Appropriations

On March 10, the Senate approved by a vote of 62- 35, a $410 billion FY09 omnibus spending bill to fund government operations covered by the nine appropriations bills that did not pass Congress before the start of FY09.

This omnibus package was identical to the version passed by the House of Representatives on February 25. The National Forest System will receive $1.51 billion, which represents a $40.2 million increase over FY08 enacted levels and $160.3 million over President Bush’s FY09 request.

The Forest Service will receive $322.5 million for timber management, a $10 million increase over FY08 enacted levels and $328.1 million for hazardous fuels reduction efforts, which is $18 million over
FY08 enacted levels. The bill includes continued funding for the Northwest Forest Plan while targeting the $10 million increase to forests located outside of the Northwest Forest Plan area with additional
unfunded capability.

The BLM will receive $890.2 million, which is a $36.3 million increase over FY08 enacted levels and $25.4 million over President Bush’s FY09 request. The BLM’s O&C Lands will receive $109.9 million,
a $1.4 million increase over FY08 enacted levels.

Also included are several provisions of interest to mills in California. For example, hazardous fuels funding levels for the Quincy Library Group (QLG) activities will be no less than $26.2 million. However, following the announced closure of Sierra Pacific Industries Quincy small log mill it is uncertain how the Forest Service will implement the forest management activities authorized by the QLG. Meanwhile, the bill includes language and significant grant funding to maintain the remaining forest products infrastructure in the southern Sierra’s. These initiatives were championed by Senate Interior Appropriations Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

On February 26, the Obama Administration released preliminary details related to the FY10 budget. The budget proposal provides a $50 million increase (plus inflation) to the Forest Service for managing the National Forest System. It also fully funds the 10-year average fire suppression costs and establishes a $282 million discretionary funding reserve to provide funding for firefighting when the $1.1 billion appropriated amount is exhausted. The budget also includes $119 million in Land and Water Conservation Funding or land acquisition, which represents a $34 million increase. Final line item budget numbers for Forest Service programs are not expected out until April. / Tom Partin

Omnibus Lands Bill Update

The public lands, water, and natural resource omnibus bill, which is a collection of more than 160 bills is again being considered by the Senate. On March 16, the Senate voted 73-21 to approve a cloture motion allowing the bill to proceed. This action follows the latest setback when on March 12 the House of Representatives fell two votes shy of passing the bill under suspension of the rules, a maneuver that shields legislation from amendments or a motion to recommit but requires a two-thirds majority for passage.

Senate leaders now plan to strip the contents of another bill that would protect Revolutionary War battlefields, and amend it with the omnibus lands bill language to gain passage in the House, as well as the Senate. By amending a bill previously passed by the House, the bill would not be subject to amendments when it returns to the House. Senate leaders have also agreed to allow a few amendments to be offered to satisfy Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) before moving to final passage.

The omnibus would designate more than two million acres of wilderness in nine states, establish three new national park units, a new national monument, three new national conservation areas, more than 1,000 miles of national wild and scenic rivers, and four new national trails. It would also enlarge the boundaries of more than a dozen existing national park units and establish 10 new national heritage areas.

The package designates several wilderness areas in Oregon, including Mt. Hood, Copper Salmon and Spring Basin. The Obama Administration had targeted the passage of this bill for the first week or two of this Congressional session, but so far the bill has been on a rocky road. / Tom Partin

Click the PDF below to read the complete newsletter.

AFRC Newsletter: 3/19/09