Schumer: New energy bill could help New York’s state parks
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund could be the answer to the financial woes of New York’s State Parks, according to Senator Charles Schumer.
The New York Democrat said last week he is pushing for the LWCF to be funded fully at $900 million as part of the New Energy Bill. Established in 1965, the LWCF’s purpose is to promote the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation areas, such as state parks. It is funded by royalties from offshore oil and gas drilling activities.
“These dollars, already being collected by oil and gas drilling companies, have hardly been used for their intended purpose and should be spent on parks and outdoor recreation as Congress intended.” said Schumer.
According to the senator, the fund has only been fully funded twice in its 40-plus year history. During those times, he said, New York’s share was approximately $24 million, an amount he feels could go a long way toward saving the parks and historical sites which narrowly escaped closure this year.
Hunts Pond and Oquaga Creek were two of the 41 state parks and 14 historical sites which received a last-minute reprieve by the Governor David Paterson right before Memorial Day.
“By providing the state more funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, state parks will have greater flexibility to restore cuts to popular parks and make long overdue improvements that will ensure our state’s parks are national treasures for years to come,” he explained.
While other legislation concerning the matter have been introduced in the past, Schumer said that as part of the Energy Bill there is “a much greater likelihood of it being passed.”
While the LWCF funds won’t erase all of the NY Parks department woes, Schumer said he hoped it will “make it easier” to restore services, keep parks open and make much-needed improvements.
New York Parks Commissioner Carol Ash, who sat in on a conference call with Schumer on Thursday, spoke in support of his efforts while commenting on the current status of her agency.
“I’m hopeful if nothing else happens ... then we will be able to keep the parks open this year,” she said. An infusion from the LWCF might help ensure they remain open, as well as enable the agency to return to at or near full staffing levels.
According to Ash, park attendance is up by 10 percent so far this year, but those visitors are being served by a much reduced workforce. The park system is down 1,000 workers, from their normal summertime level of 4 to 5,000.
The New York Democrat said last week he is pushing for the LWCF to be funded fully at $900 million as part of the New Energy Bill. Established in 1965, the LWCF’s purpose is to promote the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation areas, such as state parks. It is funded by royalties from offshore oil and gas drilling activities.
“These dollars, already being collected by oil and gas drilling companies, have hardly been used for their intended purpose and should be spent on parks and outdoor recreation as Congress intended.” said Schumer.
According to the senator, the fund has only been fully funded twice in its 40-plus year history. During those times, he said, New York’s share was approximately $24 million, an amount he feels could go a long way toward saving the parks and historical sites which narrowly escaped closure this year.
Hunts Pond and Oquaga Creek were two of the 41 state parks and 14 historical sites which received a last-minute reprieve by the Governor David Paterson right before Memorial Day.
“By providing the state more funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, state parks will have greater flexibility to restore cuts to popular parks and make long overdue improvements that will ensure our state’s parks are national treasures for years to come,” he explained.
While other legislation concerning the matter have been introduced in the past, Schumer said that as part of the Energy Bill there is “a much greater likelihood of it being passed.”
While the LWCF funds won’t erase all of the NY Parks department woes, Schumer said he hoped it will “make it easier” to restore services, keep parks open and make much-needed improvements.
New York Parks Commissioner Carol Ash, who sat in on a conference call with Schumer on Thursday, spoke in support of his efforts while commenting on the current status of her agency.
“I’m hopeful if nothing else happens ... then we will be able to keep the parks open this year,” she said. An infusion from the LWCF might help ensure they remain open, as well as enable the agency to return to at or near full staffing levels.
According to Ash, park attendance is up by 10 percent so far this year, but those visitors are being served by a much reduced workforce. The park system is down 1,000 workers, from their normal summertime level of 4 to 5,000.
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