CAPITOL FLYER

October 10-16 is National Wildlife Refuge Week, when people across the country make a point to celebrate what refuges have to offer. The Refuge System, the only network of public lands dedicated to wildlife first, stands front and center in the protection and recovery of America's wildlife.

Established in 1903, the 100 million acre Refuge System consists of 544 refuges and 3,000 waterfowl production areas. The System is home to more than 700 species of birds, 220 species of mammals, 250 species of reptiles and amphibians, more than 1,000 kinds of fish, and numerous species of invertebrates and plants. Notably, there are approximately 260 threatened or endangered species on national wildlife refuges.

National Wildlife Refuge Week is a great time to visit your local refuge. There are national wildlife refuges (NWR) in every state, and almost every major metropolitan area has a refuge within an hour's drive. Refuges offer more than 2,500 miles of trails for wildlife observation and photography or just to get away from the noise and stress of the city. If you're a hunter or angler, 308 refuges offer hunting and 270 offer fishing.

First there was Charley, quickly followed by Frances. Then came Ivan and, most recently, Jeanne. Once these four hurricanes finished their destructive rampages across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and the Carolinas, millions of dollars worth of damage had been done to national wildlife refuges.

Much of the storm damage involved beach erosion, dikes, roads and structures such as visitor centers, offices, housing and support buildings.

Some species of birds and small mammals may suffer habitat loss from vegetation damaged from the high winds or erosion on riverbanks and streams. Aquatic species may be adversely impacted by additional sediments, effluents and contaminants washed into streams, lakes and the ocean.

Storms have caused approximately $70 million in damages to the Refuge System. The administration has requested $10.2 billion for a hurricane relief package. In response, Congress is developing an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that includes funding for national wildlife refuges. Congress is expected to take up the emergency supplemental appropriations bill the week of October 4 - Congressional leaders are pushing for an October 8 recess, to allow members time for campaigning before the November 2 elections.

On September 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a markup on fiscal year (FY) 2005 funding for the Department of the Interior, including the FWS's National Wildlife Refuge System.

According to the bill, the operations and maintenance account for the Refuge System was approved at $391,493,000. This funding level is exactly equal to the FY2004 enacted level, but an increase of $3,836,000 over the administration's FY2005 budget request. Unfortunately, for the Refuge System, a flat budget translates into an effective $16 million cut, due to increased costs for such things as personnel cost-of-living adjustments and energy prices.

The Senate bill also includes a rider to expedite a land exchange involving parts of the Yukon Flats NWR in Alaska that tribal corporation Doyon Regional Corporation could open for oil and gas development.

The rider provides $750,000 for FWS to acquire waterfowl habitat lands belonging to Doyon in exchange for nearly 100,000 acres and associated mineral rights from FWS to the corporation. The rider sets a deadline of December 31, 2005, for finalizing the deal.

Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR), putting off much of its FY2005 appropriations work until after the elections. The CR continues funding the federal government at current spending levels, keeping government agencies operating until November 20. After the elections Congress is expected to return for a brief lame-duck session to wrap up some legislative work and consider various issues for the next year. Congress could act during a lame-duck session on FY2005 omnibus legislation for several of the unfinished appropriations bills, or members could wait until early next year at the start of the 109th Congress.

At the time this article went to press, it was unknown when the Interior funding bill would be taken up on the Senate floor, or if the bill would move as stand-alone legislation or be combined with other legislation, such as an omnibus appropriations bill.

Congress approved an eight-month extension of current transportation funding, effectively buying more time to complete action on surface transportation reauthorization legislation. An agreement in the House-Senate conference committee has proved elusive due to disputes over funding levels and the formula for dividing money among the states.

The transportation reauthorization bill includes important funding for refuge roads. The Senate passed its version of the transportation bill earlier this year, funding refuge roads at $30 million, while the House passed its version, funding refuge roads at $20 million.

The extension keeps transportation funding going through May 31, 2005. It passed the House 409-8 and the Senate cleared it by voice vote.

The 90-day public comment period for the National Bison Range annual funding agreement ends October 12. Time is running out to make your voice heard regarding the agreement proposed between the FWS and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to transfer half of the refuge staff positions and budget to the tribes.

On September 22, the House Resources Committee approved a bill establishing permanent authority for the federal government to charge fees on National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Forest Service lands. With little opposition, the Resources Committee passed H.R. 3283, sponsored by Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH), by voice vote.

The current Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, established and reauthorized via a rider in the annual Interior appropriations bill, has produced additional revenue for the Department of the Interior land management agencies. Administration budget requests indicate the Interior expects to collect $138 million in FY05, mostly from the Park Service. The majority of funding stays in the area of collection and is used for maintenance and visitor improvements. Opponents of the Fee Demo Program have cited unfair and haphazard implementation in their arguments against the Program.

The FWS reports that $3.8 million was collected by 108 national wildlife refuges and one fish hatchery that participated in the Fee Demonstration Program during FY2003. Currently, the demonstration program is authorized through December 31, 2005.

More Border Patrol agents, helicopters and airplanes will be deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border, including the Cabeza Prieta NWR, as a result of a new Justice Department initiative. The initiative has sparked protests from environmental groups and human rights organizations, who fear the additions will damage protected federal lands.

The Border Patrol has also asked for more motorized access to protected public lands. Environmentalists insist that Border Patrol activities have damaged fragile ecosystems and degraded habitat for wildlife by creating new roads and trampling vegetation.

Roger DiRosa, refuge manager of the Cabeza Prieta NWR, suggests tightening border security may result in less damage from illegal border crossers who also damage vegetation and habitat. According to DiRosa, the establishment of a vehicle barrier along the 56-mile stretch that the refuge shares with Mexico would be preferable, keeping resource-damaging vehicles out of the area while still allowing wildlife to migrate across the border.