Revenue generated by energy production on federal lands would be used to address a maintenance backlog for U.S. National Parks that now exceeds $11 billion under a bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Steve Daines (R-MT).
“This bill is the largest investment in national parks in our nation’s history. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, this is an American issue, and I think that the bipartisan body of lawmakers who put this bill forward is proof,” said U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who helped the lawmakers draft their proposal and who along with President Donald Trump has made fixing this issue a national priority.
U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) were among the original cosponsors who joined their colleagues in introducing the Senate proposal.
U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) on March 7 introduced H.R. 5210, which would establish the National Park Restoration Fund, among other purposes. The bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee.
If enacted, the proposal’s National Park Restoration Fund would pay for the high-priority deferred maintenance and critical infrastructure needs that currently exist at national parks around the country, including for buildings, trails, campgrounds and water systems, according to a summary provided by Sen. Gardner’s staff.
“Coloradans know firsthand how important it is to make timely investments and infrastructure upgrades to our parks,” Sen. Gardner said. “It’s time to show our love to our beloved national parks.”
According to the summary, the federal fund would receive 50 percent of onshore and offshore energy production revenues on federal lands “over expected amounts that are not already allocated for other purposes.” States still would receive payments from the revenues generated by energy development on federal lands through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Reclamation Fund, for which funding streams would take precedence over the new restoration fund, according to the summary.
Sen. Capito, who joined Secretary Zinke and several colleagues in announcing the Senate version of the bill during a March 7 press conference, noted that the Pew Charitable Trusts reports the national parks in West Virginia have $52 million in maintenance backlogs.
“This bill will provide funding to help preserve the culture and history of parks like Harpers Ferry and the New River Gorge National River, and it will help ensure West Virginians and visitors from across the country can enjoy them for generations to come,” Capito said.
“Infrastructure is an investment, not merely an expense. And every dollar we put in to rebuilding our parks will help bolster the gateway communities that rely on park visitation for economic vitality,” said Secretary Zinke, who worked with the lawmakers to formalize their bill.
“Infrastructure is also about access for all Americans,” added Zinke, who said not all park visitors are able to hike or camp. “In order for families with young kids, elderly grandparents or persons with disabilities to enjoy the parks, we need to rebuild basic infrastructure like roads, trails, lodges, restrooms and visitors’ centers,” he said.
Without additional funding, the maintenance backlog could continue to grow, according to Capito’s staff, which added that in Fiscal Year 2017, the backlog’s total $11.6 billion price tag was almost four times the National Park Service’s $2.9 billion annual appropriations.