--The
Committee's recommendation supports the rehabilitation of the
barracks located at the site, a former U.S. Army facility
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However,
the Committee directs the Service not to take any action to
relocate any Service personnel to the site from other
locations, as originally proposed. The Service shall instead
brief the Committee within 60 days of enactment of this act
regarding an alternative plan for the long-term utilization of
the site.
Gustavus Intertie, Glacier NP.--The Committee continues the
direction contained in Senate Report 115-276 and further notes
that it is the expectation of Congress that the Secretary,
consistent with authority conveyed by 54 USC 100901, will
contract with Alaska Power and Telephone, the only established
hydro-electrical utility in the remote Alaska community of
Gustavus, and for which the Service has previously received
funds for expansion to meet all community needs, for the
operation, maintenance, and repair of National Park Service-
owned electric generation facilities. These facilities will be
used to contribute energy to the micro grid during low periods
of water and hydro -electrical generation, to preclude energy
interruptions to benefit the administration and protection of
the System and other users of the local area micro grid. Such
use by AP&T of NPS facilities will negate additional similar
facility acquisitions or construction and result in lower
energy costs to users.
LAND ACQUISITION AND STATE ASSISTANCE
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $168,444,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 4,828,000
Committee recommendation................................ \1\199,899,000
\1\Includes a rescission of $2,279,000 from unobligated balances.
The bill provides $199,899,000 for land acquisition and
State assistance including $59,899,000 for land acquisition and
$140,000,000 for State assistance, with a rescission. The
Committee provides $2,500,000 for recreational access activity
for the Service, an increase of $500,000 above the fiscal year
2019 enacted level and increases for the emergencies,
hardships, and inholding activities. The funding provided by
the Committee for recreation access may be available to acquire
land to close gaps in the National Scenic Trails. The Committee
urges the Service to consider geographic distribution to ensure
investments for the trail system are reflected in project
prioritization. The Service is encouraged to use appropriated
funds to purchase additional inholdings within the boundaries
of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park as
part of the fiscal year 2018 funded project now underway. The
Committee encourages the Park Service to establish a working
group of interested stakeholders to develop a set of
recommendations that could help states address their
administrative obligations and compliance responsibilities
under the state side program. The amount provided within this
bill is available for the following distribution of funds and
projects as ranked and provided by the administration:
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Bill
State Project estimate (Discretionary)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR Lewis and Clark National .............. 2,555
Historical Park
GA Cumberland Island National .............. 1,100
Seashore
TX Palo Alto Battlefield .............. 3,500
National Historical Park
NM El Malpais National .............. 5,182
Monument
VA Petersburg National .............. 2,417
Battlefield
KY/TN Big South Fork National .............. 850
River & Recreation Area
NC Guilford Courthouse .............. 400
National Military Park
Multi Battlefield Park Units: .............. 2,000
Cedar Creek, Belle Grove,
Guilford, Fort Donelson,
Fredericksburg, Saratoga,
Gettysburg, Spotslyvania,
Shiloh, Vicksburg
HI Kahakai National Historic .............. 6,000
Trail
NE/SD Missouri National .............. 2,100
Recreation River
ND Theodore Roosevelt .............. 900
National Park
MD/VA George Washington Memorial .............. 1,395
Parkway
Acquisition Management 8,828 10,000
Emergencies, Hardships, .............. 4,000
Relocations and
Deficiencies
Inholdings, Exchanges, .............. 5,000
Donations
American Battlefield 5,000 10,000
Protection Grant Program
Sportsman/Recreational 1,000 2,500
Access
Subtotal, Land 14,828 59,899
Acquisition
State Assistance Grants, .............. 110,000
Discretionary
State Assistance Grants, .............. 25,000
Competitive
Administrative Expenses .............. 5,000
Subtotal, State .............. 140,000
Assistance
Rescission -10,000 2,279
Total, Land 4,828 197,620
Acquisition and State
Assistance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $20,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 20,000,000
The recommendation includes $20,000,000, equal to the
fiscal year 2019 level for the Centennial Challenge program.
The Committee expects that these funds will be used primarily
as an additional tool for the Service to address its backlog
maintenance issues. While a 1-to-1 matching requirement is
required by law for projects to qualify for these funds, the
Service is urged to give preference to projects that
demonstrate additional leveraging capacity from its partners.
The Committee further encourages the Service to support
deferred maintenance priorities that support recreational and
education opportunities relating to urban and underserved
youth.
ENERGY AND MINERALS
U.S. Geological Survey
Established in 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
serves as the Earth and natural science research bureau for the
Department of the Interior and is the only integrated natural
resources research bureau in the Federal Government. USGS
conducts research, monitoring, and assessments to contribute to
understanding America's lands, water, and biological resources.
Its research and data products support the Department's
resource and land management needs and also provide the water,
biological, energy, and mineral resources information needed by
other Federal, State, Tribal, and local government agencies to
guide planning, management, and regulatory programs. More than
9,000 scientists, technicians, and support staff of the USGS
are located in nearly 400 offices in every State and in several
foreign countries throughout the world. The USGS leverages its
resources and expertise in partnership with more than 2,000
agencies of Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments; the
academic community; nongovernmental organizations; and the
private sector.
SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $1,160,596,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 983,467,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,209,601,000
The bill provides $1,209,601,000 for the U.S. Geological
Survey, $49,005,000 above the enacted level. The Committee
approves the proposed budget restructure and realignment which
consolidates the function of two mission areas, Land Resources
and Environmental Health, and realigns the structure of the
Ecosystems, Water Resources, and the Core Science Systems
Mission areas. The Committee recommendation also moves all the
Environmental Health Programs into the Ecoystems Mission Area.
All programs are maintained at the 2019 enacted levels unless
further stipulated below.
Ecosystems.--The bill provides $225,015,000 for Ecosystems
programs and approves the Survey's request to restructure this
activity with the following instructions. It is important to
the Committee that as the Survey transitions to a new budget
structure, the research capabilities centered on migratory fish
conservation, aquatic health, fish biology, and invasive
species continue and that all the science centers that perform
this type of work, such as the Leetown Center, remain utilized.
The new Species Management Research Program receives
$72,159,000 including a transfer of $2,500,000 from species
specific research to the new biological threats program.
Funding is provided to Species Management Research, with the
expectation the $250,000 will be used for competitively awarded
grants for applied research to develop a system for integrating
sensors. It also is the Committee's expectation that by working
with partners, USGS can develop a convergent platform that
enables existing and future sensor technologies to be deployed
in extreme environments where real-time information is
required.
The new Land Management Research Program receives
$55,448,000. Biological carbon sequestration activities are
reduced by $5,025,000 due to the completion of activities that
were conducted as part of the Energy Independence and Security
Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-140) and the necessary assessments
have been completed with published reports and papers. The next
phase of assessments set to be conducted are for carbon
sequestration in wetlands, which are funded under a different
sub activity.
The new Biological Threats Research Program receives
$34,549,000.
The Committee provides an increase in funds for a total of
$1,000,000 to research the predominant pathways and mechanisms
of the transmission of chronic wasting disease in wild,
captive, and farmed populations of cervids in North America,
including identifying significant gaps in the current
scientific knowledge regarding transmission pathways. In
carrying out this research, USGS may consult, partner, or
contract with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
the National Academy of Sciences, and other public and private
entities.
Funding for white nose syndrome is increased by $500,000 to
assist the Survey in leading and implementing the North
American Bat Monitoring Program in association with other
Federal natural resource management agencies and offices,
States, and non-governmental partners. Asian Carp activities
are funded at $9,600,000, a $2,000,000 increase which shall
continue to be used to address Asian Carp issues in the Great
Lakes and Upper Mississippi River Basin. In order to
effectively control the spread of Asian Carp, the Committee
expects all six sub basins of the Mississippi River Basin will
be included in funding opportunities.
Additionally, of the funds provided, the Committee expects
a total of $400,000 to be devoted to Coral Disease Research,
Detection, and Response as a result of concerns that emerging
coral diseases have proven to be a major source of coral
mortality, especially along the Florida Reef Tract, and pose a
significant obstacles to coral reef restoration efforts. The
Committee encourages the Department of the Interior to work
with other Federal partners, as well as State and territorial
government partners, to support coral monitoring, research, and
restoration efforts in highly impacted and high priority coral
reef habitats in U.S. waters including in Biscayne National
Park and Dry Tortugas National Park.
The Committee is aware of the work the Survey is performing
in critical landscapes, such as the Arctic, Puget Sound,
California Bay Delta, Everglades, Great Lakes, Columbia River,
and the Chesapeake Bay, and encourages this work to continue.
The Committee appreciates the research that the Survey is
conducting regarding the Columbia River's flow regimes and
understands the value of such research in light of the Columbia
River Treaty. The Committee urges such flow regime research to
be conducted in partnership with academic partners that have an
advanced-technology observation and prediction system in this
estuary.
The Committee also notes the grave ecological threats and
public nuisance posed by many invasive species and directs the
Survey to prioritize research, detection, and response efforts
on invasive species with extremely high impacts on public lands
and natural resources, including Burmese Pythons in the Florida
Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp, as well as Lionfish in the
Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and South Atlantic waters.
The Cooperative Research Units Program receives
$18,371,000, maintaining the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
The Committee notes that USGS Cooperative Research Units [CRU]
have served as a cooperative network with Interior partners to
improve and increase youth involvement in science and resources
management. The Committee recognizes the value of these
programs in building the workforce of tomorrow and strongly
encourages the Survey to develop a plan and address open
research positions at research institutions and fill open
positions at CRUs as quickly as practicable to support the
educational pipeline. The Committee strongly encourages that of
the funds provided, $250,000 be maintained for research into
the causes, and possible mitigation, of the dramatic decline in
moose populations in the southern portions of that animal's New
England range.
The new Climate Adaption Science Center sub activity
receives $44,488,000. The recommendation includes funding to
maintain the fiscal year 2019 levels for the Centers. It is the
Committee's expectation that funding will be distributed
according to the allocation methodology in previous years
ensuring all Centers remain open and at current levels.
Energy and Mineral Resources.--The bill provides
$90,041,000 for Mineral Resources. The Committee includes
$4,000,000 for the implementation of Secretarial Order 3352 and
encourages the Survey to continue to work on the U.S. domestic
mineral base survey.
The Committee supports the direction in Executive Order
13817 and Secretarial Order 3359 to improve topographic,
geological, and geophysical mapping and provides $10,598,000
for the new critical minerals initiative. The Committee also
encourages the completion of the pyrrhotite occurrence study,
which was provided funding in 2019.
The Committee expects the Survey to work collaboratively
with State geological surveys to focus resources toward
completing its core task of geologically surveying regions of
the country that have high quality mineral and energy resources
that remain unmapped at a useable scale, such as the Arctic
mineral belt which includes the Yukon Tanana Uplands. The
Survey will consult with State geological surveys to update and
conduct new evaluations of oil and gas resources in low-
permeability reservoirs as in previous years.
Natural Hazards.--The bill includes $170,838,000 for
Natural Hazards programs. Within the Earthquake Hazards
program, the Committee continues to support the multitude of
regional earthquake initiatives, but is concerned about the
budget structure for each network as it relates to operations,
maintenance, and infrastructure; therefore, the Committee
directs the Survey to report back within 90 days after
enactment of this act with a breakdown of funding between the
operations, maintenance, and infrastructure expenditures in
2018 and 2019 along with recommendations on how to better
structure the funding for these initiatives. This
recommendation provides funding to ensure all the regional
networks receive 2019 base funding level for operations and
maintenance, including earthquake early warning and the Central
and Eastern US Network [CEUSN]. Within these amounts, the
Committee directs that regional networks which recently
acquired the USArray stations from the National Science
Foundation receive $3,000,000 for the operations and
maintenance as these networks work to incorporate and use all
Earthscope data. On top of base operations and maintenance for
each network, the recommendation includes $17,500,000 for
equipment and infrastructure costs. The Committee is also
concerned that the updates to the national seismic hazard maps
do not consistently include all 50 States and directs the
Survey to update these maps for all 50 States, not just the
lower 48, and provides $2,000,000 for this effort.
The Committee is concerned about the lack of knowledge and
real time instrumentation available for the Cascadia subduction
zone; therefore, the Committee encourages the continued
development of a system for Cascadia that will help prepare for
and mitigate the negative human and economic impacts of a major
seismic event.
Base funding for the volcano hazards program is included
along with $1,540,000 for the operation of equipment purchased
with the onetime capital infrastructure provided in fiscal year
2018 funding. The Committee remains concerned that systems and
equipment used to monitor, detect, and warn the public of
volcanic and seismic hazards, including lahars and earthquakes
on high-threat volcanoes, are outdated and inadequate to
address the substantial risks posed by those natural hazards.
The Committee continues funding for next generation lahar
operations and includes $1,645,000 for the Survey's plan to
repair, upgrade, and expand monitoring, detection, and warning
systems and equipment on high-threat volcanoes.
The Committee is encouraged by the establishment of the
National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System [NVEWS]
(section 5001 of Public Law 116-9) in 2019. NVEWS will vastly
improve, organize, and modernize volcano monitoring efforts in
the United States to mitigate volcanic hazards. Building upon
the lessons learned from developing the Earthquake Early
Warning system, the Committee recommends that the USGS continue
development of an implementation plan and operations and
maintenance budget projections for NVEWS, with a focus and
priority on high-threat volcanoes in areas of sparse
instrumentation. The Committee recognizes the risk of
geomagnetic field disturbances, including from Space Weather,
on the Nation's electric power transmission network, pipelines,
and other critical infrastructure. The Committee provides an
additional $1,500,000 to complete a magnetotelluric survey of
the earth's electric and magnetic fields on a regular grid
across the conterminous United States.
Water Resources.--The bill includes $228,808,000 for Water
Resources. The Committee provides $1,000,000 to continue the
U.S.-Mexico transboundary aquifer project; $6,000,000 for the
Mississippi Alluvial plain project; and $300,000 for shallow
and fractured bedrock terrain research to continue. The
groundwater monitoring network is to be maintained at enacted
levels.
The Committee includes $1,500,000 for the Survey to install
streamgages on certain transboundary rivers and an additional
$1,500,000 for the implementation of the baseline strategy for
transboundary rivers as outlined by the Surveys Water Quality
Baseline Assessment for Transboundary Rivers. The Committee
supports having a cost effective national streamgage strategy
and continues $7,000,000 for this effort. The Committee also
encourages the Survey's efforts in this regard as they move
forward with the Next Generation Water Observing System and
other efforts, including pilots in reference watersheds. The
Committee also encourages the Survey to consult with relevant
State officials to install sufficient monitoring and stream
gages in the lower basin of the Delaware River as part of this
effort. The Committee also expects the $120,000 for the
streamgage on the Unuk River to be continued.
The Committee continues the direction that the Survey enter
into a formal partnership with local Tribes and other Federal
agencies as necessary in the area to develop a water quality
strategy for the transboundary rivers.
The Committee expects the $300,000 for work to examine
perfluorindated compounds to continue with priority given to
sampling at sources of drinking water near locations with known
or suspected releases of perfluorinated compounds. The
Committee is also aware the Survey is been working with other
Federal partners on various PFAS analytical methods and
supports the continuation of $1,700,000 for this work on the
development of a USGS analytical method for measuring PFAS
compounds in the environment.
The Water Resources Research Act (Public Law 88-379)
remains at the enacted fiscal year level of $6,500,000. The
Cooperative Water Program was renamed as part of a budget
restructure in 2016 and the Cooperative Matching Funds is
expected to be maintained at enacted levels.
Within funds for water resources, $1,500,000 is provided
for groundwater hydrologic studies for communities to determine
the potential effects of increased water usage, particularly
related to proposed water transfers out of fully appropriated
water basins in the West, such as the Plains of San Agustin
basin and the Gila River watershed.
Core Science Systems.--The bill includes $221,688,000 for
Core Science Systems. Programs are to be maintained at the
enacted levels including the 3D Elevation Program [3DEP]
program with a base level of $7,722,000 to be continued for the
3D Elevation: Alaska Mapping and Map Modernization. It is the
Committee's understanding this project is almost complete. The
Survey is directed to brief the Committee regarding the next
priority objective for mapping within 90 days after enactment
of this act. The Committee reminds the Survey of the directive
contained in the 2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public
Law 116-6) regarding partnerships for the integration of
sensors and encourages the submission of this delayed report.
The bill provides $101,865,000 for the National Land
Imaging Program, with full funding for Landsat 9 and the eight
regional science centers provided at the negotiated annual
agreement levels. The Committee also recognizes the value of
the AmericaView State Grant program and directs the Survey to
continue funding the AmericaView State grant program at the
fiscal year 2019 enacted levels to ensure the ongoing viability
of the program nationwide. Funding for the Landsat 7 and 8
archive activities has been reduced by $5,000,000.
Science Support.--The bill includes $96,828,000 for Science
Support programs, a decrease of $6,000,000 below the enacted
level.
Facilities.--The bill includes $176,383,000 for facilities,
deferred maintenance and capital improvement. The Committee has
continued funding for the Menlo Park facility transition and
$71,164,000 has been included in facilities funding.
The Committee is aware the facilities at the Stennis Space
Center are slated for demolition by 2022, and this facility is
where the Survey performs the foundational services for all
facets of the water observing systems; therefore, the Committee
has included funding for the building of a new facility for
this work. Also the Committee has included funding to fund the
replacement of the Survey's facilities on the island of Hawaii
which were impacted by the 2018 eruption and earthquake at
Kilauea. The Committee is still waiting for the reports from
the Survey related to the eruption as required by Public Law
116-6 and Public Law 116-20 and expects those products. The
Survey is reminded to continue to keep the Committee and local
community informed as plans coalesce for replacement
facilities.
The Committee continues the direction related to the
National Wildlife Center in Senate Report 115-276 and notes
that the Survey has not yet delivered the required report.
Further, the Committee recognizes there is important ongoing
research on the potential for interactions between animal and
human health, and the Survey should report on its capacity to
partner with other Federal agencies with related
responsibilities to respond to health threats.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Bureau] is
responsible for resource evaluation, environmental review,
leasing activities, and lease management for the Nation's
offshore energy and minerals resources.
OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $179,266,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 193,426,000
Committee recommendation................................ 193,426,000
The bill provides $193,426,000 for the Ocean Energy
Management account, equal to the request. This amount will be
partially offset with the collection of offsetting rental
receipts and cost recovery fees totaling $60,000,000.
Renewable Energy.--The bill provides $21,325,000 for
renewable energy activities, as detailed in the request. The
Bureau should continue to work with the Department of Energy to
identify and permit a national offshore wind test site and to
exchange information with the Department and the coastal States
about the development of new technology related to the
structural material, environmental, and design safety criteria,
as well as design and performance standards of transitional
depth and floating wind turbines. The Bureau is also expected
to continue working with coastal States and other stakeholders
to study new wind energy areas, including in shallow,
transitional, and deep (over 200 feet) waters. The Committee
expects the review and approval process for offshore renewable
energy projects, including wind, to remain consistent with the
legal rights of current leaseholders.
Conventional Energy.--The bill provides $64,123,000 for
conventional energy activities, equal to the request. The
Bureau is reminded to continue to provide quarterly reports on
the status of exploration and development plans to the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations as required under the
approval of the reorganization of the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and Enforcement.
Environmental Assessment.--The bill provides $85,110,000
for environmental assessment activities, equal to the request.
Marine Minerals.--The bill provides $5,729,000 for marine
minerals activities, equal to the request. The Committee
concurs with the Bureau's proposal to create a new budget
activity within the Ocean Energy Management appropriation,
which will raise the visibility of the Bureau's Marine Minerals
Program. The Committee further supports the Bureau's initiation
of an Outer Continental Shelf [OCS] Critical Mineral Inventory
and is encouraged by the Bureau's decision to make critical
minerals a new focal area for the Marine Minerals Program.
Executive Direction.--The bill provides $17,139,000 for
executive direction of the Bureau, including the Office of the
Director, equal to the request.
Offshore Wind Permitting.--The Committee is encouraged by
the demonstrated potential of offshore wind lease sales,
including the recent record-breaking lease sale of 390,000
acres on the OCS, which generated $405,100,000 for American
taxpayers. The Committee supports the responsible development
of offshore wind energy projects and expects the Bureau to
improve engagement with key stakeholders, particularly
individual commercial and recreational fishermen, as well as
State fishery and coastal management agencies, during the
Offshore Wind Energy Authorization Process. The Committee
further expects the Bureau to ensure that lessees consult with
and consider the concerns of affected fishermen and other
stakeholders at each stage of the leasing and development
process.
The Committee urges the Bureau to complete OCS development
and project permitting in a timely manner to avoid stranding
capital investment. The Committee believes that the interest in
OCS wind development can only be sustained if project
permitting is completed expeditiously. Accordingly, the
Department shall prioritize the efficient processing of permit
applications of offshore wind development, while ensuring
proper environmental review, as well as moving forward with
additional offshore wind lease sales and the establishment of
further Wind Energy Areas to the extent practicable and with
appropriate stakeholder input, as noted above.
North Carolina Wind Leases.--According to information
provided by the Bureau to the Committee, no lease sales will be
held for offshore areas of North Carolina for wind energy
during fiscal year 2020. The Committee directs the Bureau to
follow this commitment and to continue to work with local
stakeholders, industry, and State task forces to address local
concerns related to the visual impacts of any proposed leasing
activity in subsequent fiscal years.
Offshore Revenues.--The Committee directs the Department to
distribute revenues from Gulf of Mexico operations in a manner
consistent with the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006
(Public Law 109-432).
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is
responsible for regulating and enforcing safety, environmental,
and conservation compliance during the development of the
Nation's ocean energy and mineral resources on the Outer
Continental Shelf, and oil spill research.
OFFSHORE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $187,240,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 192,812,000
Committee recommendation................................ 187,341,000
The bill provides $187,341,000 for the Offshore Safety and
Environmental Enforcement account, $101,000 above the enacted
level. This amount will be partially offset with the collection
of offsetting rental receipts, cost recovery fees, and
inspection fees, totaling $67,000,000.
Operations, Safety and Regulation.--The bill provides
$146,340,000 for operations, safety, and regulation activities,
equal to the enacted level and $5,471,000 below the request.
Administrative Operations.--The bill provides $18,150,000
for administrative operations equal to the request.
Executive Direction.--The bill provides $18,093,000 for
executive direction of the Bureau, including the Office of the
Director equal to the request.
OIL SPILL RESEARCH
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $14,899,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 12,700,000
Committee recommendation................................ 14,899,000
The bill provides $14,899,000 for oil spill research, equal
to the enacted level and $2,199,000 above the request.
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
[OSMRE] was established in 1977 to oversee and carry out the
requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
(Public Law 95-87) in concert with States and Indian Tribes.
OSMRE's primary objectives are to ensure coal mining activities
are conducted in a manner that protects citizens and the
environment during mining, ensure the land is properly
reclaimed, and mitigate effects of past mining by reclaiming
abandoned coal mines. OSMRE addresses its mission through
grants to States and Tribes to carry out their own regulatory
and reclamation programs and the administration of OSMRE's
regulatory and reclamation programs. The Surface Mining Control
and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2006 (Public Law 109-432)
revised the mine reclamation fee distribution mechanism
beginning in fiscal year 2008. State and Tribal reclamation
grants are now provided under mandatory appropriations instead
of through this bill.
REGULATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $115,804,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 96,960,000
Committee recommendation................................ 117,768,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $117,768,000 for
Regulation and Technology, $1,964,000 above the fiscal year
2019 enacted level. The bill maintains State regulatory grants
at $68,590,000, which is equal to the fiscal year 2019 enacted
level.
ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $139,672,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 24,713,000
Committee recommendation................................ 139,713,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $139,713,000 for
the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund, $41,000 above the fiscal
year 2019 enacted level. Of the funds provided, $24,713,000
shall be derived from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and
$115,000,000 shall be derived from the General Fund.
The Committee provides a total of $115,000,000 for grants
to States and federally recognized Indian Tribes for the
reclamation of abandoned mine lands in conjunction with
economic and community development and reuse goals. States and
Tribes shall use these funds to accelerate the remediation of
Abandoned Mine Land [AML] sites with economic and community
development end uses in mind. In doing so, the Committee
envisions a collaborative partnership between the State and
Tribal AML programs and their respective State and local
economic and community development programs that will explore
ways to return legacy coal sites to productive reuse. The
Committee notes that these grants are provided from the General
Fund and are therefore separate from the mandatory payments
from the AML fund in fiscal year 2020.
Assistance to Impacted States.--For fiscal year 2020,
$75,000,000 shall be provided to the three Appalachian States
with the largest unfunded needs for the reclamation of Priority
1 and Priority 2 sites as delineated in the AML Inventory
System. State AML programs, in consultation with State economic
and community development authorities, shall develop a list of
eligible AML projects in Appalachian counties that have a nexus
to economic and community development and select qualifying AML
projects that have the potential to create long-term economic
benefits. State AML programs should consider whether a model
similar to the Appalachian Regional Commission grants process
could streamline project selection and whether an interagency
agreement or other contracting mechanisms could streamline
program implementation. Eligible grant recipients are limited
to State and local governmental entities who may subcontract
project-related activities as appropriate.
Consistent with fiscal year 2019, the Committee provides an
additional $30,000,000 for the next three Appalachian States
with the largest unfunded needs for the reclamation of Priority
1 and Priority 2 sites as delineated in the AML Inventory
System. The $30,000,000 shall be divided equally among the next
three States. Eligible grant recipients for the $30,000,000 are
also limited to State and local governmental entities who may
subcontract project-related activities as appropriate.
The Committee provided funds for Tribes for the first time
in fiscal year 2018 and continues to believe that Tribes can
contribute to the success of the pilot. For fiscal year 2020,
the Committee has provided $10,000,000 for grants to federally
recognized Indian Tribes. Eligible grant recipients for the
$10,000,000 are also limited to Tribal governmental entities
who may subcontract project-related activities as appropriate.
AML Pilot Program.--The Committee appreciates the guidance
distributed by OSMRE on project eligibility for the AML Pilot
Program. The Committee encourages the Secretary to continue
working with OSMRE field offices and State AML programs to vet
project proposals in the early stages of developing AML pilot
projects.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs [BIA] was founded in 1824 to
uphold a Government-to-government relationship between the
Federal Government and Tribal entities. The Federal Government
retains trust responsibility for individual Indians and Tribes
as a result of formal treaties and agreements with Native
Americans.
The Bureau provides services directly or through contracts,
grants, or compacts to a population of 1.9 million American
Indians and Alaska Natives who are members of 566 federally
recognized Indian Tribes in the lower 48 States and Alaska.
Programs administered by the BIA and Tribes include an
education system for almost 48,000 elementary and secondary
students; 28 Tribal colleges, universities and post secondary
schools; social services; natural resource management on 56
million acres of trust land; economic development; law
enforcement; administration of Tribal courts; implementation of
land and water claim settlements; replacement and repair of
schools; repair and maintenance of roads and bridges; and
repair of structural deficiencies on high hazard dams.
Operation of Indian Programs
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $2,414,577,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 1,462,310,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,533,461,000
The recommendation provides a total of $1,533,461,000 for
the Operations of Indian Programs account, a decrease of
$881,116,000 below the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. The
Committee approves the proposed restructure to separate the
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, which
accounts for the decrease in funding for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs. Funding reductions proposed in the request are not
included unless specifically mentioned in the details that
follow. The Committee has included fixed costs and internal
transfers as proposed along with the following instructions and
the Committee would like to remind the Bureau of the importance
of meeting reporting requirements.
The addition of many Bureau programs to the Government
Accountability Office's [GAO] 2019 high risk list (GAO-17-317)
indicate there remain several challenges to overcome in order
to improve the Federal management of programs that serve Tribes
and their members. The Committee stands ready to work with the
Bureau to implement the GAO recommendations and strongly
encourages the necessary changes be made to be removed from the
GAO high risk list.
The Committee is aware the Bureau of Indian Affairs has
received proposals from tribes seeking to procure a lease under
section 105(l) of the Indian Self Determination Act and
Education Assistance Act [ISDEAA], Public Law 93-638, 25 U.S.C.
5342(l). The Committee expects the Bureau to communicate
regularly on the status of cost estimates for the leases and
directs the Bureau to report back to the Committee within 90
days of enactment of this act regarding what actions the
Department has taken or plans to take in fiscal year 2020 to
engage Tribes and Tribal organizations to develop the necessary
policies and protocols to analyze and evaluate future lease
requests. The Committee also directs the Indian Health Service
and the Department of the Interior to consult with Tribes, the
Department of Justice, and the Office of Management and Budget
and to work with the House and Senate committees of
jurisdiction, the Committees on Appropriations, and other
relevant Federal partners to formulate budget and legislative
strategies to address this situation, including discussions
about whether, in light of the Maniilaq decisions, these funds
should be reclassified as an appropriated entitlement.
Tribal Government.--The bill provides $334,179,000 for
Tribal government programs, an increase of $13,206,000 over the
fiscal year 2019 enacted level. The recommendation supports
$5,000,000 for Small and needy Tribes and this funding amount
ensures all Small and needy Tribes receive the maximum base
level. The Committee is aware some eligible Tribes have not
received the maximum amount available even though the funding
and report language have been explicit; therefore, the
Committee expects the Department of the Interior to provide
helpful oversight to the Bureau to ensure this program
distributes the funding accurately and on time. The
recommendation supports $1,281,000 for new Tribes and notes the
challenge of reconciling the timing of the Tribal recognition
process with the annual budget formulation process. If
additional Tribes are recognized during fiscal year 2020 beyond
those contemplated in the budget request, the Bureau is urged
to support their capacity building efforts to the extent
feasible. The Committee is also aware that new Tribes seeking
Tribal recognition are often meet with delay. The Committee
expects the Bureau to efficiently administer the Tribal
recognition process and strongly encourages action on pending
requests. The Committee provides $36,063,000 for road
maintenance. The Committee is concerned about the obligation of
road maintenance funding given the balances and backlog for
deferred maintenance of roads in Indian Country; therefore, the
Committee again directs the Bureau to report back to the
Committee within 60 days of enactment of this act on the
progress being made to implement the GAO recommendations
outlined in the report GAO-17-423 as well as an explanation on
how the funds provided in this bill will be allocated along
with an explanation and the process for the distribution of
funds.
Within the program funding for road maintenance, $1,000,000
is continued for the implementation of the Native American
Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act of 2016 (Public
Law 114-221) and the Bureau is instructed to report back within
30 days of enactment of this act on how this funding will be
distributed.
Human Services.--The bill includes $154,685,000 for human
services programs, a decrease of $6,731,000. The Committee
would like to note the funding decrease is the result of Tribes
transferring these funds from these activities that the
Committee must account for and this funding level and is not
due to a decrease in appropriation. The Committee is concerned
about the transfers in funding for welfare assistance, social
services, and the Indian Child Welfare Act (Public Law 95-608)
and directs the Bureau to brief staff within 30 days of
enactment of this act regarding these transfers. The
recommendation includes funding to continue the Tiwahe
Initiative. The Committee believes this initiative has helped
strengthen Tribal communities by leveraging programs and
resources; however, it is important to accurately track the
funding going to pilot sites and others to measure overall
program effectiveness and to ensure funding is not diverted for
other purposes. The Committee is concerned that funding for the
Tiwahe initiative has not been properly documented; therefore,
the Committee directs the Bureau to produce a comprehensive
report on funding levels and distribution with an outline of
recipients since the initiative began in 2014. Within the
amounts provided for Tiwahe, at least $300,000 is to be used to
support women and children's shelters that are serving the
needs of multiple Tribes or Alaska native Villages in the areas
served by Tiwahe pilot sites.
As the Committee continues to support the Tiwahe
initiative, the Committee understands there are significant
social service needs in Indian Country. The Committee directs
the Bureau to report back within 180 days of enactment of this
act on the status of the National Training Center for Indian
Services and how this Center will seek to improve social
services across Indian Country.
The Committee recommends an increase of $2,000,000 for the
Housing Program for a level of $11,708,000. The Bureau is
instructed to report back within 30 days of enactment of this
act on how this funding will be distributed.
Trust--Natural Resources Management.--The recommendation
includes $209,362,000 for trust and natural resources programs,
an increase of $2,492,000 above the enacted level. Within the
amounts, $12,036,000 is provided for the Tribal Management/
Development Program. It is the Committee's understanding the
Bureau has entered into cooperative agreements with Ahtna Inter
Tribal Resource Commission and the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal
Fisheries Commission with other organizations interested in
establishing similar agreements; therefore, it is the
Committee's expectation that within the funding provided, pilot
projects and programs for Alaska subsistence will continue. An
additional $900,000 has been included for the implementation of
the Pacific Salmon Treaty and $500,000 for the law enforcement
needs for treaty sites on the Columbia River under the rights
protection program as well as $1,000,000 for the invasive
species program.
The Committee continues support for the Bureau's
partnership with local Tribes and the U.S. Geological Survey to
help develop a water quality strategy for transboundary rivers.
The Committee recognizes that many Tribes west of the
Mississippi River tend to have reservations that are larger in
terms of land mass than those east of the Mississippi River and
face challenges including drought. However, the Committee
expects that Tribes across the country who have resource
challenges receive appropriate funding.
The Department of the Interior is expected to promote and
expand the use of agreements with Indian Tribes to protect
Indian trust resources from catastrophic wildfire, insect and
disease infestation, or other threats from adjacent Federal
lands, as authorized by law. The Committee directs the Bureau
to continue to coordinate with the Office of Wildland Fire to
submit a report describing how the Department determines the
use of wildfire suppression and rehabilitation resources and
prioritizes Indian forest land.
The Committee is aware that Tolowa Dee-ni' has been working
with the Department to confirm the existence of a reserved
fishing right and urges the Department to review and make a
decision expeditiously on the Tribe's pending application. The
Committee understands there are several Tribes with hatcheries
that do not receive fish hatchery operations funding even
though an established fishing right exists. The Committee
directs the Bureau to compile a list of these Tribes to be
publicly distributed.
The Committee's recommendation provides $1,000,000 for the
Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs to contract with relevant
federally recognized tribes or tribal organizations to allow
tribal cultural experts to perform a cultural resources
investigation to identify culturally and historically
significant areas and sites in areas of high energy development
potential within the Chaco Canyon region of the Southwest. As
part of this investigation the Committee expects special
emphasis to be given to areas of high development potential as
defined in Figure 10 of the Bureau of Land Management's
February 2018 Final Report, ``Reasonable Development Scenario
of Oil and Gas Activities'' for the Mancos-Gallup RMPA Planning
Area. The Assistant Secretary shall consult with affected
tribes prior to soliciting proposals and shall award funds
within 270 days of enactment of this act.
Trust--Real Estate Services.--The bill includes
$130,905,000, for trust-real estate services programs, an
increase of $225,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
Within the amounts provided, programs are expected to be
continued at the fiscal year 2019 enacted level with fixed
costs and internal transfers included. The Committee has
restored the proposed budget cuts to the Alaska Native programs
and directs a program level of $450,000 for the certification
of historical places and cultural sites, including Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act sites. Within the amounts
provided, the Committee also expects funding of $1,500,000 to
continue for rights protection litigation support. The
Committee directs the Bureau to conduct an inventory of wells
for which BIA is responsible to reclaim, including cost
estimates, for submission to the Committee within 90 days of
enactment of this act.
The Committee is aware that recruitment and retention
challenges for staff positions within Trust-Real Estate
Services programs negatively impact the ability of the
Department to carry out its duties as a Trustee for Indian
Trust Land, prevent Tribes from successfully participating in
other Federal programs, and stymie Tribal economic development
opportunities. The Committee also recognizes increased
digitization of Indian land records would increase efficiency
within Trust-Real Estate Services. Within the amounts provided,
the Committee encourages Trust-Real Estate Services to
implement additional digitization of Indian land records to
promote Tribal economic development opportunities in Indian
Country, including the Fort Belknap Indian Community. With 90
days of enactment of this act, the Department shall submit a
report to the Committee on Appropriations and Senate Committee
on Indian Affairs that details actual staffing and vacancy
levels within the program and provides specific recommendations
to retain staff and improve program performance.
Public Safety and Justice.--The bill includes $419,326,000
for public safety and justice programs, an increase of
$7,809,000 above the enacted level. Within the funding provided
for criminal investigations and police services, $1,000,000 is
to be continued for the implementation of Native American
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (Public Law 101-601).
The Committee also expects the recidivism initiative
administered through the Tiwahe initiative to be continued at
current levels with this funding going to those pilot sites.
The Committee continues $13,000,000 to address the needs of
Public Law 83-280 States. The Committee remains concerned about
the Tribal courts needs as identified in the Indian Law and
Order Commission's November 2013 report which notes Federal
investment in Tribal justice for Public Law 83-280 States has
been more limited than elsewhere in Indian Country. The
Committee expects the Bureau to continue to work with Indian
Tribes and Tribal organizations to consider options that
promote, design, or pilot Tribal court systems for Tribal
communities subject to full or partial State jurisdiction under
Public Law 83-280.
Within the amounts provided, the Committee continues
$2,000,000 for the implementation of the Violence Against Women
Act [VAWA] (Public Law 103-322) for both training and VAWA
specific Tribal court needs.
To help better address Missing and Murdered Indigenous
Women, the recommendation includes an additional $1,000,000 for
criminal investigation and services to focus on unsolved
missing and murdered cases and $2,000,000 through the special
initiatives activities for equipment that can be used to help
collect and preserve evidence at the scene of crimes throughout
Indian country. Additionally, within the funds provided for law
enforcement, $1,000,000 is provided to perform background check
investigations to help with the hiring process.
The Committee is aware that it is necessary to both boost
coordination and data collection among Tribal, local, State,
and Federal law enforcement in order address the crisis of
missing, trafficked, and murdered indigenous women. For this
reason, the Committee directs the Bureau to designate an
official within the Office of Justice Services to work with
Tribes to develop a set of guidelines on how to best collect
the statistics on missing, trafficked, and murdered native
women. The Committee expects this designee to report back to
the Committee on his or her findings within 1 year after
enactment. Additionally, the Committee directs the Government
Accountability Office [GAO] to conduct a review of the Bureau's
Federal policy for investigating and reporting missing and
murdered Native Americans as well as outline recommendations
for ways in which the Bureau can improve and better coordinate
Tribal law enforcement activities with other Federal agencies
to improve access to databases and public notification systems.
In addition to these resources, the recommendation also
includes funding to focus on retention and advanced training
needs. The Committee includes $2,500,000 to operate new
advanced (non-basic) training activities in the Great Plains
region. These advanced training activities shall focus on
training for detectives, forensics, and other advanced training
and shall not duplicate training conducted at the Indian Police
Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers [FLETC]
in Artesia, New Mexico, where training will continue for entry-
level tribal and BIA law enforcement officers, agents, and
corrections officers. The Committee remains fully supportive of
the Indian Police Academy at FLETC in Artesia, New Mexico, and
expects the Bureau to maintain the Academy's longstanding role
as the central justice services training location for tribal
law enforcement, including entry-level law enforcement
officers, agents, and corrections officers. The bill provides
$4,939,000 for the Indian Police Academy.
The Committee is aware that Indian reservations have
violent crime rates that are more than two and a half times
higher than the national average. The Committee recognizes the
need to address crime and violence in Indian Country and is
concerned that there is a nearly 30 percent vacancy rate among
Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement personnel. The
Committee notes that the vacancy and turnover rate is
especially high in the Great Plains Region, which contains 60
percent of all Office of Justice Services vacancies and over
half of all Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer vacancies.
The Committee directs the Bureau of Indian Affairs, working
with other Federal partners, to report back to the Committee
within 1 year of enactment of this Act detailing the training
needs for BIA law enforcement and tribal law enforcement by
location with a comprehensive plan on how to recruit, train,
and fill the vacancies. As part of this report, the Committee
expects the Bureau to work with the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Centers to clearly identify what funding mechanisms
are authorized that may be used for the recruitment, training,
and facility needs as well as what type of partnerships, both
Federal, state, and tribal, could be utilized to address and
fill these needs.
The Committee understands the $7,500,000 provided in fiscal
year 2018 and fiscal year 2019 for opioid addiction was not
used solely for this purpose, but used to hire additional drug
enforcement officers to assist with all drug related issues on
Tribal lands. The Committee has continued this funding without
the designation of opioid funding. The Committee directs the
Bureau to include Tiwahe funding provided under this activity
be included in the directive under Social Services. The Tiwahe
initiative is funded at enacted levels.
Community and Economic Development.--The bill provides
$49,529,000 for community and economic development programs, an
increase of $1,950,000 above the enacted level. The
recommendation continues $3,400,000 for cooperative agreements
to carry out the provisions of the NATIVE Act (Public Law 114-
221) of 2016, including activities related to technical
assistance, improved data collection and analysis of tribal
tourism. The Committee also continues $1,000,000 for the
modernization of oil and gas records including the National
Indian Oil and Gas Management System [NIOGEMS]. The recent GAO
high risk report found the Bureau does not properly manage
Indian energy resources held in trust and thereby limits
opportunities for Tribes and their members to use those
resources to create economic benefits in their communities. The
Committee requests the Bureau work to make the necessary
changes recommended by the GAO report and report back to the
Committee outlining any barriers, statutory or regulatory, that
prohibit or slow the pace of resource development as well as a
status update on the open items that still need to be
implemented according to the GAO report.
The Committee understands the importance of preserving
native languages for all Tribal communities. The Committee has
previously appropriated funds to the Bureau of Indian Education
to build capacity for language immersion programs or to create
new programs; however, those States with federally recognized
Tribes without Bureau funded schools have been prevented from
participating in this program even though eligibility for these
grants have included potential applicants beyond the Bureau of
Education school system. The Committee includes $2,000,000 in
new funding under this subactivity for language immersion
grants. The Committee expects eligibility to be any private
nonprofit, or Tribal organization in those States without
Bureau-funded schools that are also interested in further
enhancing or creating native language immersion programs.
The Committee directs the Bureau to include Tiwahe funding
provided under this activity be included in the directive under
Social Services. The Tiwahe initiative is funded at enacted
levels.
Executive Direction and Administrative Services.--The bill
includes $235,475,000 for executive direction and
administrative services, an increase of $4,490,000 above the
enacted level.
The Committee is concerned the Indian Employment, Training
and Related Services Act (Public Law 102-477), as amended, has
not been fully implemented. The Bureau shall report back within
60 days of enactment of this act on the status of
implementation.
CONSTRUCTION
(INCLUDING RESCISSION AND TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $358,719,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 58,482,000
Committee recommendation................................ 128,723,000
The Committee notes the decrease in funding is the result
of the budget restructure. Public Safety and Justice programs
receive $40,311,000, an increase of $5,001,000. The
recommendation provides $23,000,000 for the restart of the
facilities replacement and construction program; $4,494,000 for
employee housing; $9,372,000 for facilities improvement and
repair; $171,000 for fire safety coordination; and $3,274,000
for fire protection. Resources management receives a total of
$71,258,000 and includes: $28,698,000 for irrigation projects,
with at least $10,000,000 for projects authorized by the WIIN
Act; $38,280,000 for dam projects; $1,016,000 for survey and
design; $2,613,000 for engineering and supervision; and
$651,000 for Federal power compliance, along with a $2,000,000
rescission from resources management construction account
unobligated balances. The Committee expects the funds
designated for WIIN Act (Public Law 114-322) activities will be
deposited into the Indian Irrigation Fund and fund those
projects authorized by Public Law 114-322. General
administration or other Program Construction receives
$17,154,000 and includes $1,417,000 for telecommunications
repair; $11,818,000 for construction program management, with
increases in order to fully fund the Ft. Peck water system; and
$3,919,000 for facilities improvement and repair.
The Committee continues the funding increases for dam
safety, but the Committee is concerned there is an unknown
number of dams on reservations that have not received a hazard
classification and that the current review process is behind
schedule resulting in delays for dams to receive a
comprehensive review. The Committee strongly encourages the
Bureau to begin the work on the dams and report back to the
Committee on the best way to effectively quantify the potential
pool of dams on reservations in need of a review and/or
classification.
The Committee understands the demand for public safety and
construction funding remains high and the backlog to replace
these facilities has grown exponentially. The Committee is
aware there are many condemned facilities across the country
including the Hopi, White Mountain Apache, and San Carlos
Apache detention and justice facilities. For this reason, the
Committee directs the Bureau to report back in 90 days after
enactment of this act with a comprehensive list of condemned
facilities that need to be replaced.
The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, and the surrounding
area, is facing an increase in substance abuse and related
violence. The Committee is aware the Tribe received funding to
replace an old detention center in fiscal year 2018 that would
allow the Tribe to replace its old detention center up to its
previous capacity; however, the capacity of the prior facility
does not account for the increase in population growth or the
need to address rising violent crime issues on the reservation.
The Committee recognizes the need for increased detention space
is dependent upon supportive data. Therefore, the Committee
directs the Bureau to report back to the Committee within 60
days of enactment of this act with factors used to determine
the appropriate size the of the detention center including the
consideration of a high security adult detention block and a
cost estimate.
Bureau of Indian Education
Operation of Indian Education Programs
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2019....................................................
Budget estimate, 2020................................... $867,416,000
Committee recommendation................................ 905,841,000
Education.--The bill includes $905,841,000 for education
programs, and the Committee approves the separation of this
funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Operation of Indian
Programs. The Committee fully supports making the needed
reforms to the Bureau of Indian Education [BIE] in order to
improve the quality of education offered to address the
performance gap of student's education at BIE-funded schools.
The first phase of the current reform effort was approved in
2015 and the Committee directs the Bureau to regularly inform
the Committee on progress. Over the past 3 years, the GAO has
issued several reports (GAO-13-774, GAO-15-121, GAO-17-447,
GAO-17-421, and GAO-16-313) outlining management challenges at
the Bureau and there are still outstanding open recommendations
to address as well as additional issues outlined in the high
risk report (GAO-17-317). The Committee is fully supportive of
efforts to reform and better the system, but concerns about how
the Bureau manages funding, tracks school conditions, and
manages the overall school system remain. The Committee stands
ready to work with the administration on the appropriate steps
forward and directs the Office of the Assistant Secretary-
Indian Affairs to report back within 60 days of enactment of
this act on the progress made towards implementing all the GAO
recommendations and the current status of the reform effort as
well as the status of Congressional directives.
The Committee understands the Bureau and the Department of
Education currently have a Memorandum of Understanding that
allows the two agencies to work collaboratively through
regularly scheduled meetings to discuss how to improve
efficiency and student outcomes. The Committee encourages this
to continue.
The Committee fully supports broadening access to Native
language and culture programs, which have been linked to higher
academic achievement for Native youth. The Committee expects
the Individual Student Equalization Program should continue to
enhance access to Native language and culture programs in BIE-
funded schools and directs the Bureau to report within 60 days
of enactment of this act on how previous funding provided has
been and can continue to be used to support these programs.
Within the funds provided for education program
enhancements, $2,000,000 continues native language immersion
grants with the understanding the recipients of these grants
are Bureau funded schools. The Bureau is expected to report
within 60 days of enactment of this act regarding the status of
fiscal year 2019 funds and the planned distribution of funds in
this act.
The Committee remains concerned about the distribution
methodology of the Johnson O'Malley [JOM] assistance grants and
is aware Congress enacted the Johnson O'Malley Modernization
Act (Public Law 115-404) in 2018. In addition to a report
detailing its compliance with the Act, the Committee requests
the Department include estimates of necessary appropriations
levels to provide per pupil funding levels equal to the fiscal
year 2018 level per pupil level for all newly reported eligible
students.
The Committee also recognizes that many Tribal colleges
have significant unfunded needs and directs the Bureau to work
with Tribal leaders and other stakeholders to develop a
consistent methodology for determining Tribal college operating
needs to inform future budget requests. The Committee expects
the methodology to address operating and infrastructure needs,
including classrooms and housing. The Committee also directs
the Bureau to report back to the within 60 days of enactment of
this act on how the Bureau conducts student counts at Tribal
colleges and how funding is provided to address facilities
operation, maintenance, and construction needs.
The administration's emphasis on education must be
complemented by efforts to improve interagency coordination for
the multiplicity of programs that affect the wellbeing of
Native children. In addition to education, these include
healthcare, social service, child welfare, and juvenile justice
programs. The Committee encourages the Bureau to work with
other relevant Federal, State, local, and Tribal organizations
to begin the process of identifying ways to make programs more
effective in serving Native children.
The Committee is concerned by the recent Government
Accountability Office report (GAO-17-423) on Tribal
transportation, which identified potential negative impacts of
road conditions on Native student school attendance. The
Committee recommends BIE take steps to improve its data
collection on the cause of student absences, including data on
road and weather conditions, and to report back to the
Committee within 120 days of enactment of this act regarding
its actions to improve student absence data tracking and
analysis.
The Committee understands the importance of bringing
broadband to reservations and villages but remains concerned
about how these funds are used and the planning process used
for this type of investment. The Committee directs the agency
to report back within 90 days of enactment of this act on a
scalable plan to increase bandwidth in schools, procure
computers, and acquire software. This report should also
include how the Bureau is working with other Federal agencies
to coordinate and plan for the technology buildout.
The Bureau, working with the Indian Health Service as
appropriate, is also urged to consider integrating school-based
preventative health services such as dental care into
elementary schools in order to improve health outcomes of
Tribal students.
The Committee is concerned that BIE is not in compliance
with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Public Law 89-
10) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Public
Law 101-476). Within 180 days of enactment of this act, the
Department shall submit a report detailing BIE's compliance, or
lack thereof, with these for the past five academic years.
Education Construction
Appropriations, 2019....................................................
Budget estimate, 2020................................... $68,858,000
Committee recommendation................................ 238,250,000
The bill includes a total appropriation of $238,250,000 for
the construction account, equal to the enacted level. Education
Construction program amounts support a level of $238,250,000
and includes $105,504,000 for replacement schools, $23,935,000
for replacement facilities, $13,576,000 for employee housing,
and $95,235,000 for facility improvement and repair. The
Committee expects the increases continued for the facility
improvement and repair program shall be used to address
deficiencies identified by annual school safety inspections.
The Committee remains concerned about the deferred
maintenance projects at schools and directs the Bureau to
submit the allocation plan as required by Public Law 115-31.
The Committee is encouraged to learn that BIA and BIE continue
to work together to ensure annual safety inspections are
completed for all BIE school facilities. However, the Committee
is concerned that, as recommended by the GAO in report GAO-16-
313, BIA and BIE have not developed concrete tracking and
capacity-building systems to ensure safety issues flagged by
these inspections are addressed in a timely manner.
Furthermore, the Committee is concerned by reports from
Tribally operated BIE schools that BIE does not provide timely
access to or training about the Facilities Improvement and
Repair Program and other available emergency maintenance
funding. The Committee directs BIE and BIA to report back
within 90 days of enactment of this act with a detailed
implementation plan to address these remaining concerns.
The Committee understands many schools are in need of
repair, improvement, and upgrades in order to bring schools
into good condition. The Committee stands ready to work with
the administration and Tribes to develop a comprehensive
strategy that provides safe, functional, and accessible
facilities for schools. The Committee directs the Bureau to
report back within 90 days of enactment of this act on the
progress the Bureau has made towards implementing a long-term
facilities plan similar to the Department of Defense process in
2009, as encouraged in the joint explanatory statement
accompanied by Public Law 114-113.
CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $247,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 271,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 271,000,000
Contract Support Costs.--The Committee has continued
language from fiscal year 2019 establishing an indefinite
appropriation for contract support costs estimated to be
$271,000,000, which is an increase of $24,000,000 above the
fiscal year 2019 level. By retaining an indefinite
appropriation for this account, additional funds may be
provided by the Bureau if its budget estimate proves to be
lower than necessary to meet the legal obligation to pay the
full amount due to Tribes. The Committee believes fully funding
these costs will ensure that Tribes have the necessary
resources they need to deliver program services efficiently and
effectively.
INDIAN LAND AND WATER CLAIMS SETTLEMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS PAYMENTS TO
INDIANS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $50,057,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 45,644,000
Committee recommendation................................ 45,644,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $45,644,000 for
the Indian Land and Water Claim Settlements account. The
Committee appreciates the importance of settling the numerous
land and water settlements and directs the Department to submit
a spending plan to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of
this act for how it plans to allocate the funds provided by the
bill for the specific settlements detailed in the budget
request. The Committee recommendation notes that sufficient
funding has been provided to complete required payments for the
Navajo Trust Fund and the Navajo Gallup Water Supply Project.
INDIAN GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM ACCOUNT
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $10,779,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 909,000
Committee recommendation................................ 10,779,000
The bill includes a total appropriation of $10,779,000 for
the Indian Guaranteed Loan account equal to the enacted level.
Departmental Offices
Office of the Secretary
DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $124,673,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 129,422,000
Committee recommendation................................ 136,244,000
The bill includes a total appropriation of $136,244,000 for
the Office of the Secretary account. This amount is $11,571,000
above the enacted level and $6,822,000 above the request. The
Department is directed to maintain the Office of Native
Hawaiian Relations within the Office of the Assistant
Secretary-Policy, Management, and Budget.
Leadership and Administration.--The recommendation includes
an appropriation of $107,368,000 for the leadership and
administration activity, equal to the fiscal year 2019 enacted
level.
Management Services.--The bill provides an appropriation of
$28,876,000 for the management services activity, an increase
of $810,000 above the request. Funding provided includes
$9,000,000 for the Office of Valuation Service.
Conservation Partnerships.--The Committee continues to
support the partnerships between the Department and the 21st
Century Conservation Service Corps and Public Land Corps, which
help to engage youth and veterans in hands-on service to our
public lands, and expects these efforts to continue.
Aviation Helmet Standard.--The Committee encourages the
Department to ensure that all relevant regulations related to
the Aviation Helmet Standard reflect appropriate safety
concerns and promote improved competition for procurement
contracts.
Indian and Arts and Crafts Board [IACB].--The Committee
supports the work of the IACB to promote the economic
development of Native Americans through the expansion of the
Indian arts and crafts market and combatting illegal sales and
trafficking of indigenous artisanry.
ESA Transparency.--The Committee encourages the Secretary
to make publicly available on the Internet the best scientific
and commercial data available that are the basis for each
regulation, including each proposed regulation, promulgated
under subsection (a)(1) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(1)), as
long as that information does not make available information
which a State or Governor has determined public disclosure is
prohibited by a law of that State relating to the protection of
personal information.
Freedom of Information Act [FOIA].--The Committee is aware
of concern regarding the Department's proposal to amend its
FOIA regulations (83 Fed. Reg. 67175), which was published on
December 28, 2018. The Committee wants to ensure that any rule
does not unduly restrict public access to the Department's
records and cause delays in the processing of FOIA requests.
The Committee expects that the Department will not finalize or
implement the proposed rule until it consults with the House
and Senate Appropriations Committees and other Congressional
committees of jurisdiction to ensure compliance with letter and
spirit of the FOIA statute.
International Activities.--The Committee commends the
Department for its international conservation efforts,
particularly those facilitated by the International Technical
Assistance Program and the U.S. Agency for International
Development, such as tropical forest conservation activities in
the Mirador-Calakmul Basin and anti-wildlife trafficking
activities in Vietnam. The Committee expects the Department to
obligate all funds provided for international conservation
activities prior to the date of expiration and directs the
Department to provide the Committee with information on needs
relating to increased oversight and implementation of grant
funding.
Insular Affairs
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. OIA has administrative responsibility for coordinating
Federal policy in the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands [CNMI] and oversight of Federal programs and
funds in the freely associated States of the Federated States
of Micronesia [FSM], the Republic of the Marshall Islands
[RMI], and the Republic of Palau.
Following the expiration of the first Compact of Free
Association in 2003, a new Compact of Free Association was
negotiated between the United States and the states of FSM and
RMI. Under the Compact, the status of free association
recognizes each Freely Associated State as a sovereign State
with the capacity to conduct foreign affairs consistent with
the terms of the Compact. The Compact places full
responsibility for defense with the United States. The Compact
also provides grant funds and Federal program assistance,
principally through the Department of the Interior.
ASSISTANCE TO TERRITORIES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $100,688,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 80,967,000
Committee recommendation................................ 102,131,000
The bill includes $102,131,000 for assistance to
territories, $1,443,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted
level and $21,164,000 above the request. Funding levels for
each subactivity can be found in the table at the end of this
statement.
Within these amounts, the bill includes a total of
$4,500,000 to continue discretionary grants to mitigate the
impact of Compact-related migration on affected jurisdictions,
as authorized by section 104(e) of Public Law 108-188. This
amount is equal to the fiscal year 2019 level. As in previous
years, the Department shall allocate these grants in
conjunction with other currently authorized mandatory grants in
order to help offset educational costs incurred by these
jurisdictions.
The bill recognizes that the Office of Insular Affairs'
most impactful spending is through projects to improve
education, drinking water, sanitation, health, safety,
transportation, reliability of power, availability of
technology, including through fiber optics, and economic
opportunity and sustainability. The Committee directs these
funds to be awarded accordingly. Additionally, the Office of
Insular Affairs is directed to continue to award non-
competitive technical assistance funds to support investments
in civic education programs for Insular Area students.
American Samoa Operations Grants/American Samoa
Construction.--The bill provides $24,120,000 for grants to
American Samoa, $400,000 above the enacted level and $2,591,000
above the request.
CNMI/Covenant Grants.--The recommendation includes
$27,720,000 for covenant grants, equal to the enacted level.
COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $3,413,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 3,109,000
Committee recommendation................................ 8,463,000
The bill includes $8,463,000 for Compact of Free
Association programs, $5,050,000 above the enacted level, and
$5,354,000 above the request. Within the funds made available,
the Committee has provided $650,000 for Enewetak support.
The Committee recognizes the importance of the relationship
between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall
Islands. $5,000,000 is provided as an initial payment towards
the $20,000,000 in compensation requested by the Republic of
the Marshall Islands for adverse financial and economic impacts
as authorized by Public Law 108-188.
Office of the Solicitor
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $65,674,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 66,816,000
Committee recommendation................................ 66,816,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $66,816,000 for
the Office of the Solicitor, equal to the budget request.
Office of Inspector General
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $52,486,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 52,486,000
Committee recommendation................................ 53,000,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $53,000,000 for
the Office of Inspector General, $514,000 above the budget
request.
Office of Special Trustee for American Indians
The Office of the Special Trustee [OST] for American
Indians holds responsibility for approximately 56 million acres
of land, with more than 10 million acres belonging to
individual Indians and 46 millions acres held in trust for
Indian Tribes.
FEDERAL TRUST PROGRAMS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $111,540,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 105,143,000
Committee recommendation................................ 111,540,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $111,540,000 for the
Federal Trust Programs account, equal to the enacted level. The
recommendation includes a total appropriation of $19,016,000
for historical accounting activities.
The Committee has previously included report language and
funding for the eventual closure of the Office of Navajo and
Hopi Indian Relocation [ONHIR] and still expects the
administration to submit a comprehensive plan that addresses
the transfer of all outstanding services, records, and
rangeland activities to other agencies before the closure of
the office. The Committee remains concerned by the lack of
information related to the proposal and directs the OST to
continue to work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and ONHIR to
immediately consult with affected Tribes on matters related to
the closure and transition.
Department-Wide Programs
WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
The Department's Wildland Fire Management account funds
fire prevention, readiness, suppression, and rehabilitation
activities performed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of
Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the
National Park Service.
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $941,211,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 1,219,908,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,252,338,000
Note: Totals include funding designated by the Congress as being for
disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
The bill provides a total appropriations of $1,252,338,000
for wildland fire management, which includes $300,000,000 in
fire cap adjustment funding and is $311,127,000 above the
enacted level and $32,430,000 above the request.
Fire Operations.--The bill provides $716,441,000 for
Wildfire Preparedness and Suppression. This amount includes
$332,784,000 for preparedness and $683,657,000 for fire
suppression operations.
Other Operations.--The bill provides $235,897,000 for other
wildland fire management operations. This includes $194,000,000
for hazardous fuels management, $20,470,000 for burned area
rehabilitation, $18,427,000 for fire facilities, and $3,000,000
for joint fire science. Prior to the Committee accepting the
proposal to require individual bureaus to fund their respective
fire facilities, the Department must provide an analysis of the
impact to individual bureaus and the line items through which
the Department expects those facilities to be funded.
The Committee is concerned that a departure from the
existing agreement with the Oregon Department of Forestry to
provide fire protection services would neither be in the
interest of lands managed by the Department in western Oregon
nor the significant interspersed communities and other
significant timberlands that are immediately adjacent to
Federal lands and directs the Department to reevaluate its
departure from the existing agreement to ensure there is
seamless fire protection across Federal, State, Tribal, and
private lands in western Oregon.
The Department shall report at the end of each fiscal year
the number of acres treated by prescribed fire, mechanical
fuels reduction, and thinning activities, as well as the acres
treated in wildland urban interface and the costs associated
with such activities.
CENTRAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $10,010,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 2,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 10,010,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $10,010,000 for the
Central Hazardous Materials Fund, equal to the enacted level
and $8,010,000 above the request.
NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND RESTORATION
NATURAL RESOURCE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $7,767,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 4,600,000
Committee recommendation................................ 7,767,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $7,767,000 for
the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, an amount equal to
the enacted level and $3,167,000 above the request. The
detailed allocation of funding by activity is included in the
table at the end of this explanatory report.
Restoration Fund Balances.--The Committee urges the NRDAR
Program to reduce the growing balance of $1,300,000,000,
including through greater partnerships with State trustees,
performance based contracts, and other appropriate actions.
WORKING CAPITAL FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $55,735,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 69,284,000
Committee recommendation................................ 68,235,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $68,235,000 for
the Working Capital Fund. This amount is $12,500,000 above the
enacted level and $1,049,000 below the request. The increase is
provided to support the Department's implementation of NewPay.
OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCES REVENUE
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $137,505,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 147,330,000
Committee recommendation................................ 147,330,000
The bill provides $147,330,000 for the Office of Natural
Resources Revenue, which is equal to the request. The increase
is provided for information technology [IT] modernization of
the Minerals Revenue Management Support System and for audit
and compliance activities.
PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $500,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 465,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 500,000,000
The bill includes full funding for the Payments in Lieu of
Taxes [PILT] program for fiscal year 2019 in section 114 of
title I, General Provisions, which is estimated to be
$500,000,000 for the fiscal year.
General Provisions
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Title I of the bill includes ``General Provisions,
Department of the Interior'', which are various legislative
provisions affecting the Department. The provisions are:
Sec. 101. Provides secretarial authority for the intra-
bureau transfer of program funds for expenditures in cases of
emergency when all other emergency funds are exhausted.
Sec. 102. Provides for the department-wide expenditure or
transfer of funds by the Secretary in the event of actual or
potential emergencies including forest fires, range fires,
earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, storms, oil spills,
grasshopper and Mormon cricket outbreaks, and surface mine
reclamation emergencies.
Sec. 103. Provides for use of appropriated funds by the
Secretary for contracts, rental cars and aircraft, certain
library memberships, and certain telephone expenses.
Sec. 104. Provides for the transfer of unobligated balances
from the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Office of Special
Trustee for American Indians for expenditure or transfer for
Indian trust management activities.
Sec. 105. Permits the redistribution of Tribal priority
allocation and Tribal base funds to alleviate funding
inequities.
Sec. 106. Authorizes the acquisition of lands for the
purpose of operating and maintaining facilities that support
visitors to Ellis, Governors, and Liberty Islands.
Sec. 107. Authorizes Outer Continental Shelf inspection
fees to be collected by the Secretary of the Interior.
Sec. 108. Provides the Secretary of the Interior with
authority to enter into multi-year cooperative agreements with
nonprofit organizations for long-term care of wild horses and
burros.
Sec. 109. Addresses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's
responsibilities for mass marking of salmonid stocks.
Sec. 110. Allows the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of
Indian Education to more efficiently and effectively perform
reimbursable work.
Sec. 111. Provides for the humane transfer of excess wild
horses.
Sec. 112. Provides authority for the Department of the
Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit
organizations designated under the Older Americans Act.
Sec. 113. Extension of Payments in lieu of taxes.
Sec. 114. Obligation of Department of the Interior funds.
Sec. 115. Addresses issuance of rules for sage-grouse.
Sec. 116. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to
continue the reorganization of the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and Enforcement.
TITLE II
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Program Description
The Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] was created
through Executive Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1970, designed
to consolidate certain Federal Government environmental
activities into a single agency. The plan was submitted by the
President to the Congress on July 8, 1970, and the EPA was
established as an independent agency in the executive branch on
December 2, 1970, by consolidating 15 components from 5
departments and independent agencies.
A description of EPA's pollution control programs by media
follows:
Air.--The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Public Law 101-
549) authorize a national program of air pollution research,
regulation, prevention, and enforcement activities.
Water Quality.--The Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(Public Law 92-500), as amended, provides the framework for
protection of the Nation's surface waters. The law recognizes
that it is the primary responsibility of the States to prevent,
reduce, and eliminate water pollution. The States determine the
desired uses for their waters, set standards, identify current
uses and, where uses are being impaired or threatened, develop
plans for the protection or restoration of the designated use.
They implement the plans through control programs such as
permitting and enforcement, construction of municipal waste
water treatment works, and nonpoint source control practices.
The act also regulates discharge of dredge or fill material
into waters of the United States, including wetlands.
Drinking Water.--The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
(Public Law 93-523), as amended in 1996, charges EPA with the
responsibility of implementing a program to assure that the
Nation's public drinking water supplies are free of
contamination that may pose a human health risk and to protect
and prevent the endangerment of ground water resources which
serve as drinking water supplies.
Hazardous Waste.--The Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act of 1976 [RCRA] (Public Law 94-580) mandated EPA to develop
a regulatory program to protect human health and the
environment from improper hazardous waste disposal practices.
The RCRA Program manages hazardous wastes from generation
through disposal.
EPA's responsibilities and authorities to manage hazardous
waste were greatly expanded under the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments of 1984 (Public Law 98-616). Not only did the
regulated universe of wastes and facilities dealing with
hazardous waste increase significantly, but past mismanagement
practices, in particular prior releases at inactive hazardous
and solid waste management units, were to be identified and
corrective action taken. The 1984 amendments also authorized a
regulatory and implementation program directed to owners and
operators of underground storage tanks.
The Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act
of 2012 (Public Law 112-195) amended subtitle C of the Solid
Waste Disposal Act (Public Law 89-272) to establish an
electronic means of tracking wastes subject to RCRA regulation.
Appropriations to the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Fund
support development, operation, maintenance, and upgrading of
the hazardous waste electronic manifest system.
Pesticides.--The objective of the pesticide program is to
protect the public health and the environment from unreasonable
risks while permitting the use of necessary pest control
approaches. This objective is pursued by EPA under the Food
Quality Protection Act (Public Law 104-170), the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (Public Law 61-
152), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Public Law 75-
717), and the Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act
of 2012 (Public Law 112-117) through three principal means: (1)
review of existing and new pesticide products; (2) enforcement
of pesticide use rules; and (3) research and development to
reinforce the ability to evaluate the risks and benefits of
pesticides.
Radiation.--The radiation program's major emphasis is to
minimize the exposure of persons to ionizing radiation, whether
from naturally occurring sources from medical or industrial
applications, nuclear power sources, or weapons development.
Toxic Substances.--The Toxic Substances Control Act (Public
Law 94-469) established a program to stimulate the development
of adequate data on the effects of chemical substances on
health and the environment and instituted control action for
those chemicals which present an unreasonable risk of injury to
health or the environment. The act's coverage affects more than
60,000 chemicals currently in commerce and all new chemicals.
Multimedia.--Multimedia activities are designed to support
programs where the problems, tools, and results are cross media
and must be integrated to affect results. This integrated
program encompasses the EPA's research, enforcement, and
abatement activities.
Superfund.--The Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-510)
established a national program to protect public health and the
environment from the threats posed by inactive hazardous waste
sites and uncontrolled spills of hazardous substances. The
original statute was amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-499). Under these
authorities, EPA manages a hazardous waste site clean-up
program that includes emergency response and long-term
remediation.
Brownfields.--The Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-510), as
amended by the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields
Revitalization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-118), established a
national program to assess, cleanup, and provide support to
States, Tribes, local communities, and other stakeholders to
work together to develop Brownfields.
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks.--The Leaking Underground
Storage Tank [LUST] Program addresses petroleum releases from
federally regulated underground storage tanks. It was created
in 1986 when Congress amended subtitle I of the Solid Waste
Disposal Act (Public Law 89-272). EPA implements the LUST
response program primarily through cooperative agreements with
the States. In 2005, the Energy Policy Act (Public Law 109-58)
expanded eligible uses of the Trust Fund to include certain
leak prevention activities.
Inland Oil Spill.--The Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(Public Law 80-845), as amended by section 4202 of the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-380), established a
national program to help prepare for, and respond to, any oil
spill affecting the inland waters of the United States.
Programmatic Guidance
The bill provides $9,010,839,000 for the EPA. The bill does
not support reductions proposed in the budget request unless
explicitly noted.
Congressional Budget Justification.--The Agency is directed
to continue to include the information requested in House
Report 112-331 and any proposals to change State allocation
formulas that affect the distribution of appropriated funds in
future budget justifications.
Reprogramming and Workforce Reshaping.--The agreement does
not include any of the requested funds for workforce reshaping.
Further, the Committee does not expect the Agency to
consolidate or close any regional offices in fiscal year 2020.
The Agency is held to the reprogramming limitation of
$1,000,000 and should continue to follow the reprogramming
directives as provided in the front of this report. It is noted
that such reprogramming directives apply to proposed
reorganizations, workforce restructure, reshaping, transfer of
functions, or downsizing, especially those of significant
national or regional importance, and include closures,
consolidations, and relocations of offices, facilities, and
laboratories.
Further, the Agency may not use any amount of deobligated
funds to initiate a new program, office, or initiative without
the prior approval of the Committee. Within 30 days of
enactment of this act, the Agency is directed to submit to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations its annual
operating plan for fiscal year 2020, which shall detail how the
Agency plans to allocate funds at the program project level.
Budget Rebaselining.--For fiscal year 2020, the Committee
provides all funding for the Agency in title II of the bill and
does not include any rescissions of funds. In previous fiscal
years, the Committee has included rescissions of funds to the
Science and Technology account, Environmental Programs and
Management account, and State and Tribal Grants [STAG] account
and provided additional infrastructure funding in a title IV
general provision. The Committee ends both practices for fiscal
year 2020. The Committee therefore has rebaselined the Agency's
funding levels for fiscal year 2020 to show funding levels for
accounts and program areas with the fiscal year 2019
rescissions applied and with the title IV infrastructure money
included in title II.
Rescissions have been enacted to the three accounts for a
number of fiscal years, and the Committee does not continue the
practice in this bill in order to exercise further control over
funding levels of program areas. For reference, the fiscal year
2019 enacted level for the Agency was $9,060,017,000 with
$210,529,000 in rescissions, which amounted to $8,849,488,000
in actual budget authority. The enacted rescissions in previous
fiscal years were account-wide and the Agency was left
discretion as how to apply the rescissions to the program areas
in each of the three accounts. The Agency in fiscal year 2019
and previous years would decide how to apply the rescissions by
formulating an operating plan for the accounts with the
rescissions included. Therefore, as the Agency's fiscal year
2019 operating plan for these accounts provided the actual
baseline of funding for each program area, the Committee views
the operating plan levels for fiscal year 2019 as the base
funding levels for the accounts and each program area. The
Committee has not cut any program area below the Agency's
fiscal year 2019 operating plan level. For fiscal year 2020,
while a program area may appear at a level below the fiscal
year 2019 enacted level, the Committee has not reduced funding
for any program area below the Agency's fiscal year 2019
operating plan level. Further, in fiscal years 2018 and 2019
the bill included a title IV general provision that provided
$791,000,000 in Superfund and STAG account funding. The
Committee for fiscal year 2020 includes the $791,000,000 in
funding from the title IV general provision as base funding in
title II accounts. In total, the Committee provides
$9,010,839,000 in fiscal year 2020 for the Agency with no
rescission, an increase of $161,351,000 above the fiscal year
2019 enacted level of $8,849,488,000.
Science and Technology
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $706,473,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 463,060,000
Committee recommendation................................ 713,259,000
The bill provides $713,259,000 for science and technology
activities with an additional $17,775,000 to be paid from
Hazardous Substance Superfund to fund ongoing research
activities authorized by the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (Public Law
96-510), as amended. This amount is $6,786,000 above the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level and does not
include a rescission of funds.
Budget Rebaseline.--Unlike in previous fiscal years, the
Committee has not included a rescission of funds to the Science
and Technology account. Rescissions have been enacted to this
account for a number of fiscal years, and the Committee does
not continue the practice in this bill in order to exercise
further control over funding levels of program areas. The
enacted rescissions in previous fiscal years were account-wide,
and the Agency was left discretion as how to apply the
rescission to the program areas in the account. For reference,
the fiscal year 2019 enacted level for the account was
$717,723,000 with an $11,250,000 rescission, which amounted to
$706,473,000 in actual budget authority. The Agency in fiscal
year 2019 and previous years would decide how to apply the
rescission by formulating an operating plan for the account
with the rescission included. Therefore, as the Agency's fiscal
year 2019 operating plan for the account provided the actual
baseline of funding for each program area, the Committee views
the operating plan levels for fiscal year 2019 as the base
funding levels for the account and each program area. For
fiscal year 2020, while a program area may appear at a level
below the fiscal year 2019 enacted level, the Committee has not
reduced funding for any program area below the Agency's fiscal
year 2019 operating plan level. The Committee provides
$713,259,000 for the Science and Technology account for fiscal
year 2020 with no rescission, an increase of $6,786,000 above
the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level of
$706,473,000. A table is included below to further detail the
fiscal year 2019 funding levels, both enacted and the Agency's
operating plan, and the fiscal year 2020 Committee
recommendations.
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2019 Fiscal year 2020
---------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendation
Program area compared to
Enacted level Operating Committee fiscal year
plan level recommendation 2019
operating plan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clean Air....................................... 116,541 115,364 115,364 ..............
Enforcement..................................... 13,669 12,992 12,992 ..............
Homeland Security............................... 33,122 31,378 33,089 1,711
Indoor Air and Radiation........................ 5,997 5,149 5,149 ..............
IT/Data Management/Security..................... 3,089 3,072 3,072 ..............
Operations and Administration................... 68,339 67,482 67,482 ..............
Pesticide Licensing............................. 6,027 5,886 5,886 ..............
Research: Air and Energy........................ 94,906 92,996 94,496 1,500
Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability.... 126,930 126,268 126,268 ..............
Research: National Priorities................... 5,000 5,000 6,000 1,000
Research: Safe and Sustainable Water Resources.. 106,257 104,890 106,890 2,000
Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities... 134,327 132,477 132,477 ..............
Water: Human Health Protection.................. 3,519 3,519 4,094 575
Rescission...................................... -11,250 .............. .............. ..............
---------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................................... 706,473 706,473 713,259 6,786
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Area and Program Project Funding Levels.--A
detailed allocation of funding by program area is included in
the table that accompanies this report. Additional changes to
the request are detailed below. Unless otherwise detailed
below, funding levels shall be maintained at the level included
in the table accompanying this report and program project
funding levels are not specified.
Indoor Air and Radiation.--$5,149,000 is provided for
indoor air and radiation activities, equal to funding provided
in the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan. The proposed
elimination of radon activities has been rejected and the
program is funded at not less than the fiscal year 2019 level.
Pesticides Licensing.--$5,886,000 is provided for pesticide
program activities. This amount is equal to funding provided in
the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan.
Research: Air and Energy.--$94,496,000 has been provided,
$1,500,000 above the funding provided in the Agency's fiscal
year 2019 operating plan. Of this amount, up to $4,500,000
shall be used to continue the study under the heading
``Partnership Research'' contained in the explanatory statement
of Public Law 115-141.
Research: Chemical Safety and Sustainability.--$126,268,000
is provided for the chemical safety and sustainability program,
equal to funding provided in the Agency's fiscal year 2019
operating plan. Funding for the endocrine disruptor program and
for computational toxicology are maintained at the fiscal year
2019 level.
Research: National Priorities.--The bill provides
$6,000,000, which shall be used for extramural research grants,
independent of the Science to Achieve Results [STAR] grant
program, to fund high-priority water quality and availability
research by not-for-profit organizations who often partner with
the Agency. Because these grants are independent of the STAR
grant program, the Agency should strive to award grants in as
large an amount as is possible to achieve the most
scientifically significant research. Funds shall be awarded
competitively with priority given to partners proposing
research of national scope and who provide a 25-percent match.
The Agency is directed to allocate funds to grantees within 180
days of enactment of this act.
Additional Guidance.--The Committee has provided the
following additional guidance with respect to funding provided
under this account.
Computational Toxicology.--The Agency is directed to
continue following the guidance contained in the explanatory
statement of Public Law 115-141.
Enhanced Aquifer Use.--The Agency is directed to continue
following the guidance contained in Senate Report 114-281.
Further, an increase of $2,000,000 is provided to the Research:
Safe and Sustainable Water Resources program above the Agency's
fiscal year 2019 operating plan. The Agency shall use this
increase for a grant to an appropriate Research Center to carry
out activities that would directly support groundwater research
on Enhanced Aquifer Recharge in support of sole source
aquifers; to enter into an interagency agreement with U.S.
Geological Survey to carry out these activities; or to make
grants to universities, tribes, and water related institutions
for planning, research, monitoring, outreach, and
implementation in furtherance of Enhanced Aquifer Recharge
research.
Integrated Risk Information System.--The Agency is directed
to continue following the guidance contained in the explanatory
statement accompanying Public Law 115-141.
Nanomaterials Research.--The Committee notes the increased
capabilities that the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] has
developed to study environment, health, and safety of
nanomaterials [nanoEHS] within FDA's Jefferson Laboratory
Campus, including the National Center for Toxicological
Research, and its consolidated headquarters at White Oak,
Maryland. The FDA can and should be more involved in nanoEHS
research with other agencies, particularly in activities
involving human health. Out of the amounts appropriated, the
Administrator shall seek to involve the FDA in nanoEHS research
to the maximum extent possible, including participation in EPA
funded research.
STAR Grants.--The Committee has provided funds to continue
the STAR program, and the Committee directs the Agency to
distribute grants consistent with fiscal year 2019. The
Committee directs that funding for the Children's Environmental
Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers are continued at
a level consistent with prior years of funding by EPA, and that
the Agency must brief the Committee on its efforts of re-
establishing a grant process for the Centers within 60 days of
enactment of this act.
Harmful Algal Blooms.--The Committee recognizes the
increasing challenges many communities face from harmful algal
blooms [HABs] in freshwater and coastal ecosystems. The
Committee encourages the Agency to fund research grants that
help promote scientific progress towards preventing and
controlling HABs in freshwater and coastal ecosystems,
including research to (1) determine the effectiveness of
existing nutrient treatment technologies; (2) evaluate the
scale-up of emerging nutrient treatment technologies and
develop new technologies; and (3) develop best management
practices to help both rural and urban communities control
nutrients in their watersheds.
Sunscreen Ingredient Analysis.--Using the funds provided,
the Agency is directed to contract with the National Academy of
Sciences to conduct a review of the current scientific
literature of currently marketed sunscreen ingredients in the
U.S. oxybenzone and octinoxate using standard Federal
reliability guidelines for toxicity data to determine potential
risks to the marine environment. The study should include a
review of existing hazard and exposure data encompassing both
ecological and animal toxicology endpoints for these two
chemicals as well as recommendations for additional research to
be undertaken that will generate the data required to conduct a
marine environmental risk assessment of currently marketed
sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate, including
recommendations on testing methods, study designs, and research
priorities. The study should also evaluate the need for risk
mitigation focusing on development of a comparative risk
assessment balancing the risk posed by sunscreen ingredients
oxybenzone and octinoxate to the marine environment with the
potential public health implications associated with reduced
use of sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate for
protection against excess ultraviolet radiation exposure to
complement human safety data currently being collected by the
FDA.
Wildfire Smoke Research.--The Committee notes with concern
the adverse health effects smoke from wildfires has on impacted
communities. The Committee is aware of and supports efforts by
EPA to develop community-based interventions and communication
strategies for affected communities.
Microplastics.--The Committee supports EPA's ongoing
efforts to develop standards for microplastics analysis. The
Committee provides no less than $1,000,000 in Research: Safe
and Sustainable Water Resources for research to produce
standard reference materials, appropriate instrumentation, and
accurate and precise methods for microplastics analysis that
include appropriate quality assurance and quality control for:
microplastics sample collection; microplastics extraction from
surface and drinking water, dust, sediment and tissue samples;
microplastics characterization; and microplastics
quantification. The Committee encourages the EPA to continue to
work with industry partners and other interested stakeholders
on these efforts and directs the EPA to coordinate with
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] and
National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] where
appropriate.
Environmental Programs and Management
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $2,597,999,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 2,149,268,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,623,582,000
The bill provides $2,623,582,000 for environmental programs
and management activities. This amount is $25,583,000 above the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan.
Budget Rebaseline.--Unlike in previous fiscal years, the
Committee has not included a rescission of funds to the
Environmental Programs and Management account. Rescissions have
been enacted to this account for a number of fiscal years, and
the Committee does not continue the practice in this bill in
order to exercise further control over funding levels of
program areas. The enacted rescissions in previous fiscal years
were account-wide, and the Agency was left discretion as how to
apply the rescission to the program areas in the account. For
reference, the fiscal year 2019 enacted level for the account
was $2,658,200,000 with a $60,201,000 rescission, which
amounted to $2,597,999,000 in actual budget authority. The
Agency in fiscal year 2019 and previous years would decide how
to apply the rescission by formulating an operating plan for
the account with the rescission included. Therefore, as the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan for the account
provided the actual baseline of funding for each program area,
the Committee views the operating plan levels for fiscal year
2019 as the base funding levels for the account and each
program area. For fiscal year 2020, while a program area may
appear at a level below the fiscal year 2019 enacted level, the
Committee has not reduced funding for any program area below
the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level. The
Committee provides $2,623,582,000 for the Environmental
Programs and Management account for fiscal year 2020 with no
rescission, an increase of $25,583,000 above the Agency's
fiscal year 2019 operating plan level of $2,597,999,000. A
table is included below to further detail the fiscal year 2019
funding levels, both enacted and the Agency's operating plan,
and the fiscal year 2020 Committee recommendations.
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2019 Fiscal year 2020
---------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendation
Program area compared to
Enacted level Operating Committee fiscal year
plan level recommendation 2019
operating plan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brownfields..................................... 25,593 23,647 23,647 ..............
Clean air and climate........................... 273,108 272,844 272,844 ..............
Compliance...................................... 101,665 98,052 98,052 ..............
Enforcement..................................... 240,637 229,003 229,003 ..............
Environmental protection: National priorities... 15,000 15,000 17,700 2,700
Geographic programs............................. 456,958 456,958 471,741 14,783
Homeland security............................... 10,195 10,013 10,013 ..............
Indoor air and radiation........................ 27,637 24,951 24,951 ..............
Information exchange/Outreach................... 126,538 118,828 118,828 ..............
International programs.......................... 15,400 14,611 14,611 ..............
IT/Data management/Security..................... 90,536 87,816 87,816 ..............
Legal/science/regulatory/economic review........ 111,414 104,243 104,243 ..............
Operations and administration................... 480,751 474,153 474,153 ..............
Pesticide licensing............................. 109,363 107,046 107,046 ..............
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)... 112,377 108,789 108,789 ..............
Toxics risk review and prevention............... 92,521 90,715 90,715 ..............
Underground storage tanks (LUST/UST)............ 11,295 10,750 10,750 ..............
Water: Ecosystems:.............................. 47,788 45,964 49,064 3,100
Water: Human health protection.................. 98,507 98,427 101,927 3,500
Water quality protection........................ 210,917 206,189 207,689 1,500
Rescission...................................... -60,201 .............. .............. ..............
---------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................................... 2,597,999 2,597,999 2,623,582 25,583
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Area and Program Project Funding Levels.--A
detailed allocation of funding by program area is included in
the table that accompanies this report. Additional changes to
the request are detailed below. Unless otherwise detailed
below, funding levels shall be maintained at the level included
in the table accompanying this report and program project
funding levels are not specified.
Freedom of Information Act [FOIA].--The Committee is aware
of concerns about the EPA's ``Freedom of Information Act
Regulations Update'' final rule, 84 Fed. Reg. 30028,
promulgated on June 26, 2019. The Committee wants to ensure
that such regulatory changes do not result in undue delays,
redactions, and the withholding of information in contravention
of the intent of the FOIA statute. To better understand the
impact of the final rule on EPA's compliance with the
requirements of FOIA, the Committee expects EPA to provide a
quarterly briefing to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees and the committees of Jurisdiction for each quarter
that the rule remains in effect to provide information on the
implementation of the rule and its impacts on FOIA responses.
The briefings should include detail on the number of times that
agency officials issue final determinations described in the
rule and the specific statutory exemptions invoked in instances
where an official issues a final determination outlined in the
rule to withhold a record or a portion thereof.
Clean Air.--The Committee has provided funding for Clean
Air programs equal to the level provided in the Agency's fiscal
year 2019 operating plan. The Committee continues to support
the EnergySTAR program at the fiscal year 2019 level. The
Committee does not support the proposed termination of
voluntary programs, including Natural GasSTAR, AgSTAR, the
Combined Heat and Power Partnership, and other partnership
programs where EPA works collaboratively with non-governmental
entities to identify beneficial methods to reduce emissions,
reduce pollution, or increase efficiency. The Committee
encourages EPA to inform states of applicable tools, such as
output-based regulations, that will encourage fuel efficiency
as an air pollution prevention measure and assist states in
meeting environmental and energy goals. The Committee funds
both program areas related to stratospheric ozone at not less
than the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
Environmental Protection: National Priorities.--The bill
provides $17,700,000, an increase of $2,700,000 above the
enacted level and the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan
level, for a competitive grant program for qualified non-profit
organizations, excluding institutions of higher education, to
provide technical assistance for improved water quality or safe
drinking water, adequate waste water to small systems, or
individual private well owners. The Agency shall provide
$15,000,000 for Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water
Systems Assistance Act (Public Law 114-98), for activities
specified under section 1442(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act
(42 U.S.C. 300j-1(e)(8)). The Agency is also directed to
provide $1,700,000 for grants to qualified not-for-profit
organizations for technical assistance for individual private
well owners, with priority given to organizations that
currently provide technical and educational assistance to
individual private well owners. The Agency is directed to
provide on a national and multi-State regional basis,
$1,000,000 for grants to qualified organizations for the sole
purpose of providing on-site training and technical assistance
for wastewater systems. The Agency shall require each grantee
to provide a minimum 10 percent match, including in kind
contributions. The Agency is directed to allocate funds to
grantees within 180 days of enactment of this act.
The Committee remains concerned that the Agency made a
decision to put out a multi-year Request for Applications for
fiscal year 2017 and 2018 without the express approval of the
Committee. The Agency is directed to obtain Committee approval
for any similar activity in the future.
Geographic Programs.--The bill provides $471,741,000 for
Geographic Programs, an increase of $14,783,000 above the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level. Funding levels
for the specific geographic programs are as follows:
--$301,000,000 for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
--$76,000,000 for the Chesapeake Bay program.
--$5,750,000 for the San Francisco Bay program.
--$29,000,000 for the Puget Sound program.
--$4,704,000 for the South Florida program.
--$16,000,000 for the Long Island Sound program.
--$17,042,000 for the Gulf of Mexico program.
--$13,000,000 for the Lake Champlain program.
--$5,200,000 for the Southern New England Estuaries program.
--$1,400,000 for the Lake Pontchartrain program.
--$1,200,000 for the Columbia River Basin Restoration
program.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.--A long-term goal of
the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative [GLRI] articulated in
the GLRI Action Plan calls for land use, recreation, and
economic activities that are managed to ensure that nearshore
aquatic, wetland, and upland habitats will sustain the health
and function of natural communities. The Committee is aware
that Metropolitan Planning Organizations in the region are
working on site-specific land-use and economic development
projects with local communities bordering the Great Lakes that
can help advance this effort. The Agency is encouraged to work
with these groups to advance this long-term goal as they
allocate funding under the GLRI.
Additionally, the Committee urges the Environmental
Protection Agency and Great Lakes Interagency Taskforce to
provide continued attention and resources towards building the
capacity of on-the-ground partners, including States and
Tribes, as ongoing partners in the stewardship of the Great
Lakes. The Committee recognizes the importance of Tribal self-
governance and encourages the Agency to work with Tribal
governments and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to develop a
proposal for the creation of a distinct GLRI Tribal program
through which GLRI funds would be provided to allow Tribes the
flexibility to develop the programs that are of the highest
priorities to their communities and which fulfill the spirit of
self-determination, meet treaty obligations, and carry out
Federal trust responsibilities.
The Committee encourages agency funds for Great Lakes
projects to be made available for projects in the historic
Great Lakes Basin, which includes the Chicago River Watershed.
In delivering this program as authorized for Lake
Champlain, the Agency is encouraged to support and expected to
coordinate with the federally authorized Lake Champlain Basin
Program and the Lake Champlain Sea Grant Program, each of which
has expertise and jurisdiction for aquatic invasive species,
and work cooperatively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Gulf of Mexico.--The bill provides $17,042,000 for the Gulf
of Mexico Geographic Program, an increase of $2,500,000 above
the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan. The Committee
notes that hypoxia continues to be a growing cause for concern.
The Committee directs the Agency to coordinate with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, the Gulf States, and other State,
local, and private partners to leverage greater resources
toward conservation projects on working-lands within the Gulf
Region and Mississippi River Basin. The Agency is directed to
distribute funds in the same manner as fiscal year 2019.
Chesapeake Bay.--The Committee recommends $76,000,000 for
the Chesapeake Bay program, an increase of $3,000,000 above the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan. From within the
amount provided, $7,500,000 is for nutrient and sediment
removal grants and $7,500,000 is for small watershed grants to
control polluted runoff from urban, suburban, and agricultural
lands.
Lake Champlain.--The Committee recommends $13,000,000 for
the Lake Champlain program, an increase of $2,000,000 above the
enacted level and the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan.
From within the amount provided, $7,000,000 shall be allocated
through the Lake Champlain Basin Program Process. Funds
appropriated above $7,000,000 shall be directed to projects
determined to make the most significant, achievable, and
measurable progress towards meeting the phosphorus reduction
targets of the EPA's 2016 Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Load
Plan for Lake Champlain for projects and work identified in the
State implementation plan.
Puget Sound.--The bill provides $29,000,000 for the Puget
Sound program, an increase of $1,000,000 above the enacted
level and the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan. The
Agency shall follow the direction under this heading in House
Report 115-238.
Northwest Forest Program.--The Committee continues to
support the Northwest Forest Program at not less than the
fiscal year 2019 funding level.
South Florida Program.--The Committee has provided
$4,704,000 for the South Florida program, an increase of
$1,500,000 above the enacted level and the Agency's fiscal year
2019 operating plan. Within the increase, the Committee
provides $1,000,000 to monitor coral health in South Florida;
$650,000 to enhance water quality and seagrass monitoring in
the Caloosahatchee Estuary and Indian River Lagoon, especially
with respect to assessing the impact of Lake Okeechobee
discharges and harmful algal blooms; and $650,000 to enhance
water quality and seagrass monitoring in Florida Bay and
Biscayne Bay, especially with respect to assessing the impact
of Everglades Restoration projects and harmful algal blooms.
Columbia River Basin Restoration Program.--The bill
provides $1,200,000 for the Columbia River Basin Restoration
Program, an increase of $200,000 above the enacted level and
the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan.
Indoor Air and Radiation.--$24,951,000 has been provided
for indoor air and radiation activities, equal to funding
provided in the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan. The
proposed elimination of the radon program is rejected and
funding should be provided at not less than the fiscal year
2019 level. Funds have been included for the Radiation
Protection and Reduce Risks from Indoor Air programs.
Information Exchange/Outreach.--Tribal capacity building is
funded at not less than the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating
plan level. The Committee is concerned that the smart skin
cancer education program has recently received insufficient
attention from the Agency; therefore, the Agency is directed to
use environmental education funds for the smart skin cancer
education program, similar to prior years. The Committee
expects the Agency to continue the Small Minority Business
Assistance program.
International Programs.--The bill provides $14,611,000 for
International Programs, which includes funds for the U.S.-
Mexico Border program equal to funding provided in the Agency's
fiscal year 2019 operating plan. The Committee remains
concerned that despite millions of dollars of U.S.
infrastructure investments on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico
border over the past two decades, untreated sewage, chemicals,
and pollution continue to flow from Mexico into U.S.
communities. The Committee directs EPA to increase its efforts
to address toxic cross-border flows through the Border Water
Infrastructure Program in coordination with the International
Boundary and Water Commission and the North American
Development Bank.
IT/Data Management.--The Committee has provided $87,816,000
for the program area, equal to funding provided in the Agency's
fiscal year 2019 operating plan.
Legal/Science/Regulatory/Economic Review.--The Committee
recommends $104,243,000, equal to funding provided in the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan. Within this amount,
Integrated Environmental Strategies is funded at the fiscal
year 2019 level so that the Agency can continue to provide
locally-led, community-driven technical assistance to
localities, States, and other Federal agencies.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.--The bill provides
$108,789,000, equal to funding provided in the Agency's fiscal
year 2019 operating plan. Of funds provided under this section,
not less than $8,000,000 should be allocated for the purpose of
developing and implementing a Federal permit program for the
regulation of coal combustion residuals in nonparticipating
States, as authorized under section 4005(d)(2)(B) of the Solid
Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6945(d)(2)(B)). Additionally, the
Committee continues the Waste Minimization and Recycling
program and provides $2,000,000 to help public entities
demonstrate community anaerobic digester applications to
municipal solid waste streams and farm needs, such as capturing
excess phosphorus. The Committee directs that grants shall be
prioritized to communities and/or States that have statutes
mandating removal of foodwaste and similar organic material
from municipal waste streams.
Toxics Risk Review and Prevention.--$90,715,000 is provided
for toxics risk review and prevention activities and maintains
funding for the Pollution Prevention program and the Lead Risk
Reduction program. The Committee supports the Safer Choice
program and directs that the program be funded and operated
consistent with prior years.
Water: Ecosystems.--$49,064,000 has been provided for water
ecosystem programs, an increase of $3,100,000 above the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level and for the
National Estuary Program. Within the amount provided,
$29,823,000 has been provided for National Estuary Program
grants as authorized by section 320 of the Clean Water Act
(Public Law 92-500). This amount is sufficient to provide each
of the 28 national estuaries in the program with a grant of at
least $675,000.
Water: Human Health Protection.--$101,927,000 has been
provided for water-related human health protection activities,
an increase of $3,500,000 above the Agency's fiscal year 2019
operating plan level. Of the amount, $1,000,000 is provided as
requested to advance priority actions associated with per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS] in drinking water systems.
$1,500,000 of the amount provided is for the initiation of the
next Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey. $1,000,000 is
provided for implementation of Public Law 115-270. The proposed
elimination of the beach program has been rejected and funding
is provided at the fiscal year 2019 level.
Water Quality Protection.--$207,689,000 has been provided
for water quality protection, an increase of $1,500,000 above
the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level. The
increase supports the development of the next Clean Watershed
Needs Survey. The Committee rejects the proposed elimination of
the WaterSense program and the Urban Waters program and
provides not less than the fiscal year 2019 enacted level for
the programs. The Committee supports the WaterSense program, a
voluntary program that assists American businesses and families
save water through choosing certified water-efficient products
and practices. The WaterSense program is one of the most
successful public-private partnerships in the Federal
Government. More than 1,700 WaterSense partners, including
manufacturers, water utilities, building groups, retailers,
associations, and communities, have leveraged Federal funding
by investing millions of non-Federal dollars to implement water
savings solutions. In many parts of the country, water
conservation is increasingly critical to enable future job
growth and development in the face of water shortage and
drought. Since 2006, consumers have saved a cumulative 1.5
trillion gallons of water and created thousands of American
jobs supporting water-efficient products, infrastructure, and
services.
The Agency is encouraged to continue utilizing
infrastructure solutions, such as distribution network leak
detection, pressure monitoring, and sanitary and combined sewer
monitoring technologies during upgrades to water and wastewater
systems, to optimize water delivery performance, reduce energy
usage, limit water waste in distribution systems, and enhance
modeling of sewer collection networks. This will help to
improve operations, maintenance, and capital expenditure in
planning and budgeting and increase spatial and temporal
monitoring data available on U.S. water quality and quantity.
Additional Guidance.--The Committee has provided the
following additional guidance with respect to funding provided
under this account.
Biointermediates.--The Committee is aware that the Agency
included provisions on the production, transfer, and use of
biointermediates in its proposed rulemaking ``Renewables
Enhancement and Growth Support'' [REGS rule]. The Committee
notes that some stakeholders believe a multi-facility approach
to biointermediates, allowing biofuel feedstocks to be
produced, partially processed, or both at one or more locations
and refined at another location, enhances feedstock and product
flexibility, addressing the need for continued growth in the
production of second generation biofuels. Further, the
Committee notes that the Agency receives renewable fuel pathway
petitions that, despite meeting all of the other requirements
under the regulations, are deemed ineligible due to the use of
biointermediates as feedstock. The Committee recommends the
Agency finalize a rule permitting the production, transfer, and
use of biointermediates in renewable fuel production, as soon
as practicable, consistent with the biointermediates provisions
included in the REGS rule, the record of the public hearing
held on December 16, 2016, and public comments received in the
docket associated with the proposed rule. Further, the
Committee recommends that the Administrator, consistent with
the pathway provisions in the REGS rule addressing
coprocessing, review the renewable fuel pathways so as to
ensure the inclusion of biointermediates, including those
coprocessed with petroleum to produce cellulosic gasoline,
diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil, and revise the definition of
cellulosic diesel to permit renewable fuel that is coprocessed
with petroleum to qualify. The Committee encourages the Agency
to allow the use of either of the two methods for determining
the renewable content of co-processed fuels currently found at
40 CFR 80.1426(f)(4). The Committee directs the Agency to
provide a report on these efforts, including the number of
renewable fuel pathway petitions approved during the fiscal
year that use biointermediates and coprocessing.
Coal Refuse-Fired Electrical Generating Units.--The Agency
is directed to continue following the guidance contained in the
explanatory statement accompanying Public Law 115-141.
Designating Chitosan as Minimum Risk.--The Committee is
aware that the Agency has received a petition to add chitosan
to the Minimum Risk Pesticide List. The Committee encourages
the Agency to review this petition in a timely matter and to
notify the Committee when the review has been completed.
Diesel Generators in Remote Alaska Villages.--Under 40 CFR
60.4216, diesel generators purchased after Model Year 2014 are
required to have a diesel particulate filter if they are used
as the primary power generator. The Committee understands that
these filters have a high failure rate in harsh weather
conditions and that repair of the filters can be difficult and
expensive. The Committee directs the Agency to continue to
reexamine 40 CFR 60.4216 and consider exempting remote Alaska
Villages from the diesel particulate filter requirement.
Ecolabels for Federal Procurement.--The Agency is directed
to continue following the guidance contained in the explanatory
statement accompanying Public Law 115-141.
EnergySTAR.--The Committee is concerned that litigation
over non-compliance of voluntary EnergySTAR efficiency
standards, which can be the result of a standard that has
changed, may lead some participants to avoid participating in
the program. The Committee is also aware of the need for
products carrying the EnergySTAR label to achieve the required
efficiency levels to best benefit consumers. The Committee
directs the Agency to evaluate how the Agency may balance these
interests to ensure that the EnergySTAR program is both fair to
voluntary participants and reliable for consumers and report
back within 180 days of the enactment of this act.
Fish Grinding.--The Committee appreciates the Agency's work
to ensure that waste grinding requirements for offshore seafood
processors are not overly burdensome or of questionable
necessity. Under a Clean Water Act general permit, onshore
seafood processors in Alaska are allowed to grind and discharge
seafood waste. The permit requires that all seafood waste be
ground to a size of no more than one-half inch in any
dimension. Unfortunately, in some instances, the best available
technology is unable to achieve an exact half inch grind
dimension on a consistent basis due to the malleable and
irregular nature of fish waste. The Agency should develop a
policy to ensure that fish processors using the best available
technology and/or best conventional practice will be considered
in compliance.
Interagency Consultations.--The Agency is directed to
continue following the requirements of Senate Report 114-281
regarding consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture
related to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (Public Law 95-396, as amended).
Integrated Planning.--The Committee supports the Agency's
ongoing activities related to integrated planning, which will
be increasingly necessary as States and communities work to
meet their myriad clean water obligations while keeping rates
affordable for water ratepayers. The Committee also encourages
EPA to move as expeditiously as possible in establishing the
Office of Municipal Ombudsman as authorized by Congress and in
providing States with additional resources and guidance to
issue CWA permits for municipal dischargers that include
integrated planning concepts.
Manganese.--The Committee is concerned about manganese soil
contamination in Chicago and encourages EPA to clean up all
affected areas to the lowest possible limits for residential
screening and monitoring to protect public health.
Kootenai Watershed.--The Committee directs the Agency to
continue and expand its work coordinating with Federal, State,
local, and tribal agencies to monitor and reduce transboundary
hazardous contaminants in the Kootenai watershed. The Agency is
directed to coordinate with the Department of State, U.S.
Geological Survey, and other partners to submit a report to the
Committee within 60 days of enactment of this act on any
remaining data gaps to address transboundary watershed
contamination in the Kootenai with Canada.
National Estuary Program.--The Committee supports the
National Estuary Program and believes that estuaries provide
critical ecosystem services that protect human health and
public safety. These include water filtration, flood control,
habitat enhancement and restoration, shoreline stabilization,
erosion prevention, and the protection of coastal communities
during hurricanes and storms. The Committee recognizes that
many industries rely on healthy estuaries, and the Committee
has provided funding to ensure the protection of these critical
ecosystems.
PFOA/PFAS.--The Committee notes that the Agency's published
``Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances [PFAS] Action Plan''
calls for moving forward with the maximum contaminant level
process outlined in the Safe Drinking Water Act (Public Law 93-
523) for PFAS chemicals. The Committee supports this action and
urges the Agency to act expeditiously on this matter. The
Committee directs the Agency to brief the Committee within 60
days of enactment of this act about its plans for this action.
Interagency Coordination on Flood Reduction.--The Committee
is concerned by the consequences of frequent and severe
flooding within Federal flood control project areas. A major
disaster declaration under the Stafford Act was issued for the
lower Mississippi River Valley on April 23, 2019, due to months
of severe flooding that caused significant damage to
infrastructure and the environment. In 2008, the Environmental
Protection Agency disapproved of the Corps' recommended plan
for remaining unconstructed features after the Corps had
completed a complex system of improvements in the area as
authorized by Congress. As flooding remains a significant
problem in the lower Mississippi River Valley, the Committee
understands that EPA is working with the Corps to explore
alternatives to provide a balanced approach to the flood damage
reduction and environmental needs of the affected area. EPA
shall brief the Committee within 30 days of the enactment of
this Act on this matter.
Public Access to Research.--The Agency released its Plan to
Increase Access to Results of EPA-Funded Scientific Research on
November 29, 2016. The Committee urges the Agency to continue
its efforts towards full implementation of the plan and directs
the Agency to provide an update on its efforts in its fiscal
year 2021 budget request.
Regulation of Groundwater.--The Agency is directed to
continue following the guidance contained in the explanatory
statement accompanying Public Law 115-141. The Committee
reiterates that, since enactment in 1972, the Clean Water Act
(Public Law 92-500) [CWA] has regulated impacts to navigable
waters, while regulation of groundwater has remained outside of
the act's jurisdiction. Instead, legislative history
surrounding the CWA indicates that Congress intended for
groundwater pollution to be regulated through the CWA's
nonpoint source program and other Federal and State laws.
Protection of Resources in Bristol Bay, Alaska.--The
Committee appreciates that the Environmental Protection Agency
[EPA], Department of the Interior [DOI], the National Marine
Fisheries Service [NMFS], the State of Alaska, and independent
subject matter experts have provided significant technical
comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) in
response to its draft Environmental Impact Statement [DEIS] for
the proposed Pebble mine project in southwest Alaska. The
Committee notes that multiple Federal agencies commented to
express their concerns that the DEIS is inadequate and does not
meet the Army Corps' obligations to thoroughly evaluate the
potential impacts of the proposed project. The Committee shares
the agencies' concerns that the DEIS lacks certain critical
information about the proposed project and related mitigation
and therefore likely underestimates its potential risks and
impacts. Sound science must guide Federal decisionmaking and
all gaps and deficiencies identified in comments from Federal
agencies and other stakeholders, including Alaska Natives, must
be fully addressed, even if that requires additional scientific
study, data collection, and more comprehensive analysis of the
project's potential impacts. In addition, the Committee
encourages the Army Corps to utilize EPA, NMFS, and the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game to provide assistance on fisheries-
related analysis given the special expertise and jurisdiction
of those agencies. Adverse impacts to Alaska's world-class
salmon fishery and to the ecosystem of Bristol Bay, Alaska, are
unacceptable. To the extent DOI, EPA, or NMFS are not satisfied
with the Army Corps' analysis of the project, the agencies are
encouraged to exercise their discretionary authorities, which
include EPA's enforcement authority under the Clean Water Act,
at an appropriate time in the permitting process to ensure the
full protection of the region.
Significant New Alternatives Policy Program.--The Committee
reiterates the direction contained within the explanatory
statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2017 (Public Law 115-31) to consider harmonizing the status of
any previously approved refrigerant or foam-blowing agent with
other domestic and international programs for refrigeration and
commercial air conditioning applications and corresponding
deadlines for military, space-, and aeronautics-related
applications.
Small Refinery Relief.--The Committee continues the
directive contained in Senate Report 114-281 related to small
refinery relief. The Agency is reminded that, regardless of the
Department of Energy's recommendation, additional relief may be
granted if the Agency believes it is warranted.
Small Remote Incinerators.--The Committee believes the
Agency's efforts to regulate small remote incinerators [SRIs]
will have negative impact on remote areas in Alaska where
traditional waste disposal methods are unavailable. Because
SRIs in Alaska are used to manage food waste, elimination of
SRIs would result in the inability to dispose of food waste in
a timely manner, resulting in a situation that creates an
attraction to wildlife and increases the potential for
potentially lethal human--wildlife contact. Additionally, many
Alaska sites have no road connection to landfills so waste will
often have to be flown via fixed and rotary wing aircraft to
landfills as far away as 65 miles. In its original efforts to
regulate SRIs, the Agency recognized these issues and exempted
SRIs in Alaska. Following the Agency's decision to reverse
course because of a court decision, the Committee and
stakeholders have attempted to work with the Agency for at
least 4 years. Unfortunately, those efforts have not resulted
in any relief for users of SRIs in Alaska. Therefore, the bill
includes language delaying enforcement as the Committee,
stakeholders, and the Agency work toward a solution. The
Committee appreciates the work of the Agency and encourages all
parties to find a solution by the end of fiscal year 2020. The
Committee directs the Agency to brief the Committee on its
progress on a quarterly basis.
Toxic Substances Control Act Modernization.--The Committee
notes that legislation to modernize the Toxic Substances
Control Act [TSCA] (Public Law 114-182) was enacted in 2016.
This bill includes language that will enable the EPA to collect
and spend new fees to conduct additional chemical reviews,
consistent with TSCA modernization legislation. Those fees are
expected to be $27,000,000 per year once the program is fully
implemented. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that in
fiscal year 2020, fee collections will begin several months
after the beginning of the fiscal year and will total
$5,000,000. This bill also includes language ensuring that new
fee collections will supplement, not supplant, appropriated
resources for these activities.
Transparency of Public Calendars.--The Committee
appreciates the Agency's recent steps to post the daily
calendars of the Agency's senior leaders on the Agency's public
website. These efforts follow a traditional commitment by the
Agency to provide a high level of transparency of officials'
calendars. The Committee directs the Agency to continue
publishing such daily calendars and, to the extent it is
practicable, encourages the Agency to take steps to publish
calendars within 24 hours of the end of each day in which
official or political business is conducted, including the
calendars of the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, each
Regional Administrator, and any individuals serving in an
acting capacity for such positions. As the EPA continues to
take steps to improve transparency, the Agency should ensure
that each daily calendar includes meetings, calls, and events,
as well as the names of the organizations represented in those
meetings, calls, or events.
Vehicle Idling Training.--The Committee notes that diesel
vehicle operators and businesses in the private sector have
reduced their vehicle fleet costs and improved air quality by
participating in programs that offer certifications for idle
reduction and fuel efficient driving programs. The Agency is
directed to conduct a cross agency analysis to determine which
branches of government could achieve savings and improve air
quality by engaging in external programs, including University
Extension programs that offer this training.
Electric Pathway.--The Committee notes the backlog of
applications under the Renewable Fuels Pathway II rule
finalized in 2014. No applications for the electric pathway,
which could help support rural agricultural communities, have
been approved since the rule went into effect. The Agency shall
take action on the existing applications within 90 days of the
enactment of this act.
Ethylene Oxide.--The Committee recognizes public concerns
about ethylene oxide emissions. The Committee is aware that the
Agency has announced plans to review and update ethylene oxide
emission standards. The Committee supports this action and
urges the Agency to act expeditiously on this matter. The
Committee directs the Agency to brief the Committee within 60
days of enactment of this act about its plans for this action.
Asbestos.--The Committee notes that the EPA has announced
plans to undergo risk evaluations for a number of uses of
asbestos. As the Agency has previously announced that exposure
to asbestos increases the risk of lung disease, the Committee
encourages the Agency to issue its determination to Congress
expeditiously. The Agency must work with Congress to
effectively protect communities from further exposure.
Recycling.--The Committee encourages the Agency to consider
developing a definition of ``recycling'' to allow for better
tracking and understanding of the performance of the different
beverage and food packaging substrates, including glass,
plastic, aluminum, cardboard, tetrapack and others, including
whether or not products are efficiently and effectively
recycled.
Solid Sodium Cyanide Briquettes.--The Committee is
concerned about reports of potential environmental impacts of
imported solid sodium cyanide briquettes for mining purposes
that fail to meet current industrial standards. The Agency
should appropriately monitor the situation.
HAZARDOUS WASTE ELECTRIC MANIFEST SYSTEM FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $8,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 8,000,000
The bill provides $8,000,000, which is expected to be fully
off-set by fees for a new appropriation of $0.
Office of Inspector General
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $41,489,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 38,893,000
Committee recommendation................................ 41,489,000
The bill provides $41,489,000 for the Office of Inspector
General, which is equal to the fiscal year 2019 enacted level
and the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level, and
$2,596,000 above the budget request.
Program Area and Program Project Funding Levels.--A
detailed allocation of funding by program area is included in
the table that accompanies this report. Additional changes to
the request are detailed below. Funding levels shall be
maintained at the level included in the table accompanying this
report and program project funding levels are not specified.
Buildings and Facilities
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $34,467,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 39,553,000
Committee recommendation................................ 34,467,000
The bill provides $34,467,000 for buildings and facilities
programs. This amount is equal to the Agency's fiscal year 2019
operating plan level.
Program Area and Program Project Funding Levels.--A
detailed allocation of funding by program area is included in
the table that accompanies this report. Additional changes to
the request are detailed below. Funding levels shall be
maintained at the level included in the table accompanying this
report and program project funding levels are not specified.
Hazardous Substance Superfund
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $1,091,947,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 1,045,351,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,167,783,000
The bill provides $1,167,783,000 for Superfund programs and
language to transfer $9,856,000 to the Office of Inspector
General account and $17,775,000 to the Science and Technology
account. This funding level includes $68,000,000, which was
included in fiscal year 2019 funding in a title IV general
provision but has since moved into program base funding of
title II for fiscal year 2020. Therefore, the bill provides an
increase of $7,836,000 over the Agency's fiscal year 2019
operating plan level.
Program Area and Program Project Funding Levels.--A
detailed allocation of funding by program area is included in
the table that accompanies this report. Additional changes to
the request are detailed below. Unless otherwise detailed
below, funding levels shall be maintained at the level included
in the table accompanying this report and program project
funding levels are not specified.
Enforcement.--$166,375,000 is provided for Superfund
enforcement, equal to the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and
the Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level. The Agency
is directed to continue financial support of the Department of
Justice [DOJ] in fiscal year 2020 at a level that will ensure
the DOJ can continue to initiate and prosecute civil, judicial,
and administrative site remediation cases and ensure that
responsible parties perform cleanup actions at sites where they
are liable.
Additional Guidance.--The Committee has provided the
following additional guidance with respect to funding provided
under this account:
Contaminants of Emerging Concern.--The Committee recommends
$189,306,000 for Emergency Response and Removal activities.
This funding level includes $8,000,000, which was included in
fiscal year 2019 funding in a title IV general provision but
has since moved into activity base funding of title II for
fiscal year 2020. These activities should include collaborative
work with State, Tribal, and local governments to help
communities address contaminants of emerging concern.
Furthermore, the Committee recommends that the Agency
expeditiously remediate Superfund sites contaminated by these
emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances [PFAS], and provide technical assistance and support
to States and Tribes during the remedial cleanup process.
Continued Improvements.--The Committee encourages the
Superfund program to continue to implement more meaningful
performance measures of Superfund site clean-up. Additionally,
the Committee encourages efforts to continually improve the
system for delisting National Priority List sites in order to
recognize cleanup progress and to consider more consistency in
site cleanup standards while recognizing site variabilities,
ensuring that the requirements of the National Contingency Plan
are met. The Committee urges the Agency to enhance on-the-
ground cooperation with local impacted parties by engaging
local stakeholders on a consistent basis.
Privacy for Agricultural Producers.--The Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6) included bill
language to provide relief to livestock producers related to
emissions reporting under the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (Public Law
96-510) [CERCLA]. In order to protect American farmers and
ranchers, the Committee directs the Agency, consistent with its
legal obligations, to maintain efforts to preserve the privacy
of agricultural operations who are required to report under
other statutes in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act
(Public Law 96-511), the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-
579), and section 1170 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public
Law 99-198).
Sediment Guidance.--The Committee notes that EPA first
issued the Contaminated Sediment Remediation Guidance for
Hazardous Waste Sites in 2005 and provided some updates in
EPA's January 2017 Office of Land Emergency Management
Directive (9200.1-130). Given the importance of consistently
implementing Superfund policy, the Committee encourages the
Administrator to issue a directive reiterating the critical
need to strictly follow the Contaminated Sediment Guidance and
integrate applicable recommendations from the Task Force.
Tribal Guidance.--The Committee recognizes the importance
of government-to-government Tribal consultation as well as the
necessity to honor Tribal treaty rights and resources protected
by treaties. The Agency is directed to fully implement the
Agency's Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights to ensure
Agency actions adequately consider treaty rights proactively
throughout the consultation process.
PCB Contamination.--The Committee applauds the Agency's
addition of Minden, West Virginia to the National Priorities
List. The Committee encourages the Agency to report regularly
to the West Virginia congressional delegation on the status of
its efforts in Minden, including providing the delegation
health assessment results and analysis after the completion of
any testing, with a report within 90 days of enactment of this
act.
Bubbly Creek.--The Committee is disappointed that
negotiations between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the
Department of Justice, and the EPA over remaining liability
concerns have yet to produce an outcome that will allow the
project to move forward. The Committee urges the parties to
expedite a resolution.
Libby.--The Committee encourages any remaining funds from
the W. R. Grace Settlement pertaining to the Libby, Montana
Asbestos Superfund Site to remain expendable for operation and
maintenance by eligible parties in Northwest Montana.
Radiological Limits.--The Committee is concerned that EPA
Region 4 is creating new standards and limits for setting
cleanup goals at sites managed by the Department of Energy. The
EPA is directed to brief the Committee within 30 days of
enactment of this act on the rationale for permitting
individual Regions to create their own standards and limits,
rather than using existing Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC]
radiological limits for the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act [CERCLA] sites
managed by the Department of Energy where such limits exist.
Further, EPA is directed to provide a report on any instances
where it has proposed radiological limits different from
existing NRC limits for CERCLA sites managed by the Department
of Energy, including the technical rationale and data that
supports the EPA's proposed limits.
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $91,941,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 47,801,000
Committee recommendation................................ 91,941,000
The bill provides $91,941,000 for leaking underground
storage tank trust fund activities, equal to the fiscal year
2019 enacted level and the Agency's operating plan level.
Program Area and Program Project Funding Levels.--A
detailed allocation of funding by program area is included in
the table that accompanies this report. Additional changes to
the request are detailed below. Funding levels shall be
maintained at the level included in the table accompanying this
report and program project funding levels are not specified.
Tribal Consultation.--The Agency should fully engage in
meaningful consultation with Tribes and honor Tribal cleanup
standards when developing interim and final action plans to
remediate LUST sites located on reservations.
Inland Oil Spill Program
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $18,209,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 15,962,000
Committee recommendation................................ 18,290,000
The bill provides $18,209,000 for inland oil spill
programs, which is an increase of $81,000 above the fiscal year
2019 enacted level.
Program Area and Program Project Funding Levels.--A
detailed allocation of funding by program area is included in
the table that accompanies this report. Additional changes to
the request are detailed below. Funding levels shall be
maintained at the level included in the table accompanying this
report and program project funding levels are not specified.
State and Tribal Assistance Grants
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $3,605,041,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 2,774,602,000
Committee recommendation................................ 4,247,028,000
The bill provides $4,247,028,000 for State and Tribal
assistance grants. This amount is $116,065,000 above the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level.
Budget Rebaseline.--Unlike in previous fiscal years, the
Committee has not included a rescission of funds to the State
and Tribal Grants [STAG] account. Rescissions have been enacted
to this account for a number of fiscal years and the Committee
does not continue the practice in this bill in order to
exercise further control over funding levels of program areas.
The enacted rescissions in previous fiscal years were account-
wide and the Agency was left discretion as how to apply the
rescission to the program areas in the account. For reference,
the fiscal year 2019 enacted level for the account was
$4,270,041,000 with a $139,078,000 rescission, which amounted
to $4,130,963,000 in actual budget authority. The Agency in
fiscal year 2019 and previous years would decide how to apply
the rescission by formulating an operating plan for the account
with the rescission included. Therefore, as the Agency's fiscal
year 2019 operating plan for the account provided the actual
baseline of funding for each program area, the Committee views
the operating plan levels for fiscal year 2019 as the base
funding levels for the account and each program area. For
fiscal year 2020 while a program area may appear at a level
below the fiscal year 2019 enacted level, the Committee has not
reduced funding for any program area below the Agency's fiscal
year 2019 operating plan level. Further, in fiscal years 2018
and 2019 the bill included a title IV general provision that
provided $665,000,000 in STAG account funding for the State
Revolving Funds ($300,000,000 each) and three grant programs
($65,000,000 in total) as authorized in the WIIN Act, Public
Law 114-322. The bill includes the $665,000,000 in funding from
the title IV general provision as base funding in title II STAG
accounts. In total, the Committee provides $4,247,028,000 for
the State and Tribal Grants account for fiscal year 2020 with
no rescission, an increase of $116,065 above the Agency's
fiscal year 2019 operating plan level of $4,130,963,000. A
table is included below to further detail the fiscal year 2019
funding levels, both enacted and the Agency's operating plan,
and the fiscal year 2020 Committee recommendations.
[In thousands of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2019 Fiscal year 2020
---------------------------------------------------------------
Recommendation
Program area compared to
Enacted level Operating Committee fiscal year
plan level recommendation 2019
operating plan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clean water state revolving fund [SRF].......... 1,694,000 1,638,826 1,638,826 ..............
Drinking water state revolving fund [SRF]....... 1,164,000 1,126,088 1,126,088 ..............
Mexico border................................... 15,000 14,511 19,511 5,000
Alaska Native villages.......................... 25,000 24,186 29,186 5,000
Brownfields projects............................ 87,000 84,166 85,166 1,000
Diesel emissions grants......................... 87,000 84,166 85,166 1,000
Targeted airshed grants......................... 52,000 50,306 56,306 6,000
Water Quality Monitoring (Public Law 114-322)... 4,000 3,870 4,000 130
Small and Disadvantaged Communities............. 25,000 24,186 25,816 1,630
Lead Testing in Schools......................... 25,000 24,186 29,186 5,000
Reducing Lead in Drinking Water................. 15,000 14,511 19,511 5,000
Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and .............. .............. 2,000 2,000
Sustainability (new)...........................
Technical Assistance for Treatment Works (new).. .............. .............. 13,000 13,000
Sewer Overflow Control Grants (new)............. .............. .............. 20,497 20,497
Water Workforce And Workforce Investment (new).. .............. .............. 1,000 1,000
School Drinking Fountain Lead Testing/ .............. .............. 5,000 5,000
Replacement (new)..............................
Categorical Grants.............................. 1,077,041 1,041,961 1,086,769 44,808
Rescission...................................... -139,078 .............. .............. ..............
---------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................................... 4,130,963 4,130,963 4,247,028 116,065
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Area and Program Project Funding Levels.--A
detailed allocation of funding by program area is included in
the table that accompanies this report. Additional changes to
the request are detailed below. Funding levels shall be
maintained at the level included in the table accompanying this
report and program project funding levels are not specified.
Infrastructure Assistance.--$3,160,259,000 has been
provided for infrastructure assistance. This funding level
includes $665,000,000, which was included in fiscal year 2019
funding in a title IV general provision but has been moved here
into program base funding of title II for fiscal year 2020. The
Committee is aware that the Agency requires a certified
operator in order to release funds for certain water and
sanitation funding; however, some communities do not have a
community system for either, access to a certified operator.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Agency to work with the
Indian Health Service and those communities that lack water and
sanitation systems, as well as a certified operator, to prevent
the potential loss of funding and develop a training plan for
operator certification.
Assistance to Small and Disadvantaged Communities.--The
bill provides $25,816,000 to continue a grant program to assist
small and disadvantaged communities develop and maintain
adequate water infrastructure, as authorized in section 2104 of
Public Law 114-322. The Committee is concerned with the
Agency's funding distribution to States for the grant program,
particularly in regard to how the number of small and
disadvantaged communities in each State is considered. The
Committee expects the Agency to review its funding distribution
and brief the Committee on the matter within 90 days of
enactment of this act.
Reducing Lead in Drinking Water.--The bill provides
$19,511,000 to continue a grant program to provide assistance
to eligible entities for lead reduction projects, as authorized
in section 2105 of Public Law 114-322.
Lead Testing in Schools.--The bill provides $29,186,000 to
continue a grant program for voluntary testing of drinking
water for lead contaminants at schools and child care
facilities, as authorized in section 2107 of Public Law 114-
322.
Use of Iron and Steel.--The bill includes language in title
IV general provisions that stipulates requirements for the use
of iron and steel in State Revolving Fund projects, and the
agreement includes only the following guidance. The Committee
acknowledges that EPA may issue a waiver of said requirements
for de minimis amounts of iron and steel building materials.
The Committee emphasizes that any coating processes that are
applied to the external surface of iron and steel components
that otherwise qualify under the procurement preference shall
not render such products ineligible for the procurement
preference regardless of where the coating processes occur,
provided that final assembly of the products occurs in the
United States.
Rubber Gaskets.--The Committee is aware of concerns about
the use of rubber gaskets that do not meet the National
Sanitation Foundation and American National Standards Institute
Standard 61 [NSF/ANSI 61] in potable water systems. The NSF/
ANSI Standard 61 establishes health-related requirements for
drinking water components like rubber gaskets and has been
adopted by 47 States. EPA should work with States to ensure
that funds provided to the State Revolving Fund [SRF] of a
State are used for the purchase of rubber gaskets that are in
compliance with the NSF/ANSI Standard 61 when a State has
adopted the standard by regulation or statute. The Agency is
directed to brief the Committee within 60 days of enactment of
this Act on how the Agency can work with States to ensure
projects funded by SRFs use safe and non-harmful rubber
gaskets.
Targeted Airshed Grant.--$56,306,000 has been provided for
Targeted Airshed Grants. These grants shall be distributed on a
competitive basis to nonattainment areas that EPA determines
are ranked as the top five most polluted areas relative to
annual ozone or particulate matter 2.5 standards as well as the
top five areas based on the 24-hour particulate matter 2.5
standard where the design values exceed the 35 mg/m3 standard.
To determine these areas, the Agency shall use the most recent
design values calculated from validated air quality data. The
Committee notes that these funds are available for emission
reduction activities deemed necessary for compliance with
national ambient air quality standards and included in a State
Implementation Plan submitted to EPA. Not later than the end of
fiscal year 2020, EPA should provide a report to the Committee
that includes a table showing how fiscal year 2018 and 2019
funds were allocated. The table should also include grant
recipients and metrics for anticipated or actual results.
Animas River Spill.--The Committee feels strongly that an
adequate long-term water quality monitoring program must be
place for the States and Tribes affected following the Gold
King Mine Spill into the Animas River that impacted Colorado,
New Mexico, Arizona, and the Navajo Nation. The Committee has,
to date, provided $12,000,000 for three installments of a 5-
year total authorization of $20,000,000 in the Water
Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law 114-
322). The Committee provides $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2020
and directs the EPA to continue to work in consultation with
affected States and Tribes on this effort. In addition, the
Committee expects the EPA to process all State, tribal, and
local requests for reimbursements for costs incurred in an
expeditious manner.
Further, the Committee concurs with the Agency's decision
to reconsider its previous determination to deny claims for
damages from the Animas River Spill by invoking the
discretionary act exemption in the Federal Tort Claims Act
(Public Law 79-601) but is concerned that little progress has
been made on processing or paying out claims. The Committee is
also concerned that the Agency is applying or may apply an
inconsistent standard that discriminates against certain
claimants. The Committee expects the Agency and the Federal
Government to take a clear and consistent position as to
whether they are responsible for damages caused to others by
the Gold King Mine release. The Committee supports paying out
all legitimate claims from the Judgment Fund, consistent with
the Federal Tort Claims Act, and communicating all relevant
aspects of the claims process clearly to all affected
communities, State, local, and Tribal governments, along with
the Committee. Within 30 days of enactment of this act, the
Agency shall provide to the Committee a written report
detailing the status of the review of the legal basis for
allowing or rejecting claims and the date by which such review
will be complete; the current process underway for processing
claims; the status of all claims, including reconsidered
claims; the Agency's complete plan for processing all claims;
and any other future planned actions related to current or
future claims.
Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability
Program Grants.--The Committee provides $2,000,000 for a new
grant program to increase resilience of drinking water
infrastructure to natural hazards, as authorized in section
2005 of Public Law 115-270.
Technical Assistance for Treatment Works Grants.--The
Committee recommends $13,000,000 for a new grant program to
provide technical assistance to small, rural, and disadvantaged
communities for the planning, design, financing, operation, and
maintenance of water treatment infrastructure, as authorized by
section 4103 of Public Law 115-270.
Sewer Overflow Control Grants.--The Committee recommends
$20,497,000 for a new grant program to control and treat sewer
overflows and stormwater, as authorized in section 4106 of
Public Law 115-270.
Water Infrastructure Workforce Development.--The Committee
recommends $1,000,000 for a new grant to support workforce
development for drinking water and waste water system workers,
as authorized by section 4304 of Public Law 115-270.
School Drinking Fountain Lead Testing and Replacement.--The
Committee recommends $5,000,000 for a new grant program to
support testing for lead in and replacement of school drinking
fountains, as authorized by section 2006 of Public Law 115-270.
Categorical Grants.--For categorical grants to States and
other environmental partners for the implementation of
delegated programs, the bill provides $1,086,769,000, an
increase of $44,808,000 above the Agency's fiscal year 2019
operating plan level. The Committee continues to reject the
elimination of the Radon program and the Beaches Protection
program and funding is provided at the Agency's fiscal year
2019 operating plan levels for both programs.
The Committee has provided additional funding to the States
because the States are expected to continue the leading role
they have taken to ensure compliance with environmental
statutes. The Committee believes that it is important for the
Agency to work collaboratively with State partners and to
provide them support as they attempt to implement delegated
environmental program.
Categorical Grant: Multipurpose Grants.--Because the States
and Tribes are expected to take a leading role in environmental
cleanup and compliance, the bill contains $24,000,000 for
multipurpose grants to States and Tribes, $13,358,000 above the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level. States and
Tribes often undertake primary cleanup and remediation efforts
on emerging contaminants like PFAS while the Agency goes
through the regulatory process on setting standards for such
contaminants. Given the current activities of States and Tribes
to address emerging contaminants like PFAS, this increase in
funding is expected to aid such cleanup and remediation efforts
of contaminated water sources, water systems, and lands. The
Agency is directed to continue to give maximum flexibility to
States and Tribes so that they, not the Agency, may determine
where funds from this grant program are of most value.
Categorical Grant: Nonpoint Source (Sec. 319).--The
Committee has provided $172,348,000 in Nonpoint Source grants,
an increase of $7,000,000 above the Agency's fiscal year 2019
operating plan level. The Committee expects the Agency to
examine the allocation formula to ensure that resources are
being spent in areas with the most pressing need.
Categorical Grant State and Local Air Quality Management.--
The bill provides $220,786,000 for State and Local Air Quality
Management Grants, equal to the Agency's fiscal year 2019
operating plan level. The Agency is directed to allocate funds
for this program using the same formula as fiscal year 2015.
The Committee understands the Office of Air and Radiation was
able to provide some additional funds to the States in fiscal
year 2016 using balances. The Committee encourages the Agency
to do the same in fiscal year 2020 and to provide those
additional funds to the regions with the highest need. Should
the Agency seek to change the formula, it should submit a
proposal in its fiscal year 2021 budget justification for
consideration by the Committee.
Categorical Grant: Public Water System Supervision.--The
Committee has provided $105,642,000 in Public Water System
Supervision grants, an increase of $7,000,000 above the
Agency's fiscal year 2019 operating plan level. This increase
is provided to further support States, Territories, and Tribes
in addressing PFAS and other contaminants of emerging concern
as they carry out their Public Water System Supervision
programs.
Categorical Grant: Hazardous Waste Financial Assistance.--
The bill provides $104,446,000 for Hazardous Waste Financial
Assistance Grants, $8,000,000 above the Agency's fiscal year
2019 operating plan level. Of the funds provided under this
section, not less than $8,000,000 should be allocated for State
grants that the Agency shall award to States for the combined
effort of developing and implementing State permit programs or
other systems of prior approval and conditions to implement and
enforce the requirements for the regulation of coal combustion
residuals under section 4005(d) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act
(42 U.S.C. 6945(d)). When determining the amount of the grant
awarded to each participating State, the Agency should consider
the number of coal combustion residuals disposal units located
in the State and the number that are subject to regulation.
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $10,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 25,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 73,000,000
The bill provides a total of $73,000,000 for the Water
Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (Public Law 113-121)
[WIFIA] Program. This funding level includes $55,000,000, which
was included in fiscal year 2019 funding in a title IV general
provision but has since moved into program base funding of
title II for fiscal year 2020. This level is a $5,000,000
increase above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and the
Agency's operating plan level. From within the amount provided,
the Committee directs $8,000,000 to assist with the
administrative expenses for the WIFIA program. Because the
Committee has provided significant funding for administrative
expenses, the Agency has the resources it needs to avoid any
delays in project funding.
Of the amount included, the Committee provides $5,000,000
for the implementation of the SRF WIN Act, as authorized by
section 4201 of Public Law 115-270.
Greater investment in the replacement of aging
infrastructure will help mitigate nationwide issues the
Committee is tracking related to contaminants such as lead and
arsenic, address Combined Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Sewer
Overflows, and allow systems to improve water delivery for
residents. Of the recommended amount, $65,000,000 is provided
for direct loan subsidization which may translate into a
potential loan capacity in excess of $6,000,000,000 to eligible
entities for water infrastructure projects.
The Committee encourages the Agency to prioritize
applications for WIFIA financing for projects that address lead
and emerging contaminants, including PFOA and PFAS.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
The bill continues several administrative provisions from
previous years.
TITLE III
RELATED AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $875,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 875,000
Committee recommendation................................ 875,000
The Committee recommends $875,000 for the Office of the
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, equal to
the enacted level and the budget request.
Forest Service
The Forest Service [Service], a bureau of the Department of
Agriculture, manages 193 million acres in 44 States and
territories. In addition, the Service maintains a system of
research stations and experimental forests and ranges
throughout the country. The Service also provides technical and
financial assistance to private landowners, States, and
communities to help sustain the Nation's urban and rural
forests.
The Committee has expressed a desire for the Service's
budget to better reflect management needs for our Nation's
forests and acknowledges the work the Service has done to take
steps to end the use of Cost Pools to pay for certain costs
associated with personnel, administrative activities,
facilities, and other expenses, rather than paying those costs
out of program dollars or utilizing an administrative account.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6)
ended the assessment of Cost Pool 9 and directed the Service to
plan for transitioning away from Cost Pools, generally. The
Committee has been engaged with the Service to evaluate plans
to modernize budgeting practices. In an effort to provide for
an orderly transitioning away from Cost Pools and into the new
budget structure, the Service was directed to employ the new
budget structure beginning with fiscal year 2021. As a result
of those efforts, the Service and the Committee have worked
together on a new budget structure to provide increased
transparency of agency spending activities. The Committee
believes the new structure will facilitate more efficient
budgeting practices by providing dedicated funding for salaries
and expenses separately from project dollars. This will relieve
line officers of the burden of cobbling together resources from
programs to pay for personnel. It will also provide the Service
with the opportunity to engage in much-needed strategic
workforce planning.
In this new structure, funds provided for Forest Service
programs appear substantially different after cost pools and
salaries and expenses have been removed; however, programs are
funded at no less than the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
Wildfire Suppression.--As noted previously, the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141)
created a wildfire suppression cap adjustment to fund
extraordinary fire suppression costs. Fiscal year 2020 is the
first year of availability of this important budgeting tool and
the Service is provided with $11,950,000 for this purpose. Much
like the aftermath of the fire season of 2000 that spurred the
development of the National Fire Plan, the Committee expects an
evaluation of how the Federal Government manages our national
forests for optimum health and risk-management now that the
imminent threat of fire borrowing has been drastically
diminished. Despite ever-increasing investments in hazardous
fuels mitigation since the development of the National Fire
Plan, the Service has not been able to keep pace with the
disastrous curve on wildfires. The Committee is also aware that
at the time of the development of the National Fire Plan,
approximately 34 million acres were identified as having a high
risk of fire. The Committee is troubled that, after significant
investments in hazardous fuels management since that time,
there are now more than 80 million acres at a high risk of
fire. This troubling trend will not reverse itself if the
Service continues to operate under the status quo. The
Committee believes that the Service should more precisely and
effectively target management activities to reduce the threat
of catastrophic wildfires, improve management of the National
Forest System, and assist in protection of other Federal,
State, and private lands from the ravages of catastrophic fire.
This is a function of both prioritization and budgeting
practices and should include an evaluation of the impacts to
non-Federal lands when the Service forgoes initial attack to
suppress a fire, especially within proximity to communities.
The Committee is disappointed that the Service has not yet
complied with requirements in division O of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141) to provide the
Committee with both risk-mapping for high fire-prone areas and
a description of the resources that would be necessary to treat
the highest risk areas on an annual basis. The Service should
cooperatively work with universities, such as the University of
California and the University of Nevada, that have expertise in
this area, as well as the Department of the Interior. The
Service is directed and expected to use all authorities
available to harvest salvage timber, decrease the risk of fires
around communities, and secure safe access to national forest
system lands for the public. Additionally, the Committee
directs the Service to utilize the authorities provided by the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6) and
the Agriculture Improvement Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-334) to
perform critically needed restoration treatments on National
Forest System lands.
FOREST SERVICE OPERATIONS
Appropriations, 2019....................................................
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee Recommendation................................ $953,750,000
The bill provides $953,750,000 for a new Forest Service
Operations account. This new appropriation constitutes those
activities previously supported through the existing cost pool
structure, as well as other general activities of the Service.
The account divides these activities into facilities
maintenance and leases, information technology and centralized
processing, organizational services, and salaries and expenses.
The detailed allocation of funding by activity is included in
the table at the end of this report and further description of
these changes has been provided above.
FOREST AND RANGELAND RESEARCH
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $300,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 254,500,000
Committee recommendation................................ 257,640,000
Note: $48,490,000 is included in the new Forest Service Operations
account that previously would have been assessed for operations and cost
pools from Forest & Rangeland Research.
The bill provides an appropriation of $257,640,000 for
Forest and Rangeland Research. In this new structure, funds
provided for programs appear substantially different after cost
pools and salaries and expenses have been removed; however,
programs are funded at no less than the fiscal year 2019 level.
Forest Inventory and Analysis.--The bill provides
$14,810,000 for Forest Inventory and Analysis in program funds,
coupled with salaries and expenses, is equal to the enacted
level.
Research and Development Programs.--The bill provides
$36,770,000 for base research activities, including Fire Plan
Research and Development. Within the funds provided, the
Service is expected to adequately fund Fire Plan Research and
Development. Of the funds available for Forest and Rangeland
Research, not less than $2,000,000 is to support the work of
existing academic partners from multiple states in the northern
forest region, the Northeastern States Research Cooperative,
sponsoring research to sustain the health of northern forest
ecosytems and communities, to develop new forest products, and
improve forest bio-diversity management.
The Service is directed to provide $3,000,000 to the Joint
Fire Science Program for fiscal year 2020.
The Committee continues to be concerned that the Service's
research program does not focus on key areas where the
Service's management responsibilities will benefit the most.
This includes forest land management, research to improve the
sustainability of the domestic forest products industry, and
collaborations to solve real-time problems facing our Nation's
forests. The Committee appreciates the Service's engagement on
modernizing the research program and remains committed to
partnering with the Service to restructure its research program
for fiscal year 2021 to enhance coordination on forest related
research and development for enhanced relevance, global
competitiveness, and effective coordination. The Committee
continues to note the success and popularity of the Forest
Products Laboratory as a model for the type of applied research
in which the Committee believes the Service should be engaged.
The Service is directed to report on its research restructuring
progress within 30 days of enactment of the act.
The Committee recognizes the importance of bottomland
hardwoods research to expand research efforts on hardwood
plantation management, associated wildlife management, flooding
effects to forests, forest health, and threatened and
endangered plants and animals and encourages the Service to
sustain partnerships aimed at achieving these goals.
Forest Products Laboratory.--The Forest Products Laboratory
[FPL] provides benefits across a wide range of forest related
issues, as demonstrated in part by the requests for FPL
participation in a variety of endeavors important to Members of
Congress. The Service is encouraged to engage in a program of
work that provides economic insights, research, international
market analysis, education, and technical assistance that draws
on the expertise of the FPL and supports the commercialization
of research findings. Of the funds available to the FPL,
$1,000,000 is provided to sustain work with existing academic
partners focused on research and technology development to
create new and expanded markets and to advance high-value,
high-volume wood markets from restorative actions on the
Nation's public and private forests. Additionally, $1,500,000
is to develop a wood bridge demonstration program in
conjunction with non-Federal partners to support rural
infrastructure needs through research, development, and
demonstration to stimulate new market development, as well as
education and technical assistance to governmental agencies,
industry, and research institutions.
Downed Timber Research.--The Committee understands wood
from partially decayed timber has the potential to be utilized
in a wide array of novel wood products for which lower wood
quality and mechanical strength are not impediments. Within the
funds provided, $1,500,000 shall be made available for
cooperative research to develop new products from wood that has
traditionally been unusable because of decay. The project
should seek to extend the time window for marketing fallen
wood.
Sudden Oak Death.--The Committee is aware that since 2001,
the Service, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management,
has been treating Sudden Oak Death infestations on public lands
in Oregon. The Committee expects the funding provided to be
adequate to continue these efforts.
Bighorn Sheep.--The Committee directs the Service to
continue the quantitative, science-based analysis of the risk
of disease transmission between domestic and bighorn sheep
required in the explanatory statement accompanying the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113).
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $335,487,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 182,296,000
Committee recommendation................................ 317,964,000
Note: $19,620,000 is included in the new Forest Service Operations
account that previously would have been assessed for operations and cost
pools from State & Private Forestry.
The bill provides a total appropriation of $317,964,000 for
State and Private Forestry programs. In this new structure,
funds provided for programs appear substantially different
after cost pools and salaries and expenses have been removed;
however, programs are funded at no less than the fiscal year
2019 level. Program funding levels are detailed in the
following budget activity narratives and funding levels for
each sub activity can also be found in the table at the end of
this report. Within the funds provided, $2,000,000 shall be
made available to support existing academic partnerships in the
Northern Forest Region for the Forest Ecosystem Monitoring
Cooperative for Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.
The Committee further recognizes the importance of the Wood
Education and Resource Center supporting the forest products
industry in the Eastern Hardwood Region through its Wood Energy
Technical Assistance Program and provides an increase of
$1,000,000 for the Center's activities.
Forest Ecosystem Services Research.--The Committee directs
the Service to continue to utilize existing partnerships with
research institutions and States to fund research to establish
methods, tools, and standard protocols that help quantify
forest ecosystem services, particularly carbon, in natural
forested regions as a resource that can be managed by forest
landowners for ecological and economic benefit.
Landscape Scale Restoration [LSR].--The bill provides an
appropriation of $14,000,000 for LSR, an amount equal to the
enacted level and $14,000,000 above the request. The Committee
directs the Service to include outcomes produced from the LSR
program in the previous fiscal year in future budget
submissions. Funds available for LSR should be focused on State
and national priority projects that have significant,
measurable impact on these priorities.
The Committee expects that the regional competitive
processes will continue. Additionally, the Committee directs
the Service to work with State foresters to make a portion of
the LSR funds available to State forestry organizations, based
on overall percentage of Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act
(Public Law 95-313) funds received, to further implementation
of their State Forest Action Plan. The Forest Service is
directed to continue to work with other Federal agencies,
States, private landowners, and stakeholders to create markets
for low-grade and low-value wood.
Forest Health Management.--The bill provides $45,720,000
for Forest Health Management activities, which includes
$12,550,000 for activities on Federal lands and $33,170,000 on
cooperative lands.
Cooperative Forestry.--The bill provides $101,950,000 for
Cooperative Forestry activities. This includes $12,000,000 for
Forest Stewardship, $5,000,000 for Community Forest and Open
Space Conservation, and $20,960,000 for Urban and Community
Forestry.
When funding decisions are made regarding investigating and
addressing tree mortality, strong consideration should be given
to Spruce beetle infestations in Region 10, especially in light
of its rapid spread into Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna
Valley, and Denali National Park and Preserve and Alaska's
catastrophic fire season. The Committee expects the Service's
partnership with the Alaska Division of Forestry and the
University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service to
expand, as needed, to educate and assist private landowners
with bark beetle infestations and to work with private and
public landowners where infestations occur to manage dead and
dying trees in an effort to prevent devastating wildfires.
The Committee encourages the Service to prioritize work
with regional, multi-organizational collaborations to support
conservation efforts that help trees adapt to and offset
climate change, as these partnerships can model best practices
for effective urban and community forestry grants.
Forest Legacy.--The bill provides $63,990,000 for the
forest legacy program. The amount provided within this bill is
available for the following distribution of funds and projects
as ranked and provided by the administration:
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Bill
State Project estimate (Discretionary)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARHot Springs Forest .............. 1,460
CONavajo River Headwaters Phase 3 .............. 7,000
GACabin Bluff .............. 4,000
WADewatto Headwaters Forest Phase .............. 5,250
II
UTSoldier Summit Phase II .............. 3,315
IDMoyie River Corridor .............. 4,500
WAYacolt Forest Phase I .............. 2,000
VARoanke River Working Forest .............. 3,000
MTLost Trail Conservation Project .............. 2,850
NCBalsam Range Phase III .............. 4,800
ORHood River Forest and Fish .............. 5,000
Conservation Project Phase III
FLWelannee Watershed Forest .............. 2,900
HIHaloa 'Aina - Royal Hawaiian .............. 1,500
Sandalwood Phase II
SCSaluda Rivers Connector .............. 1,920
PRProtecting the Central Mountain .............. 225
Range
IAHeritage Valley .............. 850
ARPine-Flatwoods Recovery .............. 955
Initiative
CAPUC Forest Phase II .............. 1,000
LAClear Creek WMA Phase II .............. 1,500
CAMattole Headwaters Forest .............. 1,565
ORArch Cape Watershed .............. 1,000
TXFox Hunters Hill .............. 1,000
Administration .............. 6,400
----------------------------------
Subtotal, Forest Legacy .............. 63,990
Program
----------------------------------
Total, Forest Legacy Program .............. 63,990
------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Forestry.--The bill provides $3,804,000 for
the Forest Service Office of International Programs. This
amount is $2,000,000 above the enacted level for the office's
programmatic work. The Committee expresses its support for the
important work of the office to combat overseas illegal timber
harvests that adversely impact domestic timber producers,
reduce the market for illegal wood products from protected
species, and provide technical assistance to partner countries
on sustainable forest management practices. These activities
support American forestry by leveling the international playing
field for domestic timber producers, protecting U.S.
forestlands from invasive species, and promoting healthy
forests and rural communities around the world.
NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $1,938,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 1,912,750,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,857,280,000
Note: $404,300,000 is included in the new Forest Service Operations
account that previously would have been assessed for operations and cost
pools from National Forest System.
The bill provides an appropriation of $1,857,280,000 for
national forest system operations, a decrease of $80,720,000
below the enacted level and $55,470,000 below the request. In
this new structure, funds provided for programs appear
substantially different after cost pools and salaries and
expenses have been removed; however, programs are funded at no
less than the fiscal year 2019 level.
Land Management Planning, Assessment, and Monitoring.--The
bill provides $13,310,000 for Land Management Planning,
Assessment, and Monitoring.
Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness.--The bill provides
$39,940,000 for Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness. Within
the funds provided, $1,500,000 is made available to support
infrastructure and trails development and to build the capacity
of local user groups and partnership organizations for all
National Recreation Areas administered by the Service
established after 1997.
Recommended Wilderness.--The Committee recognizes that
management of Service land recommended as wilderness in forest
plans is not consistent across all regions, nor are the full
spectrum of adaptive management steps, provided in the Forest
Service Handbook Chapter 70, consistently utilized in plan
components to maintain existing uses to the extent possible.
The Committee recognizes the Service is required by statute to
protect the characteristics that provide the basis for
wilderness recommendation. The Committee encourages the Service
to allow and manage existing uses, to the extent possible,
utilizing all the adaptive management steps provided in the
handbook so that such uses do not prevent the protection and
maintenance of the social and ecological characteristics that
provide the basis for wilderness designation. The Committee
also encourages the Service to reconsider historic uses that
have been prevented in areas recommended as wilderness that
otherwise can be managed utilizing the adaptive management
steps provided in the handbook so that they do not permanently
harm the social and ecological characteristics that provide the
basis for wilderness designation.
Grazing Management.--The bill provides $6,090,000 for
Grazing Management programs.
Vacant Grazing Allotments.--The Service is directed, to the
greatest extent practicable, to make vacant grazing allotments
available to a holder of a grazing permit or lease when lands
covered by the holder of the permit or lease are unusable
because of drought or wildfire.
Hazardous Fuels.--The bill provides an appropriation of
$149,990,000 for Hazardous Fuels, of which up to $5,000,000 may
be used for implementation of Section 8644 of Public Law 115-
334. The Committee directs the Service to prioritize hazardous
fuel removal projects that are critical to protecting public
safety in high hazard areas in national forests facing
significant tree mortality and to increase cross-boundary
collaboration with landowners near National Forest System lands
and encourages the use of hazardous fuels funding for this
purpose. Of the funds made available, no less than $6,000,000
is for implementation of section 5 of Public Law 106-506. The
Committee urges the Service to increase cross-boundary
collaboration with landowners near National Forest System lands
and encourages the use of hazardous fuels funding for work
across ownerships. The Committee believes that investing in the
research and development of advanced woody biomass uses will
help reduce excessive hazardous fuels on our Nation's
forestlands while creating new economic markets and opportunity
for taxpayers.
The Committee is cognizant of the importance of prescribed
fire as a tool for forest management, as well as the challenges
associated with utilizing prescribed burns in many geographic
areas. The Service is directed to include the number of acres
treated using prescribed fire at the end of each fiscal year as
well as the costs associated with such activities.
Of the funds provided, $4,000,000 is for the Southwest
Ecological Restoration Institutes to continue to enhance the
Service's capacity to execute science-based forest restoration
treatments to reduce the risk of wildfires and improve the
health of dry forest ecosystems.
Forest Products.--The bill provides $24,330,000 for Forest
Products. Funds made available for Forest Products shall not be
used for restoration projects that are not tied to the offering
or completion of a timber sale or in association with a
stewardship contracting process. Additionally, the Service is
directed to utilize timber sales, whenever possible and
appropriate, to address issues relating to tree mortality. The
additional funds provided for forest products are directed to
be used to build the timber program capacity by facilitating
necessary planning work and the hiring and training of timber
management personnel to deliver increased volume levels.
Agency Timber Target.--The Service is directed to provide
information to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of
this act detailing the resources necessary to increase the
agency's timber target to four billion board feet, annually,
including the geographic regions most likely to contribute to
the increase in forest product production should a new timber
target be implemented, as well as any barriers to achieving the
higher target level. Additionally, the Service is directed to
meet timber target goals using commercial products and
excluding personal use firewood from accomplishment reporting.
Prairie Dog Management in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands.--
The Committee encourages the Forest Service to begin a pilot
program examining the effectiveness of existing active prairie
dog management activities and to implement controls on National
Forest System lands in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands.
Dead and Dying Trees.--The Committee directs the Service to
prioritize hazardous fuels reduction projects on the greatest
fire risks along wildland urban interfaces facing significant
tree mortality. Additionally, the Service is directed to offer
timber sales expeditiously in areas where dead and dying trees
occur as a result of wildfire or insect and disease
infestations.
Permitting and Staffing on Grasslands.--The Service is
encouraged to hire staff to fill existing vacancies whose
primary responsibilities are reviewing and issuing permits on
the National Grasslands.
Vegetation and Watershed Management.--The bill provides
$27,450,000 for Vegetation and Watershed Management activities,
$152,550,000 below the enacted level and the request. The
Committee continues to be concerned with the pace and scale of
the Service's use of the authorities granted by section 8204 of
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79) to perform
critically needed treatments of insect and disease infested
trees on National Forests, particularly in light of the recent
severe fire season. The Committee expects the Service to fully
and promptly implement this authority. The Service is directed
to provide to the Committee within 45 days of enactment of this
act specific information regarding geographic locations where
the Service intends to take advantage of this authority. Within
the funds made available, $6,000,000 is provided for
implementation of section 5 of Public Law 106-506.
Wildlife and Fish Habitat Management.--The bill provides
$17,330,000 for Wildlife and Fish Habitat Management.
Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund.--The bill
provides $40,000,000 for Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration projects.
Minerals and Geology Management.--The bill provides
$15,980,000 for Minerals and Geology Management.
Landownership and Access Management.--The bill provides
$12,940,000 for Landownership and Access Management. Given the
importance of special-use permitting activities to users of our
National Forests, $2,500,000 in additional funding is made
available to spur processing of special-use permits. The
Service is directed to use these additional funds to increase
the pace of evaluation of special-use permits in high demand
regions, such as Regions 6 and 10.
Law Enforcement.--The bill provides $17,630,000 for Law
Enforcement activities. The Committee acknowledges the rising
cost of Federal land management to States and other parties and
encourages the Service to improve coordination with State
agencies and local partners in the management, maintenance, and
law enforcement expenditures on National Forest System lands,
pursuant to the National Forests Law Enforcement Act of 1971.
Tongass National Forest.--The Committee continues the
direction contained in Senate Report 115-276.
Wild Horses.--The Service shall ensure that healthy,
unadopted, wild horses and burros are not destroyed nor sold or
otherwise transferred in a way that results in their
destruction for processing into commercial products.
Hurricane Impacts on the Apalachicola National Forest.--The
Committee recognizes the impacts of Hurricane Michael on the
region's private timber base and encourages the Service to
explore opportunities to utilize fast-growing native Slash and
Loblolly pines in replanting efforts, and the expanded use of
Good Neighbor Agreements between the Federal Government and
State to simplify timber contract purchases.
Tariffs on Timber Exports.--The Committee is concerned that
China's recent escalation of tariffs against hardwood and
softwood timber is negatively impacting domestic producers
including in Alaska. The Committee notes that the
Administration announced a tariff relief package for certain
agriculture commodities to compensate for Chinese retaliation.
The Committee urges the Department of Agriculture to include
domestic timber products on the list of agriculture commodities
covered for tariff relief.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $431,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 434,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 107,940,000
Note: $141,360,000 is included in the new Forest Service Operations
account that previously would have been assessed for operations and cost
pools from Capital Improvement and Maintenance.
The bill provides an appropriation of $107,940,000 for
Capital Improvement and Maintenance programs. In this new
structure, funds provided for Capital Improvement and
Maintenance appear substantially different after facilities
leases and maintenance have been moved to the new Forest
Service Operations account and cost pools and salaries and
expenses have been removed. As in previous years, this amount
is offset with a $15,000,000 scoring credit related to the
Roads and Trails Fund.
Facilities.--The bill provides $26,230,000 for Facilities.
The Committee finds that repairs, maintenance, and upgrades are
needed for the smokejumper bases operated by the Service. Funds
are provided within capital improvement and maintenance to
address the backlog of repairs, maintenance, and needed
upgrades of its smokejumper bases in order to help keep bases
in operational status. For the replacement of the Green
Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests Supervisor's Office,
the Service is directed to complete final site and building
designs and begin construction in fiscal year 2020. The Service
will report to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of
this act with a schedule for completion of this project.
Roads.--The bill provides $62,040,000 for Roads and
includes funding for Legacy Road remediation activities.
Trails.--The bill provides $19,670,000 for Trails and
includes funding for Legacy Trail remediation activities.
Legacy Roads and Trails.--The Committee appreciates the
need for remediation of Legacy Roads and Trails and believes
funding provided for these activities should continue to
compete from within the broader Capital Improvement and
Maintenance program. The Service is directed to prioritize the
highest priority road and trail projects, without a set-aside
for Legacy Roads and Trails, and to report annually to the
Committee where these projects rank within the overall need for
roads and trails construction and maintenance. The Service is
further directed to continue to track Legacy Roads and Trails
accomplishments including miles of roads and trails improved,
miles of streams restored, number of bridges and culverts
constructed, and miles of road decommissioned.
LAND ACQUISITION
(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $72,564,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ \1\73,741,000
\1\Includes a rescission of $2,000,000 from unobligated balances.
The bill provides $73,741,000 in new budget authority for
Land Acquisition including a rescission of $2,000,000 from
unobligated balances.
The Committee has provided $5,500,000 for recreational
access and the Service is directed to prioritize recreational
access projects that significantly enhance access to existing
public lands that have inadequate access for hunting, fishing,
and other recreational activities. The Committee remains
concerned about the prioritization of projects and the ability
to allocate funds once appropriated. The Committee strongly
encourages the Service to quickly close projects once funds
have been made available and a willing seller has been
identified, an appraisal has been completed, and a purchase
contract has been agreed to. The Service is expected to use the
Critical Inholdings/Wilderness account to acquire high priority
lands, such as wilderness and lands of significant value in
designated conservation units, to consolidate Federal ownership
and has provided an increase of $1,000,000 for this activity.
The amount provided within this bill is available for the
following distribution of funds and projects as ranked and
provided by the administration:
[In thousands of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Bill
State Project estimate (Discretionary)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MTClearwater Blackfoot .............. 8,000
IDTeton Timbers .............. 2,750
MTLolo Trails Landmark .............. 4,400
ORWasson Creek .............. 4,268
MNSchool Trust .............. 4,500
CASanhedrin .............. 6,400
SCPromise of the Piedmont .............. 1,600
CAWild and Scenic Kern River .............. 1,505
Access
MIWest Branch of the Ontonagon .............. 2,000
TNTennessee Mountain Trails and .............. 4,000
Waters
NCNorth Carolina's Threatened .............. 4,500
Treasures
IDSF Wildnerness Ranch .............. 1,500
NMMimbres River Parcels .............. 2,906
WVHooke Brothers .............. 750
KYDaniel Boone National Forest .............. 350
VTGreen Mountain National Forest .............. 600
Inholdings
VA/WVGeorge Washington and Jefferson .............. 920
National Forest
AlAlabama's Wild Wonders .............. 500
ORThree Rivers .............. 720
AKKadashan .............. 500
GAChattachoochee-Oconee National .............. 620
Forest
WAWashignton Cascades .............. 1,800
VTLincoln Peek .............. 350
CATrinity Alps Wilderness .............. 1,200
Inholdings
MTFalls Creek Access .............. 1,000
.............. 57,639
Acquisition Management .............. 7,352
Cash Equalization .............. 250
Critical Inholdings/Wilderness .............. 3,000
Sportsman/Recreational Access .............. 5,500
.............. 73,741
Rescission .............. 2,000
----------------------------------
Total, Land Acquisition .............. 71,741
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACQUISITION OF LANDS FOR NATIONAL FORESTS, SPECIAL ACTS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $700,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 700,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $700,000, an amount
equal to the enacted level and $700,000 above the request. This
amount is derived from funds deposited by State, county, and
municipal governments or public school authorities pursuant to
16 U.S.C. 484a, as amended.
ACQUISITION OF LANDS TO COMPLETE LAND EXCHANGES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $150,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 150,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $150,000, an amount
equal to the enacted level and $150,000 above the request. This
amount is derived from funds deposited by State, county, and
municipal governments or public school authorities pursuant to
16 U.S.C. 484a, as amended.
RANGE BETTERMENT FUND
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $1,700,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 2,000,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $2,000,000, an amount
$300,000 above the enacted level and $2,000,000 above the
request. This amount is for range rehabilitation, protection,
and improvement and is derived from fees received for livestock
grazing on National Forests pursuant to section 401(b)(1) of
Public Law 94-579, as amended.
GIFTS, DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS FOR FOREST AND RANGELAND RESEARCH
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $45,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 45,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $45,000, which is
equal to the enacted level, and $45,000 above the request. This
amount is derived from the fund established under 16 U.S.C.
1643(b).
MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL FOREST LANDS FOR SUBSISTENCE USES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $2,500,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 1,832,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,500,000
The bill provides an appropriation of $2,500,000, equal to
the enacted level and $668,000 above the request. This account
provides for carrying out the Service's responsibilities for
subsistence under the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (Public Law 96-487).
WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $3,004,986,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 4,300,620,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,914,730,000
Note: Totals include funding designated by the Congress as being for
disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. And, $338,530,000 is included
in the new Forest Service Operations account that previously would have
been assessed for operations and cost pools from Wildland Fire
Management.
Fire Operations.--The bill provides a $3,914,730,000 for
Wildlfire Preparedness and Management, which is $909,744,000
above the enacted level and $385,890,000 below the request. Of
the funds provided, $2,961,000,000 is for wildfire suppression,
including $1,950,000,000 in fire cap funding. $184,070,000 is
provided for Preparedness. As with other accounts, this new
structure appears substantially different after cost pools and
salaries and expenses have been removed; however, funds
provided are not less than the enacted level.
Of the funds provided, $4,000,000 is for the Southwest
Ecological Restoration Institutes to continue to enhance the
Service's capacity to execute science-based forest restoration
treatments to reduce the risk of wildfires and improve the
health of dry forest ecosystems.
Unmanned Aircraft for Wildfire Firefighting and Safety.--
The Committee recognizes the potential of safely integrating
commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems into wildland firefighting
to aid decision-making and provide an additional mechanism to
ensure the safety of firefighters.
Aerial Firefighting Use and Effectiveness Study [AFUE].--
The Committee notes that the Service has not finalized its
study to assess the effectiveness of aviation assets in
achieving wildfire suppression objectives and encourages the
Service to complete the AFUE study as part of its next budget
submission and detail how the data collected from the study
will be used to inform decisions about the composition of the
wildland firefighting aircraft fleet in the future.
Administrative Provisions
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
The bill continues several administrative provisions from
previous years.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
The Indian Health Service [IHS] is the agency within the
Department of Health and Human Services that has responsibility
for providing Federal health services to approximately 2.2
million American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of
health services to Tribes grew out of the special relationship
between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes that was
established in 1787, based on article I, section 8 of the
Constitution, and given form and substance by numerous
treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive orders
that followed. Most notable among these is the Snyder Act of
1921 (Public Law 67-85), which provides the basic authority for
most Indian health services provided by the Federal Government
to Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
IHS services are provided directly and through tribally
contracted and operated programs in over 600 healthcare
facilities located throughout the United States, primarily in
rural and isolated areas. Healthcare is also purchased from
more than 9,000 private providers annually. The Federal system
consists of 28 hospitals, 61 health centers, and 34 health
stations. Through Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Act, Tribes and Tribal
organizations compact and contract health programs to manage 17
hospitals, 249 health centers, and 70 health stations. In
addition, grants to 34 nonprofit urban Indian health
organizations provide a variety of health and referral
services.
Indian Health Services
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $4,103,190,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 4,286,541,000
Committee recommendation................................ 4,318,884,000
The Committee recommends $4,318,884,000 for Indian Health
Services, which is $215,694,000 above the enacted level and
includes expected pay and inflation costs. Program changes are
detailed below and in the table that accompanies the report.
The Committee recommends $3,949,062,000 for clinical
services programs of the IHS. This is an increase of
$209,101,000 above the enacted level. Proposed reductions are
restored and unless otherwise noted, programs shall be
maintained at current levels.
The Committee has a longstanding policy of providing
sufficient staffing funds for all facilities that are expected
to open during the fiscal year. Without such a policy, the
Service could not fulfill its commitments to Tribes that have
newly constructed facilities, including tribally constructed
facilities through the joint venture partnership program;
therefore, the recommendation includes the updated $84,295,900
funding estimates requested for the facilities that will open
in fiscal year 2020 across all budget lines. Funds for the
staffing of new facilities are provided solely to support
facilities on the Health Care Facilities Construction Priority
System and Joint Venture construction projects that have opened
in fiscal year 2019 or will open in fiscal year 2020. None of
these funds may be allocated to a facility until such facility
has achieved beneficial occupancy status.
The Committee notes initial estimates included as part of
the annual budget request to fund staffing of new facilities
and 105(l) leases are frequently refined. The Committee expects
the Service to communicate regularly with the Committee on the
status of cost estimates for the staffing of new facilities and
105(l) leases so that the Committee is kept informed of any
changes that may affect the amounts necessary to fully fund
these needs. The current estimate for tribal clinic operational
costs, including 105(l) leases, is $97,000,000, an increase of
$61,000,000 above the enacted level and even this amount has
the potential to increase over the coming months. The Committee
directs the Service to provide a report to the Committee within
90 days of enactment of this act regarding specific challenges
that make it difficult to accurately formulate a budget for the
105(l) lease costs, including statutory and regulatory
requirements for the lease agreements and the rationale behind
the Service's decision to enter into 12 month lease agreements
at any time during the fiscal year instead of on a prospective
basis from the date the lease is received.
The uncertainty surrounding the estimates, especially the
105(l) lease agreements, has inserted a high level of
unpredictability into the budget process and has the potential
to increase pressure on funding for other important IHS
programs. The Committee is concerned these costs are growing
exponentially rapidly without a long term funding strategy. The
recommendation includes the current estimate, but the Committee
notes that payments for 105(l) leases directly resulting from
decisions in the case of Maniilaq Ass'n v. Burwell in both 2014
(72 F. Supp. 3d 227 (D.D.C. 2014)) and 2016 (70 F. Supp. 3d 243
(D.D.C. 2016)) appear to create an entitlement to compensation
for 105(l) leases that is typically not funded through
discretionary appropriations. The Committee therefore directs
the IHS and the Department of the Interior to consult with
tribes, the Department of Justice, and the Office of Management
and Budget and to work with the House and Senate committees of
jurisdiction, the Committees on Appropriations, and other
relevant federal partners to formulate budget and legislative
strategies to address this situation, including discussions
about whether, in light of the Maniilaq decisions, these funds
should be reclassified as an appropriated entitlement.
Hospitals and Health Clinics.--The recommendation includes
$2,339,707,000 for hospitals and health clinics, an increase of
$192,364,000 above the enacted level. The recommendation
includes the fiscal year 2019 enacted base levels for the
village built clinics leasing program and maintains the
$4,000,000 increase for the domestic violence prevention
initiative provided in fiscal year 2019. The recommendation
also includes the $11,463,000 for new Tribes as requested. The
Committee directs the Service to continue the cooperative
agreement with the National Indian Health Board from within
existing funds.
Village Built Clinics.--The Committee has provided
resources for village built clinics [VBCs] leasing costs and
other associated leasing costs. The Committee is aware the
Service has testified that these resources are being used not
only to pay for the traditional VBCs but also for new costs
relating to litigation which requires that section 105(l) of
the Indian Self-Determination Act (Public Law 93-638) mandates
payment of leasing costs when Tribal facilities are used to
operate IHS programs. The Committee has not included proposed
language in this recommendation for the 105(l) costs but does
believe these costs should be accounted for separately in the
fiscal year 2021 budget request from those funded needed for
village built clinics.
The Committee is aware there is a need for a new electronic
health record system to improve the overall interoperability,
efficiency, and security of the Service's information
technology system and has included $3,000,000 for this effort.
The Committee directs the Service to report back within 90 days
of enactment of this act detailing the number of tribal
organizations that use their own system and how any upgrade
will be compatible with the new Veterans Affairs system and
with systems used by Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations that
do not currently use the resource patient management system
[RPMS].
The recommendation includes $8,000,000 as requested for
recruitment and retention as well as the $2,000,000 requested
to increase quality and oversight capacity at the agency. The
Committee is concerned the IHS is not able to recruit and
retain enough clinical staff to maintain a high quality of care
at the Service's federally operated facilities and directs the
Service to work with the Office of Management and Budget to
expedite creation of market-specific pay scales to ensure the
Service is able to offer competitive recruitment packages.
Within 180 days of enactment of this act, the IHS shall report
on any regulatory or statutory limitations that prohibit the
Service from offering incentives, such as scheduling
flexibility, that the Service believes hurts its recruitment
and retention efforts. The Committee is encouraged by the
establishment of the Office of Quality that will hopefully
improve access to care and availability of service. The
Committee directs the Service to establish measurements for
tracking the improvement of patient health rather than defining
increased funding alone as the metric for measuring
improvements. The Committee is also very concerned about the
recent sexual abuse reports and directs the Service to keep the
Committee apprised of the on-going investigations into this
matter and any policy recommendations for Congress to consider
to prevent this from happening again.
The Committee recommendation includes an additional
$5,000,000 the Community Health Aide program [CHAP] expansion
with instruction that this expansion should not divert funding
from the existing CHAP program and it shall continue at the
current 2019 funding levels. The Committee is supportive of
developing a network of partnerships with Tribal colleges and
universities that may serve as regional training centers for
behavioral, community, and dental health aides and this network
shall include those universities defined under 25 U.S.C. 1801.
The Committee also encourages the Service to look at programs
similar to the Alaska Comprehensive Forensic Training Academy,
which partners with the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault and the University of Alaska, Anchorage, which can help
educate community health aides on trauma informed care and
collecting medical evidence. This type of training has the
potential to help communities address the crisis of missing,
trafficked, and murdered indigenous women.
The Committee has maintained funding for accreditation
emergencies at the fiscal year 2019 level of $58,000,000. The
Committee remains extremely concerned with the potential loss
of Medicare or Medicaid agreements with the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services at any facility. This has been a
particular problem in the Great Plains region and has also
occurred in other regions. The Committee expects the Service to
use these funds in order to correct problems at those
facilities and to keep the Committee apprised of its progress.
Dental Health.--The recommendation includes $210,315,000
for dental health, an increase of $5,643,000 above the enacted
level. The Service is encouraged to coordinate with the Bureau
of Indian Education [BIE] to integrate preventive dental care
at schools within the BIE system.
Mental Health.--The recommendation includes $108,569,000
for mental health programs, an increase of $3,288,000 above the
enacted level. The increases provided in previous fiscal years
of $6,946,000 for the behavioral health integration Initiative
to better integrate treatment programs for mental health and
substance abuse problems and $3,600,000 for the suicide
prevention initiative are maintained.
Alcohol and Substance Abuse.--The recommendation includes
$247,828,000 for alcohol and substance abuse programs, an
increase of $2,262,000 above the enacted level. The bill also
continues $10,000,000 for opioid abuse and is described below.
The bill retains increases provided in previous fiscal years of
$6,500,000 for the Generation Indigenous initiative; $1,800,000
for the youth pilot project; and $2,000,000 to fund essential
detoxification related services as provided herein. The
Committee has continued bill language which allocates
$2,000,000 to continue funding for essential detoxification and
related services provided by the Service's public and private
partners to IHS beneficiaries and expects these funds to be
allocated in a manner consistent with previous years. The
Service is directed to report to the Committee within 60 days
of enactment of this act regarding distribution of these funds.
The Service shall continue its partnership with Na'Nizhoozhi
Center in Gallup, N.M., and work with the Center and other
Federal, State, local, and Tribal partners to develop a
sustainable model for clinical capacity, as provided by the
statement to accompany Public Law 115-31.
The Committee is concerned that alcohol and opioid use
disorders continue to be some of the most severe public health
and safety problems facing American Indian and Alaska Native
[AI/AN] individuals, families, and communities. To address this
problem, the Committee continues to direct IHS to increase its
support for culturally competent preventive, educational, and
treatment services programs and partner with academic
institutions with established AI/AN training and health
professions programs to research and promote culturally
responsive care. Additionally, the Committee encourages the
Service to employ the full spectrum of medication assisted
treatments [MAT] for alcohol and opioid use disorders,
including non-narcotic treatment options that are less subject
to diversion combined with counseling services.
The Committee understands the Service is finishing tribal
consultation for the substance abuse, suicide prevention, and
domestic violence funding and encourages the Service to timely
complete this phase of the process.
The Committee expects the Service to take action within 90
days of the date of enactment of this act.
Opioid Grants.--To better combat the opioid epidemic, the
Committee has continued funding of $10,000,000 and instructs
the Service, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for
Mental Health and Substance Abuse, to use the funds provided to
continue a Special Behavioral Health Pilot Program as
authorized by Public Law 116-6. The Director of IHS, in
coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and
Substance Use, shall award grants for providing services,
provide technical assistance to grantees under this section
collect, and evaluate performance of the program.
Purchased/Referred Care.--The recommendation includes
$967,363,000 for purchased/referred care, an increase of
$2,544,000 above the enacted level.
Public Health Nursing.--The recommendation includes
$92,677,000 for public health nursing, an increase of
$3,518,000 above the enacted level.
Health Education.--The recommendation includes $20,923,000
for health education, an increase of $355,000 above the enacted
level.
Community Health Representatives.--The bill does not agree
to the proposal to reduce the community health representatives
program. The recommendation includes $62,888,000 for the
community health representatives program, equal to the fiscal
year 2019 level.
Urban Indian Health.--The recommendation includes
$53,159,000 for the Urban Indian Health program, $1,844,000
above the enacted level. The Committee strongly supports this
program and does not concur with the proposal to reduce the
program and acknowledges the transfer for $1,369,900 former
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA]
programs from Alcohol and Substance Program to Office of Urban
Indian Health Programs.
Indian Health Professions.--The recommendation includes
$57,796,000 for the Indian Health Professions program, an
increase of $433,000 equal to the enacted level. The Committee
believes this is a critical program and the recommendation
continues the program increase provided in fiscal year 2019 and
continues the additional increase of $195,000 to expand the
Indians into Medicine program to four sites. Within funds, the
recommendation also includes funding for the Quentin N. Burdick
American Indians into Nursing Program, and American Indians
into Psychology Program at no less than fiscal year 2019
levels.
First Aid Kit Enhancements.--The Committee is aware that
first aid products endorsed by the Department of Defense's
Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care [CoTCCC] help to
reduce death or trauma as a result of bleeding. The Committee
believe these products could help the Service save lives,
especially in rural areas where it might take significant time
to transport a patient to a hospital and/or healthcare facility
for appropriate treatment. Accordingly, the Committee
encourages the Service to analyze incorporating CoTCCC's
hemostatic dressing of choice in healthcare facilities and
vehicles and provide a report to the Committee within 90 days
of enactment of this act.
Prescription Drug Monitoring.--The Committee is concerned
that IHS and Tribally operated health facilities are not
participating in State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
and emergency department information exchanges. The Committee
strongly encourages these facilities to participate in these
programs. Accordingly, within 90 days of enactment of this act,
the Service shall provide the Committee with a report outlining
by State such facilities that are participating and those that
are not and any issues preventing facilities from uploading
data to these programs or exchanges.
Teledermatology.--The Committee recognizes the value of
tele-health technology to expand access to critical healthcare
services and to help address the impacts of provider shortages
across the Service. The Committee recognizes that access to
specialty programs like tele-dermatology help fill important
gaps in the Service to diagnose and treat disease and
encourages the Service to expand access to these programs and
make needed equipment investments, such as mobile high
definition cameras, to support them.
CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $822,227,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 820,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 820,000,000
The Committee has continued language from fiscal year 2019
establishing an indefinite appropriation for contract support
costs estimated to be $820,000,000. By retaining an indefinite
appropriation for this account, additional funds may be
provided by the Agency if its budget estimate proves to be
lower than necessary to meet the legal obligation to pay the
full amount due to Tribes. The Committee believes fully funding
these costs will ensure Tribes have the necessary resources
they need to deliver program services efficiently and
effectively.
INDIAN HEALTH FACILITIES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $878,806,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 803,026,000
Committee recommendation................................ 902,878,000
The Committee recommends $902,878,000 for health facilities
operations of the IHS. This amount is $24,072,000 above the
enacted level and includes expected pay and inflation costs.
Program changes are detailed below and in the table that
accompanies the report, and funding includes $11,489,000 for
staffing quarters. Of the funds provided, $15,000,000 is for
the small ambulatory clinic program, equal to the enacted
level. The Committee expects the Service to continue following
its existing interpretation of criteria for the funding of new,
improved, or replacement sanitation facilities.
The Committee would also like to remind the Service about
the directive contained in the 2019 Consolidated Appropriations
Act (Public Law 116-6) to provide the Committee with report
identifying the criteria the agency will use to rank projects
funded through demonstration authorities. The bill provides
$5,000,000 for healthcare facilities construction for the
Service to enter into contracts with tribes or tribal
organizations to carry out demonstration projects as authorized
under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act for construction
and renovation of hospitals and health centers.
The health impacts of a lack of sanitation infrastructure
remain a public health crisis. The Committee is concerned
delayed decision making is jeopardizing these projects and
directs the Service to brief the Committee within 60 days of
enactment of this act on the status of discussions with other
Federal partners involved to ensure funding for these projects
are coordinated and completed.
The Committee believes that funds for quarters is essential
to help resolve the widespread housing shortages which have
contributed to high vacancy rates for medical personnel
throughout the system, particularly in rural areas. These funds
have been used in areas with chronic housing shortages like
Alaska and the Great Plains in order to ameliorate these
problems. The Committee expects a report from the Service
within 60 days of enactment of this act on the distribution of
funds.
The Committee notes its strong support for the small
ambulatory clinic program. As the Service testified before the
Committee, this program provides another critical tool for
addressing facilities maintenance and construction backlogs
throughout the Nation. The stipulations included in the Indian
Health Services account regarding the allocation of funds for
the staffing of new facilities pertain to the funds in this
account as well.
The Committee strongly supports the joint venture program
and believes the Service should establish a more consistent
competitive cycle between 3 and 5 years. At each competitive
cycle, IHS should select a specific number of awards and non-
selected applications should be eligible to reapply during the
next competitive cycle.
The 2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act included a
directive to the Service to work with appropriate Tribal
organizations and submit a report to the Committee within 180
days of enactment of the act that includes an assessment of
updated facility needs in the state as well as recommendations
for alternative financing options. The Committee has not
received this report and strongly encourages the Service to
complete and submit this report.
The Committee acknowledges the receipt of the previous
report formulated for facility upgrades and replacement for Mt.
Edgecombe in Sitka and directs the Service to work with the
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium to update the cost
estimates for healthcare needs.
National Institutes of Health
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 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, as amended (Public Law
115-141), to conduct multidisciplinary research and training
activities associated with the Nation's Hazardous Substance
Superfund program. Section 126(g) of the Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization Act of 1968 (Public Law 99-499) authorizes
the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to
conduct training and education of workers who are or may be
engaged in activities related to hazardous waste removal or
containment or emergency response.
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $79,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 66,581,000
Committee recommendation................................ 81,000,000
The bill provides $81,000,000 for the operations of the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences account.
This amount is $2,000,000 above the enacted level to help meet
the demands of the Superfund Research Program and to support
research on PFAS and other contaminants of emerging concern.
The Institute both leads and supports significant research on
PFAS, which will result in better remediation outcomes.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
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 (Public Law 96-510).
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.
TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $74,691,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 62,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 76,691,000
The bill provides a total appropriation of $76,691,000 for
the operations of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry account. This amount is an increase of $2,000,000
above the enacted level. This increase is provided to support
further PFAS and other contaminants of emerging concern
research and responding to communities exposed to such
chemicals.
Birth Cohort Study.--The bill provides funding for
continuation of the birth cohort study on the Navajo Nation.
The Committee supports the study to better understand the
relationship between uranium exposures, birth outcomes, and
early developmental delays on the Navajo Nation.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances [PFAS].--The Committee
recognizes the importance of making information available on
PFAS to understand and address the needs of communities exposed
to these chemicals and is aware that the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR] toxological profile for
four PFAS substances prepared pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 9604(i)(2)
has been released as a draft for public comment. This
information is critically important to Federal and State
efforts to respond and strengthen the effectiveness of drinking
water advisories or standards for these materials. Therefore,
ATSDR is directed to publish to the Federal Register within 15
days of enactment of the final toxicological profile which
includes the chemicals perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA],
perfluorooctane sulfonic acid [PFOS], perfluorononanoic acid
[PFNA], and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid [PFHxS]. Furthermore,
within 15 days of enactment of this act, ATSDR is directed to
work with the appropriate Federal partners to submit a report
to the Committee identifying any changes made after January 30,
2019, to the toxicology profile of the PFAS substances and
include ATSDR's recommendations for next steps for addressing
health concerns related to PFAS.
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units.--The
Committee recognizes the importance of the Pediatric
Environmental Health Specialty Units [PEHSUs] program and its
support from ATSDR in helping to identify environmental risks
to the health of children and reproductive-age adults. The
Committee encourages ATSDR to expand its support for PEHSUs and
to direct PEHSUs to focus on outreach and education to
communities affected by pediatric cancer clusters and States
with abnormally high incidences of pediatric cancer.
OTHER RELATED AGENCIES
Executive Office of the President
COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
The Council on Environmental Quality [CEQ] and the Office
of Environmental Quality were established by the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-190) and the
Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-
224), respectively. The Council serves as a source of
environmental expertise and policy analysis for the White
House, Executive Office of the President, and other Federal
agencies. CEQ promulgates regulations binding on all Federal
agencies to implement the procedural provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act (Public Law 91-190) and resolves
interagency environmental disputes informally and through
issuance of findings and recommendations.
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $2,994,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 2,750,000
Committee recommendation................................ 2,994,000
The bill provides $2,994,000 for the operations of the
Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental
Quality account. This amount is equal to the enacted level.
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board was
authorized by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Public Law
101-549) to investigate accidental releases of certain
chemicals substances that result in, or may cause, serious
injury, death, substantial property damage, or serious adverse
effects on human health. It became operational in fiscal year
1998.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $12,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 10,200,000
Committee recommendation................................ 12,000,000
The bill provides $12,000,000 for salaries and expenses of
the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, equal to
the fiscal year 2019 level. The Board has the important
responsibility of independently investigating industrial
chemical accidents and collaborating with industry and
professional organizations to share safety lessons that can
prevent catastrophic incidents and the Committee expects this
work to continue.
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation
The Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation [ONHIR] was
established by Public Law 93-531. The Office is charged with
planning and conducting relocation activities associated with
the settlement of land disputes between the Navajo Nation and
Hopi Tribe.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $8,750,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 7,500,000
Committee recommendation................................ 7,500,000
The bill provides $7,500,000 for the Office of Navajo and
Hopi Indian Relocation, a decrease of $1,250,000 below the
fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
The Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation was
established by Public Law 93-531. The Office is charged with
planning and conducting relocation activities associated with
the settlement of land disputes between the Navajo Nation and
Hopi Tribe. The Committee supports efforts to close the Office
because its primary relocation function has reached its
conclusion.
The Committee continues to be concerned about the lack of
meaningful Tribal consultation on matters related to the
closure and transition and directs the ONHIR to continue work
with the Office of Special Trustee and Bureau of Indian Affairs
to continue to consult with affected Tribes. The Committee
continues to urge the ONHIR to work with the appropriate
congressional authorizing Committee to develop legislation as
necessary to affect its closure upon consultation.
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts
Development
The Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture
and Arts Development [IAIA] was originally founded in 1962 as a
Bureau of Indian Affairs high school. The Institute was moved
out of the BIA in 1988 to become a federally chartered 4-year
college governed by a board of trustees appointed by the
President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. Its
mission is to serve as the national center of research,
training, language, and scholarship for Native Americans and
Alaska Natives through the dedicated study, creative
application, preservation, and care of Native cultures and
arts. In addition to its academic programs, the IAIA houses the
National Collection of Contemporary Indian Art and carries the
designation as the National Repository for Native Languages.
The IAIA's operations are funded by direct Federal support and
a diversified private sector approach to foundations,
corporations, Tribes, and individual donors.
PAYMENT TO THE INSTITUTE
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $9,960,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 10,210,000
Committee recommendation................................ 10,210,000
The recommendation provides $10,210,000 for the Institute
of American Indian Arts, an increase of $250,000 above the
enacted level.
Smithsonian Institution
Congress established the Smithsonian Institution in 1846 to
administer a large bequest left to the United States by James
Smithson, an English scientist, for the purpose of establishing
in Washington, DC, an institution `` . . . for the increase and
diffusion of knowledge among men.'' The act establishing the
Smithsonian provided for the administration of the trust,
independent of the Government itself, by a Board of Regents and
a Secretary, who were given broad discretion in the use of
these funds. The board was to be composed of both private
citizens and members of all three branches of the Federal
Government in order to ensure ``the wise and faithful use'' of
the Institution's funds. The trust funds were permanently
loaned to the U.S. Department of the Treasury to be maintained
in a separate account, with the interest from that money used
for the operation of the Institution. Construction of the
Smithsonian Castle was completed in 1855 and collections that
the Government had accepted on behalf of the Institution were
moved into the building. Today, the Smithsonian Institution is
the world's largest museum and research complex, housing
approximately 144 million objects and specimens and receiving
an estimated 25 million visitors annually.
Its facilities include 19 museums and galleries, the
National Zoo, and nine research facilities, most located in or
near Washington, D.C., with others in Massachusetts, New York,
Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, and the Republic of Panama. The
Smithsonian's growth continues as construction proceeds on the
National Museum of African American History and Culture,
authorized by Congress in 2003 and scheduled to open to the
public in 2019.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $739,994,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 759,345,000
Committee recommendation................................ 751,110,000
The bill provides $751,110,000 for salaries and expenses of
the Smithsonian Institution, an increase of $11,116,000 above
the 2019 enacted level. Unless otherwise detailed, increases
above the fiscal year 2019 level account for fixed costs for
the Institution's programs.
The Committee understands the role the Institution has
played as a source of learning and inspiration and appreciates
the challenges the Institution must overcome to keep the
museums open and available to the public. The Committee
understands the importance of collaboration and partnerships
and strongly encourages areas, such as the National Zoological
Park, to work with external sources to provide support in
pathological research, services, and training to augment the
existing needs of the National Zoo. The Committee also supports
collaborations with outside partners about utilizing technology
to make the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural
Heritage artifacts and collections more accessible for teachers
and students so these resources can enhance school curriculums.
Further, the recommendation includes an increase of $500,000
for the National Museum of African American History and Culture
for partnerships activities related to the recent discovery of
the last known slave ship to arrive in the United States, the
Clotilda, and supports educational and community engagement
related to the vessel discovery.
The Committee provides a total of $318,449,000 for
Facilities Services, of which $82,045,000 is for Facilities
Maintenance and $236,404,000 is for Facilities Operations,
Security, and Support. Within the amounts provided for salaries
and expenses, the National Museum of African American History
and Culture is fully funded and Security increases for museums
are provided.
The creation of a Museum of the American Latino within the
Smithsonian Institution at some future date continues to be a
strongly supported priority. Until such time, the Smithsonian
Latino Center, which was formed in 1997 with the goal of
promoting the inclusion of Latino contributions in the
Institution's exhibitions, collections, and public outreach
programs, should continue this important work. In accordance
with the recommendations provided to Congress and the President
of the United States in the May 2011 report by the National
Museum of the American Latino Commission, created by Public Law
110-229, the Committee continues to urge collaboration between
the Smithsonian and appropriate Federal and local organizations
for Latino programming, exhibitions, collections, and outreach
at the Institution. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019,
Public Law 115-141, provided additional funding for the Latino
and Asian Pacific initiatives as well as the new Women's
Initiative. The recommendation continues that funding and
includes an additional $200,000 for each initiative. The
Committee strongly encourages the Institution to find
innovative ways to share the contributions these individuals
have contributed to the American experience.
The Committee supports the Institution's American Women's
History Initiative, launched in 2018, to celebrate and deepen
the public's understanding of the contributions of American
women. American women have made invaluable contributions to our
county across such diverse fields as government, business,
medicine, law, literature, sports, entertainment, the arts, and
the military, but there is no comprehensive museum anywhere in
the United States dedicated to the full story of women's
history. In 2014, Congress established a Congressional
Commission to study the potential for an American museum of
women's history. This commission recommended the establishment
of such a museum governed by the Institution. The Committee
continues the $2,000,000, with the additional increase, to
continue the American Women's History Initiative programming
concurrent with efforts to establish a permanent American
Women's History Museum.
FACILITIES CAPITAL
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $303,503,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 219,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 296,499,000
The bill includes $296,499,000 for the Smithsonian
Institution's Facilities Capital program, which is $7,004,000
below fiscal year 2019 enacted level. Within these funds,
$273,001,000 is provided for revitalization efforts with
$23,498,000 designated for planning and design efforts. Funding
has been continued for the National Air and Space Museum [NASM]
and other high priority revitalization projects.
The Committee understands the Institution is in the process
of a multi-year, multi-phase renovation project for the
National Air and Space Museum, including the necessary
replacement of the building's facade. The Committee has
included $190,000,000 for the NASM's renovation and with this
funding the Committee has provided the final payment for
completion of the museum project. The Committee recognizes NASM
is a popular stop for visitors and it is important to ensure
the public has access to the collection of artifacts;
therefore, the Committee directs the Institution to continue to
keep the Committee apprised of this project to ensure timely
completion.
The recommendation includes bill language to allow the
Institution to purchase a new administrative building with the
Institution's trust funds in an effort to curtail escalating
lease costs. The Committee understands the Board of Regents
have approved the plan, contingent upon Congressional approval,
and that under this plan the Institution will save over
$130,000,000 in lease costs over the next 25 years. The
Committee has included language for the Institution to proceed
with the understanding that no Federal funds will be used to
purchase, retrofit, or renovate the building.
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art was created in 1937 by a joint
resolution of Congress accepting Andrew W. Mellon's gift to the
Nation of his art collection. The generosity of the Mellon
family also provided the funds to construct the Gallery's two
landmark buildings, the West Building, designed by Alexander
Pope and completed in 1941, and the East Building, designed by
I.M. Pei and completed in 1978. In 1999, an outdoor sculpture
garden was created with funding from the Cafritz Foundation.
Today, these two buildings and the Sculpture Garden form a
museum complex that houses one of the world's premier art
collections. Since the Gallery's founding, Federal funds have
been appropriated to ensure the operation, maintenance,
protection, and care of its collection. Private contributions
are used by the Gallery for art acquisition and conservation,
scholarly and scientific research, exhibitions, and educational
outreach programs.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $144,202,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 139,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 147,022,000
The bill provides $147,022,000 for salaries and expenses of
the National Gallery of Art. This amount is $2,820,000 above
the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $8,022,000 above the
request. The distribution of funds among the Gallery's various
activities is displayed in the table that accompanies this
report.
REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND RENOVATION OF BUILDINGS
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $24,203,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 15,114,000
Committee recommendation................................ 25,203,000
The bill provides $25,203,000 for major repairs,
restoration, and renovation of the Gallery's buildings. This
amount is $1,000,000 above the enacted level and $10,089,000
above the request.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Originally established in 1958 as the National Cultural
Center, an independently administered bureau of the Smithsonian
Institution, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
was designated as a living memorial to President Kennedy in
1964. The Kennedy Center building was constructed with a
combination of private contributions, Federal matching funds,
and long-term revenue bonds held by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury. Since 1972, Congress has provided funds for the
operations and repair of the presidential monument, initially
through the National Park Service and since 1995 to the Kennedy
Center Board of Trustees. Approximately 87 percent of the
Center's total annual operating budget is derived from
nonappropriated funds such as ticket sales, auxiliary income,
investment income, and private contributions that support
performing arts programming and administrative activities.
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $24,490,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 25,690,000
Committee recommendation................................ 25,690,000
The bill provides $25,690,000 for the operations and
maintenance of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts, the same amount as the fiscal year 2020 request.
CAPITAL REPAIR AND RESTORATION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $16,800,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 14,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 17,600,000
The bill provides $17,600,000 for the Kennedy Center's
capital repair and restoration program. Funds provided above
the request are to address critical safety, security, and
capital repair and restoration needs.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is the
living national memorial to President Wilson established by
Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, DC. Its
mission is to commemorate the ideals and concerns of the former
president by providing a link between the world of ideas and
the world of policy; and by fostering research, study,
discussion, and collaboration among a full spectrum of
individuals concerned with policy and scholarship in national
and world affairs. The Woodrow Wilson Center is a nonpartisan
institution that is supported by a combination of public and
private funds.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $12,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 8,139,000
Committee recommendation................................ 14,000,000
The bill provides $14,000,000 for salaries and expenses of
the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars,
$2,000,000 above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. The
Committee does not concur with the administration's proposal to
end the Federal commitment to the Center and expects operations
to be maintained as in previous years. The Committee believes
the Center provides an important mission that serves U.S.
policy makers.
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
National Endowment for the Arts
Established in 1965 as an independent agency of the Federal
Government, the National Endowment for the Arts [NEA] is the
official arts organization of the United States Government. As
the largest annual funder of the arts in the United States, the
NEA has helped to create regional theater, opera, ballet,
symphony orchestras, museums, and other arts organizations that
Americans now enjoy. Since its founding, the National Endowment
for the Arts has awarded more than 120,000 grants that have
brought the arts to Americans in communities both large and
small. The NEA, through its competitive, peer-reviewed grants
process, uses the majority of its annual operating funds to
award grants to nonprofit organizations for arts education,
arts outreach, artistic excellence, and partnership agreements.
In addition to those activities, State and jurisdictional arts
agencies are awarded 40 percent of the Endowment's funds.
GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $155,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 29,333,000
Committee recommendation................................ 157,000,000
The bill provides $157,000,000 for grants and
administration of the National Endowment for the Arts, an
increase of $2,000,000 to the fiscal year enacted level. The
NEA is to be commended for its efforts related to Creative
Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network to serve unique needs
of patients and families of military and veterans diagnosed
with Traumatic Brain Injuries and associated psychological
health conditions. The Committee supports the NEA's continued
efforts to expand upon this successful program to embed
Creative Arts Therapies at the core of integrative care efforts
in clinical settings, advance collaboration among clinical and
community arts providers to support wellness and reintegration
efforts for affected families, and advance research to improve
our understanding of impacts of these interventions in both
clinical and community settings. The Committee also encourages
State arts agencies to explore how they can contribute to
expanding arts programs for service members and their families
at the local level. The distribution of funds among the
agency's various activities is displayed in the table that
accompanies this statement.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities [NEH] was
established by the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and
Humanities Act as an independent Federal agency of the United
States Government dedicated to supporting research, education,
preservation, and public programs in the humanities. Today, it
is the largest funder of humanities programs in the Nation.
NEH's longstanding tradition of a peer-reviewed competitive
grant process is designed to ensure that the most meritorious
projects are funded. Typically, NEH grants are used to support
cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries,
colleges, universities, public television and radio, and
individual scholars. The NEH, through its State-Federal
partnership, also provides grants to State humanities councils
in all 50 States and the 6 territories.
GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $155,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 37,891,000
Committee recommendation................................ 157,000,000
The bill provides $157,000,000 for grants and
administration of the National Endowment for the Humanities, an
increase of $2,000,000 to the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
The Committee includes $4,500,000 for a new ``A More Perfect
Union'' initiative for the Endowment. The Committee encourages
the NEH to incorporate and continue the two popular components
of the former ``We the People'' initiative grant opportunities,
the National Digital Newspapers Program, and the Landmarks of
American History and Culture workshops as part of the new
initiative or with other funds. The Committee encourages NEH to
continue providing support to projects that focus on our
Nation's history and culture. The distribution of funds among
the agency's various activities is displayed in the table that
accompanies this statement.
Commission of Fine Arts
The Commission of Fine Arts was established in 1910 to fill
the need for a permanent agency whose members would be
qualified to make available to the Government expert opinion on
questions of art and architecture. The Commission's mission, as
design proposals are brought before it, is to safeguard and
improve the appearance and symbolic significance of the city as
a capital. The Commission provides knowledgeable advice on
matters pertaining to architecture, landscape architecture,
sculpture, painting, and the decorative arts to all branches
and departments of the Federal and District of Columbia
governments when such matters affect the National Capital. The
Commission also must approve of the site and design of all
commemorative works and memorials erected in the District. The
Commission advises on the design of circulating and
commemorative coinage and must approve the siting and design
for national memorials, both in the United States and on
foreign soil, in accordance with the American Battle Monuments
Act and the Commemorative Works Act.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $2,771,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 3,050,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,050,000
The bill provides $3,050,000 for salaries and expenses of
the Commission of Fine Arts, $279,000 above the fiscal year
2019 enacted level and equal to the request.
National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs
The National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs program was
established by Public Law 99-190 to provide grants for general
operating support to District of Columbia nonprofit arts and
other cultural organizations. In fiscal year 1988,
administrative responsibility for the program was transferred
from the National Endowment for the Humanities to the
Commission of Fine Arts. Currently, this program helps support
more than 20 nationally renowned organizations in the Nation's
Capital by providing funding for operating expenses, jobs,
exhibits, and performances that might not have been possible
otherwise.
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $2,750,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 2,750,000
The bill provides $2,750,000, for the National Capital Arts
and Cultural Affairs program administered by the Commission of
Fine Arts. Grant funds should be distributed consistent with
the established formula and eligibility requirements used in
fiscal year 2019.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 established
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as an independent
Federal agency. The Council's mission is to promote the
preservation, enhancement, and productive use of our Nation's
historic resources and advise the President and Congress on
national historic preservation policy. It also provides a forum
for discussion of Federal activities, programs, and policies
that affect historic properties. One of the principal
responsibilities of the Council is to implement section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act (Public Law 89-665),
which requires that the Council be given an opportunity to
comment on the impacts of projects or actions undertaken by
other Federal agencies on sites or structures eligible for
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $6,890,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 7,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 7,000,000
The bill provides $7,000,000 for the Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation, an increase of $110,000 above the
enacted level.
National Capital Planning Commission
The National Capital Planning Commission [NCPC] was
established in 1924 as a park planning agency. Two years later,
the agency's role was expanded to include more comprehensive
planning. The National Capital Planning Act of 1952 designated
the NCPC as the central planning agency for the Federal
Government in the National Capital Region. Today, major
functions and responsibilities of the NCPC include
comprehensive and coordinated planning for the Nation's
Capital; an annual assessment of all proposed Federal capital
improvements in the National Capital region; the review of
proposed Federal development projects; and representation of
the Federal interest in local and regional planning
initiatives.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $8,099,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 7,948,000
Committee recommendation................................ 7,948,000
The bill provides $7,948,000 for salaries and expenses of
the National Capital Planning Commission, $151,000 below the
enacted level.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was created by
Congress in 1980 through Public Law 96-388 with the mandate to
operate and maintain a permanent living memorial museum to the
victims of the Holocaust; provide appropriate ways for the
Nation to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust through the
annual national civic observances known as the Days of
Remembrance; and carry out the recommendations of the
President's Commission on the Holocaust. The building that
houses the museum was constructed with private funds and opened
to the public in 1993. Since that time, the museum has
attracted four to five times the number of expected visitors
and has been highly successful in its fundraising efforts. With
private contributions comprising nearly 50 percent of its
annual operating budget, the Holocaust Memorial Museum serves
as a model for the public-private partnership.
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $59,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 59,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 59,500,000
The bill provides $59,500,000 for operations of the United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum, $500,000 above the enacted
level and the request.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $1,800,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 1,800,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,800,000
The bill provides $1,800,000 for salaries and expenses of
the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission, equal to the
enacted level.
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $1,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 1,000,000
The bill includes $1,000,000 for the Women's Suffrage
Centennial Commission, as authorized by title VII of Public Law
115-31. The Commission shall plan, execute, and coordinate
programs and activities in honor of the 100th anniversary of
the passage and ratification the Nineteenth Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote.
WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission was created by
an Act of Congress in 2013 as an independent agency of the
Legislative Branch of the United States Government. Members of
the 12-member Commission were appointed by the President and
the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as
well as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and
the National World War I Museum. The Commission's mission is to
plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and activities
to commemorate the Centennial of World War I.
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $7,000,000
Budget estimate, 2020................................... 21,093,000
Committee recommendation................................ 7,000,000
The bill provides $7,000,000 for salaries and expenses of
the World War I Centennial Commission, equal to the enacted
level and a decrease of $14,093,000 below the request. The
Committee supports the construction of the national World War I
Memorial at Pershing Park as a long, overdue tribute to those
who sacrificed for freedom in the Great War. World War I
Memorial efforts have been in the works since 1960, and
Congress has affirmed on several occasions a desire to pay
tribute to veterans of World War I. The Committee understands
that World War I Memorial Commission is prepared to complete
the World War I Memorial in two phases. The first phase is to
complete the revitalization of Pershing Park in preparation for
installation of the Memorial sculpture and the second is the
installation of the Memorial sculpture when it is complete. The
Service is directed to work with the Commission to commence
phase one construction as soon as possible to ensure Pershing
Park is rehabilitated and ready for installation of the
Memorial sculpture upon its completion.
Alyce Spotted Bear Native Children's Commission
Appropriations, 2019.................................... $400,000
Budget estimate, 2020...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ 500,000
The bill includes $500,000 for the Alyce Spotted Bear
Native Children's Commission, Public Law 114-244. The
Commission must conduct a comprehensive study of Federal,
State, local, and Tribal programs that serve Native children.
TITLE IV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
Title IV of the bill includes the following general
provisions:
Sec. 401. Provides that appropriations available in the
bill shall not be used to produce literature or otherwise
promote public support of a legislative proposal or regulation
on which action is not complete or for publicity or propaganda
purposes in support of administration policies except to the
executive branch or Congress.
Sec. 402. Continues a provision providing for annual
appropriations unless expressly provided otherwise in this act.
Sec. 403. Continues a provision providing restrictions on
departmental assessments unless approved by the Committees on
Appropriations.
Sec. 404. Retains the mining patent moratorium carried in
previous years.
Sec. 405. Continues a provision regarding the payment of
contract support costs.
Sec. 406. Provides that only certain amounts provided in
this act may be used to fund contract support costs.
Sec. 407. Continues a provision providing that the
Secretary of Agriculture shall not be considered in violation
of certain provisions of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act solely because more than 15 years have
passed without revision of a forest plan, provided that the
Secretary is working in good faith to complete the plan
revision within available funds.
Sec. 408. Prohibits oil, natural gas, and mining-related
activities within current national monument boundaries, except
where such activities are allowed under the presidential
proclamation establishing the monument.
Sec. 409. Restricts funding appropriated for acquisition of
land or interests in land from being used for declarations of
taking or complaints in condemnation.
Sec. 410. Addresses timber sales involving Alaska western
red and yellow cedar.
Sec. 411. Restricts awards of no-bid contracts.
Sec. 412. Requires the public disclosure of certain
reports.
Sec. 413. Continues a provision which delineates the grant
guidelines for the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sec. 414. Continues a provision which delineates the
program priorities for the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sec. 415. Retains certain reporting requirements regarding
the status of appropriations balances.
Sec. 416. Continues prohibition of any rules that would
require the regulation of emissions from livestock.
Sec. 417. Continues prohibition on EPA using funds to
implement a mandatory greenhouse gas reporting system for
manure management systems.
Sec. 418. Continues prohibition on regulation of fishing
tackle and ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Sec. 419. Continues provision regarding grazing permits on
Forest Service lands.
Sec. 420. Prohibits the use of funds to maintain or
establish a computer network unless such network blocks the
viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography.
Sec. 421. Extends authorities relating to disposal of
Forest Service facilities.
Sec. 422. Continues standards for the use of American iron
and steel for certain infrastructure projects.
Sec. 423. Prohibits destruction of certain structures on
Midway Island.
Sec. 424. John F. Kennedy Center 1 year reauthorization.
Sec. 425. Provides authority for the Secretary of the
Interior to enter into training agreements and to transfer
excess equipment and supplies for wildfires.
Sec. 426. Extends existing authority to collect recreation
fees.
Sec. 427. Addresses carbon emissions from forest biomass.
Sec. 428. Addresses the use of small, remote incinerators
in the State of Alaska.
Sec. 429. Addresses section of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act.
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Rule XVI, paragraph 7 requires that every report on a
general appropriation bill filed by the Committee must identify
each recommended amendment which proposes an item of
appropriation which is not made to carry out the provisions of
an existing law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution
previously passed by the Senate during that session.
Those items are as follows:
--Sums provided to the Bureau of Land Management for
management of lands and resources, land acquisition,
construction and maintenance, and loans to States.
--Sums provided to the Bureau of Land Management to
inventory, manage, and improve rangelands for domestic
livestock grazing pursuant to Public Law 95-514, the
Public Rangeland Improvement Act of 1978.
--$250,017,000 for the endangered species program, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service.
--Sums provided to the Fish and Wildlife service for coastal
wetlands planning, protection, and restoration.
--Sums provided for the Yukon River Restoration and
Enhancement Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
pursuant to the Fisheries Act of 1995.
--Sums provided to the Fish and Wildlife Service for the
conservation and protection of marine mammals pursuant
to Public Law 103-238, the Marine Mammal Protection Act
Amendments of 1994.
--Sums provided for Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration
grants.
--Sums provided to the Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to
the Klamath River Basin Fishery Resources Restoration
Act; Fisheries Restoration Irrigation Mitigation Act;
and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act.
--Sums provided to the U.S. Geological Survey for the
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
--Sums provided to the Bureau of Indian Affairs pursuant to
The Tribal Colleges or Universities Assistance Act of
1978; The Indian Tribal Justice Act; Indian Child
Protection and Family Violence Act; and The No Child
Left Behind Act.
--$1,134,947,000 for the Hazardous Substance Superfund.
--$25,000,000 for State and Tribal assistance grants: Alaska
Native Villages.
--$1,694,000,000 for State and Tribal assistance grants:
Clean Water SRF.
--$1,164,000,000 for State and Tribal assistance grants:
Drinking Water SRF.
--Sums provided pursuant to the Clean Air Act, Radon
Abatement Act, Clean Water Act, BEACH Act, Safe
Drinking Water Act, Solid Waste Disposal Act [RCRA],
Toxic Substances Control Act, Pollution Prevention Act,
and the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program
Act.
--$3,000,000 for matching funds for projects of the National
Forest Foundation, U.S. Forest Service.
--$155,000,000 for the National Endowment for the Arts.
--$155,000,000 for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on September 26,
2019, the Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill
(S. 2580) making appropriations for the Department of the
Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes, provided,
that the bill be subject to amendment and that the bill be
consistent with its budget allocation, and provided that the
Chairman of the Committee or his designee be authorized to
offer the substance of the original bill as a Committee
amendment in the nature of a substitute to the House companion
measure, by a recorded vote of 31-0, a quorum being present.
The vote was as follows:
Yeas Nays
Chairman Shelby
Mr. McConnell
Mr. Alexander
Ms. Collins
Ms. Murkowski
Mr. Graham
Mr. Blunt
Mr. Moran
Mr. Hoeven
Mr. Boozman
Mrs. Capito
Mr. Kennedy
Mrs. Hyde-Smith
Mr. Daines
Mr. Rubio
Mr. Lankford
Mr. Leahy
Mrs. Murray
Mrs. Feinstein
Mr. Durbin
Mr. Reed
Mr. Tester
Mr. Udall
Mrs. Shaheen
Mr. Merkley
Mr. Coons
Mr. Schatz
Ms. Baldwin
Mr. Murphy
Mr. Manchin
Mr. Van Hollen
COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE
Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports
on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute
or part of any statute include ``(a) the text of the statute or
part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a
comparative print of that part of the bill or joint resolution
making the amendment and of the statute or part thereof
proposed to be amended, showing by stricken-through type and
italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical
devices the omissions and insertions which would be made by the
bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form recommended by
the committee.''
In compliance with this rule, the following changes in
existing law proposed to be made by the bill are shown as
follows: existing law to be omitted is enclosed in black
brackets; new matter is printed in italic; and existing law in
which no change is proposed is shown in roman.
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
Chapter 3--Forests; Forest Service; Reforestation; Management
Subchapter I--General Provisions
Sec. 580d. Use of Forest Service structures or improvements and land by
public and private agencies, etc.; terms
* * * * * * *
Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement
``SEC. 503. AUTHORIZATION FOR CONVEYANCE OF FOREST SERVICE
ADMINISTRATIVE SITES.
``(f) Duration of Authority.--The authority of the
Secretary to initiate the conveyance of an
administrative site under this title expires on
September 30, [2019] 2020.
* * * * * * *
Chapter 87--Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement
Sec. 6809. Sunset provision
The authority of the Secretary to carry out this chapter
shall terminate [September 30, 2019] October 1, 2021.
------
TITLE 20--EDUCATION
Chapter 3--Smithsonian Institution, National Museums and Art Galleries
Subchapter V--John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Sec. 76r. Authorization of appropriations
[(a) Maintenance, repair, and security
[There is authorized to be appropriated to the Board to
carry out section 76j(a)(1)(H) of this title, $24,490,000 for
fiscal year 2019.
[(b) Capital projects
[There is authorized to be appropriated to the Board to
carry out subparagraphs (F) and (G) of section 76j(a)(1) of
this title, $16,800,000 for fiscal year 2019.]
(a) Maintenance, Repair, and Security.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Board to carry out section
4(a)(1)(H), $25,690,000 for fiscal year 2020.
(b) Capital Projects.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Board to carry out subparagraphs (F) and
(G) of section 4(a)(1), $17,600,000 for fiscal year 2020.
------
BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL
PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS
AMENDED
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority Outlays
-------------------------------------------------------
Committee Amount in Committee Amount in
allocation bill allocation bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee
allocation for 2020: Subcommittee on Department of the
Interior, environment, and related agencies:
Mandatory........................................... 64 64 65 \1\65
Discretionary....................................... 35,800 38,050 35,105 \1\37,355
Security........................................ ............ ............ NA NA
Nonsecurity..................................... 35,800 38,050 NA NA
Projection of outlays associated with the
recommendation:
2020................................................ ............ ............ ............ \2\25,108
2021................................................ ............ ............ ............ 8,172
2022................................................ ............ ............ ............ 3,081
2023................................................ ............ ............ ............ 1,025
2024 and future years............................... ............ ............ ............ 249
Financial assistance to State and local governments for NA 6,958 NA \2\2,123
2020...................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
\2\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
NA: Not applicable.
NOTE.--Consistent with the funding recommended in the bill for wildfire suppression and in accordance with
subparagraph (F) of section 251(b)(2) of the BBEDCA of 1985, the Committee anticipates that the Budget
Committee will provide a revised 302(a) allocation for the Committee on Appropriations reflecting an upward
adjustment of $2,250,000,000 in budget authority plus associated outlays.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2020
[In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee recommendation compared
with (+ or -)
Item 2019 Budget estimate Committee -----------------------------------
appropriation recommendation 2019
appropriation Budget estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Management of Lands and Resources
Land Resources:
Rangeland management...................................... 103,921 92,031 105,921 +2,000 +13,890
Forestry management....................................... 10,135 10,241 10,135 ................ -106
Cultural resources management............................. 17,131 15,585 17,131 ................ +1,546
Wild horse and burro management........................... 80,555 75,745 115,555 +35,000 +39,810
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 211,742 193,602 248,742 +37,000 +55,140
Wildlife and Aquatic Habitat Management:
Wildlife habitat management............................... 126,848 81,753 127,848 +1,000 +46,095
Threatened and endangered species....................... (21,567) ................ (21,567) ................ (+21,567)
Aquatic habitat management................................ 55,656 36,679 55,656 ................ +18,977
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 182,504 118,432 183,504 +1,000 +65,072
Recreation Management:
Wilderness management..................................... 18,264 16,901 18,264 ................ +1,363
Recreation resources management........................... 55,465 54,828 56,965 +1,500 +2,137
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 73,729 71,729 75,229 +1,500 +3,500
Energy and Minerals:
Oil and gas management.................................... 88,947 88,325 90,947 +2,000 +2,622
Oil and gas permit processing............................. 5,737 ................ ................ -5,737 ................
Oil and gas inspection and enforcement.................... 48,385 48,925 48,925 +540 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Oil and gas................................... 143,069 137,250 139,872 -3,197 +2,622
Coal management........................................... 14,868 19,751 16,868 +2,000 -2,883
Other mineral resources................................... 12,167 12,303 12,303 +136 ................
Renewable energy.......................................... 24,320 29,061 27,320 +3,000 -1,741
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Energy and Minerals........................... 194,424 198,365 196,363 +1,939 -2,002
Realty and Ownership Management:
Alaska conveyance......................................... 22,000 22,152 22,797 +797 +645
Cadastral, lands, and realty management................... 48,290 51,328 51,328 +3,038 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 70,290 73,480 74,125 +3,835 +645
Resource Protection and Maintenance:
Resource management planning.............................. 63,125 52,125 66,625 +3,500 +14,500
Resource protection and law enforcement................... 27,616 26,616 27,616 ................ +1,000
Abandoned minelands and hazardous materials management.... 38,500 31,370 38,500 ................ +7,130
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 129,241 110,111 132,741 +3,500 +22,630
Transportation and Facilities Maintenance:
Annual maintenance........................................ 40,000 39,500 40,000 ................ +500
Deferred maintenance...................................... 75,000 53,826 75,000 ................ +21,174
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 115,000 93,326 115,000 ................ +21,674
Workforce and Organizational Support:
Administrative support.................................... 58,694 60,339 58,694 ................ -1,645
Bureauwide fixed costs.................................... 96,480 93,161 96,480 ................ +3,319
Information technology management......................... 26,077 26,077 26,077 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 181,251 179,577 181,251 ................ +1,674
National landscape conservation system, base program.......... 39,819 37,112 43,319 +3,500 +6,207
Communication site management................................. 2,000 2,000 2,000 ................ ................
Offsetting collections........................................ -2,000 -2,000 -2,000 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Management of lands and resources............. 1,198,000 1,075,734 1,250,274 +52,274 +174,540
Mining Law Administration:
Administration............................................ 39,696 39,696 40,696 +1,000 +1,000
Offsetting collections.................................... -59,000 -61,000 -61,000 -2,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Mining Law Administration..................... -19,304 -21,304 -20,304 -1,000 +1,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Management of Lands and Resources................ 1,178,696 1,054,430 1,229,970 +51,274 +175,540
=========================================================================================
Land Acquisition
Acquisitions.................................................. 15,700 ................ 13,300 -2,400 +13,300
Acquisition Management........................................ 2,000 ................ 2,500 +500 +2,500
Recreational Access........................................... 9,000 ................ 10,000 +1,000 +10,000
Emergencies, Hardships, and Inholdings........................ 1,616 ................ 3,000 +1,384 +3,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 28,316 ................ 28,800 +484 +28,800
Rescission.................................................... -1,800 -10,000 -2,367 -567 +7,633
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Land Acquisition................................. 26,516 -10,000 26,433 -83 +36,433
=========================================================================================
Oregon and California Grant Lands
Western Oregon resources management........................... 94,445 ................ 94,445 ................ +94,445
Oregon and California grant lands management.................. ................ 97,007 ................ ................ -97,007
Western Oregon information and resource data systems.......... 1,798 ................ 1,798 ................ +1,798
Western Oregon transportation & facilities maintenance........ 9,628 9,642 9,628 ................ -14
Western Oregon construction and acquisition................... 335 336 335 ................ -1
Western Oregon national monument.............................. 779 ................ 779 ................ +779
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Oregon and California Grant Lands................ 106,985 106,985 106,985 ................ ................
=========================================================================================
Range Improvements
Current appropriations........................................ 10,000 10,000 10,000 ................ ................
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures
Service charges, deposits, and forfeitures.................... 25,850 26,000 26,000 +150 ................
Offsetting fees............................................... -25,850 -26,000 -26,000 -150 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Service Charges, Deposits & Forfeitures.......... ................ ................ ................ ................ ................
=========================================================================================
Miscellaneous Trust Funds and Permanent Operating Funds
Current appropriations........................................ 24,000 26,000 26,000 +2,000 ................
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT........................ 1,346,197 1,187,415 1,399,388 +53,191 +211,973
=========================================================================================
UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Resource Management
Ecological Services:
Listing................................................... 18,318 11,065 18,318 ................ +7,253
Planning and consultation................................. 106,079 107,516 107,516 +1,437 ................
Conservation and restoration.............................. 32,396 26,441 32,396 ................ +5,955
(National Wetlands Inventory)......................... (3,471) (3,471) (3,471) ................ ................
(Coastal Barrier Resources Act)....................... (1,390) (1,390) (1,390) ................ ................
Recovery.................................................. 95,032 95,000 99,092 +4,060 +4,092
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 251,825 240,022 257,322 +5,497 +17,300
Habitat conservation:
Partners for fish and wildlife............................ 51,633 54,417 57,058 +5,425 +2,641
Coastal programs.......................................... 13,375 13,375 13,375 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 65,008 67,792 70,433 +5,425 +2,641
National Wildlife Refuge System:
Wildlife and habitat management........................... 234,467 239,437 235,410 +943 -4,027
Visitor services.......................................... 73,319 80,855 76,319 +3,000 -4,536
Refuge law enforcement.................................... 38,054 43,195 43,195 +5,141 ................
Conservation planning..................................... 2,523 ................ 2,523 ................ +2,523
Refuge maintenance........................................ 139,888 146,042 146,919 +7,031 +877
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 488,251 509,529 504,366 +16,115 -5,163
Conservation and Enforcement:
Migratory bird management................................. 46,421 49,485 50,692 +4,271 +1,207
Law enforcement........................................... 79,053 77,217 82,539 +3,486 +5,322
International affairs..................................... 15,816 16,623 17,792 +1,976 +1,169
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 141,290 143,325 151,023 +9,733 +7,698
Fish and Aquatic Conservation:
National fish hatchery system operations.................. 59,822 56,390 60,655 +833 +4,265
Maintenance and equipment................................. 22,920 25,846 25,846 +2,926 ................
Aquatic habitat and species conservation.................. 84,485 73,391 114,757 +30,272 +41,366
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 167,227 155,627 201,258 +34,031 +45,631
Cooperative landscape conservation............................ 12,500 ................ 12,500 ................ +12,500
Science Support:
Adaptive science.......................................... 10,517 ................ 10,517 ................ +10,517
Service science........................................... 6,750 ................ 6,750 ................ +6,750
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 17,267 ................ 17,267 ................ +17,267
General Operations:
Central office operations................................. 43,049 21,804 21,804 -21,245 ................
Management and Administration............................. ................ 54,866 49,166 +49,166 -5,700
Regional office operations................................ 32,860 ................ ................ -32,860 ................
Servicewide bill paying................................... 36,528 35,770 35,770 -758 ................
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation..................... 7,022 7,000 7,022 ................ +22
National Conservation Training Center..................... 26,014 21,426 26,014 ................ +4,588
Aviation Management....................................... 3,237 ................ 3,237 ................ +3,237
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 148,710 140,866 143,013 -5,697 +2,147
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Resource Management.............................. 1,292,078 1,257,161 1,357,182 +65,104 +100,021
=========================================================================================
Construction
Construction and rehabilitation:
Line item construction projects........................... 8,293 9,093 9,093 +800 ................
Bridge and dam safety programs............................ 1,972 1,232 1,972 ................ +740
Nationwide engineering service............................ 5,475 5,368 5,368 -107 ................
Deferred maintenance...................................... 39,873 ................ 26,793 -13,080 +26,793
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 55,613 15,693 43,226 -12,387 +27,533
Rescission................................................ -1,500 ................ ................ +1,500 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Construction..................................... 54,113 15,693 43,226 -10,887 +27,533
=========================================================================================
Land Acquisition
Acquisitions.................................................. 22,600 ................ 31,250 +8,650 +31,250
Acquisition Management........................................ 12,773 9,526 12,055 -718 +2,529
Recreational Access........................................... 2,500 ................ 6,000 +3,500 +6,000
Emergencies, Hardships, and Inholdings........................ 5,351 338 6,000 +649 +5,662
Exchanges..................................................... 1,500 ................ 1,500 ................ +1,500
Land Protection Planning...................................... 465 ................ 465 ................ +465
Highlands Conservation Act Grants............................. 20,000 ................ 1,500 -18,500 +1,500
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 65,189 9,864 58,770 -6,419 +48,906
Rescission.................................................... ................ -5,324 -3,628 -3,628 +1,696
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Land Acquisition................................. 65,189 4,540 55,142 -10,047 +50,602
=========================================================================================
Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund
Grants and Administration:
Conservation grants....................................... 12,508 ................ 12,508 ................ +12,508
HCP assistance grants..................................... 7,485 ................ 7,485 ................ +7,485
Administration............................................ 2,702 ................ 2,702 ................ +2,702
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 22,695 ................ 22,695 ................ +22,695
Land Acquisition:
Species recovery land acquisition......................... 11,162 ................ 11,162 ................ +11,162
HCP land acquisition grants to states..................... 19,638 ................ 19,638 ................ +19,638
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 30,800 ................ 30,800 ................ +30,800
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation 53,495 ................ 53,495 ................ +53,495
Fund...................................................
Rescission.................................................... -7,500 -31,008 -18,771 -11,271 +12,237
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Cooperative Endangered Species Fund.............. 45,995 -31,008 34,724 -11,271 +65,732
=========================================================================================
National Wildlife Refuge Fund
Payments in lieu of taxes..................................... 13,228 ................ 13,228 ................ +13,228
North American Wetlands Conservation Fund
North American Wetlands Conservation Fund..................... 42,000 40,000 44,000 +2,000 +4,000
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation
Migratory bird grants......................................... 3,910 3,900 4,910 +1,000 +1,010
Multinational Species Conservation Fund
African elephant conservation fund............................ 2,682 1,401 3,100 +418 +1,699
Asian elephant conservation fund.............................. 1,657 845 1,900 +243 +1,055
Rhinoceros and tiger conservation fund........................ 3,540 1,865 3,800 +260 +1,935
Great ape conservation fund................................... 2,075 1,071 2,200 +125 +1,129
Marine turtle conservation fund............................... 1,607 818 1,800 +193 +982
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Multinational Species Conservation Fund.......... 11,561 6,000 12,800 +1,239 +6,800
=========================================================================================
State and Tribal Wildlife Grants
State wildlife grants (formula)............................... 54,000 29,286 54,000 ................ +24,714
State wildlife grants (competitive)........................... 6,362 2,000 6,362 ................ +4,362
Tribal wildlife grants........................................ 4,209 ................ 4,809 +600 +4,809
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, State and tribal wildlife grants................. 64,571 31,286 65,171 +600 +33,885
=========================================================================================
Administrative Provision
Coastal impact assistance program grants (rescission)......... -15,000 ................ ................ +15,000 ................
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE................... 1,577,645 1,327,572 1,630,383 +52,738 +302,811
=========================================================================================
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Operation of the National Park System
Park Management:
Resource stewardship...................................... 334,437 321,562 341,338 +6,901 +19,776
Visitor services.......................................... 255,683 237,087 257,245 +1,562 +20,158
Park protection........................................... 357,226 361,970 371,470 +14,244 +9,500
Facility operations and maintenance....................... 821,538 796,790 850,795 +29,257 +54,005
Park support.............................................. 548,902 514,521 547,482 -1,420 +32,961
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 2,317,786 2,231,930 2,368,330 +50,544 +136,400
External administrative costs................................. 184,925 193,587 196,267 +11,342 +2,680
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Operation of the National Park System............ 2,502,711 2,425,517 2,564,597 +61,886 +139,080
=========================================================================================
National Recreation and Preservation
Natural programs.............................................. 14,170 11,195 15,257 +1,087 +4,062
Cultural programs............................................. 25,562 19,404 28,545 +2,983 +9,141
International park affairs.................................... 1,648 975 1,903 +255 +928
Environmental and compliance review........................... 433 389 435 +2 +46
Grant administration.......................................... 2,004 ................ ................ -2,004 ................
Heritage Partnership Programs................................. 20,321 374 21,944 +1,623 +21,570
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, National Recreation and Preservation............. 64,138 32,337 68,084 +3,946 +35,747
=========================================================================================
Historic Preservation Fund
State historic preservation offices........................... 49,675 26,934 52,675 +3,000 +25,741
Tribal grants................................................. 11,735 5,738 13,735 +2,000 +7,997
Competitive grants............................................ 15,250 ................ 16,250 +1,000 +16,250
Save America's Treasures grants............................... 13,000 ................ 14,000 +1,000 +14,000
Historic Revitalization grants................................ 5,000 ................ 7,500 +2,500 +7,500
Grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities........ 8,000 ................ 9,000 +1,000 +9,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Historic Preservation Fund....................... 102,660 32,672 113,160 +10,500 +80,488
=========================================================================================
Construction
General Program:
Line item construction and maintenance.................... 147,011 160,692 160,692 +13,681 ................
Emergency and unscheduled................................. 3,848 3,848 3,848 ................ ................
Housing................................................... 2,200 2,203 2,203 +3 ................
Dam safety................................................ 1,247 1,247 1,247 ................ ................
Equipment replacement..................................... 13,474 8,369 13,474 ................ +5,105
Planning, construction.................................... 17,453 17,862 29,453 +12,000 +11,591
Construction program management........................... 42,115 41,863 43,852 +1,737 +1,989
General management plans.................................. 10,205 10,249 10,265 +60 +16
General program increase.................................. 127,151 ................ 127,151 ................ +127,151
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Construction..................................... 364,704 246,333 392,185 +27,481 +145,852
=========================================================================================
Land Acquisition and State Assistance
Assistance to States:
State conservation grants (formula)....................... 100,000 ................ 110,000 +10,000 +110,000
State conservation grants (competitive)................... 20,000 ................ 25,000 +5,000 +25,000
Administrative expenses................................... 4,006 ................ 5,000 +994 +5,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 124,006 ................ 140,000 +15,994 +140,000
National Park Service:
Acquisitions.............................................. 13,903 ................ 28,399 +14,496 +28,399
Acquisition Management.................................... 9,679 8,828 10,000 +321 +1,172
Recreational Access....................................... 2,000 1,000 2,500 +500 +1,500
Emergencies, Hardships, Relocations, and Deficiencies..... 3,928 ................ 4,000 +72 +4,000
Inholdings, Donations, and Exchanges...................... 4,928 ................ 5,000 +72 +5,000
American Battlefield Protection Program................... 10,000 5,000 10,000 ................ +5,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 44,438 14,828 59,899 +15,461 +45,071
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Land Acquisition and State Assistance......... 168,444 14,828 199,899 +31,455 +185,071
Rescission.................................................... ................ -10,000 -2,279 -2,279 +7,721
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Land Acquisition and State Assistance............ 168,444 4,828 197,620 +29,176 +192,792
=========================================================================================
Centennial Challenge.......................................... 20,000 ................ 20,000 ................ +20,000
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE............................ 3,222,657 2,741,687 3,355,646 +132,989 +613,959
=========================================================================================
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Surveys, Investigations, and Research
Ecosystems:
Species Management Research............................... ................ 44,359 72,159 +72,159 +27,800
Land Management Research.................................. ................ 43,793 55,448 +55,448 +11,655
Biological Threats Research............................... ................ 28,996 34,549 +34,549 +5,553
Climate Adaptation Science Center......................... ................ 23,901 44,488 +44,488 +20,587
Status and trends......................................... 18,373 ................ ................ -18,373 ................
Fisheries: Aquatic and endangered resources............... 19,136 ................ ................ -19,136 ................
Wildlife: Terrestrial and endangered resources............ 45,257 ................ ................ -45,257 ................
Terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments........... 36,415 ................ ................ -36,415 ................
Invasive species.......................................... 19,330 ................ ................ -19,330 ................
Cooperative research units................................ 18,371 ................ 18,371 ................ +18,371
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Ecosystems....................................... 156,882 141,049 225,015 +68,133 +83,966
=========================================================================================
Land Resources:
National Land Imaging..................................... 98,894 ................ ................ -98,894 ................
Land change science....................................... 34,070 ................ ................ -34,070 ................
National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers.. 25,335 ................ ................ -25,335 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Land Resources................................... 158,299 ................ ................ -158,299 ................
=========================================================================================
Energy, Minerals, and Environmental Health:
Mineral and Energy Resources:
Mineral resources..................................... 58,969 60,193 59,869 +900 -324
Energy resources...................................... 29,972 25,879 30,172 +200 +4,293
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 88,941 86,072 90,041 +1,100 +3,969
Environmental Health:
Contaminant biology................................... 10,197 ................ ................ -10,197 ................
Toxic substances hydrology............................ 12,598 ................ ................ -12,598 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 22,795 ................ ................ -22,795 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Energy, Minerals, and Environmental Health....... 111,736 86,072 90,041 -21,695 +3,969
=========================================================================================
Natural Hazards:
Earthquake hazards........................................ 83,403 64,303 87,903 +4,500 +23,600
Volcano hazards........................................... 30,266 28,121 28,846 -1,420 +725
Landslide hazards......................................... 3,538 3,554 3,538 ................ -16
Global seismographic network.............................. 6,653 6,661 6,653 ................ -8
Geomagnetism.............................................. 1,888 1,888 3,388 +1,500 +1,500
Coastal/Marine hazards and resources...................... 40,510 40,498 40,510 ................ +12
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Natural Hazards.................................. 166,258 145,025 170,838 +4,580 +25,813
=========================================================================================
Water Resources:
Water Resources Availability Program...................... ................ 74,858 99,763 +99,763 +24,905
Water Observing Systems Program........................... ................ 105,064 122,545 +122,545 +17,481
Water Availability and Use Science Program................ 45,487 ................ ................ -45,487 ................
Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program............ 82,673 ................ ................ -82,673 ................
National Water Quality Program............................ 91,648 ................ ................ -91,648 ................
Water Resources Research Act Program...................... 6,500 ................ 6,500 ................ +6,500
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Water Resources.................................. 226,308 179,922 228,808 +2,500 +48,886
=========================================================================================
Core Science Systems:
National Land Imaging Program............................. ................ 88,955 101,865 +101,865 +12,910
Science, synthesis, analysis, and research................ 24,051 25,987 25,972 +1,921 -15
National cooperative geologic mapping..................... 24,397 24,397 24,397 ................ ................
National Geospatial Program............................... 69,454 67,854 69,454 ................ +1,600
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Core Science Systems............................. 117,902 207,193 221,688 +103,786 +14,495
=========================================================================================
Science Support:
Administration and Management............................. 80,881 80,963 74,881 -6,000 -6,082
Information Services...................................... 21,947 21,947 21,947 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Science Support.................................. 102,828 102,910 96,828 -6,000 -6,082
=========================================================================================
Facilities:
Rental payments and operations & maintenance.............. 105,219 113,321 105,219 ................ -8,102
Deferred maintenance and capital improvement.............. 15,164 7,975 71,164 +56,000 +63,189
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Facilities....................................... 120,383 121,296 176,383 +56,000 +55,087
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.................. 1,160,596 983,467 1,209,601 +49,005 +226,134
=========================================================================================
BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Ocean Energy Management
Renewable energy.............................................. 20,720 21,325 21,325 +605 ................
Conventional energy........................................... 61,799 64,123 64,123 +2,324 ................
Environmental assessment...................................... 79,774 85,110 85,110 +5,336 ................
Marine Minerals............................................... ................ 5,729 5,729 +5,729 ................
Executive direction........................................... 16,973 17,139 17,139 +166 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 179,266 193,426 193,426 +14,160 ................
Offsetting rental receipts.................................... -47,455 -58,000 -58,000 -10,545 ................
Cost recovery fees............................................ -2,361 -2,000 -2,000 +361 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, offsetting collections........................ -49,816 -60,000 -60,000 -10,184 ................
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT................ 129,450 133,426 133,426 +3,976 ................
=========================================================================================
BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT
Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Environmental enforcement..................................... 4,674 4,758 4,758 +84 ................
Operations, safety and regulation............................. 146,340 151,811 146,340 ................ -5,471
Administrative operations..................................... 18,129 18,150 18,150 +21 ................
Executive direction........................................... 18,097 18,093 18,093 -4 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 187,240 192,812 187,341 +101 -5,471
Offsetting rental receipts.................................... -20,338 -23,000 -23,000 -2,662 ................
Inspection fees............................................... -41,765 -43,479 -41,000 +765 +2,479
Cost recovery fees............................................ -3,786 -3,000 -3,000 +786 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, offsetting collections........................ -65,889 -69,479 -67,000 -1,111 +2,479
Rescission.................................................... ................ -5,000 ................ ................ +5,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Offshore Safety and Environmental Enforcement.... 121,351 118,333 120,341 -1,010 +2,008
=========================================================================================
Oil Spill Research
Oil spill research............................................ 14,899 12,700 14,899 ................ +2,199
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, BUREAU OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT... 136,250 131,033 135,240 -1,010 +4,207
=========================================================================================
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Regulation and Technology
Environmental protection...................................... 88,562 67,754 88,562 ................ +20,808
Permit fees............................................... 40 40 40 ................ ................
Offsetting collections.................................... -40 -40 -40 ................ ................
Technology development and transfer........................... 12,801 14,765 14,765 +1,964 ................
Financial management.......................................... 505 505 505 ................ ................
Executive direction........................................... 13,936 13,936 13,936 ................ ................
Civil penalties (indefinite).................................. 100 100 100 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 115,904 97,060 117,868 +1,964 +20,808
Civil penalties (offsetting collections)...................... -100 -100 -100 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Regulation and Technology........................ 115,804 96,960 117,768 +1,964 +20,808
=========================================================================================
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund
Environmental restoration..................................... 9,480 9,480 9,480 ................ ................
Technology development and transfer........................... 3,544 3,576 3,576 +32 ................
Financial management.......................................... 5,182 5,191 5,191 +9 ................
Executive direction........................................... 6,466 6,466 6,466 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 24,672 24,713 24,713 +41 ................
State grants.................................................. 115,000 ................ 115,000 ................ +115,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.................. 139,672 24,713 139,713 +41 +115,000
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND 255,476 121,673 257,481 +2,005 +135,808
ENFORCEMENT............................................
=========================================================================================
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Operation of Indian Programs
Tribal Government:
Aid to tribal government.................................. 28,902 27,237 27,441 -1,461 +204
Consolidated tribal government program.................... 75,839 75,271 75,681 -158 +410
Self governance compacts.................................. 166,225 178,909 180,065 +13,840 +1,156
New tribes................................................ 1,120 1,281 1,281 +161 ................
Small and needy tribes.................................... 4,448 ................ 5,000 +552 +5,000
Road maintenance.......................................... 35,823 34,893 36,063 +240 +1,170
Tribal government program oversight....................... 8,616 8,422 8,648 +32 +226
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 320,973 326,013 334,179 +13,206 +8,166
Human Services:
Social services........................................... 53,084 51,548 51,474 -1,610 -74
Welfare assistance........................................ 76,000 74,734 74,734 -1,266 ................
Indian child welfare act.................................. 19,154 13,357 13,431 -5,723 +74
Housing improvement program............................... 9,708 ................ 11,708 +2,000 +11,708
Human services tribal design.............................. 270 266 273 +3 +7
Human services program oversight.......................... 3,200 3,045 3,065 -135 +20
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 161,416 142,950 154,685 -6,731 +11,735
Trust--Natural Resources Management:
Natural resources, general................................ 6,419 4,704 6,241 -178 +1,537
Irrigation operations and maintenance..................... 14,023 14,017 14,031 +8 +14
Rights protection implementation.......................... 40,273 40,231 41,743 +1,470 +1,512
Tribal management/development program..................... 11,681 11,162 11,691 +10 +529
Endangered species........................................ 2,697 1,001 2,698 +1 +1,697
Cooperative landscape conservation........................ 9,956 ................ 9,956 ................ +9,956
Integrated resource information program................... 2,974 1,973 2,974 ................ +1,001
Agriculture and range..................................... 31,251 25,101 32,314 +1,063 +7,213
Forestry.................................................. 55,591 54,759 55,473 -118 +714
Water resources........................................... 10,614 10,592 10,625 +11 +33
Fish, wildlife and parks.................................. 15,287 14,463 14,490 -797 +27
Resource management program oversight..................... 6,104 6,086 7,126 +1,022 +1,040
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 206,870 184,089 209,362 +2,492 +25,273
Trust--Real Estate Services................................... 130,680 121,965 130,905 +225 +8,940
Education:
Elementary and secondary programs (forward funded):
ISEP formula funds.................................... 404,165 ................ ................ -404,165 ................
ISEP program adjustments.............................. 5,479 ................ ................ -5,479 ................
Education program enhancements........................ 12,278 ................ ................ -12,278 ................
Tribal education departments.......................... 2,500 ................ ................ -2,500 ................
Student transportation................................ 56,413 ................ ................ -56,413 ................
Early child and family development.................... 18,810 ................ ................ -18,810 ................
Tribal grant support costs............................ 82,935 ................ ................ -82,935 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 582,580 ................ ................ -582,580 ................
Post secondary programs (forward funded):
Tribal colleges and universities...................... 70,793 ................ ................ -70,793 ................
Tribal technical colleges............................. 7,505 ................ ................ -7,505 ................
Haskell & SIPI........................................ 22,694 ................ ................ -22,694 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 100,992 ................ ................ -100,992 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, forward funded education...................... 683,572 ................ ................ -683,572 ................
Elementary and secondary programs:
Facilities operations................................. 68,795 ................ ................ -68,795 ................
Facilities maintenance................................ 59,774 ................ ................ -59,774 ................
Juvenile detention center education................... 500 ................ ................ -500 ................
Johnson O'Malley assistance grants.................... 14,903 ................ ................ -14,903 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 143,972 ................ ................ -143,972 ................
Post secondary programs:
Tribal colleges and universities supplements.......... 1,220 ................ ................ -1,220 ................
Scholarships & adult education........................ 34,996 ................ ................ -34,996 ................
Special higher education scholarships................. 2,992 ................ ................ -2,992 ................
Science post graduate scholarship fund................ 2,450 ................ ................ -2,450 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 41,658 ................ ................ -41,658 ................
Education management:
Education program management.......................... 25,053 ................ ................ -25,053 ................
Education IT.......................................... 10,302 ................ ................ -10,302 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 35,355 ................ ................ -35,355 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Education..................................... 904,557 ................ ................ -904,557 ................
Public Safety and Justice:
Law enforcement:
Criminal investigations and police services........... 213,309 212,249 215,926 +2,617 +3,677
Detention/corrections................................. 102,982 100,812 103,338 +356 +2,526
Inspections/internal affairs.......................... 3,528 3,520 3,538 +10 +18
Law enforcement special initiatives................... 10,412 12,944 14,942 +4,530 +1,998
Indian police academy................................. 4,925 4,679 4,939 +14 +260
Tribal justice support................................ 22,271 22,267 22,274 +3 +7
VAWA................................................ (2,000) ................ (2,000) ................ (+2,000)
PL 280 courts....................................... (13,000) ................ (13,000) ................ (+13,000)
Law enforcement program management.................... 6,555 6,543 6,568 +13 +25
Facilities operations and maintenance................. 13,701 13,680 13,703 +2 +23
Tribal courts............................................. 32,244 30,881 32,507 +263 +1,626
Fire protection........................................... 1,590 1,584 1,591 +1 +7
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 411,517 409,159 419,326 +7,809 +10,167
Community and economic development............................ 47,579 44,397 49,529 +1,950 +5,132
Executive direction and administrative services............... 230,985 233,737 235,475 +4,490 +1,738
(Amounts available until expended, account-wide).............. (55,174) (43,813) ................ (-55,174) (-43,813)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Operation of Indian Programs..................... 2,414,577 1,462,310 1,533,461 -881,116 +71,151
=========================================================================================
Contract Support Costs
Contract support costs........................................ 242,000 266,000 266,000 +24,000 ................
Indian self-determination fund................................ 5,000 5,000 5,000 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Contract Support Costs........................... 247,000 271,000 271,000 +24,000 ................
=========================================================================================
Construction
Education..................................................... 238,250 ................ ................ -238,250 ................
Public safety and justice..................................... 35,310 10,422 40,311 +5,001 +29,889
Resources management.......................................... 71,231 36,053 71,258 +27 +35,205
General administration........................................ 13,928 12,007 17,154 +3,226 +5,147
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Construction..................................... 358,719 58,482 128,723 -229,996 +70,241
(Rescission)........................................ ................ ................ -2,000 -2,000 -2,000
=========================================================================================
Indian Land and Water Claim Settlements and Miscellaneous
Payments to Indians
Land Settlements:
White Earth Land Settlement Act (Admin) (Public Law 99- 625 ................ ................ -625 ................
264).....................................................
Water Settlements:
Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement (Public Law 101-618). 142 ................ ................ -142 ................
Navajo Water Resources Development Trust Fund (Public Law 4,011 ................ ................ -4,011 ................
111-11)..................................................
Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (Public Law 111-11).... 21,720 ................ ................ -21,720 ................
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Water Rights 9,192 ................ ................ -9,192 ................
Settlement Act (Public Law 114-322)......................
Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement (Public Law 114-322).... 14,367 ................ ................ -14,367 ................
Unallocated................................................... ................ 45,644 45,644 +45,644 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Indian Land and Water Claim Settlements and 50,057 45,644 45,644 -4,413 ................
Miscellaneous Payments to Indians......................
=========================================================================================
Indian Guaranteed Loan Program Account
Indian guaranteed loan program account........................ 10,779 909 10,779 ................ +9,870
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Bureau of Indian Affairs......................... 3,081,132 1,838,345 1,987,607 -1,093,525 +149,262
=========================================================================================
Bureau of Indian Education
Operation of Indian Education Programs
Elementary and secondary programs (forward funded):
ISEP formula funds........................................ ................ 404,092 405,351 +405,351 +1,259
ISEP program adjustments.................................. ................ 5,467 5,489 +5,489 +22
Education program enhancements............................ ................ 14,273 12,303 +12,303 -1,970
Tribal education departments.............................. ................ 2,500 2,500 +2,500 ................
Student transportation.................................... ................ 56,363 56,491 +56,491 +128
Early child and family development........................ ................ 20,852 18,852 +18,852 -2,000
Tribal grant support costs................................ ................ 81,508 83,407 +83,407 +1,899
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ ................ 585,055 584,393 +584,393 -662
Post secondary programs (forward funded):
Haskill & SIPI............................................ ................ 19,480 22,500 +22,500 +3,020
Tribal colleges and universities.......................... ................ 69,793 70,793 +70,793 +1,000
Tribal technical colleges................................. ................ 7,537 7,537 +7,537 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ ................ 96,810 100,830 +100,830 +4,020
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, forward funded education...................... ................ 681,865 685,223 +685,223 +3,358
Elementary and secondary programs:
Facilities operations..................................... ................ 66,710 68,897 +68,897 +2,187
Facilities maintenance.................................... ................ 59,684 59,906 +59,906 +222
Juvenile detention center education....................... ................ 500 500 +500 ................
Johnson O'Malley assistance grants........................ ................ 14,835 14,835 +14,835 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ ................ 141,729 144,138 +144,138 +2,409
Post secondary programs:
Tribal colleges and universities supplements.............. ................ 1,220 1,220 +1,220 ................
Scholarships & adult education............................ ................ ................ 34,333 +34,333 +34,333
Special higher education scholarships..................... ................ ................ 2,992 +2,992 +2,992
Science post graduate scholarship fund.................... ................ ................ 2,450 +2,450 +2,450
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ ................ 1,220 40,995 +40,995 +39,775
Education management:
Education program management.............................. ................ 32,300 25,178 +25,178 -7,122
Education IT.............................................. ................ 10,302 10,307 +10,307 +5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ ................ 42,602 35,485 +35,485 -7,117
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Operation of Indian Education Programs........... ................ 867,416 905,841 +905,841 +38,425
=========================================================================================
Education Construction
Replacement/School Construction............................... ................ ................ 105,504 +105,504 +105,504
Replacement Facility Construction............................. ................ ................ 23,935 +23,935 +23,935
Replacement/New Employee Housing.............................. ................ 1,000 ................ ................ -1,000
Employee Housing Repair....................................... ................ 5,062 13,576 +13,576 +8,514
Facilities Improvement and Repair............................. ................ 62,796 95,235 +95,235 +32,439
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Education Construction........................... ................ 68,858 238,250 +238,250 +169,392
=========================================================================================
Total, Bureau of Indian Education....................... ................ 936,274 1,144,091 +1,144,091 +207,817
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, INDIAN AFFAIRS................................... 3,081,132 2,774,619 3,131,698 +50,566 +357,079
=========================================================================================
DEPARTMENTAL OFFICES
Office of the Secretary
Leadership and administration................................. 107,368 101,356 107,368 ................ +6,012
Management services........................................... 27,305 28,066 28,876 +1,571 +810
General reduction............................................. -10,000 ................ ................ +10,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Office of the Secretary.......................... 124,673 129,422 136,244 +11,571 +6,822
=========================================================================================
Insular Affairs
Assistance to Territories
Territorial Assistance:
Office of Insular Affairs................................. 9,448 9,430 9,491 +43 +61
Technical assistance...................................... 20,800 14,671 20,800 ................ +6,129
Maintenance assistance fund............................... 4,000 1,023 4,500 +500 +3,477
Brown tree snake.......................................... 3,500 2,837 3,500 ................ +663
Coral reef initiative and Natural Resources............... 2,500 946 3,000 +500 +2,054
Empowering Insular Communities............................ 5,000 2,811 5,000 ................ +2,189
Compact impact............................................ 4,000 ................ 4,000 ................ +4,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Territorial Assistance........................ 49,248 31,718 50,291 +1,043 +18,573
American Samoa operations grants.............................. 23,720 21,529 24,120 +400 +2,591
Northern Marianas covenant grants............................. 27,720 27,720 27,720 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Assistance to Territories........................ 100,688 80,967 102,131 +1,443 +21,164
=========================================================================================
Compact of Free Association
Compact of Free Association--Federal services................. 2,813 2,636 7,813 +5,000 +5,177
Enewetak support.............................................. 600 473 650 +50 +177
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Compact of Free Association................... 3,413 3,109 8,463 +5,050 +5,354
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Compact of Free Association...................... 3,413 3,109 8,463 +5,050 +5,354
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Insular Affairs.................................. 104,101 84,076 110,594 +6,493 +26,518
=========================================================================================
Office of the Solicitor
Legal services................................................ 58,996 59,240 59,240 +244 ................
General administration........................................ 4,940 5,029 5,029 +89 ................
Ethics........................................................ 1,738 2,547 2,547 +809 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Office of the Solicitor.......................... 65,674 66,816 66,816 +1,142 ................
=========================================================================================
Office of Inspector General
Audit and investigations...................................... 39,522 39,522 40,000 +478 +478
Administrative services and information management............ 12,964 12,964 13,000 +36 +36
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Office of Inspector General...................... 52,486 52,486 53,000 +514 +514
=========================================================================================
Office of Special Trustee for American Indians
Federal Trust Programs
Program operations, support, and improvements................. 109,843 102,696 109,843 ................ +7,147
(Office of Historical Accounting)......................... (19,016) (22,120) (19,016) ................ (-3,104)
Executive direction........................................... 1,697 2,447 1,697 ................ -750
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 111,540 105,143 111,540 ................ +6,397
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Federal Trust Programs........................... 111,540 105,143 111,540 ................ +6,397
=========================================================================================
Total, Office of Special Trustee for American Indians... 111,540 105,143 111,540 ................ +6,397
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, DEPARTMENTAL OFFICES............................. 458,474 437,943 478,194 +19,720 +40,251
=========================================================================================
DEPARTMENT-WIDE PROGRAMS
Wildland Fire Management
Fire Operations:
Preparedness.............................................. 322,179 332,784 332,784 +10,605 ................
Fire suppression.......................................... 388,135 383,657 383,657 -4,478 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Fire operations............................... 710,314 716,441 716,441 +6,127 ................
Other Operations:
Fuels Management.......................................... 189,000 194,000 194,000 +5,000 ................
Burned area rehabilitation................................ 20,470 9,467 20,470 ................ +11,003
Fire facilities........................................... 18,427 ................ 18,427 ................ +18,427
Joint fire science........................................ 3,000 ................ 3,000 ................ +3,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Other operations.............................. 230,897 203,467 235,897 +5,000 +32,430
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Wildland fire management......................... 941,211 919,908 952,338 +11,127 +32,430
=========================================================================================
Suppression Cap Adjustment.................................... ................ 300,000 300,000 +300,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Wildland Fire Management with cap adjustment..... 941,211 1,219,908 1,252,338 +311,127 +32,430
=========================================================================================
Central Hazardous Materials Fund
Central hazardous materials fund.............................. 10,010 2,000 10,010 ................ +8,010
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund
Damage assessments............................................ 2,000 1,500 2,000 ................ +500
Program management............................................ 2,100 1,000 2,100 ................ +1,100
Restoration support........................................... 2,667 1,900 2,667 ................ +767
Oil Spill Preparedness........................................ 1,000 200 1,000 ................ +800
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund.......... 7,767 4,600 7,767 ................ +3,167
=========================================================================================
Working Capital Fund
Working Capital Fund.......................................... 55,735 69,284 68,235 +12,500 -1,049
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
Natural Resources Revenue..................................... 137,505 147,330 147,330 +9,825 ................
Payment in Lieu of Taxes
Payments to local governments in lieu of taxes................ ................ 465,000 ................ ................ -465,000
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, DEPARTMENT-WIDE PROGRAMS......................... 1,152,228 1,908,122 1,485,680 +333,452 -422,442
=========================================================================================
General Provisions
Payments to local governments in lieu of taxes (PILT)......... 500,000 ................ 500,000 ................ +500,000
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, TITLE I, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.............. 13,020,105 11,746,957 13,716,737 +696,632 +1,969,780
Appropriations...................................... (13,045,905) (11,808,289) (13,745,782) (+699,877) (+1,937,493)
Rescissions......................................... (-25,800) (-61,332) (-29,045) (-3,245) (+32,287)
(Wildland Fire Suppression Cap Adjustment).............. ................ (300,000) (300,000) (+300,000) ................
=========================================================================================
TITLE II--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Science and Technology
Clean Air..................................................... 116,541 87,341 115,364 -1,177 +28,023
(Atmospheric Protection Program).......................... (8,018) ................ (7,772) (-246) (+7,772)
Enforcement................................................... 13,669 10,883 12,992 -677 +2,109
Homeland security............................................. 33,122 32,804 33,089 -33 +285
Indoor air and Radiation...................................... 5,997 4,783 5,149 -848 +366
IT/Data management/Security................................... 3,089 2,747 3,072 -17 +325
Operations and administration................................. 68,339 73,268 67,482 -857 -5,786
Pesticide licensing........................................... 6,027 5,273 5,886 -141 +613
Research: Air and energy...................................... 94,906 31,707 94,496 -410 +62,789
Research: Chemical safety and sustainability.................. 126,930 86,566 126,268 -662 +39,702
(Research: Computational toxicology)...................... (21,409) (17,630) (21,409) ................ (+3,779)
(Research: Endocrine disruptor)........................... (16,253) (10,346) (16,253) ................ (+5,907)
Research: National priorities................................. 5,000 ................ 6,000 +1,000 +6,000
Research: Safe and sustainable water resources................ 106,257 69,963 106,890 +633 +36,927
Research: Sustainable and healthy communities................. 134,327 53,631 132,477 -1,850 +78,846
Water: Human health protection................................ 3,519 4,094 4,094 +575 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Science and Technology........................ 717,723 463,060 713,259 -4,464 +250,199
Rescission.................................................... -11,250 ................ ................ +11,250 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Science and Technology........................... 706,473 463,060 713,259 +6,786 +250,199
(By transfer from Hazardous Substance Superfund)........ (15,496) (17,775) (17,775) (+2,279) ................
=========================================================================================
Environmental Programs and Management
Brownfields................................................... 25,593 16,728 23,647 -1,946 +6,919
Clean Air..................................................... 273,108 155,814 272,844 -264 +117,030
(Atmospheric Protection Program).......................... (95,436) (13,965) (95,244) (-192) (+81,279)
Compliance.................................................... 101,665 89,644 98,052 -3,613 +8,408
Enforcement................................................... 240,637 211,566 229,003 -11,634 +17,437
(Environmental justice)................................... (6,737) (2,739) (6,288) (-449) (+3,549)
Environmental protection: National priorities................. 15,000 ................ 17,700 +2,700 +17,700
Geographic programs:
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative\1\..................... 300,000 300,000 301,000 +1,000 +1,000
Chesapeake Bay............................................ 73,000 7,300 76,000 +3,000 +68,700
San Francisco Bay......................................... 4,819 ................ 5,750 +931 +5,750
Puget Sound............................................... 28,000 ................ 29,000 +1,000 +29,000
Long Island Sound......................................... 14,000 ................ 16,000 +2,000 +16,000
Gulf of Mexico............................................ 14,542 ................ 17,042 +2,500 +17,042
South Florida............................................. 3,204 ................ 4,704 +1,500 +4,704
Lake Champlain............................................ 11,000 ................ 13,000 +2,000 +13,000
Lake Pontchartrain........................................ 948 ................ 1,400 +452 +1,400
Southern New England Estuaries............................ 5,000 ................ 5,200 +200 +5,200
Columbia River Basin...................................... 1,000 ................ 1,200 +200 +1,200
Other geographic activities............................... 1,445 ................ 1,445 ................ +1,445
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 456,958 307,300 471,741 +14,783 +164,441
Homeland security............................................. 10,195 9,688 10,013 -182 +325
Indoor air and radiation...................................... 27,637 4,526 24,951 -2,686 +20,425
Information exchange / Outreach............................... 126,538 89,897 118,828 -7,710 +28,931
(Children and other sensitive populations: Agency (6,548) (2,545) (6,173) (-375) (+3,628)
coordination)............................................
(Environmental education)................................. (8,702) ................ (8,580) (-122) (+8,580)
International programs........................................ 15,400 5,339 14,611 -789 +9,272
IT/Data management/Security................................... 90,536 84,890 87,816 -2,720 +2,926
Legal/science/regulatory/economic review...................... 111,414 107,842 104,243 -7,171 -3,599
Operations and administration................................. 480,751 494,307 474,153 -6,598 -20,154
Pesticide licensing........................................... 109,363 85,679 107,046 -2,317 +21,367
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)................. 112,377 80,015 108,789 -3,588 +28,774
Toxics risk review and prevention............................. 92,521 66,418 90,715 -1,806 +24,297
(Endocrine disruptors).................................... (7,553) ................ (7,477) (-76) (+7,477)
Underground storage tanks (LUST/UST).......................... 11,295 5,996 10,750 -545 +4,754
Water: Ecosystems:
National estuary program/Coastal waterways................ 26,723 ................ 29,823 +3,100 +29,823
Wetlands.................................................. 21,065 21,578 19,241 -1,824 -2,337
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 47,788 21,578 49,064 +1,276 +27,486
Water: Human health protection................................ 98,507 89,808 101,927 +3,420 +12,119
Water quality protection...................................... 210,917 188,233 207,689 -3,228 +19,456
Energy Star (legislative proposal)............................ ................ 46,000 ................ ................ -46,000
Offsetting collections, Energy Star (legislative proposal).... ................ -12,000 ................ ................ +12,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Environmental Programs and Management......... 2,658,200 2,149,268 2,623,582 -34,618 +474,314
Rescission.................................................... -60,201 ................ ................ +60,201 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Environmental Programs and Management............ 2,597,999 2,149,268 2,623,582 +25,583 +474,314
=========================================================================================
Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund
E-Manifest System Fund........................................ 8,000 8,000 8,000 ................ ................
Offsetting Collections........................................ -8,000 -8,000 -8,000 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System Fund.. ................ ................ ................ ................ ................
=========================================================================================
Office of Inspector General
Audits, evaluations, and investigations....................... 41,489 38,893 41,489 ................ +2,596
(By transfer from Hazardous Substance Superfund).......... (8,778) (9,586) (9,586) (+808) ................
Buildings and Facilities
Homeland security: Protection of EPA personnel and 6,676 6,176 6,676 ................ +500
infrastructure...............................................
Operations and administration................................. 27,791 33,377 27,791 ................ -5,586
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Buildings and Facilities......................... 34,467 39,553 34,467 ................ -5,086
=========================================================================================
Hazardous Substance Superfund
Audits, evaluations, and investigations....................... 8,778 9,586 9,586 +808 ................
Compliance.................................................... 995 991 995 ................ +4
Enforcement................................................... 166,375 171,357 166,375 ................ -4,982
Homeland security............................................. 32,616 31,969 32,616 ................ +647
Indoor air and radiation...................................... 1,985 1,933 1,985 ................ +52
Information exchange/Outreach................................. 1,328 1,293 1,328 ................ +35
IT/data management/security................................... 14,485 18,525 14,485 ................ -4,040
Legal/science/regulatory/economic review...................... 1,253 579 1,253 ................ +674
Operations and administration................................. 128,105 124,520 128,105 ................ +3,585
Research: Chemical safety and sustainability.................. 2,824 5,338 4,852 +2,028 -486
Research: Sustainable communities............................. 11,463 10,977 11,463 ................ +486
Superfund cleanup:
Superfund: Emergency response and removal................. 181,306 168,370 189,306 +8,000 +20,936
Superfund: Emergency preparedness......................... 7,636 7,396 7,636 ................ +240
Superfund: Federal facilities............................. 21,125 20,465 21,125 ................ +660
Superfund: Remedial....................................... 511,673 472,052 576,673 +65,000 +104,621
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 721,740 668,283 794,740 +73,000 +126,457
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Hazardous Substance Superfund.................... 1,091,947 1,045,351 1,167,783 +75,836 +122,432
=========================================================================================
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund [LUST]
Enforcement................................................... 620 470 620 ................ +150
Operations and administration................................. 1,352 1,345 1,352 ................ +7
Research: Sustainable communities............................. 320 424 320 ................ -104
Underground storage tanks (LUST/UST).......................... 89,649 45,562 89,649 ................ +44,087
(LUST/UST)................................................ (9,240) (6,722) (9,240) ................ (+2,518)
(LUST cooperative agreements)............................. (55,040) (38,840) (55,040) ................ (+16,200)
(Energy Policy Act grants)................................ (25,369) ................ (25,369) ................ (+25,369)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund...... 91,941 47,801 91,941 ................ +44,140
=========================================================================================
Inland Oil Spill Program
Compliance.................................................... 139 ................ 139 ................ +139
Enforcement................................................... 2,413 2,373 2,413 ................ +40
Oil........................................................... 14,409 12,413 14,409 ................ +1,996
Operations and administration................................. 584 665 665 +81 ................
Research: Sustainable communities............................. 664 511 664 ................ +153
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Inland Oil Spill Program......................... 18,209 15,962 18,290 +81 +2,328
=========================================================================================
State and Tribal Assistance Grants [STAG]
Clean water state revolving fund [SRF]........................ 1,394,000 1,119,772 1,638,826 +244,826 +519,054
Drinking water state revolving fund [SRF]..................... 864,000 863,233 1,126,088 +262,088 +262,855
Mexico border................................................. 15,000 ................ 19,511 +4,511 +19,511
Alaska Native villages........................................ 25,000 3,000 29,186 +4,186 +26,186
Brownfields projects.......................................... 87,000 62,000 85,166 -1,834 +23,166
Diesel emissions grants....................................... 87,000 10,000 85,166 -1,834 +75,166
Targeted airshed grants....................................... 52,000 ................ 56,306 +4,306 +56,306
Water quality monitoring (Public Law 114-322)................. 4,000 ................ 4,000 ................ +4,000
Small and Disadvantaged Communities........................... ................ ................ 25,816 +25,816 +25,816
Lead testing in schools....................................... ................ 10,000 29,186 +29,186 +19,186
Reducing Lead in Drinking Water............................... ................ ................ 19,511 +19,511 +19,511
Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability... ................ 2,000 2,000 +2,000 ................
Technical assistance for treatment works...................... ................ 7,500 13,000 +13,000 +5,500
Sewer overflow control grants................................. ................ 61,450 20,497 +20,497 -40,953
Water infrastructure workforce development.................... ................ 300 1,000 +1,000 +700
Healthy schools (legislative proposal)........................ ................ 50,000 ................ ................ -50,000
School drinking fountain replacement.......................... ................ 5,000 5,000 +5,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Infrastructure assistance grants.............. 2,528,000 2,194,255 3,160,259 +632,259 +966,004
Categorical grants:
Beaches protection........................................ 9,549 ................ 9,238 -311 +9,238
Brownfields............................................... 47,745 31,791 46,190 -1,555 +14,399
Environmental information................................. 9,646 6,422 9,332 -314 +2,910
Hazardous waste financial assistance...................... 99,693 66,381 104,446 +4,753 +38,065
Lead...................................................... 14,049 ................ 13,591 -458 +13,591
Nonpoint source (Sec. 319)................................ 170,915 ................ 172,348 +1,433 +172,348
Pesticides enforcement.................................... 18,050 10,531 26,912 +8,862 +16,381
Pesticides program implementation......................... 12,701 8,457 12,287 -414 +3,830
Pollution control (Sec. 106).............................. 230,806 153,683 223,289 -7,517 +69,606
(Water quality monitoring)................................ (17,848) ................ (17,848) ................ (+17,848)
Pollution prevention...................................... 4,765 ................ 4,610 -155 +4,610
Public water system supervision........................... 101,963 67,892 105,642 +3,679 +37,750
Radon..................................................... 8,051 ................ 7,789 -262 +7,789
State and local air quality management.................... 228,219 151,961 220,786 -7,433 +68,825
Toxic substances compliance............................... 4,919 3,276 4,759 -160 +1,483
Tribal air quality management............................. 12,829 8,963 12,411 -418 +3,448
Tribal general assistance program......................... 65,476 44,233 63,343 -2,133 +19,110
Underground injection control (UIC)....................... 10,506 6,995 10,164 -342 +3,169
Underground storage tanks................................. 1,498 ................ 1,449 -49 +1,449
Wetlands program development.............................. 14,661 9,762 14,183 -478 +4,421
Multipurpose grants....................................... 11,000 10,000 24,000 +13,000 +14,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Categorical grants............................ 1,077,041 580,347 1,086,769 +9,728 +506,422
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, State and Tribal Assistance Grants............... 3,605,041 2,774,602 4,247,028 +641,987 +1,472,426
=========================================================================================
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program
Administrative Expenses....................................... 5,000 25,000 8,000 +3,000 -17,000
Direct Loan Subsidy........................................... 5,000 ................ 65,000 +60,000 +65,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation 10,000 25,000 73,000 +63,000 +48,000
Program................................................
=========================================================================================
Administrative Provisions
Rescission.................................................... -139,078 -377,000 ................ +139,078 +377,000
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, TITLE II, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY........ 8,058,488 6,222,490 9,010,839 +952,351 +2,788,349
Appropriations...................................... (8,269,017) (6,599,490) (9,010,839) (+741,822) (+2,411,349)
Rescissions......................................... (-210,529) (-377,000) ................ (+210,529) (+377,000)
(By transfer)........................................... (24,274) (27,361) (27,361) (+3,087) ................
=========================================================================================
TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment..... 875 875 875 ................ ................
FOREST SERVICE
Forest Service Operations Facilities Maintenance and Leases... ................ ................ 190,910 +190,910 +190,910
Information Technology and Centralized Processing......... ................ ................ 362,990 +362,990 +362,990
Organizational Services................................... ................ ................ 142,800 +142,800 +142,800
Salaries and Expenses..................................... ................ ................ 257,050 +257,050 +257,050
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Forest Service Operations........................ ................ ................ 953,750 +953,750 +953,750
=========================================================================================
Forest and Rangeland Research
Forest inventory and analysis................................. 77,000 77,000 14,810 -62,190 -62,190
Research and development programs............................. 223,000 177,500 36,770 -186,230 -140,730
Salaries and Expenses......................................... ................ ................ 206,060 +206,060 +206,060
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Forest and rangeland research.................... 300,000 254,500 257,640 -42,360 +3,140
=========================================================================================
State and Private Forestry
Landscape scale restoration................................... 14,000 ................ 14,000 ................ +14,000
Forest Health Management:
Federal lands forest health management.................... 56,000 51,495 12,550 -43,450 -38,945
Cooperative lands forest health management................ 42,000 34,376 33,170 -8,830 -1,206
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 98,000 85,871 45,720 -52,280 -40,151
Cooperative Fire Assistance:
State fire assistance (National Fire Capacity)............ 81,000 65,930 73,540 -7,460 +7,610
Volunteer fire assistance (Rural Fire Capacity)........... 17,000 11,020 18,500 +1,500 +7,480
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 98,000 76,950 92,040 -5,960 +15,090
Cooperative Forestry:
Forest stewardship (Working Forest Lands)................. 20,500 19,475 12,000 -8,500 -7,475
Forest legacy............................................. 63,990 ................ 63,990 ................ +63,990
Community forest and open space conservation.............. 4,000 ................ 5,000 +1,000 +5,000
Urban and community forestry.............................. 29,500 ................ 20,960 -8,540 +20,960
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 117,990 19,475 101,950 -16,040 +82,475
International forestry........................................ 9,000 ................ 3,804 -5,196 +3,804
Salaries and Expenses......................................... ................ ................ 60,450 +60,450 +60,450
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, State and Private Forestry.................... 336,990 182,296 317,964 -19,026 +135,668
Unobligated balances: Forest legacy (rescission).............. -1,503 ................ ................ +1,503 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, State and Private Forestry....................... 335,487 182,296 317,964 -17,523 +135,668
=========================================================================================
National Forest System
Land management planning, assessment and monitoring........... 180,000 179,263 13,310 -166,690 -165,953
Recreation, heritage and wilderness........................... 260,000 257,848 39,940 -220,060 -217,908
Grazing management............................................ 57,000 56,856 6,090 -50,910 -50,766
Hazardous Fuels............................................... 435,000 450,000 149,990 -285,010 -300,010
Forest products............................................... 368,000 375,000 24,330 -343,670 -350,670
Vegetation and watershed management........................... 180,000 180,000 27,450 -152,550 -152,550
Wildlife and fish habitat management.......................... 137,000 136,430 17,330 -119,670 -119,100
Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Fund............... 40,000 ................ 40,000 ................ +40,000
Minerals and geology management............................... 75,000 74,200 15,980 -59,020 -58,220
Landownership management (Land Use Authorization and Access).. 75,000 74,000 12,940 -62,060 -61,060
Law enforcement operations.................................... 131,000 129,153 17,630 -113,370 -111,523
Salaries and Expenses......................................... ................ ................ 1,492,290 +1,492,290 +1,492,290
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, National Forest System........................... 1,938,000 1,912,750 1,857,280 -80,720 -55,470
=========================================================================================
Capital Improvement and Maintenance
Facilities.................................................... 148,000 151,000 26,230 -121,770 -124,770
Roads......................................................... 218,000 218,000 62,040 -155,960 -155,960
Trails........................................................ 80,000 65,000 19,670 -60,330 -45,330
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Capital improvement and maintenance........... 446,000 434,000 107,940 -338,060 -326,060
Deferral of road and trail fund payment....................... -15,000 ................ -15,000 ................ -15,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Capital improvement and maintenance.............. 431,000 434,000 92,940 -338,060 -341,060
=========================================================================================
Land Acquisition
Acquisitions.................................................. 57,962 ................ 57,639 -323 +57,639
Acquisition Management........................................ 7,352 ................ 7,352 ................ +7,352
Recreational Access........................................... 5,000 ................ 5,500 +500 +5,500
Critical Inholdings/Wilderness................................ 2,000 ................ 3,000 +1,000 +3,000
Cash Equalization............................................. 250 ................ 250 ................ +250
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 72,564 ................ 73,741 +1,177 +73,741
Rescission.................................................... ................ ................ -2,000 -2,000 -2,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Land Acquisition................................. 72,564 ................ 71,741 -823 +71,741
=========================================================================================
Acquisition of land for national forests, special acts........ 700 ................ 700 ................ +700
Acquisition of lands to complete land exchanges............... 150 ................ 150 ................ +150
Range betterment fund......................................... 1,700 ................ 2,000 +300 +2,000
Gifts, donations and bequests for forest and rangeland 45 ................ 45 ................ +45
research.....................................................
Management of national forest lands for subsistence uses...... 2,500 1,832 2,500 ................ +668
Wildland Fire Management
Fire operations:
Wildland fire preparedness................................ 1,339,620 1,339,620 184,070 -1,155,550 -1,155,550
Wildland fire suppression operations...................... 1,165,366 1,011,000 1,011,000 -154,366 ................
Additional suppression funding.......................... 500,000 ................ ................ -500,000 ................
Salaries and Expenses..................................... ................ ................ 769,660 +769,660 +769,660
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, all wildland fire accounts....................... 3,004,986 2,350,620 1,964,730 -1,040,256 -385,890
=========================================================================================
Suppression cap adjustment.................................... ................ 1,950,000 1,950,000 +1,950,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Wildland Fire Management with cap adjustment..... 3,004,986 4,300,620 3,914,730 +909,744 -385,890
=========================================================================================
Total, Forest Service without Wildland Fire Management.. 3,082,146 2,785,378 3,556,710 +474,564 +771,332
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, FOREST SERVICE................................... 6,087,132 7,085,998 7,471,440 +1,384,308 +385,442
Forest Service without cap adjustment............... (6,087,132) (5,135,998) (5,521,440) (-565,692) (+385,442)
Forest Service Suppression Cap Adjustment........... ................ (1,950,000) (1,950,000) (+1,950,000) ................
=========================================================================================
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
Indian Health Services
Clinical Services:
Hospital and health clinics............................... 2,147,343 2,363,278 2,339,707 +192,364 -23,571
Electronic Health Record System........................... ................ 25,000 3,000 +3,000 -22,000
Dental health............................................. 204,672 212,369 210,315 +5,643 -2,054
Mental health............................................. 105,281 109,825 108,569 +3,288 -1,256
Alcohol and substance abuse............................... 245,566 246,034 247,828 +2,262 +1,794
Purchased/referred care................................... 964,819 968,177 967,363 +2,544 -814
Indian Health Care Improvement Fund....................... 72,280 72,280 72,280 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 3,739,961 3,996,963 3,949,062 +209,101 -47,901
Preventive Health:
Public health nursing..................................... 89,159 92,084 92,677 +3,518 +593
Health education.......................................... 20,568 ................ 20,923 +355 +20,923
Community health representatives.......................... 62,888 24,000 62,888 ................ +38,888
Immunization (Alaska)..................................... 2,127 2,173 2,148 +21 -25
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 174,742 118,257 178,636 +3,894 +60,379
Other services:
Urban Indian health....................................... 51,315 48,771 53,159 +1,844 +4,388
Indian health professions................................. 57,363 43,612 57,796 +433 +14,184
Tribal management grant program........................... 2,465 ................ 2,465 ................ +2,465
Direct operations......................................... 71,538 74,131 71,945 +407 -2,186
Self-governance........................................... 5,806 4,807 5,821 +15 +1,014
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 188,487 171,321 191,186 +2,699 +19,865
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Indian Health Services........................... 4,103,190 4,286,541 4,318,884 +215,694 +32,343
=========================================================================================
Contract Support Costs
Contract support.............................................. 822,227 820,000 820,000 -2,227 ................
Indian Health Facilities
Maintenance and improvement................................... 167,527 168,568 168,952 +1,425 +384
Sanitation facilities construction............................ 192,033 193,252 193,577 +1,544 +325
Health care facilities construction........................... 243,480 165,810 249,279 +5,799 +83,469
Facilities and environmental health support................... 252,060 251,413 261,983 +9,923 +10,570
Equipment..................................................... 23,706 23,983 29,087 +5,381 +5,104
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Indian Health Facilities......................... 878,806 803,026 902,878 +24,072 +99,852
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE............................ 5,804,223 5,909,567 6,041,762 +237,539 +132,195
=========================================================================================
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences........... 79,000 66,581 81,000 +2,000 +14,419
AGENCY FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND DISEASE REGISTRY
Toxic substances and environmental public health.............. 74,691 62,000 76,691 +2,000 +14,691
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.......... 5,957,914 6,038,148 6,199,453 +241,539 +161,305
=========================================================================================
OTHER RELATED AGENCIES
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental 2,994 2,750 2,994 ................ +244
Quality......................................................
CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD
Salaries and expenses......................................... 12,000 10,200 12,000 ................ +1,800
OFFICE OF NAVAJO AND HOPI INDIAN RELOCATION
Salaries and expenses......................................... 8,750 7,500 7,500 -1,250 ................
INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE CULTURE AND
ARTS DEVELOPMENT
Payment to the Institute...................................... 9,960 10,210 10,210 +250 ................
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Salaries and Expenses
Museum and Research Institutes:
National Air and Space Museum............................. 20,110 20,110 20,110 ................ ................
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory..................... 24,593 24,745 24,745 +152 ................
Major scientific instrumentation.......................... 4,118 4,118 4,118 ................ ................
Universe Center........................................... 184 184 184 ................ ................
National Museum of Natural History........................ 49,789 49,789 49,789 ................ ................
National Zoological Park.................................. 27,566 28,066 27,566 ................ -500
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center................. 4,227 4,487 4,227 ................ -260
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute................... 14,486 14,702 14,702 +216 ................
Biodiversity Center....................................... 1,543 1,543 1,543 ................ ................
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery/Freer Gallery of Art............ 6,273 6,273 6,273 ................ ................
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage................. 3,184 3,484 3,484 +300 ................
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum..................... 5,086 5,086 5,086 ................ ................
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden..................... 4,544 4,544 4,544 ................ ................
National Museum of African Art............................ 4,654 5,054 4,654 ................ -400
World Cultures Center..................................... 792 792 792 ................ ................
Anacostia Community Museum................................ 2,405 2,405 2,405 ................ ................
Archives of American Art.................................. 1,933 1,933 1,933 ................ ................
National Museum of African American History and Culture... 33,079 32,617 33,117 +38 +500
National Museum of American History....................... 26,704 25,583 25,373 -1,331 -210
National Museum of the American Indian.................... 33,242 33,648 33,648 +406 ................
National Portrait Gallery................................. 6,556 6,736 6,556 ................ -180
National Postal Museum.................................... ................ 1,581 1,581 +1,581 ................
Smithsonian American Art Museum........................... 10,239 10,389 10,389 +150 ................
American Experience Center................................ 600 600 600 ................ ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Museums and Research Institutes............... 285,907 288,469 287,419 +1,512 -1,050
Mission enabling:
Program support and outreach:
Outreach.................................................. 9,333 9,333 9,333 ................ ................
Communications............................................ 2,839 2,839 2,839 ................ ................
Institution-wide programs................................. 16,784 17,784 17,184 +400 -600
Office of Exhibits Central................................ 3,169 3,169 3,169 ................ ................
Museum Support Center..................................... 1,906 1,906 1,906 ................ ................
Museum Conservation Institute............................. 3,359 3,359 3,359 ................ ................
Smithsonian Institution Archives.......................... 2,423 ................ ................ -2,423 ................
Smithsonian Institution Libraries......................... 11,373 ................ ................ -11,373 ................
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives........................ ................ 14,458 14,258 +14,258 -200
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Program support and outreach.................. 51,186 52,848 52,048 +862 -800
Office of Chief Information Officer........................... 52,509 55,409 52,909 +400 -2,500
Administration................................................ 36,405 37,324 36,747 +342 -577
Inspector General............................................. 3,538 4,077 3,538 ................ -539
Facilities services:
Facilities maintenance.................................... 79,545 84,545 82,045 +2,500 -2,500
Facilities operations, security and support............... 230,904 236,673 236,404 +5,500 -269
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Facilities services........................... 310,449 321,218 318,449 +8,000 -2,769
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Mission enabling.............................. 454,087 470,876 463,691 +9,604 -7,185
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Salaries and expenses............................ 739,994 759,345 751,110 +11,116 -8,235
=========================================================================================
Facilities Capital
Revitalization................................................ 286,503 189,400 273,001 -13,502 +83,601
Facilities planning and design................................ 17,000 29,600 23,498 +6,498 -6,102
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Facilities Capital............................... 303,503 219,000 296,499 -7,004 +77,499
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.......................... 1,043,497 978,345 1,047,609 +4,112 +69,264
=========================================================================================
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Salaries and Expenses
Care and utilization of art collections....................... 48,871 45,409 49,214 +343 +3,805
Operation and maintenance of buildings and grounds............ 36,154 34,835 36,398 +244 +1,563
Protection of buildings, grounds and contents................. 26,958 26,263 27,838 +880 +1,575
General administration........................................ 32,219 32,493 33,572 +1,353 +1,079
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Salaries and Expenses............................ 144,202 139,000 147,022 +2,820 +8,022
=========================================================================================
Repair, Restoration and Renovation of Buildings
Base program.................................................. 24,203 15,114 25,203 +1,000 +10,089
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART.......................... 168,405 154,114 172,225 +3,820 +18,111
=========================================================================================
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Operations and maintenance.................................... 24,490 25,690 25,690 +1,200 ................
Capital repair and restoration................................ 16,800 14,000 17,600 +800 +3,600
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS... 41,290 39,690 43,290 +2,000 +3,600
=========================================================================================
WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS
Salaries and expenses......................................... 12,000 8,139 14,000 +2,000 +5,861
NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES
National Endowment for the Arts
Grants and Administration
Grants:
Direct grants............................................. 66,110 ................ 66,730 +620 +66,730
Challenge America grants.................................. 7,600 ................ 7,600 ................ +7,600
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 73,710 ................ 74,330 +620 +74,330
State partnerships:
State and regional........................................ 38,673 ................ 38,736 +63 +38,736
Underserved set-aside..................................... 10,467 ................ 10,484 +17 +10,484
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal................................................ 49,140 ................ 49,220 +80 +49,220
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Grants........................................ 122,850 ................ 123,550 +700 +123,550
Program support............................................... 1,950 ................ 1,950 ................ +1,950
Administration................................................ 30,200 29,333 31,500 +1,300 +2,167
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Arts............................................. 155,000 29,333 157,000 +2,000 +127,667
=========================================================================================
National Endowment for the Humanities
Grants and Administration
Grants:
Special Initiatives....................................... ................ ................ 4,500 +4,500 +4,500
Federal/State partnership................................. 48,000 ................ 48,500 +500 +48,500
Preservation and access................................... 19,000 ................ 17,500 -1,500 +17,500
Public programs........................................... 13,500 ................ 13,000 -500 +13,000
Research programs......................................... 14,500 ................ 14,000 -500 +14,000
Education programs........................................ 12,250 ................ 12,250 ................ +12,250
Program development....................................... 1,200 ................ 500 -700 +500
Digital humanities initiatives............................ 4,600 ................ 4,600 ................ +4,600
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Grants........................................ 113,050 ................ 114,850 +1,800 +114,850
Matching Grants:
Treasury funds............................................ 2,000 ................ 1,250 -750 +1,250
Challenge grants.......................................... 11,250 ................ 11,900 +650 +11,900
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Matching grants............................... 13,250 ................ 13,150 -100 +13,150
Administration................................................ 28,700 37,891 29,000 +300 -8,891
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Humanities....................................... 155,000 37,891 157,000 +2,000 +119,109
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE 310,000 67,224 314,000 +4,000 +246,776
HUMANITIES.............................................
=========================================================================================
COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS
Salaries and expenses......................................... 2,771 3,050 3,050 +279 ................
NATIONAL CAPITAL ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Grants........................................................ 2,750 ................ 2,750 ................ +2,750
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Salaries and expenses......................................... 6,890 7,000 7,000 +110 ................
NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION
Salaries and expenses......................................... 8,099 7,948 7,948 -151 ................
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Holocaust Memorial Museum..................................... 59,000 59,000 59,500 +500 +500
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER MEMORIAL COMMISSION
Salaries and expenses......................................... 1,800 1,800 1,800 ................ ................
WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
Salaries and expenses......................................... 1,000 ................ 1,000 ................ +1,000
WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
Salaries and expenses......................................... 7,000 21,093 7,000 ................ -14,093
ALYCEE SPOTTED BEAK AND WALTER SOBOLEFF COMISSION ON NATIVE
CHILDREN
Salaries and expenses......................................... ................ ................ 500 +500 +500
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, TITLE III, RELATED AGENCIES...................... 13,744,127 14,503,084 15,386,144 +1,642,017 +883,060
Appropriations...................................... (13,745,630) (14,503,084) (15,388,144) (+1,642,514) (+885,060)
Rescissions......................................... (-1,503) ................ (-2,000) (-497) (-2,000)
(Fire Suppression Cap Adjustment)....................... ................ (1,950,000) (1,950,000) (+1,950,000) ................
=========================================================================================
TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Infrastructure................................................ 791,000 ................ ................ -791,000 ................
=========================================================================================
TOTAL, TITLE IV, GENERAL PROVISIONS..................... 791,000 ................ ................ -791,000 ................
=========================================================================================
OTHER APPROPRIATIONS
ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF
ACT, 2019
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Construction (emergency)...................................... 82,400 ................ ................ -82,400 ................
National Park Service
Historic Preservation Fund (emergency)........................ 50,000 ................ ................ -50,000 ................
Construction (emergency)...................................... 78,000 ................ ................ -78,000 ................
United States Geological Survey
Surveys, Investigations, and Research (emergency)............. 98,500 ................ ................ -98,500 ................
Departmental Offices
Insular Affairs:
Assistance to Territories (emergency)..................... 2,000 ................ ................ -2,000 ................
Office of Inspector General (emergency)....................... 1,000 ................ ................ -1,000 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Department of the Interior....................... 311,900 ................ ................ -311,900 ................
=========================================================================================
Environmental Protection Agency
Science and Technology (emergency)............................ 600 ................ ................ -600 ................
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund (emergency)....... 1,500 ................ ................ -1,500 ................
State and Tribal Assistance Grants (emergency)................ 920,700 ................ ................ -920,700 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Environmental Protection Agency.................. 922,800 ................ ................ -922,800 ................
=========================================================================================
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Forest and Rangeland Research (emergency)..................... 1,000 ................ ................ -1,000 ................
State and Private Forestry (emergency)........................ 12,000 ................ ................ -12,000 ................
National Forest System (emergency)............................ 84,960 ................ ................ -84,960 ................
Capital Improvement and Maintenance (emergency)............... 36,040 ................ ................ -36,040 ................
Wildland Fire Management (emergency).......................... 720,271 ................ ................ -720,271 ................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Department of Agriculture........................ 854,271 ................ ................ -854,271 ................
=========================================================================================
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 1,000 ................ ................ -1,000 ................
(emergency)..................................................
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Additional Supplemental Appropriations for 2,089,971 ................ ................ -2,089,971 ................
Disaster Relief, 2019..................................
=========================================================================================
GRAND TOTAL............................................. 37,703,691 32,472,531 38,113,720 +410,029 +5,641,189
Appropriations...................................... (37,941,523) (30,660,863) (35,894,765) (-2,046,758) (+5,233,902)
Rescissions......................................... (-237,832) (-438,332) (-31,045) (+206,787) (+407,287)
Rescissions of contract authority................... ................ ................ ................ ................ ................
Emergency appropriations............................ (2,089,971) ................ ................ (-2,089,971) ................
Fire suppression cap adjustment..................... ................ (2,250,000) (2,250,000) (+2,250,000) ................
(By transfer)........................................... (24,274) (27,361) (27,361) (+3,087) ................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[all]