Wednesday, 17 Mar 2004

Sunday in the Park With George W.

National Parks Face Crippling Budget Shortfalls

Two reports released this week document severe underfunding of U.S. national parks and warn that drastic budget shortfalls will affect park safety and visitor enjoyment. Two parks advocacy organizations -- the National Parks Conservation Association and the Coalition of Concerned National Park Retirees -- criticize the Bush administration's parks policies. The NPCA report says $290 million in additional federal funding for the National Park Service is needed beyond what the administration has proposed for fiscal year 2005. The parks have been hit particularly hard of late by natural disasters and homeland security measures -- an orange terror alert costs the NPS roughly $1 million a month in increased security around national monuments. Visitor numbers continue to rise and funding is not keeping pace. ''We're on the verge of crossing the line to where the public will notice'' service cuts, said NPS spokesperson David Barna.

Economic Restoration

Study Shows Ecological Restoration Boosts Economy

Efforts at ecological restoration have added some $65 million and 300 jobs to California's Humboldt County economy between 1995 and 2002, concludes a study released yesterday by the nonprofit social science firm Forest Community Research. Over the last 25 years, government agencies, tribes, landowners, private contractors, and environmental groups have worked together to repair environmental damage and put the county at the forefront of the ecological-restoration industry, laying waste to the familiar claim that doing right by the environment means doing damage to local communities. The study estimates that the value of Humboldt's restoration economy -- which includes stream restoration projects and wild salmon rearing -- is roughly double the value of its commercial fishing. And there's plenty left to do: "The backlog of work is staggering," says lead researcher Mark Baker. "They won't be working themselves out of a job for quite a while."

No Credit Where Credit Is Due

Wind Power Industry Idles, Waiting for Energy Bill

After a three-year growth spurt that created more wind-energy capacity in the U.S. than came online in the two prior decades, the wind industry finds itself in an unwelcome state of suspension. Some $2 billion in economic development is on hold and thousands of jobs are being lost, says the American Wind Energy Association. Why the pregnant pause? The wind industry is immature and still relies heavily on a federal tax credit, and that credit has been lumped in with the energy bill that was stymied in Congress in December and may or may not be taken up again later this month. The credit was originally passed in 1992; it has lapsed and been renewed several times since then, each time causing the industry headaches. Even investments that would be profitable absent the credit are on hold, since the prospect of higher profits is constantly on the horizon. Industry groups and some members of Congress are calling for a 10-year extension that would enable long-term planning.

Arctic National Wildlife Rorschach

Energy Department Study Fuels Arctic Refuge Controversy

A new Energy Department study on the prospect of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has both sides in the long-running controversy claiming vindication. According to the study, oil production in the refuge would peak in about 2025 and at that point would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil from about 70 to 66 percent and reduce oil prices (currently hovering around $37.50) by some 30 to 50 cents a barrel. Opponents of drilling in the refuge say that amounts to doing "next to nothing to actually meet America's energy needs," as Justin Tatham of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group put it. Added the organization's Athan Manuel, "The easiest way [to meet energy needs] is to make our cars more fuel efficient ... instead of trying to wring every wild place dry." But drilling proponents -- like Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.), chair of the House Resources Committee -- say the boost to domestic oil production is needed and would create jobs and stimulate investment.

Grile-y Coyote

New Report Critical of Interior's Griles

Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles has repeatedly had dealings with mining and energy companies represented by his former lobbying firm, which is still sending him payments amounting to some $1 million over four years. While his actions signify an "institutional failure" to avoid the appearance of impropriety, they are not illegal, concluded an 18-month investigation by the Interior Department's inspector general. His report was reviewed by the Office of Government Ethics, which concluded that in all but two cases, there was no clear-cut violation of ethics rules. Those two cases were forwarded to the attention of Interior Secretary Gale Norton, who dismissed them and pronounced, "This closes the issue." Not everyone agrees. In a letter to Norton, Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) wrote, "The cumulative impact of repeated special access for special interests with preexisting business connections to Mr. Griles cannot help but leave a sour taste in the mouth of anyone who believes in the fairness of government."