Costello holds Land and Water Conservation Fund roundtable

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) held a roundtable with local conservancy organizations on Monday to discuss the future of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

A proposal to reform the LWCF, entitled the Protecting America’s Recreation and Conservation (PARC) Act, has been introduced by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT). Announced on Nov. 5., Bishop’s proposal would reauthorize the LWCF at its current level of $900 million for seven years, with state and local programs serving as the centerpiece of the funding. Minimal funds would be provided for the federal program. Costello is an original cosponsor of H.R. 1814. 

Existing programs would be funded under the proposed legislation, including the American Battlefield Protection, Forest Legacy Program and Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.

“Nowhere else is the LWCF more critical than right here in Southeastern Pennsylvania and particularly in the Sixth District,” Costello said. “During the roundtable, I gained valuable local insight as to how best move this program forward and get the best results for our conservation efforts. As I continue to review the draft of the PARC Act, I will take into account the views of these conservation organizations in an effort to ensure this legislation will have the best impact for PA-06. One thing is for sure, it is very important we reauthorize this program. We must see some action on reauthorizing the LWCF immediately – as I have called on my colleagues to do earlier this year.”

A hearing on the PARC legislation was held on Nov. 18, with the act potentially being considered by the full House of Representatives by the end of 2015.

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund has played a vital role in preserving important landscapes, improving local parks, and protecting historic gems here and across the country,” Vice President of Communications and Engagement for the Natural Lands Trust Oliver Bass said. “It is imperative that the program be reauthorized and funded fully. Congressman Costello has been a consistent advocate for the program and we appreciated the opportunity to have a thoughtful conversation with him about the best way to ensure that LWCF continues to benefit the region’s communities.”

First authorized by Congress in 1965 for a 25 year period and reauthorized for an additional 25 years in 1990, the LWCF expired on Sept. 30 following disagreement over the direction of the program within the House Natural Resources Committee.

More than five million acres of land in more than 41,000 projects nationwide have been protect since the LWCF’s inception, with Pennsylvania receiving more than $295 million to preserve local lands, including Paoli Battlefield, Brandywine Battlefield, Valley Forge National Military Park and the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge.

The roundtable included representatives from the Natural Lands Trust, Green Valleys Watershed Association, Brandywine Conservancy, West Chester Fish, Game, and Wildlife Association, Chester County Open Space Program, Willistown Conservation Trust, and the North American Lands Trust.